Meet Our Guest Faculty
Join internationally recognized leaders as they share inspiring and thought-provoking insights to strengthen the professional foundations of both current and aspiring psychedelic facilitators.
Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris is a psychedelic neuroscientist, psychopharmacologist, psychologist, and Ralph Metzner Distinguished Professor of Neurology & Psychiatry at UCSF. He founded Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research, leading groundbreaking studies on LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA for depression, PTSD, and addiction. His research explores how psychedelics alter brain function by enhancing neuroplasticity and disrupting habitual thought patterns, fostering psychological transformation. Dr. Carhart-Harris’ contributions have earned him recognition from TIME magazine's "100 Next" list and The Times' "Top Medical Scientists." He continues to pioneer research on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, shaping the future of mental health care.
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Charlotte Duerr James is a therapeutic coach, educator, and initiated Medicine Woman with over 15 years of experience working with Sacred Earth Medicines. As the founder of Liberation Training, Charlotte supports individuals and practitioners in decolonizing their personal growth and collective healing approaches. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, she has lived throughout South America, studying diverse healing traditions and facilitating hundreds of ceremonies. Her training includes Transpersonal Psychology and Indigenous Wisdom through the Awe Foundation, where she also serves as a mentor. Charlotte’s work bridges traditional wisdom and modern therapeutic practices, fostering empowerment and radical transformation.
Dr. Rosalind Watts is a clinical psychologist, a mother, and a nature lover. She has become a leading voice in psychedelic research through her roles as Clinical Lead for Imperial College London's psilocybin trial and Clinical Director at Synthesis Institute. Noted among the “50 Most Influential People in Psychedelics” as well as one of the top “Top 16 Women Shaping the Future of Psychedelics”, her focus is on integration, harm reduction, and inclusion. She leads ACER Integration, an integration community that aims to provide experiential education around integrating singular experiences into the wider collective and connecting more deeply to the self, others, and nature.
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Jules Evans is a philosopher, researcher, and author known for his work on ecstatic experiences and their impact on individuals and society. His books include Philosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations, The Art of Losing Control, and Breaking Open: Finding a Way Through Spiritual Emergency. Jules explores how people seek, interpret, and navigate ecstatic states, advocating for greater “ecstatic literacy” and better frameworks for journeys beyond the self. Over two decades, he has written for The Times, The Economist, The Spectator, BBC, and others. He is the editor of Ecstatic Integration, a sister project to The Challenging Psychedelic Experiences Project, which launched in 2022 to advance psychedelic ethics, integration, and harm reduction.
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Akua Ofosuhene is a guide, advocate, and founder of African Spiritual Practices retreats, specializing in psilocybin and Ayahuasca journeys. Her healing approach integrates personal experiences with African spiritual traditions and plant medicine. Akua has shared her expertise at institutions like Oxford University, UCL, and Breaking Convention, the UK’s largest psychedelic conference. Her work emphasizes intention-setting, integration, and the therapeutic potential of plant medicine to heal trauma and foster transformation. Akua’s story of personal recovery from depression and her dedication to helping others makes her a compassionate and inspiring mentor in the field of psychedelics.
Philip Carr-Gomm is a teacher, author, and former leader of The Order of Bards Ovates and Druids. With a background in psychology, psychotherapy, and spiritual traditions, Philip integrates Druidry with the Perennial Wisdom Tradition to explore the intersection of spirituality and psychology. He founded The Art of Living Well, an online school offering courses in mindfulness, Yoga Nidra, and personal transformation. Philip has authored several books on spiritual growth and creativity, drawing from decades of experience. Based in Sussex, England, he continues to foster healing and empowerment through meaningful connection and authentic practice.
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Dr. Devon Christie is a physician, therapist, and researcher specializing in psychedelic-assisted therapy for trauma and chronic pain. She co-authored a landmark study on MDMA-assisted therapy for chronic pain and is currently leading research on psychedelic therapies for conditions like fibromyalgia. Devon integrates mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, and somatic practices into her work, emphasizing holistic, trauma-informed care. She balances her clinical practice with her research, working at the forefront of psychedelic medicine in Canada. Certified in Relational Somatic Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Devon’s approach focuses on empowering individuals to reconnect with their innate healing intelligence.
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Shannon Duncan is an entrepreneur and author of Present Moment Awareness and Coming Full Circle, where he shares his multi-year journey of healing trauma through psychedelics. His work reflects a deep commitment to supporting trauma survivors, offering practical insights into the transformative potential of psychedelic-assisted healing. Shannon’s advocacy stems from his belief in authentic living, which he describes as the most rewarding aspect of his personal growth. Based in California, Shannon enjoys creative pursuits like music and cooking and spending time with his family, friends, and dogs. He continues to inspire others with his experiences and passion for healing.
CLOSEAbout This Complimentary Event Series
Modern psychedelic facilitation stands at a critical juncture, positioned at the intersection of science, spirituality, embodied wisdom, and human connection. As interest in this transformative work grows, so does the demand for skilled practitioners who can navigate its many complexities.
Yet, current training approaches often fall short in addressing the deeper, unspoken challenges of psychedelic practice:
- How do we honor the soul of this work in systems driven by clinical frameworks and scalability?
- What invisible factors shape therapeutic outcomes that protocols don’t address?
- How do we preserve mystery while developing professional standards?
Practitioners are often well-equipped with credentials and technical skills but lack the embodied presence, relational depth, and ethical discernment required to hold space for true transformation. The push to professionalize risks prioritizing efficiency over authenticity, leaving critical questions unchartered:
- What aspects of facilitation can’t be taught in a classroom?
- What happens when technique is valued over presence?
- How do we prepare practitioners to guide with humility, integrity, and heart?
The stakes are high, which is why these questions demand thoughtful examination. Without a framework that honors both empirical understanding and experiential and relational wisdom, practitioners risk being unprepared to meet the nuanced challenges of this work, while the field risks reducing transformative healing into transactional processes, stripping away its authenticity, soul, and sacredness.
A Multi-Faceted Approach to Modern Practice
The modern psychedelic practitioner must navigate multiple, interconnected realms of knowledge and experience:
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- Cognitive Wisdom: Safe practice requires a foundation in neuroscience, pharmacology, evidence-based protocols, and risk management.
- Embodied Wisdom: Cognitive frameworks must be balanced with deeply personal work. Cultivating embodied awareness, ethical discernment, and ongoing self-reflection is critical to effectively holding space for others.
- Sacred Wisdom: Traditional and ceremonial approaches provide crucial insights into set, setting, and the sacred nature of healing work, reminding us that effective facilitation demands an appreciation for the mystical, intangible, and meaningful dimensions of the psychedelic experience.
- Relational Wisdom: The nuanced skills required to build therapeutic alliances, foster community, and navigate complex interpersonal dynamics are integral to every stage of the process, shaping its depth, safety, and transformative potential.
You Are Invited to Join the Conversation
Join us for a series of intimate live conversations with experienced practitioners and thought leaders from the Synthesis community as they come together to cultivate a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of this unique work.
Each session will illuminate a critical aspect of psychedelic care, exploring how diverse forms of knowledge and wisdom enhance and support each other.
- Dates: Four consecutive Wednesdays, from February 12th to March 5th, 2025
- Time: 10 am PT / 1 pm ET / 7 pm CET
- Format: Live, online (Zoom).
Dr. Rosalind Watts
Shannon Duncan
Wednesday, February 12th, 2025
10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CET
The Heart of Holding Space – Relational Foundations of Psychedelic Care
Relational Wisdom
What happens in the space between protocol and presence? This conversation is aimed at unpacking the crucial role of relationship and community in psychedelic healing work. In discussion with experienced practitioners and journeyers, we'll develop a deeper awareness of the practitioner's role in the greater ecosystem of psychedelic care. We'll explore the multifaceted nature of building relational skills and discuss how the quality of relationship influences both individual healing and community development in psychedelic spaces.
We’ll Explore:
- How therapeutic relationships and community shape healing outcomes
- The practitioner's role within the broader ecosystem of care
- How to be deliberate and intentional in bringing this work into the world while maintaining authentic connection and appropriate boundaries
Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris
Jules Evans
Wednesday, February 19th, 2025
10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CET
Beyond the Brain – Science and Evidence of Transformative Care
Cognitive Wisdom
Where does science meet spirit in psychedelic healing? In an effort to bridge the gap between laboratory findings and therapeutic practice, we'll examine how historical and contemporary contributions from neuroscience, psychology, and clinical research shape modern practice. From harm reduction approaches to evidence-based protocols for psychedelic facilitation, we’ll explore what can be known through systematic study and observation, illuminating where scientific understanding enhances experiential wisdom and where mystery still prevails in this emerging field.
We’ll Explore:
- How scientific research and evidence-based practices enhance rather than diminish the depth of psychedelic work
- The complementary relationship between scientific knowledge and experiential wisdom
- How research informs safety and best practices in psychedelic care
Philip Carr-Gomm
Akua Ofosuhene
Wednesday, February 26th, 2025
10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CET
Honoring the Sacred – Meaning-Making in Psychedelic Space
Sacred Wisdom
What is the role of sacred wisdom in contemporary psychedelic practice? In deep dialogue with experienced practitioners, we'll explore the various ways people make meaning in their psychedelic journeys, from spiritual and philosophical frameworks to nature-based approaches. We'll investigate how wisdom keepers and contemporary practices inform our understanding of connection to self and world and examine how traditional knowledge can respectfully inform modern therapeutic containers.
We’ll Explore:
- How various wisdom traditions and approaches to meaning-making inform contemporary practice
- The role of ceremony and ritual in creating effective therapeutic containers
- How practitioners can authentically engage with the sacred dimensions of psychedelic work
Charlotte Duerr James
Dr. Devon Christie
Wednesday, March 5th, 2025
10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CET
Embodying the Journey – Somatic Foundations of Psychedelic Care
Embodied Wisdom
How does embodied presence shape the container for transformation? Through rich dialogue with experienced practitioners, we'll examine the multifaceted role of embodiment in psychedelic spaces - from the practitioner's personal practices to the ways bodily awareness influences therapeutic presence. We'll explore how establishing and enhancing ongoing somatic practices supports both personal development and client care while investigating the relationship between embodied wisdom and ethical discernment in psychedelic work.
We’ll Explore:
- How embodied awareness fundamentally shapes the quality and safety of psychedelic facilitation
- How personal somatic practice and presence influence therapeutic outcomes
- The role of the body in ethical discernment and boundary maintenance
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