Conscious Community Series
(Pride Month)
Part 1 of 3:
Beyond Oneness: Honoring the Trauma and Power of 2SLGBTQ+ Identities
Wednesday, June 7th, 2023 4:30-6:00pm Pacific Time
Beyond Oneness offers a look into the importance of identity in healing and empowerment while acknowledging historic and social structures that can influence the set and setting of medicine work and well-being.
Marx Cassity, BSN, LMFT (they/them) has worked in the healing arts for over 20 years with renowned therapists, spiritual teachers, artists, academics, and medicine people from around the world. As a two-spirit, queer, mixed-race Native American who grew up on the Osage reservation of Oklahoma as an enrolled member of the tribe. They sit on the advisory council on diversity for the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and have been trained in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. A graduate of the North American Nonviolent Communication Leadership Program, Marx also formally studied meditation and Advaita Vedanta, which led to a period of residential study at Arsha Vidya Pitham in Rishikesh, India. Before becoming a psychotherapist, they worked as a Registered Nurse for 26 years, with specializations in ICU, emergency room, and home health nursing. Marx was a first responder at the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, deepening their understanding of trauma and the treatment of PTSD for first responders. Their medical knowledge also informs their approach to various components of holistic well-being.
Katherine A. Costello, PhD (she/her) is a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging leader, with over 12 years of experience in creating cultures of belonging, developing DEIB trainings, and researching and writing about gender and sexuality. She sits at the intersection of several marginalized and privileged identities; she strives to continually educate herself and leverage her privilege to create more equitable systems and cultures. She holds a BA in women's and gender studies from Smith College and a PhD in feminist and queer theory from Duke University. She has also pursued advanced training at the ICF-accredited Mindfulness Coaching School and is a practicing Buddhist. When she is not researching or leading organizational change, she coaches 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in undertaking mental and somatic shifts and cultivating skills necessary to be in thriving relationship with themselves, others, and the world. This includes psychedelic integration coaching. Her approach is trauma-informed and uses evidence-based therapeutic tools, nonviolent communication, and mindfulness practices, as well as intersectional feminist, queer, and trans theories.
Maya Amélie Seale (she/her) is a white, able bodied, woman of trans experience and person with complex trauma, social anxiety, and neurodivergence. She holds a degree in Cognitive Science from the University of Texas at Dallas, which she completed in the fall of 2022. Maya is now a researcher with a range of emerging interests, including interaction design, artificial intelligence, cognitive neuroscience, gender expansive psychometrics, mental health, minority stress, community psychology, and critical neuroscience. Maya is currently a research assistant at the Wig Neuroimaging Lab studying how a person's life & environment influences brain network predictors of cognitive decline. Jumping off this, she is working on a talk for the 2023 PsychedelX virtual conference that speculates how psychedelics might interact with the neurobiology of cognitive decline. As well, she recently began an internship with the SNaP lab, exploring how various dimensions of the gender expansive mosaic might affect the outcome of MDMA assisted group therapy for minority stress. She is also a peer volunteer with the Fireside Project, providing support to the transgender community during psychedelic experiences. As well, Maya is passionate about harm reduction and direct action, having dipped her toes in drug policy and civil disobedience with Students for Sensible Drug Policy. She credits Audre Lorde, Adrienne Marie Brown, and Julia Serano as writers who have had a significant impact on her personal and academic growth. Maya learned to make sense of transphobia by understanding its connections to colonialism and strives to find solidarity with all oppressed peoples in order to understand and address the root causes.
Rey Banks, MA, LADC (they/them) graduated with a major in clinical psychology and gender studies from Loyola University, while simultaneously working as a volunteer and intern with Equality Illinois and Rape Victim Advocates, where they received training and experience in community engagement, gathering resources, and fostering support to the queer community in Illinois, and supporting victims of sexual assault. Rey obtained their Masters' of addiction studies and clinical counseling at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, and pursued a career in trauma-related treatments and psychedelic-assisted therapy. They received formal MDMA-assisted therapy training from the 2021 MAPS chort and currently works as a research associate at the SNaP Lab. Rey also proudly serves the Confederated Tribes Of Grand Ronde, and surrounding tribal communities as a therapist. They are a black, Indigenous, two-spirit person, in recovery from poly-substance addiction, and a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence. Rey was raised within the Mexica culture as a danzante, and worked for the Lakota, Dakota, and Anishinaabe communities as an advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Minnesota. Rey centers indigenous ceremony, medicines, and teachings as their primary modality in treating mental health and substance use, and hopes to reintroduce psychedelic-assisted therapy to Indigenous communities in their future practice.
Part 2 of 3:
Psychedelic Ethics through a Queer Lens
Wednesday, June 14th, 2023 4:30-6:00pm Pacific Time
Psychedelic thought leaders highlight regulatory structures and aspects of oppression and trauma-informed consent, while speaking to the impacts of individual and collective harms and healing.
Emma Knighton, MA, LMHC (she/they) holds a M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Bastyr University, a Graduate level certificate in Psychedelic Assisted-Therapies and Research from The California Institute of Integral Studies, and a Master’s level certificate in Holistic Health from St. Catherine University. They also are a registered yoga teacher. Emma's therapeutic approach encompasses the integration of therapy, yoga, and psychedelic practices. Their work with clients is based in learning safe embodiment, deep listening to self and intuition, and curiosity into the possibility of the present moment. Emma's work has taught them that trauma shows up in many forms, and that our bodies and consciousness have the ability to teach us what our minds may have difficulty accessing and expressing. Their personal practice with altered consciousness states has been integral to their own trauma healing and personal growth. Meditation, Holotropic Breathwork, and psychedelic medicine work provide Emma a space to enter the depths of their subconscious and connect to resources inside and outside of them. Emma holds sacred their relationships with the many facets of self and the greater sense of collective love consciousness, for these are their greatest teachers.
Laura Mae Northrup, MFT (she/her) is the author of the book Radical Healership: How to Build a Values-Driven Healing Practice in a Profit-Driven World and the creator of the Inside Eyes podcast, an audio series about people using entheogens & psychedelics to heal from sexual trauma. Drawing from her work as a practicing somatic and psychedelic psychotherapist, she consults and speaks internationally on issues related to the treatment of sexual trauma. Her work focuses on defining sexual violence through a spiritual and politicized lens, mentoring healing practitioners in creating a meaningful path, and supporting the spiritual integrity of our collective humanity.
Florie St Aimé, LCSW (she/her) is a Fat Black Queer Cis Woman and Relationship Anarchist born, raised, in Lenapehoking particularly the Canarsee peoples land, now known as Brooklyn NY one generation removed from Haiti, the land of the Taino’s and before that the landmass now known as Africa, people unknown. She describes herself as a liberation-based clinician. This label roots her work in naming and blaming social constructs instead of individuals; encouraging curiosity and feeling as resistance; and practicing human connection and care towards all beings as radical action. Florie invites others into liberation practices through organizing/activism, group facilitation/workshops, individual counseling, holding sacred space and clinical supervision.
Diana Quinn, ND (she/they) is a licensed naturopathic doctor with a focus on integrative mental health, psychoneuroimmunology, and healing justice. As a queer Chicana, her work has centered care of marginalized communities, including people of color and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, for over 20 years. Dr. Quinn is the Assistant Director of Community Care in the Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies. In the emerging field of psychedelic medicine, she works to ensure ethical, safe, and inclusive care, as well as anti-oppressive approaches in training facilitators in both the medical and adult-use models. She serves on multiple advisory boards and working groups dedicated to building ethical integrity, equity, accessibility, reciprocity, and cultural humility in psychedelic medicine.
Alissa Bazinet, PhD (she/her) is the Associate Director of the SNaP Lab, and serves as the Vice President of the National Psychedelics Association. As a clinician, she specializes in the treatment of co-occurring trauma and addiction, utilizing somatic-oriented and mindfulness-based approaches. She believes in a holistic approach to treatment that takes into consideration the biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual aspects of a person and the environments and experiences they are exposed to throughout their lifetime. For the past six years, she has been an outspoken advocate for the emerging field of psychedelic therapy and is trained to provide MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. She is a longtime lead volunteer for the Zendo Project, an organization that provides psychedelic peer support and harm reduction services at music festivals and events.
Part 3 of 3:
LGBTQ+ Veterans & Community Healing
Wednesday, June 28th, 2023 4:30-6:00pm Pacific Time
A discussion on psychedelic potentials in the LGBTQ+ Veteran community, the importance of peer support in real-world and research settings, and the future of local psychedelic communities.
Ian Michael (he/they) is a Marine Corps Veteran, LGBTQ+ advocate, and all-around superhero based in Oregon. With a background in psychology and a heart for supporting veterans, Ian has made it their mission to serve the LGBTQ+ veteran community through their work at the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs. As the LGBTQ+ Veteran Coordinator and Special Advocate for the Appeals and Special Advocacy Division, Ian is dedicated to promoting inclusion, creating a more equitable environment, and ensuring every veteran gets the benefits they deserve. In addition to their work at the ODVA, Ian is a certified suicide prevention gatekeeper trainer, certified peer support specialist, and Peer Support Specialist educator. They are also certified adult/veteran mental health first aid trainer and have made it their life's work to promote mental health awareness and support among veterans and their families. So, if you need help, Ian's got your back. Outside work, Ian spends their free time with their rescue dog, hitting the gym, taking a swim, and biking around Oregon. And if you see them out and about, don't be surprised if they hug you - Ian's all about spreading love and joy. So, if you're a veteran in need or need a hug, Ian's the person to call. They're a true asset to the veteran community and a shining example of the power of advocacy and community support.
Dan Friedrich, PSS (he/him) is a Peer Mentor valuing service and compassion. He leads and trains Peer Support Specialists who provide frontline support in Oregon. With formal MDMA-assisted therapy training, Dan also acts as a research associate and psychedelic facilitator for the SNaP Lab. He continues to facilitate for the first psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy trials for methamphetamine use disorder in the Veteran community. As a mentor and practitioner, Dan gives his time to assure that clients, peers, and their families feel heard and understand that they are not alone.
Angela Carter, ND (them/them) currently serves as Chair of the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board, drawing from a peer model of support and from their experiences of volunteering for 10 years as a medic and station lead with Burning Man Emergency Services in Black Rock City, as medical lead with the Queerdome psychedelic support and harm reduction community, and as a Peer supervisor for Fireside Project’s psychedelic support and harm reduction line. They are certified in MDMA assisted psychotherapy through MAPS. They serve as an advisor for Alma Training Institute for Psilocybin Facilitation. Dr. Carter is proud to have survived as Program Manager for the initial rollout year of Oregon’s Measure 110 statewide Substance use Decriminalization, Treatment and Recovery Program with the Oregon Health Authority. Prior to their work at the state, Dr. Carter and Katie Cox co-founded the Marie Equi Institute, a nonprofit queer and transgender health advocacy organization in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Carter directed the Equi primary care and medical education programs from 2015-19. They have organized and volunteered with the Portland LGBTQ Meaningful Care Conference, National Trans HIV testing Day events, the PRIDE Study, and many other queer and transgender advocacy and education events and activities. They are the founding chair emeritus for the OHSU Transgender Health Program Community Advisory Board, and have had the privilege of providing physical and mental health care and gender affirming hormone therapy to over 1000 trans and non-binary community members over their last decade in practice.
James R. Dixon, PSS, MHFA (he/they) is a Research Associate and Psychedelic Facilitator at the SNaP Lab and completed MAPS MDMA-assisted therapy training in 2022. As a theatre maker (SDC) and a service-connected US Air Force Veteran with the lived experience of being Black and Queer identified, James also works as a Black Youth Suicide Prevention Program Specialist for Multnomah County, a Peer Support Specialist Facilitator and he currently serves on the Accountability Collective which works to preserve equity within the local theatrical arts administration. While focusing on uplifting solutions that dismantle barriers to equity and improve access to trauma-informed care, equity and inclusion are at the core of his work as a storyteller and mental health practitioner. James also supports the Portland City Council as an appointed member of the Arts Education and Access Fund Citizen Oversight Committee.