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.

Jordan Gross, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Registered Nurse, Certified Nurse Psychotherapist

Thunder Bay

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

Thunder Bay

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

Sault Ste Marie

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.

Kathleen Crnkovic, RPN

Thunder Bay

Meet Kathleen Crnkovic, the Nurse Clinic Manager at CCFPH. Kathleen joined our team in 2022 and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the clinic. She is a Registered Practical Nurse since 2010 and graduated from Confederation College Practical Nursing. She holds an HBSc in Psychology with a focus on Neuroscience from Lakehead University, where she is currently working toward a BSc Nursing.

With over 9 years of experience working as an RPN, Kathleen has honed her skills in providing care and support to patients with acute care illnesses. She has worked at St. Joseph’s Care Group and at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, where she has gained experience working in a multidisciplinary team environment. Recently, she completed a rotation in the Ambulatory Care Department where she assisted surgeons in minor surgical procedures and investigations, and ketamine and lidocaine infusions.

In her free time, Kathleen is an avid outdoors enthusiast, enjoying activities such as hiking, rock climbing, jogging backtrails, biking, and figure skating. When inside, she has a more docile side and enjoys baking, playing piano, and reading. With her diverse background in nursing and psychology, along with her passion for health and wellness, Kathleen is a valuable asset to our clinic and we are grateful to have her on our team. Her extensive experience and dedication will ensure that our patients receive the best possible care and support.

Our Administrators

Our administrative 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.

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.