Our Team
We are a group of healthcare professionals, patients, and advocates who are dedicated to making psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy available to Canadians suffering from end-of-life distress.
Founder & Chair of Board
Registered Clinical Counsellor (BC)
Registered Psychologist (NWT)
Dr. Tobin received his doctorate from University of Washington in 1983, specializing in philosophy of psychology. He has been in private practice psychotherapy for 35 years, specializing in the treatment of anxiety, depression and emotional trauma. He taught clinical skills for 25 years at University of Victoria, where he was Adjunct Assistant Professor and a member of the Graduate Faculty. He worked under contract with Health Canada for 20 years providing psychological services to First Nations communities in the Victoria area. He is interested in the interface between psychology and spirituality, and the role that altered states of consciousness play in enhancing clinical processes.
Operations
Executive Director
Spencer was first introduced to healing psychological trauma with altered states of consciousness and therapeutic psychedelics from reading the work of Terrence McKenna, Rick Strassman, and Carl Jung and believes that these methods need to be treated seriously by governments and institutions. Spencer believes that responsible drug policy requires effective organization and leadership and is dedicated to bringing together the experts and advocates, to facilitate change that results in increased access to compassionate care, harm reduction, and treatment options for those in need. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is a reasonable treatment option for palliative patients in end-of-life distress and is where we need to begin
Director of Communication
Holly Bennett is a communications specialist based in Toronto, Canada. She has over 8 years of experience in the Canadian cannabis industry including marketing, communications, and patient education. Holly holds a special interest in bioethics and drug policy and is passionate about mental health, harm reduction, and compassionate patient care. She is dedicated to helping change public perception and policy regarding psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy and emerging mental health treatment options.
Natasha Fearnley, BScN, RN is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Laurentian University. With experience in facility management and leadership as well as direct patient care, Natasha is passionate about palliative care and grief support. Through her ongoing work caring directly for patients at end-of-life, Natasha has gained the perspective that death can be a beautiful part of our journey on this earth.
She feels that psychedelic psychotherapy can be a powerful tool for individuals with end-of-life distress to gain relief from suffering, and feels honoured to be able to help the public pursue access to this medicine.
Natasha is also a graduate of The Chiron Academy, completing their Psychedelic Integration Workshop. She is an active member of the Victoria Association for Psychedelic Studies. In her free time, she enjoys attending psychedelic related conferences and workshops, as well as volunteering at events providing harm reduction support.
IT Director
Adam Farquharson is a web developer based in Victoria, British Columbia.
In 2018 he started to build websites for local businesses and organizations on Vancouver Island as well as the mainland.
Adam is excited to be part of Therapsil and to help share their vision of Psilocybin Therapy for Canadians in End-of-Life Distress.
TheraPsil Patient Intake Coordinator
Julia gained her Masters in Neuroscience from the University of Bristol, UK, where she first was introduced to the benefits of therapeutic psychedelics in treating psychological trauma. Since graduating, she has undertaken research into Alzheimer’s disease, concussion and traumatic brain trauma, as well as working for the Whistler Adaptive Sports program, helping those with physical and cognitive disabilities. It was during her time spent in industry that Julia became increasingly aware of patient’s psychological distress surrounding their illnesses, especially in those who are facing end of life.
Now based in Victoria, British Columbia, Julia believes that scientists have a responsibility to educate the public on recent advances and discoveries and raise attention towards brain health and mental health. Now being part of the team at TheraPsil, she hopes to spread awareness of the positive impact psilocybin psychotherapy can have and help those who are in end of life distress.
Clinical Advisors
Neil is a psychiatrist in Kelowna, British Columbia and is Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He is the Year 3 Director (the clinical year) of the Southern Medical Program of UBC in Kelowna. Dr. Hanon has been teaching medical students, Psychiatry residents, and Family Practise residents clinically and didactically since 1996. Dr. Hanon also does inpatient work at Kelowna General Hospital, and outpatient work at Outreach Urban Health (an Interior Health operated, primary care clinic where he works with homeless, street entrenched people often struggling with addictions and other mental health challenges), and at his private practise. In 2018 he was awarded the Clinical Faculty Award for excellence in clinical teaching by the Faculty of Medicine at UBC.
Dr. Hanon has a research interest in legally sanctioned trials with ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin for the treatment of complicated grief, treatment resistant depression, and severe addictions. Dr. Hanon got involved in Holotropic Breathwork first as a participant to help with his grief after the death of his 17 year old son, then continued on to become certified as a Holotropic Breathwork facilitator in 2015. Dr. Hanon was fortunate to have Dr. Ralph Metzner as his teacher and mentor from 2015 until Ralph’s death in 2019. Since 2015 Dr. Hanon has been facilitating Holotropic Breathwork groups.
Hi, I’m Dave and I am passionate about helping individuals and organizations experience greater levels of health. I love to teach, consult and coach managers in leading employees to maximize their potential. I am grounded in current research and am committed to promoting an evidence-based, best practices approach in whatever arena I’m working.
I hold 2 graduate degrees in counseling psychology and have over 30 years experience in the mental health field including working with hundreds of companies in multiple industries. My expertise and certifications include: Psychological health and safety, Trauma and PTSD, Management coaching, Mental Health First Aid, Mental health HR/LR, Respect in the Workplace, Substance Abuse in the workplace. On a personal level, I am married to Adele and have two grown sons; I love to golf and am an avid consumer and critic of modern film.
Dr. Reg Peters is a Trauma and Emergency physician in Abbotsford, BC. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Peters played an integral role in the creation and development of the Abbotsford UBC Family Practice Residency Program and has been involved in teaching medical students and residents since 1997. He received the Clinical Faculty Teacher of the Year Award from the UBC Residency Program.
25 years of ER experiences have fueled Reg’s passion for wellness and holistic health. He recognizes there is a need not being met by our current medical system and has obtained training in Functional Medicine, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, and the use of psilocybin in healing.
Reg has a strong desire to work with patients struggling with end-of-life anxiety and is interested in developing communities of support for patients wanting to heal from trauma.
In his personal life, Reg enjoys trail running and connecting to the outdoors.
Ryan is a rural generalist physician practicing in the small northern Ontario community of Marathon. He has a full complement of clinical practice, which in addition to his practice in emergency medicine, hospitalist and family medicine, includes MAID, palliative care, and addictions medicine. He is an assistant professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine where he has conducted research and been involved with medical education since 2013. He is passionate about spiritual health and holistic approaches to healing - including the paradigm shift happening right now with psychedelics - and is excited to be involved with all facets of that paradigm shift - direct clinical application, research, systems design and knowledge translation. He cultivates a regular meditation practice and has ample opportunity to practice and learn with his young family.
Psychological Intake Specialist
Registered Psychologist (BC # 01824)
Registered Psychologist (BC) Dr. Miners completed his doctorate in clinical psychology at Concordia University in 2007. He was trained within the scientist-practitioner model, served in multiple roles (teaching assistant, lecturer), conducted research on mindfulness, and co-authored a book chapter. He has maintained a private practice in psychotherapy and assessment since 2004, working with organizations, schools, children, families, and adults. He has trained in the treatment of complex trauma among First Nations, and worked as co-therapist and sub-investigator in a Health Canada approved, randomized controlled Phase 2 study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Vancouver, BC.
Psychotherapist
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Mr. Kerr received his M.A. in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University, and became a Registered Clinical Counsellor in 2012. With an early background in teaching, rehabilitation and employment counseling, Mr. Kerr has been in private practice in Victoria since 2012, specializing in treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma, family dynamics and family-of-origin issues, addiction, and stage-of-life changes.
Dr. Valorie Masuda is a palliative care physician and Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at UBC. She graduated from UBC in 1986 with BSc in honours pharmacology and in graduated in 1990 as a Medical Doctor. She worked in the Haida Gwaii and then in the Yukon for 8 years, followed by working in emergency medicine in Cowichan Valley for 14 years. She completed her residency in palliative care and certification as a general practitioner in oncology in 2014 and then worked in the Cowichan Valley in community palliative care for 6 years. Dr. Masuda is also a part-time farmer working towards sustainable, humane, local food production and enjoys spending time with her family as well as participating in two local orchestras both as a vocalist and playing the viola.
Advisors
Steve is an entrepreneur, philosopher, leader, and coach based on Bowen Island, BC. Steve is Co-Founder and Founder of multiple ventures including Nature of Work, a performance and wellness optimization program for modern work, NOW with Steve Rio, a podcast that explores what it means to live a good life, and Humkala Inner Wellness, working to build retreat-based protocols based on psychedelics, meditation and somatic modalities.
Steve thrives at the intersection of social impact, culture, consciousness, and technology. Steve is an expert in technology, communications, and human wellness and performance. He has close to two decades of experience leading remote and distributed digital teams as well as implementing technology and systems for social impact organizations all over the world.
David Wood is a lawyer, patent agent and partner practicing from the Calgary office of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Canada’s largest national law firm. David is Co-Chair of BLG’s Cannabis Industry Focus Group, and practices intellectual property, regulatory and commercial law. His practice is specific to the Canadian cannabis industry, and to research and commercialization of psychedelics, entheogens and entactogens. David’s individual practice is an effective blend of regulatory, intellectual property and commercial legal advice for the cannabis industry and the global psychedelics sector. He has significant experience organizing and managing teams of his colleagues at BLG to advise clients in the cannabis industry and the global psychedelics sector. David was recognized in the 14th edition (2019) of Best Lawyers in the cannabis category for his work in the regulated cannabis industry.
David has experience advising federal licence holders and applicants under the Cannabis Regulations, federal licence holders and applicants under Part J of the Food and Drug Regulations (restricted drugs), technology companies, and other domestic and foreign participants in the Canadian cannabis industry and the global psychedelics sector. David has advised pharmaceutical companies, a national pharmacy chain, a natural health products company, manufacturing companies, software companies, clinics, food companies, assisted living facilities and others on many aspects of Canadian medical and adult use cannabis regulation. David has advised technology companies focused on cultivation, extraction, formulation, biosynthesis, hardware and other aspects of the cannabis industry. David has advised pharmaceutical companies, a contract manufacturer, technology companies, hospitality companies, investment banks and other entities in relation to the global psychedelics sector.
David holds a PhD in biochemistry. His graduate-level education in structural biochemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, plant biochemistry, and natural products chemistry provides a strong technical background for advising clients in the Canadian cannabis industry, and clients positioning for commercialization of psychedelics, entheogens and entactogens, in relation to both intellectual property and regulatory law.