Our Practitioners

 

Our team is committed to learning with our clients to create an out of the box approach to therapy. In this process we use evidence based approaches in conjunction with our clients’ own inner healing intelligence. We continue to learn with our clients and collaborate with other professionals in the field as we begin this exciting journey together.

Dr. Mario Nucci, MD, CCFP

Founder  |  Thunder bay

Mario is a family physician practicing in-hospital medicine, mental health and addictions. He has an interest in researching novel therapeutics, molecular mechanisms of mental illness and their related treatments. Dr. Nucci has been using ketamine therapeutically to treat patients with mental health conditions since 2015. He is also trained in CBT, MBCT, has attended ketamine and psychedelic training, as well as numerous scientific gatherings. Mario continues to strive to ensure we are providing the safest therapeutic care for our clients and is very grateful to be able to provide this life-changing opportunity to those who can benefit from it.

Mario Nucci also runs Medical Esthetics Thunder Bay, and can be found at the walk-in clinic at Bay and Algoma

Dr. Neel Chadha, MD CCFP

Ottawa

Dr. Neel Chadha is a family physician based in Ottawa. His medical interests include hospital medicine, geriatrics and mental health. He has completed training in cognitive behavioural therapy and motivational interviewing. He is currently completing ketamine assisted psychotherapy training from the Polaris Institute. He completed medical school at the University of Calgary and family medicine residency at the University of Ottawa. Outside of work he enjoys playing sports, traveling and spending time with family and friends. Neel is excited to be the lead physician for the Ottawa chapter of the Canadian Centre for Psychedelic Healing.

Our Management Staff

Our management staff keeps the world turning within our 4 walls. They act as the glue that holds our clinics together, improving communication and efficiency throughout.

Nathan Vastamaki

Director of Business Development

Nathan’s roots begin in Thunder Bay, born and raised here he completed a degree in business at Lakehead University and has been assisting local businesses ever since.

Nathan has a strong desire to see local residents receive the care and treatments they seek, in the interest of improving patients’ self confidence and self esteem. He strongly believes the journey from self consciousness to self confidence doesn’t have to be taken alone. He loves to see the change in his patients’ faces as their confidence grows.

Our Nursing Staff

Our nursing staff makes the magic happen. From booking appointments and handling customer care, to daily operations and file management, our every day heroes make our world go round.

Larissa Sparkes

Ottawa

Larissa is a Registered Practical Nurse with a deep-rooted passion for holistic health and wellness. Prior to her nursing career, she completed a Business Administration and Marketing Diploma in her hometown of Winnipeg. She has experience in Virtual Healthcare, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Maternal-fetal Medicine. Her role within these specialized areas has allowed her to provide care and support to patients throughout many stages of life. She strongly believes in the power of holistic approaches and incorporates her passion for health and wellness into her nursing practice. She is fascinated by the connection of the mind, body, and spirit and recognizes the importance of mental and emotional well-being in achieving optimal health. In addition to her nursing career, Larissa enjoys cooking with homegrown vegetables, listening to educational podcasts and enjoying fitness activities. Larissa is enthusiastic about the ketamine therapy industry and is passionate about this therapeutic approach.

Jessica Infanti

Sault Ste Marie

Jessica has been a Registered Practical Nurse for 26 years in areas such as home health care, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Mental Health, specializing in Children’s Mental health. Her nursing skills are complemented by management experience in long term care and dental health as well as leading roles in educating and implementing new procedures amongst fellow staff and clients. She came to CCFPH with the belief there is a way to help people struggling to obtain optimal overall health and well-being. She believes everyone deserves to live life to their fullest potential and wants to be involved in making that happen. Jessica loves the outdoors, especially the warmer months. Paddle boarding, 4-wheeling, hiking and spending time with her family and friends. She is always looking for new and exciting adventures, and hopes to spend some time traveling and exploring the world.

Our Therapy Teams

Our therapy team are here to guide you through your holistic healing adventure. Trained in numerous techniques and prepared for the many concerns life may hold, these incredible individuals are here to help.

Jordan Gross

Registered Psychotherapist, Registered Nurse, Certified Nurse Psychotherapist

Jordan has been exploring psychedelic perspectives for years as these insights have played an integral role in his own healing journey. He first began working with holotropic states when completing his breathwork healer certification two years ago. Since then, he has completed training in KAP through Polaris Insight Centre and Ketamine Assisted EFFT with Adele Lafrance. Jordan has also completed the 100 hour training for MDMA Assisted Therapy at MAPS as well as the Psilocybin Assisted Therapy Program at Therapsil. His psychotherapy background has a focus in Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness and Self-Compassion. Jordan is actively advocating for safe and equitable opportunities for psychedelic therapies and frequently collaborates with other members in the field. Since completing his Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Masters in Counselling Psychology his scope of practice is ideal for the psychedelic field being as he is dually registered as a Registered Psychotherapist (Q) and Registered Nurse.

Erin Pomanti

Registered Nurse, Psychotherapist

Erin is a Registered Nurse who has been working in the field of mental health since 2015. She started her career at Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital, where she first began working with Dr. Nucci. She practised nursing on a casual basis to support her love of travel and self-discovery, which allowed her to complete a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training in Costa Rica. Her solo travel journeys continued, sparking many opportunities to explore her inner and outer world through meditation, connection, and experiential learning. This has all shaped who Erin is today and helped prepare her for the role of a psychedelic therapist. She has completed training in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) through Polaris Insight Center and Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy with TheraPsil. She remains committed to continuing her education by taking a variety of courses such as Felt Sense Polyvagal Model for trauma and addiction, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), LEAP (palliative), and Reiki (energy healing). The diverse group of clients Erin has had the honour of working with thus far have enriched her ability to facilitate KAP in a holistic, intuitive, and empowering way. Erin feels passionate about the emerging field of psychedelic therapy and hopeful for the healing potential it can bring to our community.

Ashley Irwin

M.A., RSW

Ashley is a Registered Social Worker with 15 years of experience in the mental health field. She works in a strengths-based approach focusing on social, emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing and wellness, to enhance daily living. Ashley has a strong background of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and is Trauma level one and two certified through the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre. Her extensive training and experience working in the private and public sectors has given her knowledge in working with children, adolescents and adults. Ashley’s clinical specialties include crisis intervention, grief/trauma/loss, internalizing disorders, utilizing art in therapy, mindfulness and other relaxation practices. Ashley completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Algoma University and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. Ashley is passionate about nature and is an avid equestrian enthusiast who operates a farm that produces organic produce, maple syrup and eggs. She is a member of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and participates in northern cooperatives and mental health farming initiatives in the community.

Julie Myers

MSW, RSW

Julie Myers is a Registered Social Worker, working and residing in Sault Ste. Marie, with over fifteen years’ experience in the health and mental health sectors. She has experience and passion in the areas of health and disability; the impact of stress on well-being; chronic pain; trauma; and adjustment. Having worked in both the public and private sectors, she takes a biopsychosocial and individualized approach to her work with clients and has training and education in the areas of cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, crisis intervention, trauma informed practice and compassionate inquiry.

Over the last few years, Julie has developed a special interest both personally and professionally in psychedelics and is enthusiastic about what it offers as a treatment modality. This approach to healing is well aligned with Julie’s values, and she is excited to be a part of the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted therapy as it grows and expands in the coming years. Having been born and raised in the North, Julie naturally enjoys time spent outdoors year-round, in addition to being a music and travel enthusiast.

Jacob Pollack

MSW, MSc

Jacob is a Registered Social Worker who has been working in the fields of disability, mental health care and addictions since 2015. Having transitioned from an earlier career in evolutionary-developmental biology, his psychotherapeutic approach integrates evolutionary theory, attachment, polyvagal and sensorimotor modalities with certified training in CBT, DBT and Motivational Interviewing. Jacob has worked alongside individuals and facilitated therapy groups in a variety of community/hospital/shelter settings, exploring the links between mental well-being and having unmet emotional needs during childhood as well as in adulthood. Through this work, he saw the many ways in which invalidating social environments contribute to the onset of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, PTSD, OCD, schizophrenia and chronic physical pain. Jacob is excited to support clients using ketamine and other psychedelic medicines to safely let go of unneeded thoughts, feelings and behaviours, gain personal insight and allow space for their innate healing capacity. By cultivating connection to our authentic selves we can more easily strengthen our bonds with our loved ones, our community and nature. On the side, Jacob is a community organizer, plays guitar in a local funk band and enjoys trail running in Gatineau Park.

Cameron Schallenberg

REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST

Cameron is a Registered Psychotherapist who has been working in private practice since 2019. In 2009 he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Studies and Communications Studies from McGill University. Here he learned to think analytically and honed his interpretive skills. He completed an Honours degree in Psychology in 2014 also from McGill, giving him a strong foundation in understanding human behaviour, cognition, motivation and psychopathology. It was during this time that he first became aware of the potential for psychedelics to facilitate and deepen the psychotherapeutic process. Since then, he has attended academic conferences and written journalistically on the subject. In 2019, he graduated with a Masters degree in Counseling and Spirituality from Saint Paul University, where he trained in humanistic psychotherapy.

Cameron works from a psychodynamic orientation. Psychodynamic theory focuses on the internalization of early childhood relationships that lead to current issues and understands that the source of psychological conflict can often lie beneath conscious awareness. Depending on the goals and nature of the treatment, he also draws on specific therapeutic techniques from a variety of theoretical orientations including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, existential therapy, and narrative therapy. He participates in ongoing professional development and has received specialized training in attachment theory, integrative meaning therapy, narrative therapy and psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

Outside of work, Cameron enjoys exploring the waterways of the Outaouais region by canoe and picking along to old blues and folk records on his guitar.

Yamina Abassi

REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST

Yamina is a registered psychotherapist who is passionate about innovative therapeutic approaches. Prior to commencing her career as a therapist Yamina embarked on an explorative journey of personal growth. She travelled to various countries, immersed herself in different cultures, and connected with people from all walks of life. With an undergraduate degree in addictions counselling and a master’s degree in counselling and spirituality she has been working in the field of mental health since 2016. She values the importance of ongoing learning and is now working towards a post graduate degree in psychedelics and consciousness. Yamina has also completed a certification training in complex trauma and is committed to facilitating therapeutic sessions in a way that embodies safety and connection. She uses a person-centered approach which prioritizes the individual needs and comfort level of each client. Drawing on various trauma informed modalities including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), and Inner Child Work, she aims to engage clients with their inner wisdom and inherent capacity for healing. Having experienced the profound ways in which healing can emerge when engaging with this work, Yamina is honored to be supporting others with unwavering compassion and acceptance.