How will you ensure my safety in a psychedelic- or empathogen-assisted journey?
Your safety is my top priority. I take time to fully understand your personal history, mental and emotional health, and any concerns you may have before the journey begins. We will also have a thorough discussion about your medical history, including any medications you’re currently taking, to ensure there are no contraindications with the medicine we’ll be working with.
If you choose a synthetic psychedelic or empathogen medicine, we will have it lab-tested to ensure it is uncontaminated and safe for consumption.
During the journey itself, I provide a calm, grounded presence, and I’m available to guide you through challenging emotions or sensations that may arise. I offer gentle reminders, breathing techniques, and somatic grounding exercises to help you stay connected to your body and the present moment.
I also incorporate trauma-informed care, which means I understand how to recognize and support you through any trauma responses that may arise. I will guide you through the process with integrity, respect, and compassion, ensuring your physical, emotional, and mental well-being is always protected.
I also place a strong emphasis on aftercare, providing integration sessions to help you process the experience and apply the insights gained into your life.
What’s the difference between a psychedelic and empathogen medicine?
Psychedelic medicines, like Psilocybin (magic mushrooms) or LSD, tend to create mind-expanding experiences, often giving people deep insights, vivid visuals, and a sense of connection to something bigger than themselves. They’re known for helping you explore your inner world, shift perspectives, and open your heart to new possibilities.
Empathogen medicines, like MDMA or 3MMC, primarily work by fostering a deep sense of emotional openness, compassion, and connection, helping you access and heal emotions in a safe and supported way.
While both can work through the mind and heart, psychedelics are often more focused on expanding awareness and consciousness, while empathogens tend to centre more on healing emotional wounds and building trust in relationships.
Could I have a ‘bad trip’?
What people usually think of as a ‘bad trip’ often happens when they take a medicine they don’t fully understand, in the wrong environment, or at a dose that’s too high. Our work together is very different. You’ve made an intentional decision to do this, and we’ll be working with a carefully chosen dose in a safe, supportive setting.
While the experience can be intense and sometimes uncomfortable, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad. Often, it’s the difficult emotions or challenging moments that lead to the most meaningful insights and growth. If you’re open to it, those hard feelings can be powerful teachers.
If things get tough, I’ll be right there with you. I’ve guided many people through similar experiences and have been through my own challenging journeys. We’ll navigate it together, and you’ll come out on the other side feeling more grounded and clearer.
Will this change my personality? Or will I still be the same person?
You will still be you. If anything, you might feel like a more complete, authentic version of yourself. Sometimes, through life experiences or trauma, we lose touch with who we truly are. A psychedelic- or empathogen-assisted journey can help reconnect you with those parts of yourself that may have been tucked away, bringing them back into alignment so you feel more integrated and whole.
Who should not work with psychedelics or empathogens?
Using psychedelics or empathogens might not be the best choice if you have certain health conditions or are on specific medications. For instance, mixing these substances with SSRI antidepressants or MAOIs can be risky and lead to serious issues like serotonin syndrome, so it’s a good idea to chat with your pharmacist about potential interactions. Medications like antipsychotics, lithium, and benzodiazepines can affect how psychedelics work or even make things less safe, while stimulants might increase heart risks and intensify the experience.
If you have health conditions such as high blood pressure or heart disease, or if you have liver issues, you should be extra cautious, as these substances can impact your health in different ways. People with severe anxiety, psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder might find their symptoms worsened. Those with uncontrolled epilepsy might be at higher risk for seizures. Additionally, if you have untreated hyperthyroidism, have recently had a stroke, or are dealing with advanced neurological conditions like Parkinson’s or ALS, it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider to ensure that it’s safe for you.
Always talk with a healthcare professional to make sure you’re making a well-informed and safe decision based on your unique health needs.
What kind of experience do you have working with empathogens and psychedelics?
My journey on this path started with a trip to Perú with my youngest son in 2018. We sat in a series of traditional Ayahuasca ceremonies in the Andes and the Amazon jungle. That trip was a game changer for both of us. Since then, I have worked with a wide range of plant and synthetic medicines, including Ayahuasca, Huachuma (San Pedro), Peyote, Psilocybin, Iboga, 5-MeO DMT (Bufo and Jaguar), MDMA, 3MMC, 2MMC, LSD, and 2CB. I am committed to the continued exploration of myself, and all that these medicines have to offer us.
What kind of training do you have?
Besides extensive education in Psychedelic-assisted Therapy, I am trained in Transpersonal Counselling, Relational Somatic Therapy, Compassionate Inquiry, Non-Violent Communication, and other complementary modalities including Holistic Nutrition, Reiki, and Loving Kindness Meditation. I have worked as a volunteer facilitator at an Ayahuasca retreat centre in Perú, and I have been a supporting member of traditional sweat lodge communities in Vancouver and Squamish, BC. I am committed to ongoing experiential education, continually developing my skills through mentorship, supervision, and personal growth.
Most importantly, I have extensive experience doing my own work and exploration with empathogens and psychedelics, and I am committed to the continued healing of my wounds. I have been through some very difficult and painful processes, and I have had some incredibly beautiful moments of connecting with my true essence – the inherently good truth of who I am. I know first-hand how challenging, powerful, and transformative these experiences are. I know that it takes time, effort, patience, and persistence after the journey to integrate meaningful changes. I’m doing this work, and so can you.
What could go wrong? What’s the worst-case scenario?
The medical issues covered in “Who should not work with psychedelics and empathogens” above would be the worst-case scenario. If you are honest about your medical history, none of that will happen. In that case, the worst-case scenario is you are not able to trust your own experience. The number-one handicap to this work is expectation. When somebody comes in with an expectation, and they don’t get what they thought they were supposed to get, they might deny what they received. They’ll let the treasure go because it wasn’t what they thought it would be. An ideal mindset would be to trust, surrender, and receive.
How hard is this going to be?
When you do a psychedelic- or empathogen-assisted journey, things may get harder before they get easier. Yes, psychedelics and empathogens are your friend, but they can bring up some challenging emotions and realizations. You will almost certainly realize some hard truths. In some rare cases, hidden or forgotten traumas come up. These emotions, realizations, and memories can be painful. But discomfort is kind of the point. The only way to get hard emotions out is to let them come up and experience them. Not all of it will be hard, but the hard parts are how you heal.
The reason psychedelics and empathogens are so amazing for healing emotional wounds is because they bring us into an open-hearted space in order to get in touch with our deeper pain. What might be too hard to handle normally becomes less overwhelming.
Some of these questions and answers have been adapted from “A Dose of Hope” by Dr. Dan Engle & Alex Young.
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