Populations
15 articles
Psychedelic Therapy for Older Adults
A Canadian guide to psychedelic therapy after 65. Spravato is not recommended at 65+; off-label ketamine carries geriatric cautions. What the evidence shows.
Who Might Not Be a Good Fit for Psychedelic Therapy?
Psychedelic therapy holds real promise — but it isn’t the right choice for everyone. And that’s okay. Knowing who it suits (and who it doesn’t) isn’t a weakness of the field. It’s actually a sign of its maturity and care. If you’re wondering whether this kind of therapy might be right for you, here’s an …
How Siksika First Nation is Transforming Mental Health
… with Ketamine-Assisted Therapy.
What Disqualifies You from Ketamine Therapy? Key Guide
What Disqualifies You from Ketamine Therapy? Ketamine therapy is an innovative treatment that has gained attention for its potential to alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Originally developed as an anesthetic, ketamine has been shown through various studies to produce rapid and significant improvements in mood, particularly for individuals who have …
CAP Highlights Siksika-Led Psychedelic Therapy Partnership; ATMA CENA Proud to Support
On July 25, 2025, the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) released a statement highlighting its new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a significant collaborative partnership with Siksika Health Services, a ceremony that blended Siksika protocols and a traditional pipe ceremony with modern agreement signing at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park. At its heart, this agreement commits …
Is Psychedelic Therapy Addictive? Here’s What the Research Actually Says
If hearing the word “psychedelic” brings up worries about addiction, you’re not alone. Most of us grew up with strong messaging linking “drugs” to harm and dependency. So it’s a completely fair question to ask. Let’s look at what the actual clinical research shows — and the answer might surprise you… in a good way! …
May Mental Health Month 2026
Celebrating Progress, People & the Power of Healing It’s May — and if you’re in Alberta, you know just how hard-won this month feels. Snow and frigid temperatures right up until the last days of April make the arrival of spring feel like its own kind of breakthrough. May is a special month for those …
What to Expect: The Length and Structure of a Psychedelic Therapy Session
When people start exploring psychedelic therapy, one of the first practical questions they have is a simple one: how long does this actually take? It’s a fair and important thing to know — and the answer is a little different from most mental health experiences you’ve had before. Psychedelic therapy isn’t a single appointment. It’s …
How Psychedelic Therapy Works
Psychedelic therapy is a clinically guided approach that combines the careful administration of regulated psychedelic compounds with professional therapeutic support. Unlike recreational use, it takes place within a carefully designed framework built on preparation, the therapeutic session itself, and integration — and it is showing remarkable promise for a wide range of mental health conditions. …
How Psychedelics are Empowering Women’s Health
*Disclaimer: In this blog, the term “woman” is used to encompass all individuals who identify as female, as well as those with female genitalia. We recognize and respect the diversity of gender identities and expressions, and our intention is to be inclusive of all who experience female-specific health concerns. * Women’s health, both mental and physical, has …
Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness and How They Serve Mental Health
Across cultures and centuries, humans have sought ways to shift consciousness through meditation, breathwork, fasting, ritual, and more recently, psychedelic-assisted therapy. These non-ordinary states of consciousness (NOSC), once thought fringe or mystical, are now entering the heart of clinical practice. Far from being a curiosity, they are proving to be a profound resource for modern …
Building Safe and Inclusive Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Training in Alberta
Keywords: Evidence-based and emerging approaches to mental health care, compliance with Health Canada and provincial health regulations, research-informed and safety-focused clinical practice, comprehensive mental-health assessments and consultations, trauma-informed and integrative psychotherapy The landscape of psychedelic-assisted therapy in Alberta is evolving—and with that evolution comes both opportunity and responsibility. At ATMA CENA, we believe in being …
What It Really Means to Become a Hub Clinic: Connection, Growth, and Community
Becoming a hub clinic isn’t just about growth. It’s not about seeing more clients or expanding your service offerings, though both of those things might happen. At its core, becoming a hub clinic is about connection—to other practitioners, to the wider ATMA CENA-trained community, and to a vision of mental health care that’s bigger than …
Beyond Talk Therapy: How Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Works Differently
When most of us think about therapy, we picture two people sitting across from each other in conversation—working through thoughts, gaining insights, making sense of patterns. Traditional talk therapy has helped millions of people, and it remains a cornerstone of mental health care. But what happens when you pair that therapeutic foundation with medical interventions …
Setting Your Inner Compass: Why Intention Matters in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
There’s a moment before every psychedelic-assisted therapy session that feels quietly powerful. You’re sitting with your therapist, the medicine hasn’t yet been administered, and together you’re clarifying something essential: Why are you here? What are you hoping to discover, release, or understand? This isn’t just a nice ritual. It’s a clinical practice backed by neuroscience—and …