About Us

We’re dedicated to improving mental healthcare with evidence-based psychedelic therapy. Our innovative approach blends the latest research with a client-focused touch, ensuring you receive top-quality, personalized care.

About Us

We’re dedicated to improving mental healthcare with evidence-based psychedelic therapy. Our innovative approach blends the latest research with a client-focused touch, ensuring you receive top-quality, personalized care.

Our vision

Empowering every individual to enrich their lives through accessible psychedelic medicine.

Our values

Accessibility, Safety, Innovation, Collaboration, Integrity.

Our goal

To establish a service hub in every major population center across Canada, ensuring accessible, equitable psychedelic healthcare for all Canadians.

Our mission

To build capability and capacity for wellbeing through open collaboration with partners in public, private and not-for-profit organizations to provide safe psychedelic care.

Community Members
0 +
Clinics Across Canada
0 +
Patient Success Stories
0 +

Why choose ATMA CENA?

Evidence-based treatments

Our therapy programs are grounded in the latest scientific evidence, providing safe and effective care that you can trust.

Accessible and affordable

We ensure our services can integrate with existing healthcare policies and regulations making these innovative therapies accessible and affordable for all.

Personalized care

Our client-centric approach prioritizes your well-being, with effective treatments that minimize stress and maximize results. We empower you to actively participate in your care.

Interdisciplinary expertise

Our team of psychiatrists, physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and therapists work collaboratively to provide comprehensive, holistic care.

Industry leadership

Through partnerships with training and research organizations, health system operations, national associations, and ethics committees, we maintain our leadership role in advancing psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Seamless integration

Our team's extensive experience in public, community, and private healthcare ensures that your journey with us integrates smoothly with your existing healthcare services.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation rTMS Chair Machine

Experience the ATMA CENA advantage​

At ATMA CENA, we believe everyone deserves access to impactful mental healthcare. Our unique approach combines evidence-based treatments, personalized care, and interdisciplinary expertise to deliver unparalleled results.

By partnering with industry leaders and aligning with healthcare regulations, we ensure our services remain accessible, affordable, and at the forefront of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Start your journey to healing and self-discovery with ATMA CENA, and experience how the profound impact of our client-centered approach, adherence to the evidence, and collaboration amongst experts shapes our approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Our values

Accessibility

Making our therapies easily available to all is key to fostering widespread mental wellness within all communities and cities.

Safety

Safety is at the heart of what we do, ensuring a nurturing space for healing through carefully planned and compassionate practices.

Innovation

Embracing innovation with care, we welcome learning about new treatments and approaches to enhance healing and well-being.

Collaboration

Collaboration is about coming together, sharing knowledge and warmth to make the healing process more enriching for everyone involved.

Integrity

With integrity, we act with honesty and transparency, fostering trust within our community, with every step taken in sincerity.

Our story

The first encounter between Reverdi Darda, CEO of Cena Life, and Vu Tran, CEO of ATMA Journey, was a serendipitous meeting at the MAPS conference in Denver in 2023. This initial introduction marked the beginning of an inspiring collaboration. The conference was a powerful catalyst, sparking discussions about the potential to merge their insights and propel the industry forward through a unified approach.

Upon returning to Alberta—Reverdi to Edmonton and Vu to Calgary—the dialogue continued, focusing on a joint venture centred around Canada’s Special Access Program (SAP). They passionately deliberated on how to enhance access to psychedelics through this program, addressing critical challenges such as the need for secure and compliant delivery settings for MDMA and psilocybin therapy. Recognizing that existing environments were often informal spaces such as people’s basements, they envisioned establishing clinics that met Alberta’s recently put out (2022) psychedelic-assisted tehrapy guidelines. This initiative aimed to foster confidence among doctors and physicians in prescribing SAP therapies to their patients.

Driven by a shared vision of accessibility, Reverdi and Vu saw the necessity of laying the groundwork for regular psychedelic therapy, extending beyond SAP. They realized that building the required infrastructure now, would ensure its readiness by the time MDMA and psilocybin gained legal status. This foresight and commitment to creating a safe, accessible, and regulated environment for psychedelic therapy underscore the foundation of ATMA CENA’s mission.

Meet the leadership team

Meet the medical team

REVERDI DARDA

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder

Reverdi possesses over three decades of invaluable experience as a Registered Nurse and Executive Leader specializing in community engagement, healthcare operations, policy development, and strategic planning. With a deep understanding of the intricate challenges embedded within healthcare systems, Reverdi is driven to advance access to evidence-based mental health treatment models that will benefit those in need. Reverdi has honed her expertise to navigate the fragmentation within the healthcare systems, and as a visionary in her field, she intimately understands the hurdles and can see solutions to create consistent, client-centric care. She also focuses on advocating for policy change that prioritizes access to new and effective mental health treatments. 

Reverdi’s passion for problem-solving knows no bounds, she is perpetually driven by a thirst for knowledge and growth. She firmly believes in the power of a passionate leader and commits her energy to action as she champions change. With her experience and expertise, Reverdi is catalyzing transformative change within the mental health sector and excited to serve in a leadership role that is focused on increasing practitioner and public access to Psychedelic assisted therapy.

Vu Tran

Chief Business Development Officer and Co-Founder

Vu is a student of plant medicine, has his yoga instructor certification and also has 20 years of experience as a strategic investor and successful entrepreneur. 

He believes in pursuing a balanced life of business ambition with life giving work, which nourishes the human spirit. Vu is a life long entrepreneur and has founded, scaled, and exited multiple ventures in a variety of markets, including real estate, land development, hospitality, entertainment, retail, and cannabis. 

Whether owned, lead or partnered with, he has created a combined enterprise value of over $60M from all his ventures to date. Because of his own experience and work, Vu is deeply involved with and passionate about what psychedelic medicine can bring to Canadians suffering from mental health concerns.

Juan Tellez

Vice President of Corporate Services & PMO

Juan is a project and operations leader with over 30 years of extensive experience in the international corporate landscape. He holds a degree in systems engineering and has furthered his education with advanced studies in leadership, business, and project management. 

In addition to his professional achievements, Juan has a deep interest in the areas of consciousness, mental health, and human performance. He is particularly passionate about the benefits of psychedelics in these domains. 

He is trained as a counselor in psychotherapy and has completed several courses on psychedelic therapy, including the ATMA program. Juan is a firm believer in the responsible use of psychedelics for mental health and personal growth. 

Outside of his work, Juan enjoys spending time with his family. He is an avid traveler and lifelong learner who takes pleasure in exploring new cultures and perspectives. With his diverse skill set and extensive global experience, Juan brings a unique perspective to the industry.

Jacque Lovely

Vice President of Western Operations

Jacque is a registered nurse in the province of Alberta and holds over 20 years of experience as a clinician, educator, operations manager, clinical program developer, strategic planner, and large scale health system transformer. 

He has served patients across the life span and supported system change spanning the continuum of care. He has earned two Master’s degrees: Masters of Science in Nursing focused in knowledge utilization and research uptake in the healthcare context, and a Masters of Business Administration, focused in executive management and health system redesign. 

He describes himself as a mission-driven professional aiming to bring the best possible care, supported by the latest evidence, to individuals, families, and care givers who need it.

Andrew Charrette

Vice President of Eastern Operations

Andrew Charrette is a seasoned Regulatory Professional, serving as VP Regulatory Affairs at Wellbeing Digital Sciences and Director of Regulatory Affairs and Psychedelic Advisor at KGK Science Inc. 

With over 10 years of experience in clinical development and regulatory consulting, Andrew has an in-depth knowledge of the nutraceutical, food, cannabis, and drug regulations in North America. Andrew has led over 100 submissions to regulatory authorities including clinical trial applications and product registration submissions. 

Andrew has extensive experience in the design, planning, and execution of clinical trials across a wide spectrum of therapeutic indications, and has most recently led several psychedelic clinical trial projects. He has provided guidance helping many companies navigate the regulatory landscape for nutraceutical, cannabis and psychedelic products in North America. 

Andrew received his undergraduate degree in Pharmacology and Physiology from the University of Western Ontario and later obtained a Master’s degree in Neuroscience from the University of Ottawa.

Sheehan Chowdhury

Medical Director & Chief Psychiatrist​

Dr. Chowdhury is a board-certified psychiatrist and the Medical Director and Chief Psychiatrist at ATMA CENA. Dr. Chowdhury completed his medical degree from the University of Calgary, followed by a psychiatry residency program at the University of British Columbia before completing a geriatric psychiatry fellowship at the University of Alberta. 

Dr. Chowdhury’s expertise in neurostimulation led him to his role as Medical Director of the rTMS clinic at the Mood Disorders Association in Vancouver. Additionally, Dr. Chowdhury runs the Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Program at a tertiary hospital in the Vancouver metropolitan area.

Lisa Kemp

Program Director

Lisa Kemp is a registered nurse with over 20 years of experience in healthcare as a clinician, operations manager, and clinical educator. She later branched out into leadership roles that facilitated building mental health capacity in primary care, enhancing indigenous services in remote areas, and serving as a governance representative. This work repeatedly demonstrated the importance of integrated interdisciplinary team models that share expertise and create a network of support for healthcare providers while ensuring seamless quality care for patients. Lisa’s passion for the area of psychedelics led her to join the Cena Life team, to continue working with service providers and clients from diverse backgrounds and build quality programs that support healing for those in need.

Derek Rothe

Nurse Practitioner

Derek began his nursing career in the specialty of oncology where he practiced initially as a registered nurse, then went on to complete his master’s degree at the University of Alberta and obtained his Nurse Practitioner (NP) License. Over the past 6 years his NP practice has been primarily in oncology and more recently geriatrics working with patients and families who are navigating the challenges that come with dementia. His experiences have helped him to to appreciate the complexities and challenges people go through during difficult and life-limiting illness.

Never shy to approach difficult conversations and bear witness to depths of the human experience, his ability to connect with people on their path is evidenced by his compassionate approach to care. A life-long learner, he strives provide safe, competent care.

Through his own personal experiences with plant medicines he developed a passion for working in the space of psychedelic medicine, and continues to find awe in the process of healing facilitated by psychedelics. He also volunteered for some time on a psychedelic peer-support phone line providing peer support to those encountering challenging trips and looking to integrate their experiences in a non-clinical matter. Outside of professional work you can find him on the yoga mat, practicing oil painting, and enjoying quality time with friends.

Ashleigh Levesque

Registered Nurse

As a Registered Nurse, Ashleigh is dedicated to nurturing the connection between mind, body, and soul, recognizing the uniqueness of each individual. Guided by Atma Center’s mission to enhance access to care, Ashleigh ensures that clients are equipped with the knowledge and support they need to confidently navigate their health journeys and make informed choices that lead to lasting well-being.

With a strong background in leadership and team management, Ashleigh fosters an environment of collaboration, growth, and respect, encouraging every team member to bring their unique strengths to the table. She is deeply committed to supporting initiatives that prioritize long-term health, striving to create a lasting impact by promoting holistic care that addresses both immediate needs and sustainable outcomes.

Passionate about empowering individuals to take charge of their wellness, Ashleigh works to shape a future where every person has access to the resources, guidance, and support necessary for true, lasting health.

Grateful for the growing team and the direction they’re heading, Ashleigh welcomes each client into a space where they can feel safe, supported, and inspired to explore their deeper selves.

Dr. Ravi Bains

MD, Psychiatrist

Dr. Bains earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology prior to studying medicine at the University of Manitoba, his home province. He completed a psychiatric residency at Dalhousie University where he went on to complete a fellowship in ISTDP (Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy).

Subsequent to graduating in 2006, he has practiced as an inpatient psychiatrist, as well as a psychotherapist. Dr. Bains has gone on to do both inpatient and outpatient work, as well as practice as a psychotherapist. Currently he is also Chief Medical Officer of Wayfound mental health.