Practitioner Forum Days
"Unconferencing the Conference"
"Hot Button" Topics for
Discussion Circles
A new and purposeful forum format. Each day, a morning panel “preparation” session leads to a series of three 1.5 hour “deep dive” discussion circles, and ending with a Plenary “integration.”
Attendees, with their vast experience and expertise as practitioners and practitioners-in-training, will be participating actively in important dialogues that hold the intention of finding common ground and solutions. Although some of the topics are controversial, we realize they are necessary for us to reset, reconcile and evolve as a community of practitioners within the field of psychedelic-assisted work.
A team of 8 to 12 experienced facilitators will be orienting to support these conversations leading up to and during the forum. This event intends to facilitate and structure a safe container for meaningful and transformative discussions and learning processes. Each facilitator will be supporting forum discussion circles, then will weave back into plenary sessions, guiding participants towards heart-centered communication and deep listening.
Our goal is to “shake the tree” and move from “seeds to action” — We envision co-creation, new personal connections, new and renewed relationships and ways of knowing, as well as fruitful summaries at the end of the conference, with actionable recommendations and next steps.
Community Container & Morning Panel Preparation
Dr. Duncan Grady will be sharing his teachings to structure a safe container for us at the start of each day. To facilitate our preparation, a few panelists will kick off each morning’s discussions, prior to our participation in a series of smaller discussion circles supported by experienced facilitators.
Our morning panelists include Dr. Duncan Grady, Dr. Valorie Masuda, Carmen Ostrander, Dr. Shannon Dames, Todd Haspect,
Dr. Jean Paul Lim, Tarzie McLean, and Dr. Crosbie Watler.
- Holding a vision of inclusive, accessible emotional, psychological, and spiritual health with psychedelic medicines; the issue of accessibility of psychedelic-assisted therapy and treatments for various populations, consideration of inequities within this field, how do we level this reality?
- How to be of service to Indigenous populations as part of Truth and Reconciliation, including honouring the ways and healing ceremonies of First Nations communities and ensuring Indigenous representation and meaningful advisory roles are an integral part of this field
- Benefits of group therapy compared with individual therapy; encouraging community healing opportunities beyond the 1:1 therapist model
- Acknowledging the spectrum of work from emotional/psychological/physical healing to spiritual possibilities – how can we share models and ways of working within the clinical paradigm and beyond? How do we continue to build bridges including diverse practitioners as well as those outside the clinical credentials?
- How to protect clients, patients, and the public: Ethics, values and boundaries for practitioners, ensuring processes and practices to get clear on consent, safety, touch in psychedelic-assisted spaces.
- Harm reduction from a different lens: Promoting public education to ensure that clients and patients are well-informed, as well as greater implementation of practices that ensure responsibility and accountability to reduce instances of harms caused by practitioners; the necessity of supporting competency development and practice standards for providers from different disciplines and backgrounds
- As a community, how do we deal with transgressions and harmful legacies that have affected and impacted this field? How do we hold reverence for the shadow side of this work, while ensuring appropriate sanctions? How do we deal with “lone wolves” who are not embedded within a circle of accountability? How do we heal as a community, from a restorative, holistic, progressive perspective? How do we assure practitioners are doing their own deep work?
- Is it possible to create standards of practice within or between disciplines and agreements on approaches and orientations? What are the opportunities and risks within conversations of standardization, regulation and governance?
- Exemptions, legal processes, decriminalization: What are access options and advice to overcome hurdles in navigating legalized processes such as the Special Access Program?
Reset Spaces for
Mind, Body, Spirit
To support participants’ well-being, there will be reset stations and spaces to recline, stretch, and restore. There will also be a general as well as BIPOC Psychological Support space available.
Movement Breaks & Musicking
Throughout the two days, movement and musicking will be thrown into the mix to help participants to refocus and to ground.
Who should attend?
Mental health professionals, physicians, integrated/holistic practitioners, traditional healers, body workers, and others in this field who have worked, supported and/or trained underground and/or above ground.
Meals included in Ticket Price
Student: CAD$399 + GST
Regular: CAD$455 + GST
Fee includes:
Cont. Breakfast, Lunch, and Coffee/Tea Breaks at VICC – Sept 29 & 30, as well as
Grazing Dinner Reception & Drinks at
Nanaimo Museum (beside VICC) – Sept 29
