Conditions We Treat

Depression (Including Treatment-Resistant Depression)

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions worldwide. In Canada, approximately 1 in 5 people will experience depression at some point in their lives, and many will experience recurring episodes.

For some individuals, depression does not respond adequately to standard treatments such as medication or traditional talk therapy. This is often referred to as treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and it can be especially discouraging—leading many people to feel stuck, hopeless, or uncertain about what options remain.

Depression can develop from a combination of factors:

• Chronic stress or burnout

• Unprocessed emotional experiences

• Loss, life transitions, or isolation

• Biological and genetic vulnerabilities

It often involves patterns of negative thinking, reduced motivation, and a sense of disconnection from self, others, and meaning.

How We Treat Depression

Traditional therapy approaches may include:

• Cognitive and behavioural therapies to shift unhelpful thought patterns

• Emotion-focused work to reconnect with feelings

• Practical strategies to rebuild structure, motivation, and daily functioning

For individuals with treatment-resistant depression, therapy may also involve:

• Exploring deeper underlying patterns or unresolved experiences

• Integrating multiple therapeutic modalities

• Adjusting pace and approach to better match individual needs

Psychedelic-assisted therapy, when appropriate, may help:

• Disrupt rigid, repetitive thinking patterns often seen in chronic depression

• Increase emotional access and self-compassion

• Create meaningful shifts in perspective and sense of purpose

Emerging research suggests that psychedelic-assisted therapy may lead to rapid and sustained reductions in depressive symptoms, particularly for individuals experiencing treatment-resistant depression who have not found relief through other methods.

Anxiety

Anxiety disorders affect millions of people and are among the most prevalent mental health concerns. In Canada, approximately 12% of people experience an anxiety disorder in any given year.

Anxiety often develops as a protective response that becomes overactive over time. It may be shaped by:

• Chronic stress or high-pressure environments

• Early life experiences

• Nervous system sensitivity

• Learned patterns of worry and avoidance

How We Treat Anxiety

Traditional therapy approaches may include:

• Cognitive-behavioural strategies to address worry and fear cycles

• Nervous system regulation and grounding techniques

• Exposure-based approaches to reduce avoidance

Psychedelic-assisted therapy may support:

• A reduction in fear-based reactivity

• Greater openness to internal experiences

• The ability to process underlying emotional drivers of anxiety

Rather than only managing symptoms, this work can help shift the underlying patterns that sustain anxiety.

PTSD and Trauma

Trauma can result from a single overwhelming event or from ongoing experiences over time. In Canada, it’s estimated that over 70% of people will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, with a portion developing ongoing symptoms of PTSD.

Trauma can affect:

• Emotional regulation

• Sense of safety

• Relationships and attachment

• The body and nervous system

How We Treat Trauma

Traditional approaches may include:

• Trauma-informed psychotherapy

• EMDR and other evidence-based trauma treatments

• Somatic (body-based) therapies

Psychedelic-assisted therapy, in carefully controlled settings, may help:

• Reduce fear and defensiveness when revisiting traumatic material

• Support safe emotional processing

• Facilitate integration and resolution of past experiences

Emerging research—particularly with therapies like MDMA-assisted psychotherapy—has shown significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, even in cases that have been resistant to other treatments.

Grief and Loss

Grief is a universal human experience, yet it can feel deeply isolating. While many people move through grief with time, others experience prolonged or complicated grief that can impact daily life.

Grief may arise from:

• The loss of a loved one

• Relationship endings

• Major life transitions

• Loss of identity, health, or meaning

How We Treat Grief

Traditional therapy may support:

• Emotional processing and expression

• Meaning-making and integration

• Reconnection with life while honoring loss

Psychedelic-assisted therapy may help:

• Deepen emotional access and connection

• Facilitate experiences of meaning, connection, or closure

• Support acceptance and integration of loss

This work is always approached with care, respecting the deeply personal nature of grief.

Addictions and Compulsive Patterns

Substance use and other compulsive behaviours are often attempts to cope with underlying distress. In Canada, substance use disorders affect a significant portion of the population, often alongside anxiety, trauma, or depression.

These patterns are rarely about willpower—they are shaped by:

• Emotional pain or unresolved experiences

• Habitual coping strategies

• Neurobiological reinforcement cycles

How We Treat Addictions

Traditional approaches may include:

• Behavioural therapies and relapse prevention

• Skill-building and coping strategies

• Exploration of underlying emotional drivers

Psychedelic-assisted therapy may support:

• Increased awareness of patterns and motivations

• Disruption of habitual cycles

• Greater sense of connection, meaning, and personal agency

Research in this area suggests promising outcomes, particularly when combined with structured therapeutic support.