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.
Board of Directors
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.
Emma is an attending psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Ontario, and a lecturer at the University of Toronto. Her specialty is in women’s mental health and the treatment of developmental trauma, sexual trauma, and complex PTSD. She has extensive training in multiple modalities of psychotherapy and has worked clinically with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
Emma works with MAPS as the Qualified Investigator of the Montreal site of the Phase 3 study examining MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. She is working with a team in Toronto developing a study combining Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) with MDMA for PTSD. She also practices and studies Kundalini yoga and mindfulness meditation. She has a growing interest in serving those who are dying.
Sean practices emergency medicine and psychotherapy. His psychotherapy practice includes Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and ketamine assisted psychotherapy. Dr. O’Sullivan certified in Holotropic BreathworkTM in 1990, and practised that modality for several decades.
Sean, together with his wife Donna Rosenthal, was involved in the efforts to legalize the Santo Daime religion in Canada. Dr. O’Sullivan is presently working with Bruce Tobin, PhD and his team to move psilocybin towards legal status for appropriate patients, focusing initially on patients with existential end of life distress.
Pauline is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Certified Focusing-Oriented Therapist in private practice in Nanaimo, BC, specializing in trauma work, couples therapy, and cross-cultural issues. She received her Master of Arts in Integral Counseling Psychology in 2007 from California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. In 2014, Pauline co-founded the Psychedelic Psychotherapy Forum, which evolved to become Canada’s premiere conference facilitating dialogue and shared learnings about psychedelic-assisted therapies, offering CE credits to health practitioners including psychologists, clinical counsellors, psychotherapists, nurses, and family physicians.
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.
Research & Evaluation Liaison
András Lénárt works at the British Columbia Ministry of Health on physician compensation policy, with previous roles in pharmaceutical policy and regulation. In the past, he contributed to advancing patient engagement in HIV research at the McGill University Health Centre Research Institute, and advocated for evidence-based drug policy reform as a Director of Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy. He believes integrating psychedelics into the healthcare system is one of the most impactful improvements that can be realized for enhancing mental health and well-being in Canada. He holds a B.A.&Sc. and M.Sc. from McGill University.
Web Developer
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.
Media Strategist
Peg Peters is the Executive Director of Run for Water, a charity that empowers women with access to clean water and education in Ethiopia. He also Is passionate about telling stories through his film company Falling Frogs Media. We need to show how psychedelics are used. To see the people who are benefiting from psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and the wonderful researchers, therapists, doctors and healers that are bringing psychedelics into the 21st century.
Tara Portelli was first introduced to psychedelic healing for Mental Health, through the work of Paul Staments and the studies conducted by Harvard and John Hopkins Universities. After working in Emergency Services for 9 years, she sees the need for a change in our current Mental Health Care system. She feels that there is an obvious gap between the population that is affected by Mental Health and the resources that are available to these individuals. This work is very important to Tara, as an effective treatment option, bridging that gap and helping those who are suffering.
Clinical Advisors
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.
Medical Director
Medical Director. Dr. Hayden Rubensohn received his MD in 2012 from the University of Calgary. He studied in psychiatry for another two years before completing a specialization in internal medicine, and he is currently completing a specialization in his area of primary interest: palliative care. Hayden’s clinical experience in palliative care extends back to 2012 and is augmented by experience in internal medicine, critical care medicine, geriatric medicine, psychiatry, and psychiatric oncology. He has received special training in issues relating to medical assistance in dying. Dr. Rubensohn completed training in psychedelic psychotherapy from the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Science (MAPS) and participated for four years as a co-therapist in the Vancouver MAPS-funded Phase II clinical trials investigating MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a treatment for PTSD. He remains a clinical investigator for the ongoing phase 3 trials.
Medical Intake Specialist Physician
Dr. Stogryn completed her Medical Doctorate in 2005 and postgraduate training in Family Medicine with a specialized focus in Aboriginal Health in 2007, at the University of British Columbia. She has practiced as a family physician for the last 10 years, primarily in rural and remote First Nations communities on the west coast of BC. She currently practices in the Victoria area, and maintains a strong focus in the treatment of mental health issues, addictions, and chronic disease complicated by complex trauma. She holds a Clinical Instructor position at the University of British Columbia.
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.
Mark is a community-based psychiatrist with a special interest in long-term psychotherapy, complex PTSD, dissociative disorders, and couples therapy. He trained in Imago Relationship therapy, EMDR, and Holotropic Breathwork™, and more recently completed Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) training at the Orenda Institute, and has also trained with Dr. Phil Wolfson.
Since 2018, along with his life-partner Susan McBride, he has been treating patients with treatment-resistant depression using ketamine. Dr. Cornfield has a special interest in ketamine as an empathogen and facilitator of other therapeutic techniques such as Imago couples therapy and EMDR. Most recently Mark and Susan have been offering a three-day KAP Learning Experience to physicians and psychotherapists.
Susan worked as an emergency room Registered Nurse dealing with physical and emotional crises. After graduating with a B.A. in Psychology, she worked at a children’s mental health agency assisting parents to deal with physical, emotional and psychological crises with their children.
An interest in spirituality led her to complete a Masters in Theological Studies in Counselling. Since 2002, she has been in private practice using Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Gestalt therapy, EMDR, and Imago Relationship therapy. Together with her partner, psychiatrist Mark Cornfield, she has been facilitating monthly Imago weekend workshops for couples.
Susan certified with GTT as a Holotropic Breathwork™ facilitator and has been facilitating monthly Holotropic workshops since 2005.
Susan trained at the Orenda Institute and with Dr. Phil Wolfson in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy. Since 2018, Susan and Mark have been using Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy with individual clients. They have also facilitated group sessions with couples using ketamine and Imago therapy. Most recently, they have been facilitating Ketamine Learning Experiences for psychotherapists and physicians.
Donna graduated with a degree in Sociology from the University of Toronto, and completed three years of graduate studies in Sociology and Religion at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She worked for fifteen years at the Chedoke-McMaster Child & Family Centre with multigenerational, multi-problem families.
Donna was certified in Holotropic BreathworkTM & Transpersonal Psychology by Stan & Christina Grof in 1990. She led Holotropic Breathwork Workshops for fifteen years, and taught courses in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. For many years, Donna, together with her husband Sean O'Sullivan, was involved in efforts to legalize the Santo Daime religion in Canada. She currently offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and other in-depth individual and group therapies.
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.
Legal Team
Legal Counsel
Paul Lewin is a cannabis lawyer in Toronto who has litigated a vast array of cannabis issues. Paul has litigated the constitutionality of the doctor-as-gatekeeper requirement, patient access to cannabis by mail-order, and the prohibition on the religious use of cannabis. Paul challenged and ended the police practice of accessing hydro consumption records without warrant in order to raid cannabis gardens. Paul has been practicing in Toronto for almost 25 years. He is also a long time board member for NORML Canada.
Jack Lloyd, Barrister & Solicitor is a cannabis lawyer practicing across Canada excluding Quebec. He articled with Lewin & Sagara LLP, a cannabis law firm in Toronto. After finishing articling he joined Tousaw Law Corporation where he worked as an Associate until the firm closed in 2018 at which time he began Lloyd Law Professional Corporation where he is now the principal lawyer. Tousaw Law Corporation was Canada’s foremost cannabis litigation boutique and was the firm responsible for R v Smith 2015 SCC 34 which was the per curiam decision from the Supreme Court of Canada which legalized cannabis edibles (and other extracts and derivative medicines) for medical cannabis patients in Canada. His practice consists primarily of criminal and constitutional litigation relating to medical cannabis regulation as well as consultancy work relating to the cannabis industry. He has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario and British Columbia, as well as the Supreme Court of Canada, always in relation to cannabis. Prior to becoming a lawyer, he was the editor at Green Candy Press, the world’s largest publisher of books about the cannabis plant. He continues to edit select titles for Green Candy Press, including an update to Greg Green’s seminal book on cannabis genetics, The Cannabis Breeder’s Bible, as well as several cannabis cookbooks, including The Ganja Kitchen Revolution and Marijuana Chef Cookbook. He is the President of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws in Canada (NORML Canada) where he advocates for sensible regulations concerning cannabis in Canada. If you would like to speak to Mr. Lloyd feel free to email his office: info@lloydlawcorporation.ca or contact him on Twitter: @JackLloydLawyer
Robert W.E. Laurie is an international lawyer, qualified in England and called to the British Columbia Bar. Robert founded AD LUCEM LAW CORPORATION in Vancouver in 2013 and his legal practice focuses on commercial business, government regulatory and constitutional issues surrounding cannabis and psychedelic plant medicines. Robert serves as a Board Advisor to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Canada, Steve DeAngelo’s Last Prisoner Project, SPORE Denver and Legal Advisor to the Heroic Hearts Project UK. Robert is one of the Founding Partners with Dr. Dennis McKenna of the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy. He serves as a Director with Jay DeMerit and Ashleigh McIvor’s Rise and Shine Foundation and Rex Weyler’s Ecuador Amazon Restoration Project. Robert holds an M.A. (Hons) Juris from the University of Oxford (St. Edmund Hall) and B.A. (Hons) in Political Science and International Relations from the University of British Columbia.
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.
Henria Stephens is an articling student working with law firms Lewin&Sagara and Cannabis Law. Prior to law school, she worked in the Agriculture, Healthcare and International Development Sectors for twenty years, focusing much of her energy on organic and Fair Trade best practices and marketing models. She has worked in small grassroots organizations and large multinational corporations and can adapt to meet the needs of divergent stakeholders. She is a champion of justice and fairness and returned to law school to foster impactful change.
Henria also works at one of Canada’s leading Trauma Centres in the Emergency Department. For over ten years she has consistently delivered quality patient care in an empathetic and professional manner. Henria’s work in the Healthcare sector has directly impacted her belief and support for alternative therapeutic practices that include medical cannabis and psychedelics.
Before joining Lewin&Sagara and Team Tobin, Henria volunteered at a social justice focused sole practitioner’s law firm, whose practice areas included Civil Litigation, Human Rights and Labour & Employment. She also attended The Michener Institute (2019), and successfully completed Health Professional’s Introduction to Cannabis to better understand the medicinal and therapeutic uses of Cannabis.
In 2018 Henria completed her LLM from Osgoode Hall at York University. She also holds a BA (Huron University College) and LLB (University of Leicester). Henria is happy and committed to championing the rights of her clients and is excited to work with her wonderful teammates and this righteous effort. When not learning more about Cannabis and Psychedelics, Henria enjoys genuine connections, immersion travel experiences, memorable meals and marveling at the universe
