Ketamine-assisted therapy training

Angela Ward, is a Seattle-based board-certified health and wellness nurse coach and psychedelic practitioner. Driven by a passion for supporting transformative healing, she has extensive bedside experience caring for patients undergoing significant personal shifts. Inspired by her own journey with psychedelic-assisted therapy, Angela founded Guardian at the Gateway in 2019, a program integrating psychedelic care and coaching. She also established the Psychedelic Doula Academy, training practitioners in psychedelic support. A co-founder of the Organization of Psychedelic and Entheogenic Nurses (OPENurses.org), Angela actively advocates for nurses' roles in this field. Her influence extends to teaching and clinical practice, with faculty positions at ketamine training retreats and contributions to the Holistic Psychedelic Nurse Collective. Angela's diverse credentials, including certifications from the California Institute of Integral Studies, Synthesis, and MAPS, equip her to guide clients towards profound healing and growth.

Dr. Crystal Dawn Silas is a family and functional/integrative medicine physician, herbalist, writer, and speaker dedicated to holistic well-being. With 15 years of experience in plant medicine and harm reduction, she advocates for the ritual use of plant medicines, ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT), and breathwork as transformational modalities that foster a growth mindset and enhance the body's innate healing abilities. Dr. Silas serves as a medical consultant for Doorways Inc., a team of psychotherapists in Oakland CA who provide KAT and maintains a boutique medical practice, empowering individuals, families, and communities. Her approach incorporates diverse holistic tools, including medicinal botanicals, food as medicine, meditation, detoxification, epigenetics, lifestyle medicine, microbiome wisdom, exercise, dance, yoga, guided imagery, nutraceuticals, and immersion retreats, all aimed at promoting well-being and a balanced, fulfilling life.

Ian Mitchell is a Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of British Columbia. He is currently practicing at the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops where he has been practicing for more than 10 years. He has been using ketamine in clinical practice for over 25 years and currently sits on the Board of the Ketamine Assisted Therapy Association of Canada. He has lectured internationally on the use of ketamine and its complications including as well as medicinal cannabis use. He is the Site Scholar for the Kamloops Family Medicine Residency Program where he teaches doctors in training about how to interpret and conduct research. He is a co-investigator in a triple blind randomized clinical trial on the effects of cannabis on PTSD at UBC Okanagan. He is on the editorial board and a contributing author for Using Medical Cannabis.

Educator, psychedelic integralist, and PhD candidate in clinical psychology with over 30 years experience in health care including licensed and registered midwifery in the US and Canada, registered nursing, clinical counseling and psychotherapy, consciousness based healing modalities, integral yogic psychology, somatic therapy, traumatology, and for the last six years psychedelic therapy in clinical, research, retreat, and ceremonial settings. Consultant to ethical psychedelic companies and curriculum developer and lecturer in accredited institutional academic programs on psychedelic therapy and research. In addition to being a University of British Columbia instructor and lecturer in mental health and psychiatric nursing, Kate was a program director in Holistic Health in the continuing studies department of Langara College. Kate has been a founding member of the Psychedelic Association of Canada, the Ketamine Assisted Therapy Association of Canada, and Noctua Academy. Her doctoral work focuses on the creation of integral frameworks for individualized assessment and case conceptualization in psychedelic healing.

Keren Mitchell, a dual-qualified Family Nurse Practitioner and Registered Clinical Counsellor, brings two decades of experience in mental health, substance use, and harm reduction to her practice. Integrating mainstream psychiatry and psychopharmacology with specialized training in psychedelic and somatic therapies, she supports clients' psychospiritual integration through counselling, medication management, and psychedelic preparation/integration. Keren is a Medical and Psychotherapy MDMA and Psilocybin Associate with TheraPsil, providing legal psychedelic-assisted therapies, and offers Ketamine Assisted Therapy at her private practice, Alchemystic Therapy. Her approach is characterized by innovation, compassion, and a commitment to lifelong learning, empowering clients to access their inner strengths and achieve their unique definitions of recovery.

Dr. Monika Hooper is a Saskatoon-based psychiatrist with a specialization in interventional psychiatry and a passion for increasing access to cutting-edge treatments in Saskatchewan. Her practice offers a range of innovative therapies, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for treatment-resistant depression, IV Ketamine Infusions for depression and PTSD, and psilocybin and MDMA macrodose treatments through the Health Canada Special Access Program. Dr. Hooper’s commitment to expanding therapeutic options reflects her belief in personalized and evidence-based care. She received her medical degree from the University of Alberta and completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Saskatchewan. Furthermore, she has pursued specialized training in Psychedelic-assisted therapy through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, solidifying her expertise in this emerging field.

Dr. Rae St. Arnault is a Naturopathic Physician based in Vancouver, BC, and co-founder of Empower Health Clinic, a multidisciplinary clinic that hosted one of Canada’s first legal, interdisciplinary ketamine-assisted therapy training programs. With over two decades of experience, she champions team-based, integrative healthcare that fosters transformation on personal, business, and community levels. Dr. Rae also co-founded the Psychedelic Development Corporation and the Ketamine Assisted Therapy Association of Canada, advocating for policy change and accessibility. An industry expert, she consults on psychedelic protocols, clinic management, ethical governance, and sustainability. Dr. Rae has founded multiple nonprofits, established four businesses in health and wellness, and regularly teaches on transformative healing modalities and integrative healthcare. Her patient care focuses on empowering individuals with tools for self-healing, specializing in hormone therapy, pain management, and addressing addiction and digestive issues through a blend of ancient wisdom and modern techniques.

Shannon Dames (maiden Magnus), a mother of two and a third-generation immigrant with mixed ancestry, is a dedicated Health Professional Investigator and Professor of Nursing and Psychedelic-assisted Therapy (PaT). She spearheads the Roots to Thrive program and serves as a clinical lead for psychedelic therapy and addiction medicine clinics on Vancouver Island. Dr. Dames's influence extends to academia, where she played a founding role in establishing Vancouver Island University's (VIU's) PaT Graduate Certificate education program and VIU's Naut sa Mawt Centre for Psychedelic Research. Her contributions to the field are further evidenced by her published works, focusing on nursing practice, resilience development, and the delivery, research, and education of PaT. Dr. Dames's commitment to holistic healing and psychedelic-assisted therapies makes her a respected figure in the field.

Dr. Steve Rosonke, founder of Rainfall Medicine, is a board-certified emergency and addiction medicine physician with a fellowship in trauma and critical care. With an unblemished safety record, he has treated patients with ketamine since 2001, utilizing his expertise to manage potential complications. Driven by a passion for holistic healing, Dr. Rosonke founded Rainfall Medicine in 2018 to provide effective, personalized treatment for mental illness, trauma, and addiction. He combines ketamine therapy with mind-body medicine, psychology, and spirituality, offering a comprehensive approach to healing. As an advocate for psychedelic therapies, Dr. Rosonke educates other professionals, consults for new practices, and serves on the Oregon Medical Board. He is dedicated to expanding access to innovative treatments and empowering patients on their journey to recovery.

Todd Haspect, is a dedicated mental health professional with 25 years of experience, specializing in trauma, substance use, and mental health challenges. While completing an M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology, Todd focused on Somatic Experiencing (SI). In 2015, Todd transitioned into a role as a Clinical Educator with Island Health Mental Health and Substance Use services (MHSU). This role focused on facilitating Trauma Informed Practice (TIP), Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and shifting Core Addictions Practice (CAP) to Responses to Substance Use. Todd's passion lies in amplifying marginalized voices through cultural humility and trauma-informed care. His personal healing journey with Roots to Thrive, RTT-KAT inspired his return to clinical counselling, where he now leads the Facilitation and Alumni program at Roots to Thrive. Todd's diverse background and unwavering commitment to social justice and healing inform his compassionate and empowering approach to supporting clients on their path to recovery and well-being.

Trina Woods is a compassionate and dedicated therapist with 15 years of experience working with youth, adults, and families. Her roles have included facilitator, community support worker, anti-oppression education coordinator, and counselling therapist. Trina's passion for healing and plant medicine led her to focus on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy during her MSW studies. She is particularly interested in the transformative power of accessing deeper states of awareness and presence. Trina has pursued advanced training in various modalities, including Emotionally-Focused Therapy for couples and individuals, and Internal Family Systems therapy. Her diverse skillset and commitment to holistic healing allow her to provide effective and compassionate care to her clients, guiding them on their journeys of self-discovery and transformation.