Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: A Grounded, Trauma-Informed Path to Healing
There is a quiet revolution happening in the world of mental health. It is not loud or flashy, but slow, deep, and rooted. Psychedelic-assisted therapy is emerging as a powerful tool for healing trauma, reconnecting with the self, and expanding what is possible in the therapeutic process. It is not a quick fix, and it is not for everyone. But when held with care, intention, and integrity, it can be profoundly transformative.
This is work I feel deeply called to. As a therapist and educator with lived and professional experience in the field, I walk this path with humility and respect for the medicines, the people who carry them, and the clients who trust me to walk beside them.
What Is Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy?
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy is not a single session or a recreational trip. It is a therapeutic process that includes preparation, support during the altered state experience (when applicable), and a robust integration phase. For many people, the integration is where the real work begins. Insights need to be metabolized. Emotions need tending. The nervous system needs time and support to settle into new patterns.
In my practice, I do not provide or facilitate access to illegal substances. I offer:
Harm reduction education and support for people exploring altered states
Pre- and post-journey integration for those engaging with psilocybin, ayahuasca, or other medicines elsewhere
Consultation sessions to assess readiness, safety, and suitability for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy or integration work
This is trauma-informed, relationship-based work that honors the full range of human experience. We move at the pace of safety, not urgency.
What This Work Can Support
Complex trauma and attachment wounds
Depression, grief, and existential pain
Chronic illness, pain, and nervous system dysregulation
Life transitions and spiritual emergence
Integration of insights and emotional material from past psychedelic journeys
Not everyone is a fit for this work. And that’s okay. I offer initial consultations to help us assess together what kind of support is most appropriate for your needs.
My Professional Experience and Training
I bring over twenty years of experience in the healing professions, including 5 years of extensive work as a psychedelic research therapist and trauma-informed clinician. I hold a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from Trinity Western University and am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with BCACC. I am also a BCACC-Approved Clinical Supervisor.
I have completed more than 600 hours as a lead facilitator and therapist in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy research trials, including studies on psilocybin, DMT, and ketamine for treatment-resistant depression and alcohol use disorder.
Please read my disclaimer related to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy here.
My training includes:
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Graduate Certificate (Vancouver Island University)
Fluence training in VLS-01 (DMT), PAMET (Psilocybin), and Clairvoyant Therapeutics protocols
Compass Pathways COMP360 Lead Therapist Certification
Roots to Thrive Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Intensive
TheraPsil: Fundamentals of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy
Academic and Professional Contributions:
Graduate Instructor at Trinity Western University (2017–2023), teaching courses in Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy and Addictions Counselling
Member of the Psychedelic Association of Canada’s Ethics Working Group
Ongoing mentorship and community-based learning in ceremonial contexts
Founder of Pathkeepers, a community-of-practice for PAT practitioners
Legal Status of Psychedelic Substances in BC
As of now, most psychedelic substances such as psilocybin, MDMA, and ayahuasca remain illegal in Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. However, there are specific pathways for legal access:
Ketamine is legally available when administered by a prescribing physician in a medically-monitored setting.
Psilocybin may be legally accessed through Health Canada’s Special Access Program, or a Section 56 exemption from Health Canada for medical or therapeutic use, though these are granted on a case-by-case basis.
Clinical trials and special access programs provide legal frameworks for the use of psychedelic medicines under regulated conditions.
I do not provide psychedelic substances, nor do I facilitate access to illegal materials. My work centers around education, safety, and care.
Harm Reduction Support and Education
Harm reduction in this context means providing nonjudgmental, informed support for people who are using or considering the use of psychedelics. This includes:
Exploring motivations, intentions, and readiness for altered-state experiences
Providing accurate, evidence-informed information about medicine effects, risks, and contraindications
Collaboratively assessing emotional, physical, and systemic factors that may impact safety
Developing personal and relational support plans for before, during, and after a journey
Supporting spiritual or ceremonial preparation and post-ceremony reflection
Helping clients integrate both challenging and meaningful aspects of the experience into daily life
This is about offering compassionate, ethical care to people navigating complex terrain. I do not recommend or endorse the illegal use of controlled substances, or facilitate or provide access to Psychedelics.
What to Expect
This is not formulaic work. Sessions are tailored to your needs. Some clients come for several sessions of preparation before a journey. Others come weeks or months after a powerful experience elsewhere, needing help making sense of what arose.
Integration might include talk therapy, nervous system regulation, somatic tracking, storytelling, dreamwork, or grief support. We might work with imagery, embodiment, or relational repair. We always work with consent, collaboration, and care.
If you are considering Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and want to explore whether it is a safe and appropriate path for you, I invite you to begin with a PAT consultation session. This allows us to explore your goals, assess your current supports, and determine if this approach aligns with your needs.
Ethics and Cultural Considerations
This work also includes critical attention to the larger systems we are part of. The resurgence of interest in psychedelics is happening within a colonial and capitalist framework. I work to stay aware of how this shows up in myself, my practice, and the broader field. I believe that healing is not separate from justice, and I seek to hold space in a way that honours cultural, ancestral, and systemic realities.
I hold deep respect for Indigenous-led ceremonial spaces and community-based healing. While I do not replicate ceremonial practices, I welcome and support clients who are integrating experiences from traditional or community-led ceremonies.
Is This Work for You?
You might be called to this work because traditional therapy hasn’t gone deep enough. You might feel stuck or overwhelmed, or you may be in the midst of a life transition that has brought old wounds to the surface. You may also be someone with a long-standing practice who feels it is time to tend to something that has been waiting beneath the surface.
You do not need to know all the answers. You just need to be willing to begin.
FAQ: Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Do you offer psychedelic therapy sessions directly?
I offer consultation, preparation, and integration support. I have extensive training in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy but do not provide psychedelic substances or facilitate access to controlled substances.
Can I come to you after a journey for integration?
Yes. Integration support is a core part of my practice. Whether your experience was recent or years ago, we can begin where you are.
What does harm reduction mean?
Harm reduction means supporting informed, safe, and respectful access to Psychedelic medicines and altered-states of consciousness. It includes education, preparation, and care that honours both risk and possibility.
Is this therapy right for me if I have a history of trauma or mental health diagnoses?
Possibly. These histories need to be explored with care. We will assess together what kind of support would best serve you.
Do you work with Indigenous or ceremonial contexts?
I have experience in these settings and hold deep respect for community-led work. I do not appropriate or replicate ceremonial practices, but I support clients who are integrating ceremonial experiences.
Reach Out When You’re Ready
This is tender work. Brave work. It can open what has long been held in silence. It can also bring clarity, peace, and new meaning.
If you are called to explore, I welcome you. Please begin with a Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Consultation so we can explore together what is most appropriate for you.
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