Network Seminar: "Psychedelics, Phenomenology, & Mental Health", November 5th 2025, Birmingham and Online

The second seminar in the series organised by the Birmingham Network for Phenomenology and Mental Health will be held on 5 November 2025, 9.30 - 16.30, in the Imagine room at The Studio in central Birmingham along the theme "Psychedelics, Phenomenology, & Mental Health".

Drawing on phenomenological perspectives, the workshop will bring together interdisciplinary scholars to discuss the transformative potential of psychedelic experiences for addressing mental health challenges.

Confirmed speakers include Eirini Argyri (University of Exeter), Joanna Vamvakopoulou (Imperial College London), Matt Hayler (University of Birmingham), and Floris Tijhuis (University of Amsterdam). Please see below for the full schedule.

In-person places are limited so please do sign-up using this form. Online attendance will also be facilitated.

PPMH Schedule

All times are in GMT.

09:30–10:00 

Arrival & Coffee

Informal networking and registration.

10:00–10:15 

Welcome

Housekeeping (Jodie Russell)

Introduction to the Birmingham Network for Phenomenology and Mental Health. (Matthew Broome and Francesca Brencio)

Workshop aim: exploring the phenomenological dimensions of psychedelic-assisted therapy (Muireann Quigley and Matt Hayler)

10:15–11:00

Re-IMAGINING the future of psychedelics: Psychedelic-augmented mental imagery intervention for young people who self-harm

Joanna Vamvakopoulou – Imperial College London

11:00–11:30

Break

11:30–12:15

Dissolving Boundaries: Existential Feelings and Psychedelic Therapy

Floris Tijhuis – University of Amsterdam

12:15 –13:00

Active Inference, Interoception, and Psychedelic Therapy: A Priors-Updating Model of Therapeutic Change

Dr Matt Hayler – University of Birmingham

13:00–14:00

Lunch

14:00–14:45

How psychedelic experiences can transform our ways of being, knowing, and relating

Eirini Ketzitzidou Argyri – University of Exeter

14.45–15:15

Break

15:15–16:15

Phenomenology, Psychedelics, and Mental Health: Where Next?

Open roundtable discussion on: Research gaps, interdisciplinary collaborations, law, policy, and regulation, and training and education.

16:15–16:30

Closing remarks and future events