Loss is part of everyone’s life, but the loss of a child is an extraordinary wound that brings with it extraordinary pain, and just as the relationship between a parent and child is uniquely strong, so too is a bereaved parent’s grief.

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We know that the bereavement experience of parents can be severe and long, that it usually brings with it
intense yearning, extreme sadness, and
a sense of isolation from others. But we know as well—because bereaved parents tell us so—that the pain of loss can remit over time, even if it doesn’t ever really go away.

For some parents, the customary types of assistance like bereavement support groups, grief-oriented psychotherapy, or even medication are not enough. Or sometimes these modes of support simply don’t feel right. Despite engaging with these therapies, parents might describe that they still can’t accept the reality of the loss of their child, or that they cannot fully reinvest in their relationships with the living, or that they cannot find joy in their life again. For these parents, we believe that healing is also possible. We believe this because our work with bereaved parents has shown it to be true.

Our Staff

Francoise Bourzat, is a Somatic counselor in the San Francisco Bay Area. In collaboration with healers in Huautla de Jimenez, Mexico, she has practiced and guided ceremonies with sacred mushrooms for the last 30 years. She teaches at CIIS in San Francisco, runs online courses and lectures in various institutions. She is one of the lead investigators in a FDA approved research on psilocybin assisted therapy for Covid related grief in Los Angeles, and collaborates with various physicians on treatment projects. She trains psychedelic guides internationally and is the author of the book entitled Consciousness Medicine, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA

Dingle Spence, BSc., MBBS, DMRT, Dip. Pall. Med, FRCR, is a Jamaican physician with training in both Clinical Oncology and Palliative Medicine. She is the Senior Medical Officer of the Hope Institute Hospital, Jamaica’s only dedicated Oncology and Palliative Care unit. Dr Spence is an Associate Lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Mona, and is also the Director of the Jamaica Cancer Care and Research Institute (JACCRI), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of cancer care and palliative care in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Dr Spence is also interested in research around the use of plant- based medicines such as cannabinoids and psychedelics for holistic symptom relief for people with palliative
care needs.

Chris Adrian, is a pediatric palliative care physician in Los Angeles. He trained as a pediatric oncologist at the University of California San Francisco, and as a hospital chaplain at Columbia University Medical Center and the Jewish Theological Seminary of New York. His research interests include integrating narrative medicine methods into palliative care education and using psychedelic assisted psychotherapy for complicated grief. He trained as a psychedelic guide under Francoise Bourzat's group.

Neil Hanon, MD, FRCPC, is a psychiatrist in Kelowna, British Columbia and is Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He is the Year 3 Director (the clinical year) of the Southern Medical Program of UBC in Kelowna. Dr. Hanon also does inpatient work at Kelowna General Hospital, and outpatient work at Outreach Urban Health (an Interior Health operated, primary care clinic where he works with homeless, street entrenched people struggling with addictions and other mental health challenges), and at his private practice. Dr. Hanon has a research interest in legally sanctioned trials with ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin for the treatment of complicated grief, treatment resistant depression, and severe addictions. Dr. Hanon got involved in Holotropic Breathwork first as a participant to help with his grief after the death of his 17 year old son, then continued on to become certified as a Holotropic Breathwork facilitator in 2015. He is faculty for Grof Legacy Training Canada, and is training Faculty for TheraPsil Canada, an organization to help people with end of life anxiety access legal psilocybin treatment. Dr. Hanon was fortunate to have Dr. Ralph Metzner as his teacher and mentor from 2015 until Ralph’s death in 2019. He was also trained by Francoise Bourzat.

Kari Brown is a Jamaican physician and researcher. After completing her medical degree at the University of the West Indies and an MSc in research Oncology at the Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam in the Netherlands, she joined the Jamaica Cancer Care & Research Institute (JACCRI), which focuses on improving the quality of cancer and palliative care in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Her other professional interests include holistic approaches to patient care and wellness.

Steven Smith MBBS, is a Research Associate and Project Manager at the Jamaica Cancer Care and Research Institute (JACCRI). He attained a medical degree with Honours from the University of the West Indies, Mona. His research interests include the identification of health disparities associated with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer within the Caribbean and the improvement of regional cancer research and partnerships. His work with JACCRI focuses on projects aimed at regional palliative care collaborations and the development of integrative treatment options for end of life care in low-income and disadvantaged populations.

Patrice Dwyer is a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Practitioner, Lymphedema Therapist, Certified Professional Cancer Coach and Patient Navigator with over 19 years experience specializing in manipulative body based therapies and energy medicine. She describes herself as a Transformation Therapist, and has accompanied and guided many persons, their families and care-givers through various stages on their journey to healing and lifestyle transformation. She is passionate about promoting efficient, quality care for all persons living with and affected by cancer, as well as an advocate for Palliative care. Patrice believes that an integrated or holistic approach to treating any dis-ease is critical for optimal recovery and healing. She feels privileged to be able to offer support, guidance and the tools best suited to empower individuals to actively take part in their own healing process.

Jenn Collotta is the project manager for the Center for Consciousness Medicine, whose mission is to be the leading organization in guiding expanded states of consciousness for human healing and growth, while integrating holistic approaches to training, treatment, and research. Originally from Boston, Jenn was drawn to move to O’ahu, Hawai'i, to pursue her passion for yoga and immerse herself in the healing energies of the islands. With a degree in Psychology and a decade of research into yoga and meditation techniques, Jenn has spent much of her life investigating the intricacies of our human psyche, the psychosomatic imprints of trauma, and the potential for healing through self-study and expanded states of consciousness. She is passionate about psychedelic-assisted therapy and its capacity to offer lasting relief from suffering and grateful to be able to share resources around this work with those in need.

Jarrod Beck is an installation artist, papermaker, and sculptor based in Los Angeles. He holds a Masters of Architecture from Tulane University and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. Jarrod combines his training as an architect and artist with training in Somatic Psychotherapy from the Hakomi Institute of California and training as a Shamamic Practitioner with the Institute for Shamanic Studies to help clients build exterior and interior spaces to facilitate healing and growth. He trained as a psychedelic guide with Francoise Bourzat's group, and assists in trainings for practitioners to work with altered states of consciousness with the School of Consciousness Medicine.