In this episode, I talk with Gina Gratza, who specializes in psychedelic-assisted facilitation.

In our conversation, Gina tells us about the many different organizations she is involved in and the work she does with them, including psychedelic integration and coaching, being an Oregon Psilocybin Facilitator, working with the Social Neuroscience and Psychotherapy Lab, and serving as Program Coordinator and Lead Educator at InnerTrek.

Gina also highlights many of the influential experiences and trainings that inform the work she does from an internship at a treatment center for eating disorders to trainings in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), sensory psychotherapy, and Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT).

Gina also shares how she came to psychedelics after attending Burning Man and having an enlightening experience. This leads our conversation to recognize the infinite paths one can take to finding their place in the psychedelic field as well as exploring consciousness. We also touch on the importance of recognizing our shadow selves and the shadow side of psychedelics.

Finally, Gina reflects on the future of psychedelics and her hope for the Oregon Psilocybin Facilitation program to inform future programs in other states and the vision for psychedelics to promote deeper community healing.

Time Stamps:

(4:21) Gina’s involvement in various organizations within the psychedelic field

(7:51) The importance of working with women and creating community spaces for identity expression in psychedelic integration and support

(25:14) How psychedelics play a role in Gina’s work: doing your own work with psychedelics and consciousness and logistics of having two businesses while being a licensed therapist

(46:27) Internships and trainings that influence Gina’s work

(57:27) Advice on how to find trainings and grow your skillset

(1:08:40) How Gina became curious about psychedelics: Burning Man, integrating into the underground nightlife in Los Angeles, and recognizing the different ways to engage in plan medicines and psychedelics

(1:19:04) The shadow side of psychedelics: navigating psychedelic hype, managing expectations, the variety of modalities for healing trauma and exploring consciousness

(1:41:12) Future of the psychedelic field and Gina’s work

(1:49:47) Gina’s last piece of advice: remember to play

Links:

Social Neuroscience and Psychotherapy Lab

Cora Center

Chariot

InnerTrek

Oregon’s Legal Psilocybin Website:

Trainings:

EMDR

Sensory psychotherapy

Somatic experiencing

IFS

Grief work

Connect with Gina:

Website: www.ginagratza.com

LinkedIn

Instagram: @gina.gratza

To learn more about Psychedelic Grad or to join our newsletter, go to https://www.psychedelicgrad.com/

To donate and support Psychedelic Grad: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/psygrad

Music by: https://www.alexkahnmusic.com/

Presented by Psychedelic Grad.

In this episode, I talk with Jonathan Robinson, the author of 14 books and a marriage and family therapist located in California.

In our conversation, Jonathan tells us about his work in bringing together MDMA experiences and therapy. He discusses how his protocol is unique to other work being done with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy by emphasizing therapeutic modalities.

We also talk about Jonathan’s online course on MDMA facilitation and how he created it for anyone passionate about helping others heal. Additionally, we talk about Jonathan’s newest book, Ecstasy as Medicine, a valuable resource filled with 40 years of knowledge and experience to aid others in healing and self-discovery.

We cover Jonathan’s journey to finding meditation and psychedelics in pursuit of healing his trauma from growing up in a dysfunctional family and his masters thesis research on MDMA therapy in the 1980s.

Throughout our conversation, we highlight valuable advice from Jonathan, like 5 second methods for gratitude and happiness and finding supportive communities to help ourselves strengthen our weaknesses.

Finally, Jonathan reflects on the future of psychedelics and how he plans to continue to provide accessible knowledge and education to those interested in helping others.

Time Stamps:

(4:44) Jonathan’s work as a marriage and family therapist and how he integrates MDMA into his practice and how he keeps his work legal

(8:46) The value of doing MDMA therapy over zoom and how to manage safety and challenging experiences in a virtual therapy session

(17:51) What makes Jonathan’s protocol of MDMA therapy different from the MAPS protocol

(24:04) Jonathan’s online MDMA facilitation course - what is it and who is it for?

(32:21) Perspectives on therapists and sitters having experience with psychedelics when working with patients or clients

(34:58) Jonathan’s newest book - Ecstasy as Medicine

(44:10) The beauty of Jonathan’s parents trying MDMA

(47:04) How Jonathan found psychedelics - healing trauma from a dysfunctional family to studying psychology at the University of California Santa Barbara

(51:23) A 5 second method for gratitude

(59:02) Jonathan’s master's thesis on MDMA therapy

(1:00:18) Additional education and the value of experiential learning - undergraduate degree in Psychology and a non-accredited PhD in recreational pharmacology

(1:03:30) Advice on finding a balance between experiential knowledge and formal education - finding supportive communities to strengthen your weaknesses

(1:09:05) The future of psychedelics and Jonathan’s desire to continue educating others

(1:16:55) Jonathan’s last advice - keep exploring

Links:

Healing with MDMA Course: https://dandelion.events/e/mdmacourse

Book Ecstasy as Medicine: https://ecstasyasmedicine.com/

Website: XTCasmedicine.com

Podcast - Awareness Explorers: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/

Website: https://findinghappiness.com/

To learn more about Psychedelic Grad or to join our newsletter, go to https://www.psychedelicgrad.com/

To donate and support Psychedelic Grad: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/psygrad

Music by: https://www.alexkahnmusic.com/

Presented by Psychedelic Grad.

In this episode, I talk with Christi Meyers, the Founder and CEO of Flow Integrative, a ketamine infusion clinic in San Diego, California.

In our conversation, Christi tells us about Flow Integrative as a form of practicing medicine that provides ketamine infusion therapy, as well as Flow Institute as an educational platform. She discusses the characteristics that make Flow Integrative unique, including its holistic wellness model in bringing together the mind, body, and spirit.

We also talk about how Christi’s diverse background in fire jumping, emergency medicine, and teaching led her down a path to learning about ketamine as a tool to “help the help,” which birthed the idea of Flow Integrative.

Throughout our conversation, we highlight valuable advice from Christi, like the importance of sitting with ketamine for those interested in providing it to patients. Finally, Christi reflects on the future of psychedelics and her hope for the continued evolution of ourselves so we can better serve the greater good of humanity.

Time Stamps:

(5:45) What is Flow Integrative and how it is shifting the practice of healthcare by connection the mind, body and spirit with oneness

(9:13) The importance of IV ketamine infusions as a modality of administration

(14:06) What is it like to be a patient of Flow Integrative? - meeting patients where they are at so they can heal themselves

(22:25) Ketamine regulation and insurance in California and employee-driven benefits through Dr. Bronners

(30:46) The set and setting of ketamine therapy at Flow Integrative

(34:56) Christi’s journey in fire jumping, emergency medicine, and teaching that led her to ketamine as therapy

(50:20) Working with other plant medicines in therapy and the ability for them to deprogram and evolve human consciousness

(59:05) Tapping into yourself to find your path and purpose through medication, fasting, and sitting with the medicine

(1:5:07) The future of the psychedelic field - continuously evolve, find your tribe, and “If it doesn’t resonate with you, you don’t have to stay there to find your people"

(1:28:53) Additional insights for listeners - Flow Integrative is working on opportunities for volunteering and internships for those interested in working with the medicine

(1:31:22) Contact information

Links:

Flow Integrative: https://flowintegrativeketamine.com/

Flow Integrative for Physicians: https://flowintegrative.org/our-team

Direct Line to Flow Integrative: 909-735-FLOW (3569)

Forces of Habit: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674010031

To learn more about Psychedelic Grad or to join our newsletter, go to https://www.psychedelicgrad.com/

To donate and support Psychedelic Grad: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/psygrad

Music by: https://www.alexkahnmusic.com/

Presented by Psychedelic Grad.