Rich Tyo

After receiving a degree in Psychology and Criminology at the University of Ottawa, Rich started his career working as a mental health and addictions crisis worker for 13 years in Kingston, Ontario. Seeing the limitations of the current system, he sought out other modalities to support deeper healing and became a Registered Psychotherapist. He trained in ketamine assisted therapy, cannabis-assisted psychedelic therapy, Sensorimotor psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems therapy, psilocybin therapy, and somatic and relational psychedelic therapy with 3MMC. He supports others in preparation and integration as well as group and individual medicine journeys. Since 2019, he has been a mentor with Students for Sensible Drug Policy's Pipeline Mentorship program.

Rich is passionate about psychedelic advocacy, education, and harm reduction. He started the Kingston Psychedelic Society 8 years ago to bring people together and reduce the stigma around psychedelics and create a safe space to discuss alternative healing modalities. In 2022, he co-created a community-focused centre called Neuma, which supports group psychedelic work and education. He has spoken globally on topics such as psychedelics, spirituality, shadow work, and PTSD. Rich has a daughter and a loving partner who keep him humble. His ongoing commitment to cultural humility, self work, and equity are what continue to inspire him to be a better human doing this important work.