Instagram Linkedin Facebook
atma cena logo

WHAT WE OFFER

COMMON CONDITIONS

Book Therapy
INFO CALL
TAKE THE QUIZ

PRACTITIONER SERVICES

talk to a student advisor

CORPORATE CLINICS

MEMBER CLINICS

LEARN ABOUT OUR SERVICES

LEARN ABOUT PSYCHEDELICS

★★★★☆

(4.4) Based on 920 reviews

Price of this course

6000 CAD +TAX

  • CE Credits: 93 upon completion
  • Lessons: 47 (between 3 courses)
  • 13 Live Q&As
  • Additional resources: 150+
  • Duration: 93 Hours
  • Certificate: Upon completion of the course

CoCare Training Bundle

The CoCare™ Bundle is a curated collection of ATMA CENA’s foundational and advanced courses designed to prepare professionals for ethical, safe, and effective practice in psychedelic-assisted therapy within a collaborative care model. This bundle is ideal for licensed clinicians seeking a comprehensive path to confidently support clients through ketamine and psychedelic therapies in an interdisciplinary setting.

Buy Bundle
Talk to a Student Advisor

Included in the bundle

A foundational course exploring the history, science, and therapeutic potential of psychedelics, this training sets the stage for deeper clinical application. It is the starting point for all ATMA training and a prerequisite for further certification.

Designed for healthcare professionals, this advanced training delves into clinical frameworks, ethical practice, and case-based applications of psychedelic therapy. It includes mentorship and community engagement to deepen learning and peer support.

This course provides essential knowledge and practical skills for supporting clients through ketamine-assisted therapy using a structured clinical protocol. Emphasis is placed on safety, integration, and team-based care delivery.

A reflective and integrative experience that brings together therapeutic presence, cultural humility, and personal development to help practitioners show up ethically and compassionately in this space.

  • Pre-requisites

Intro to Psychedelic Therapy

Open to all backgrounds — no clinical license or prior experience required. Ideal for anyone exploring a professional path in psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Advanced Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PaT) Certification

Requires completion of Intro to Psychedelic Therapy or an equivalent foundational course. Open to all professionals seeking deeper understanding and applied therapeutic skills.

Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (KAT) Clinical Foundations

Requires completion of Intro to Psychedelic Therapy and is recommended after the Advanced PaT Certification. Designed for professionals interested in learning structured protocols for ketamine-assisted therapy within a care team model.

 

  • Materials & Technology Requirements

You’ll need a reliable internet connection and access to a laptop or desktop computer with at least 8GB of RAM. You can also access course content through your mobile device for flexible, on-the-go learning. All required learning resources are provided within the course—no specialized software is needed. Our platform is fully web-based and designed for a seamless, accessible experience.

Reviews of the Courses

(4.4) (Based on
920 reviews)

Aileen S.

★★★★★

April 22, 2025

“Thank you so much! I learned a lot about myself and how I can best assist others on their own journey of true self discovery”

Kayla S.

★★★★★

April 18, 2025

“Overall it was a great introduction to the world of psychedlic assisted therapy. I will continue taking modules as I believe in the benefits of plant medicine and psychotherapy.”

Chloe L.

★★★★★

April 9, 2025

“Great overall course, some technical issues with the recordings. I learned so much and thoroughly enjoyed!”

David B.

★★★★★

November 15, 2024

“This course provided me with a good overview of Ketamine assisted Therapy and helped to increase my understanding of this medicine.”

★★★★☆

(4.4) Based on 920 reviews

CoCare Training Bundle

The CoCare™ Bundle is a curated collection of ATMA CENA’s foundational and advanced courses designed to prepare professionals for ethical, safe, and effective practice in psychedelic-assisted therapy within a collaborative care model. This bundle is ideal for licensed clinicians seeking a comprehensive path to confidently support clients through ketamine and psychedelic therapies in an interdisciplinary setting.

Buy Bundle
Talk to a Student Advisor
Price of this bundle

6000 CAD +TAX

  • CE Credits: 93 Upon Completion
  • Lessons: 47 (between 3 courses)
  • 13 Live Q&As
  • Additional resources: 150+
  • Duration: 93 Hours
  • Certificate: Upon completion of the course

Intro to Psychedelic Therapy

Intro to Psychedelic Therapy, Advanced Certification, KAT Foundations, Wisdom Series – all prerequisites for the CoCare™ Program.

Get Access To This Course

Course table of content

A foundational course exploring the history, science, and therapeutic potential of psychedelics, this training sets the stage for deeper clinical application. It is the starting point for all ATMA training and a prerequisite for further certification.

Designed for healthcare professionals, this advanced training delves into clinical frameworks, ethical practice, and case-based applications of psychedelic therapy. It includes mentorship and community engagement to deepen learning and peer support.

This course provides essential knowledge and practical skills for supporting clients through ketamine-assisted therapy using a structured clinical protocol. Emphasis is placed on safety, integration, and team-based care delivery.

A reflective and integrative experience that brings together therapeutic presence, cultural humility, and personal development to help practitioners show up ethically and compassionately in this space.

  • Pre-requisites

Intro to Psychedelic Therapy

Open to all backgrounds — no clinical license or prior experience required. Ideal for anyone exploring a professional path in psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Advanced Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PaT) Certification

Requires completion of Intro to Psychedelic Therapy or an equivalent foundational course. Open to all professionals seeking deeper understanding and applied therapeutic skills.

Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (KAT) Clinical Foundations

Requires completion of Intro to Psychedelic Therapy and is recommended after the Advanced PaT Certification. Designed for professionals interested in learning structured protocols for ketamine-assisted therapy within a care team model.

 

  • Materials & Technology Requirements

You’ll need a reliable internet connection and access to a laptop or desktop computer with at least 8GB of RAM. You can also access course content through your mobile device for flexible, on-the-go learning. All required learning resources are provided within the course—no specialized software is needed. Our platform is fully web-based and designed for a seamless, accessible experience.

Reviews of this Course

(4.4) (Based on
920 reviews)

Aileen S.

★★★★★

April 22, 2025

“Thank you so much! I learned a lot about myself and how I can best assist others on their own journey of true self discovery”

Kayla S.

★★★★★

April 18, 2025

“Overall it was a great introduction to the world of psychedlic assisted therapy. I will continue taking modules as I believe in the benefits of plant medicine and psychotherapy.”

Chloe L.

★★★★★

April 9, 2025

“Great overall course, some technical issues with the recordings. I learned so much and thoroughly enjoyed!”

David B.

★★★★★

November 15, 2024

“This course provided me with a good overview of Ketamine assisted Therapy and helped to increase my understanding of this medicine.”

Meet Your Instructors

Reverdi Darda

RN, Founder & CEO of

ATMA CENA

Lisa Kemp

RN, Director of Programs ATMA CENA
Jacque Lovely

Jacque Lovely

RN, COO of ATMA
CENA

Natalie Bergstrom

ATMA CENA VP of Programming

Janis Phelps

 PhD, Director of
Psychedelic Studies
and Research – CIIS

Dr. Scott Shannon

MD, Principal
Investigator and
Therapist

Dr. Aviva Zohar

MD, Triple Board, Certified in Addiction , Family, &
Preventative Medicine

Dr. Saundra Jain

MA, PsyD, LPC, Psychotherapist

Mike Mathers

M.Sc., M.A., R.C.C., Addictions and Trauma Therapist

Trevor Millar

Ambio Live Sciences Inc. – Co-Founder, Ibogaine Facilitator

Dr. Anthony Bossis

PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry NYU

Dr. Devon Christie

MD, CCFP, RTC (Relational Somatic Therapy)

Ben Malcolm

 PharmD, MPH, Spirit Pharmacist Founder

Mark Haden

MSW, Qi Integrated Health – Clinical Supervisor, Adjunct Professor – UBC

Mark Cornfield

 MD, FRCPC, Psychiatrist

Dr. Rakesh Jain

MD, MPH, Psychiatrist, Clinical Professor – Texas
Tech University School of Medicine

Susan McBride

RN, MTS, RSW

Alex Belser

PhD, Cybin – Chief Clinical Officer, Yale University – Clinical Research Fellow

Kim Haxton

 Indegeneyez – Co-Founder, Member of Wasauksing First Nation, Ontario

Bruce Sanguin

Psychotherapist, Clinical Fellow at CAMFT

Pam Kryskow

MD, Roots To Thrive Program – Medical Lead

Zach Walsh

PhD, Psychologist, Associate Professor- UBC

Philippe Lucas

PhD, SABI Mind President

Rich Tyo

Psychotherapist CRPO

Paul Bridger

 BA, ACC, CEC Intentional Directions, Integration Coach

Matthew Kelemen

Sacred Row Academy, Self-Care Facilitator

Jeff Sorenson

BreathARMY, Founder, Self-Care Facilitator

Thomas Hartle

Cancer Survivor PaT Recipient (Section 56 Exemption, SAP)

Erika Dyck

Prof. & Canadian Research Chair, USask

Taunya Craig

Psychotherapist, Master Practicing Clinical Counsellor
Ravi Bains

Ravi Bains

Psychiatrist

Related Courses 

Advanced PAT Certification Program

  • $3800 CAD+TAX
  • 16 weeks
This course prepares professionals to
confidently practice and engage in psychedelic therapy.

Next cohort: Sept 3rd

View Course

Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Clinical Foundations​

  • $1200 CAD+TAX
  • 3 weeks

KAT training equips professionals to begin offering psychedelic-assisted therapy in clinical settings under supervision.

Next cohort: June 10th

View Course

In-Person Coaching
Intensive

  • $800 CAD+TAX
  • 3 days

A 3-day in-person coaching intensive for Advanced Program alumni, designed to deepen skills, build confidence , and support professional growth.

Next cohort: June 4-6

Info Call

Unlock Your Learning Potential Today

Join a global community of mental health professionals advancing their practice through ATMA CENA’s thoughtfully designed, transformative training.

Explore Courses
Facebook Linkedin Instagram

WHO WE ARE

CLIENT SERVICES

BOOK AN INFO CALL

PRACTITIONER SERVICES

TALK TO A STUDENT ADVISOR

RESEARCH

  • Clinical Trials (Coming Soon)

SUPPORT

LOCATIONS

  • 2024 All Rights Reserved
Reverdi Darda

REVERDI DARDA

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder

Reverdi possesses over three decades of invaluable experience as a Registered Nurse and Executive Leader specializing in community engagement, healthcare operations, policy development, and strategic planning. With a deep understanding of the intricate challenges embedded within healthcare systems, Reverdi is driven to advance access to evidence-based mental health treatment models that will benefit those in need. Reverdi has honed her expertise to navigate the fragmentation within the healthcare systems, and as a visionary in her field, she intimately understands the hurdles and can see solutions to create consistent, client-centric care. She also focuses on advocating for policy change that prioritizes access to new and effective mental health treatments. 

Reverdi’s passion for problem-solving knows no bounds, she is perpetually driven by a thirst for knowledge and growth. She firmly believes in the power of a passionate leader and commits her energy to action as she champions change. With her experience and expertise, Reverdi is catalyzing transformative change within the mental health sector and excited to serve in a leadership role that is focused on increasing practitioner and public access to Psychedelic assisted therapy.

Lisa Kemp

Lisa Kemp

Program Director

Lisa Kemp is a registered nurse with over 20 years of experience in healthcare as a clinician, operations manager, and clinical educator. She later branched out into leadership roles that facilitated building mental health capacity in primary care, enhancing indigenous services in remote areas, and serving as a governance representative. This work repeatedly demonstrated the importance of integrated interdisciplinary team models that share expertise and create a network of support for healthcare providers while ensuring seamless quality care for patients. Lisa’s passion for the area of psychedelics led her to join the Cena Life team, to continue working with service providers and clients from diverse backgrounds and build quality programs that support healing for those in need.

Jacque Lovely

Jacque Lovely

Vice President of Western Operations

Jacque is a registered nurse in the province of Alberta and holds over 20 years of experience as a clinician, educator, operations manager, clinical program developer, strategic planner, and large scale health system transformer. 

He has served patients across the life span and supported system change spanning the continuum of care. He has earned two Master’s degrees: Masters of Science in Nursing focused in knowledge utilization and research uptake in the healthcare context, and a Masters of Business Administration, focused in executive management and health system redesign. 

He describes himself as a mission-driven professional aiming to bring the best possible care, supported by the latest evidence, to individuals, families, and care givers who need it.

Natalie Bergstrom’s work with ATMA includes working closely with a team in developing and facilitating course offerings with a view to equip students through both didactic and experiential opportunities to become effective psychedelic-assisted therapy facilitators.  She also oversaw the Palliative Care Program at ATMA that worked with over 20 people to receive Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for end of life distress through Section 56 Exemptions and SAPs starting in 2020.
Natalie’s passion for education and nurturing listeners and learners has been a lifelong pursuit, beginning with a private teaching practice after attaining her degree in classical music.  She enjoyed roles as an on-air radio personality, years as an on-air television journalist producing and directing a weekly magazine-style show focusing on humanitarian stories, as well as contributing to a daily live program for a national television station. In addition to these public roles, she managed multiple television station locations, designed and oversaw studio expansions, and has managed a promotional program for artists and musicians with an international humanitarian organization. Bringing these skills and experiences into the realm of psychedelic-assisted therapy, beginning in underground intentional work, intensive learning, and sitting for hundreds of personal journeys, and making the shift to working with ATMA working with Health Canada to open the doors for Canadians to access these medicines legally through training and trials continues to be a challenging and rewarding experience.

Janis Phelps, PhD, is a full professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), San Francisco, CA. She served as the Dean of Faculty at CIIS for the graduate departments in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. A licensed clinical psychologist, she has held faculty positions in the East-West Psychology graduate program (founded by Alan Watts) and clinical psychology doctoral program. She is currently the founder and director of the CIIS Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research, which conducts the first academically accredited, professional certificate training program for psychedelic-assisted therapy and research, www.ciis.edu/psychedeliccenter. Dr. Phelps is a board member of the Heffter Research Institute, which has conducted psilocybin research since the 1990’s. Her recent publications focus on the competencies and training of therapists in psychedelic-assisted therapies (article in Journal of Humanistic Psychology and chapter in Advances in Psychedelic Medicine, edited by Winkelman and Sessa). Dr. Phelps is contributing to the development of a national accreditation board for therapists and to methods of scaling effective training programs to meet the burgeoning need for well-trained mental healthand medical professionals in the field of psychedelic medicine. Dr. Phelps maintains a private practice in Mill Valley, CA.

Scott has been a student of consciousness since his honor’s thesis on that topic at the University of Arizona in the 1970s. Following medical school, MDMA assisted psychotherapy became a facet of his practice before this medicine was scheduled in 1985. He then completed a psychiatry residency at a Columbia program in New York. Scott studied cross-cultural psychiatry and completed a child/adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the University of New Mexico. Scott has published four books on holistic and integrative mental health including the first textbook for this field in 2001. He founded Wholeness Center, the largest integrative mental health center in the US, in 2010 with a group of aligned professionals to create innovation in collaborative mental health care. Scott is a past president of two national medical organizations. He serves as a site Principal Investigator and therapist for the Phase III trial of MDMA assisted psychotherapy for PTSD and for the Phase IIB trial of LSD for generalized anxiety disorder. He has also published numerous articles about his research on cannabidiol (CBD) in mental health. Scott co-founded the Psychedelic Research and Training Institute (PRATI) to train professionals in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and deliver clinically relevant studies. Scott helped to initiate the Board of Psychedelic Medicine and Therapies in 2021. He lectures all over the world to professional groups interested in a paradigm shifting perspective about transformative care.

Dr. Aviva Fohrer is triple board certified in Addiction Medicine, Family Medicine, and Preventative Medicine. She graduated with her MD from Ben Gurion University, a joint program with Columbia University and is licensed in the state of Pennsylvania. She is a member of  The American Society of Addiction Medicine and American Association of Family Practice. She has over 18 years experience in substance use disorder, ranging from working in a methadone clinic to private practice. I’ve also been a speaker on various topics on substance use disorders and have worked as an expert witness in Addiction Medicine for a variety of legal teams and the DEA.

Dr. Saundra Jain is an Adjunct Clinical Affiliate, School of Nursing, at The University of Texas at Austin, and a psychotherapist in private practice. Dr. Jain is a co-creator of the WILD 5 Wellness Program and co-author of a well-received workbook written for those interested in improving their mental wellness – KickStart30: A Proven 30-Day Mental Wellness Program. She is co-creator of the Psychedelics and Wellness Survey (PAWS) exploring the intersect between psychedelics and wellness. She serves as a member of the Psych Congress Steering Committee providing direction regarding educational gaps/needs for mental health practitioners, and Sana Symposium providing psychedelics education for mental health and addiction professionals.

Mike is an addiction and trauma therapist with 15 years of experience working in residential and outpatient treatment programs with both individuals and groups. His therapeutic ethos focuses on offering the development of evidence-based skills as well as support to integrate these skills so that his clients may realize a more fulfilling life. He practices a blend of approaches including motivational interviewing, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and existential therapy. Mike believes in the transformative power of psychedelic medicines to connect people with their inner healing intelligence and the embodied wisdom accessible to all. He recognizes the importance of a safe container being created (including preparation and integration), and values how this supports the development of psychological flexibility, potentially leading to profound and lasting improvements in the person’s quality of life via behavioural change. Mike has been working with first responders for the past 2 years facilitating PTSD healing groups. His recent efforts have been focused on the development of Resilient Living Recovery (RLR), a 10 week online addiction treatment program for people with mild to moderate substance use problems. Since 2018, Mike has presented at the Spirit Plant Medicine Conference and has been training as a study therapist for clinical research led by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) on a clinical trial that will see the MAPS MDMA protocol for trauma applied to eating disorders. He has also been approved as a research therapist on a clinical trial with Numinous that will investigate the use of psilocybin for substance use disorders via motivational enhancement therapy. Mike has attended several psychedelic integration workshops and is a consultant for PsyGen Labs focusing on the therapeutic aspects pertaining to the development of psychedelic medicine clinical trials.

Trevor Millar is a social-entrepreneur with over a decade of experience providing ibogaine therapy. He is a co-founder of Ambio Life Sciences Inc. and is responsible for various aspects of Ambio’s operations and communications. He previously served as a board member and co-founder of the Canadian Psychedelic Association and from 2018 to 2021 was on the board of directors for the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Canada, where he acted as Chair of the Board for over two years. Trevor was featured in the award-winning documentary about using magic mushrooms and Iboga to treat addiction, anxiety and depression called DOSED, which was released in 2019.

Dr. Anthony Bossis is a clinical psychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine. He is Director of Palliative Care Research, Co-Principal Investigator, and a session guide for the NYU Psilocybin Cancer Anxiety Project, a FDA-approved clinical trial investigating the efficacy of a psilocybin-generated mystical experience upon existential and psycho-spiritual distress in persons with cancer.

Dr. Christie is a clinical instructor with the UBC Department of Medicine and a family physician with a focused practice in Multidisciplinary Pain Management. She is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor emphasizing Relational Somatic Therapy for trauma resolution and is trained to deliver both MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD (MAPS USA) and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, in a research setting. She is a recognized speaker and expert on the potential for incorporating psychedelic assisted therapies in an improved health care model for the future.

Dr. Ben Malcolm earned his bachelor’s degree (BS) in pharmacology at the University of California at Santa Barbara, prior to his Masters in Public Health (MPH) and Doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD) at Touro University California. He then completed post-graduate residencies in Acute Care at Scripps Mercy Hospital and Psychiatric Pharmacy at the University of California at San Diego Health. After residency he passed his exam to become Board Certified in Psychiatric Pharmacy (BCPP). He began his career as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Western University of Health Sciences (WUHS), College of Pharmacy before transitioning to his current role as a Psychopharmacology Consultant, Psychedelic Educator, and Founder of https://www.spiritpharmacist.com Ben envisions a society in which access to psychedelic drugs in a variety of safe and supported settings is available for purposes of psychospiritual well-being, personal development, ceremonial sacraments, and treatment of mental illness. His focus is on the intersection between psychiatric medications and psychedelic therapies. He has given several Continuing Education presentations to pharmacists and other healthcare professionals as well as published over a dozen articles in peer-reviewed literature relating to psychedelics or psychiatric medications.

Mark Haden is an Adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia, School of Population and Public Health. As the past Executive Director of MAPS Canada (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), he has published on the issue of drug control policy and psychedelics in the following Journals: Canadian Journal of Public Health, International Journal of Drug Policy, Encyclopaedia of Public Health, Harm Reduction Journal, Open Medicine, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, and the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Mark teaches in the UBC school of medicine (Population and Public Health), obtained an MSW from UBC and worked for the Addiction Services for 28 years in counselling and supervisory roles. He has provided public education on drugs and drug policy for over 30 years and works with the Health Officers Council of British Columbia on their position papers on the issue of a regulated market for all currently illegal drugs. He has presented in conferences and training events in many countries and was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for drug policy reform work in 2013.

Mark Cornfield MD, FRCPC is a somewhat retired community-based psychiatrist whose career focused on long-term psychotherapy, complex PTSD, dissociative disorders, and couples therapy. He is trained in Imago Relationship therapy, EMDR, and Holotropic Breathwork™. More recently he completed Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) training at the Orenda Institute, and also with Dr. Phil Wolfson. Since 2018, along with his life-partner Susan McBride, he has been treating patients with treatment-resistant depression using ketamine. They have also done pioneering work using low dose ketamine to facilitate couples therapy. Dr. Cornfield has a special interest in ketamine as an empathogen and facilitator of other therapeutic techniques such as Imago couples therapy and EMDR.

Rakesh Jain, MD, MPH, is a Clinical Professor at the department of Psychiatry, at the Texas Tech University School of Medicine in Midland, Texas and in private practice in Austin, Texas. Dr. Jain attended medical school at the University of Calcutta in India. He then attended graduate school at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston, where he was awarded a “National Institute/Center for Disease Control Competitive Traineeship”. His research thesis focused on impact of substance abuse. He graduated from the School of Public Health in 1987 with a Masters of Public Health (MPH) degree. He served a three-year residency in Psychiatry at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He followed that by obtaining further specialty training, by undergoing a two-year fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. In addition, Dr. Jain completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Research Psychiatry at the University of Texas Mental Sciences Institute, in Houston. He was awarded the “National Research Service Award” for the support of this postdoctoral fellowship. Dr. Jain has been involved in well over a hundred research projects studying the effects of medications on short-term and long-term treatment of depression, anxiety, pain/mood overlap disorders, ADHD, and psychosis in adult and child/adolescent populations. He has presented at the World Psychiatric Congress held in Prague, and at the Depression and Pain Forum meetings in Costa Rica, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Greece, Brazil, Portugal, United Kingdom, and Argentina. He is the author of fifty-five articles published in various journals and magazines, such as Journal of Psychiatric Research, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, among others, and has presented over twentyfive original research posters at various meetings such as the APA, ACNP, AACAP, US Psychiatric Congress, etc. He has co-authored six books that range from patient education, to cutting edge neurobiologic findings in psychiatry and mental health. He serves on several Advisory Boards focusing on drug development and disease state education. He was also recently the Chair of the US Psychiatric Congress, held in Las Vegas, and for several years has served as a member of the Steering Committee for US Psychiatric Annual Congress. He is a recipient of “Public Citizen of the Year” award from the National Association of Social Workers, Gulf Coast Chapter, in recognition of his community and peer education, and championing of mental health issues. He was also recently awarded the “Extra Mile Award” by the school district, in recognition of the service to the children of the school district, and consultation to the teachers and counselors. At a U.S. Psychiatric Congress, held in San Diego, California, he was the recipient of “Teacher of the Year Award.”

Susan McBride RN, MTS, RSW is a Registered Nurse with experience working in Emergency rooms. She also is a registered Social worker and had a private practice in Hamilton where she focused on trauma therapies and couples therapy. She is trained in Imago Relationship therapy, EMDR and Holotropic Breathwork™. Susan also completed Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) training at the Orenda Institute and with Dr. Phil Wolfson, editor of the ketamine Papers. Susan has been working alongside Mark, to treat patients using KAP therapy. As a couple, they have been using low dose Ketamine to facilitate deep couples therapy with couples who have previously attended a basic Imago weekend workshop.

Dr. Alex Belser is a licensed psychologist and has been a leader in the psychedelic research community for the last twenty years. He is an editor of the forthcoming book, Queering Psychedelics: From Oppression to Liberation. His clinical research at NYU and Yale University has focused on investigating psilocybin and MDMA to treat depression, anxiety, substance use, OCD, PTSD, and end-of-life distress. He is the Chief Clinical Officer of Cybin, where he directs their clinical programs in psychedelic therapeutics. He previously served as Chief Clinical Officer at Adelia Therapeutics. He is the co-author of EMBARK, a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy model that was designed to be adapted to address a range of clinical indications and populations. He is a member of Chacruna Institute’s Women, Gender Diversity, and Sexual Minorities Working Group, where he works on issues affecting LGBTQI+ people. His research has been featured on the front page of the New York Times, in the Atlantic, the New Yorker, The Guardian, and in Michael Pollan’s book, How to Change Your Mind. Dr. Belser studied at Georgetown University, the University of Cambridge, Columbia University, NYU, and Yale University. His writing is available at http://alexbelser.com. His private practice site is http://centerforbreakthroughs.com.

Cross-cultural interpretation | Applied decolonization & lateral liberation | Nature & land-based education and ceremony Kim Haxton (Potowatomi) is from the Wasauksing First Nation in Ontario. She has worked across Turtle Island and abroad in various capacities but always with a focus on local leadership. Her primary tools are based in ceremony and plant medicine. Her deep understanding of the need for genuine restoration has far-reaching implications as leaders seek vision and all people seek direction to address the mounting pressure of a system incongruous with the values of the natural world. Kim has developed and facilitated programs in more than 8 countries, and has been working in land-based education and leadership for the past 26 years, including as co-founder of Indigeneyez. She takes her place among thought leaders in the area of decolonization, particularly as it applies to language, art, economics and gender. She encourages the “lateral liberation” of consciousness by drawing from the embodied knowledge of Indigenous peoples. In multi-day workshops, she moves people through a personal process of questioning what is the truth and what is simply constructed – effectively rupturing what we “know.” True expression of respect, harmony, inclusion, equity can come from this place.

Bruce Sanguin has been a Clinical Fellow with the Canadian Association of Marriage and Family Therapists for 25 years. He currently lives in Victoria, BC where he practices as a psychotherapist. He is the author of seven books, the latest of which, Dismantled: How Love and Psychedelics Broke a Clergyman Apart and Put Him Back Together, describes his own healing journey using psychedelics in the context of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. As well as practicing psychotherapy, Bruce is a keynote speaker at psychedelic conferences, with an active interest in the integration of spirituality and psychology.

Dr. Pamela Kryskow is a medical doctor and the medical lead of the Non Profit Roots To Thrive Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Programs that treats people with PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use challenges and with end of life distress. She is a founding board member of the Psychedelic Association of Canada and the medical chair of the Vancouver Island University Post Graduate Certificate in Psychedelic Medicine assisted Therapy. She is a clinical instructor at UBC and adjunct professor at VIU. Dr Kryskow is actively involved in research related to psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, front line health care workers and first responders mental wellness. She is co-investigator on the largest microdosing study Microdose.me which is ongoing with 22,000+ enrolled participants. Prior to studying medicine she was a City of Coquitlam Firefighter for 8 years and provincial forestry firefighter for 4 seasons. In real life she loves hiking in the forest, ocean kayaking, growing kale and daydreaming in the hammock. Her heritage includes Polish, Ukrainian, and German. She currently resides in the traditional unceded territory of the Klahoose First Nations. Pronouns: She/her.

Zach Walsh, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, a Research Affiliate with the BC Centre on Substance Use, and an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, where he directs the Therapeutic, Recreational, and Problematic Substance Use lab. He has published and presented widely on topics related to psychedelics, cannabis, mental health and psychotherapy. He is the lead investigator for several ongoing studies of the therapeutic use of cannabis including a clinical trial of cannabis for PTSD, and has worked clinically on trials of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Zach’s clinical focus is on the application of “third wave” mindfulness-based behavior therapies to address trauma, relationship conflict, and problematic substance use.

Philippe Lucas PhD is a cannabis and psychedelic researcher and President of Sabi Mind, a clinic group focused on increasing access to psychedelic-assisted therapy in the treatment of mental health, pain and problematic substance use. Philippe was founder and Executive Director of the Vancouver Island Compassion Society, one of Canada’s first medical cannabis dispensaries, and a founding Board member of the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies Canada. More recently he worked as VP, Global Patient Research & Access at Tilray, where he oversaw a comprehensive international clinical and observational cannabis research program, and he is also acting-CEO of Compassionate Analytics, which produces on-site analytical tools for the cannabis industry. He has been invited to present his research before the Canadian House of Commons and Senate on numerous occasions, and has worked with governments around the globe to develop evidence-based drug policies informed by harm reduction, cognitive liberty and compassion. Philippe has received a number of accolades for his work and research, including the Americans for Safe Access Researcher of the Year Award 2021, the Cannabis Council of Canada Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Rich Tyo is a registered psychotherapist, mental health advocate, musician, arts educator, psychedelic practitioner, and founder of the Kingston Psychedelic Society. For the last 10 years, Rich has supported individuals in their preparation and integration of transpersonal/ psychedelic experiences with a transpersonal, somatic, and harm reduction lens. He also leads psychedelic cannabis ceremonies for groups and individuals and has spoken internationally on topics such as psychedelic harm reduction, micro-dose research, spirituality, and shadow work. Rich is passionate about community building and holistic mental health education in order to support people in finding their skills to navigate the deep healing within our collective and individuals psyches that is essential during these uncertain times.

Deeply informed by experiential and embodied practice with a variety of plant and fungal medicines, I have been enchanted with the continuation and revitalization of Traditional Indigenous Knowledge since 1999. My studies in Medical Anthropology have bolstered my parallel studies and apprenticeship with traditional healers from throughout Abya Yala, which in the Kuna language of Panama means “land in its full maturity” or “land of vital blood,” (the continents now known as North and South America). I’m passionate about decolonizing consciousness and believe that emerging leadership in this area is available by developing respectful and reciprocal relationships with traditional knowledge keepers and their communities. I live, work, and play in the Calgary area of Alberta, Canada. I work as an integration coach, supporting people to prepare for and integrate from experiences with ceremonial plants and fungi.

Matthew is a passionate advocate for the beneficial integration of self-learning and community engagement. He is very active in his efforts to build bridges between individuals and communities and explore the possibilities of creative art within these containers. He is the founder of Sacred Row, a community based organization that was established in 2020 and focuses on supporting vulnerable and integrative processes for individuals and groups. He is a long-time instructor of yoga, meditation and he has developed an esoteric approach to helping others unlock the use of their authentic voice. He is very passionate about the wisdom of psychedelic medicines and the integral inclusion of them in modern medicine.

His mission is to educate, inspire and empower others to live to their true potential. He offers tools to break through the structures that hold us back from living and expressing that potential in the world. Jeff has studied, trained and practiced with some of the world’s leading breathwork and movement facilitators. Wim Hof, Patrick McKeown, Brian Mackenzie, David Shannahoff Khalsa and Jhenneviev Heartt are a few of the influences that have led to the creation of breathARMY, a unique offering of breathwork, meditation, movement and exposure to natural stressors that help us to regain our own true nature. Jeff has also retired as a Paramedic for the British Columbia Ambulance Service and resides in Kelowna, BC.

We are deeply saddened to share that on August 13, 2024, Thomas Hartle passed away in Saskatoon, SK.  He was an inspiration as one who selflessly gave so much for the benefit of others in his advocacy for access for all who would benefit from psilocybin treatment through the Section 56 and Special Access Programs.

Thomas Hartle is a 54 year old husband, father, and IT professional who has been dealing with stage 4 colon cancer since 2016. Faced with the typical outcome of stage 4 cancer, Thomas experienced a debilitating amount of anxiety over his future and that of his family. In August of 2020, Thomas became the first Canadian to legally receive psilocybin assisted psychotherapy. Since that time, he has experienced a substantial improvement in both his emotional wellbeing, and in his overall ability to once again enjoy the time he has with his family. He is currently a passionate advocate for psilocybin therapy and shares his story as part of his advocacy.

Dr. Erika Dyck is a Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, and a Canada Research Chair in the History of Medicine. She is the author of Psychedelic Psychiatry: LSD from Clinic to Campus (Johns Hopkins, 2008; University of Manitoba Press, 2011), Managing Madness: The Weyburn Mental Hospital and Transformations of Psychiatric Care in Canada (2017) and the co-editor of Culture’s Catalyst: Encounters with Peyote and the Native American Church in Canada (2016) and Psychedelic Prophets: The Letters of Aldous Huxley and Humphry Osmond (2018).

Taunya, is a seasoned Counsellor with over a decade of experience in private practice. As a Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC), Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling (MPCC), and Counselling Therapist (CT), her commitment to providing cutting-edge therapeutic interventions led her to become a certified Master A.R.T. Practitioner, an IFS informed therapist, and a polyvagal informed treatment therapist, and accumulating over 350 hours of specialized psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy training.

With a diverse background that spans hundreds of hours in facilitating group work, thousands of direct client hours, and spearheading the design and implementation of Bloom Psychedelic Therapy and Research Institute’s Ketamine program, she is passionate about pushing the boundaries of mental health care. Her journey has been marked by a dedication to fostering a safe and transformative space for individuals seeking alternative therapies.

Ravi Bains

Dr. Ravi Bains

Medical Director & Psychiatrist​

Dr. Bains earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology prior to studying medicine at the University of Manitoba, his home province. He completed a psychiatric residency at Dalhousie University where he went on to complete a fellowship in ISTDP (Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy).

Subsequent to graduating in 2006, he has practiced as an inpatient psychiatrist, as well as a psychotherapist. Dr. Bains has gone on to do both inpatient and outpatient work, as well as practice as a psychotherapist.