PORTLAND, Ore. (PRWEB)
October 19, 2021

ClassBento, the booking platform that improves social and mental wellbeing by making creative workshops available to everyone, today announces its official launch in the United States with a focus on the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City. Now anyone can support local small businesses and artists and connect with their community while participating in meaningful cultural exchanges — whether it’s taking classes from an Oyster Shucker team in Boston, wreath makers from New Jersey, terrarium builders from Portland or sourdough bread makers from San Francisco.

The pandemic has created a drought of the shared experiences that make life special. ClassBento is on a mission to enhance people’s social and mental health by reconnecting them with their local community through meaningful experiences, both virtual and in-person. Those who are most comfortable at home can easily book virtual artisanal experiences and order DIY craft boxes and kits that are designed by local makers and teachers from San Francisco, New York City and beyond. Just by opening their laptop, people can get a dose of everything they’ve been missing: human interaction, creative experimentation, cultural experiences and, most importantly, fun.

From cooking to crown making, ClassBento’s highly-curated catalog of thousands of experiences (and growing!) quenches individuals’ thirst for connection, serving as a remedy for the isolation and stress the pandemic caused.

The new virtual-first world has also had a significant impact on artists and small business owners who struggled to stay afloat as in-person showcases and event opportunities dwindled. ClassBento empowers artisans to share their craft with individuals and groups, without having to deal with marketing and logistics, so they can focus on the work they love doing. The platform was designed specifically with artisans in mind, helping them expand audiences and grow businesses at a time when they need it most.

In addition to artists and small business owners, employers are facing their own challenges caused by the pandemic, seeking ways to motivate employees remotely and manage their burnout. Human Resources professionals, department heads and leaders with a travel and expense budget can use ClassBento to build team culture through its array of artisanal classes, enhancing employee wellness at work.

“The negative impact that the pandemic has had on our mental health is tremendous and it is time that we prioritize wellness and human connection,” said John Tabari, Co-CEO and Co-founder of ClassBento. “People are desperate for ways to alleviate burnout and stress and that’s exactly what ClassBento aims to provide.”

Since its launch in the UK and Australia, ClassBento has facilitated experiences and helped mental wellbeing for teams at Pfizer, AstraZeneca, front line workers at the NHS and companies like Accenture, Facebook, Netflix, PayPal and Spotify. ClassBento has had significant success in the UK and Australia, quickly becoming the go-to for artisan experiences.

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About ClassBento

ClassBento began in Australia and launched in the UK in 2020. ClassBento connects thousands of individuals, groups and teams with local artisans and makers who teach fun workshops online. Choose from hundreds of creative workshops and wellbeing activities including art, craft, cocktail and cooking experiences taught by some of San Francisco and New York’s best local makers. ClassBento is on a social mission to improve the wellbeing of our nation one workshop at a time.

Press Contact:

Tisha Ferraro

classbento@thekeypr.com

(775) 848-8231

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With such a dire need for more accessible and evidence-based mental health and wellness solutions, we felt it was crucial to bring together scientists and innovators that are now trailblazing that future

MIAMI (PRWEB)
October 19, 2021

The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), the annual gathering of international leaders in the global wellness economy, today announced a key topic for its upcoming conference: future directions in mental health and wellness–and how new neuroscientific research is speeding up innovative approaches to help solve the global mental wellness crisis.

The conference will bring together leading academics, such as Dr. Richie Davidson, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Dr. Rebecca Robbins of Harvard Medical School, presenting new research on the topic, as well as diverse experts and companies on the dramatically new directions unfolding in mental wellness. For instance, Louis Schwartzberg will present on how psychedelic mushrooms will provide sustainable solutions for the most challenging conditions, such as depression or PTSD. Dr. Hanna Poikonen, neuroscience researcher at ETH Zurich, will keynote on how a new understanding of the connection between embodiment and cognition, movement and the mind, will change how we approach mental wellness. Freddie Moross, of music-for-wellbeing innovator Myndstream, will deliver a keynote (with a live musical performance) on how young generations are embracing experiments that use music as medicine for the mind.

The Summit takes place in-person in Boston, Massachusetts and virtually from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3. View the evolving lineup of speakers on the future of wellness.

“The demand for ‘more mental wellness solutions’ was really driving the wellness market pre-pandemic, and then COVID-19 took its terrible toll on the world’s mental health. A new report in The Lancet shows major depression and severe anxiety have increased nearly 30% globally,” said Susie Ellis, chair and CEO of GWS. “With such a dire need for more accessible and evidence-based mental health and wellness solutions, we felt it was crucial to bring together scientists and innovators that are now trailblazing that future.”

More about the speakers:

Dr. Richie Davidson is professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and founder and chair of the Center for Healthy Minds, an institute that conducts rigorous neuroscientific research on what exactly constitutes “a healthy mind” to create approaches that can relieve suffering. He has published hundreds of scientific papers on the neural bases of emotion, the science of neuroplasticity, and the impact of meditation and contemplative practices on the brain.

Freddie Moross is senior marketing manager at the major music brand Cutting Edge Group (UK and US), and their consumer-facing wellness brand Myndstream, which produces music for mental wellbeing and is home to chart-topping, critically-acclaimed global artists who collectively have amassed multi-billions of streams. Their platform has been used in yoga studios and spas–and prisons, hospitals and government organizations–to relieve stress and to create tranquil environments. His multimedia presentation: “Music, Mental Health and My Generation.”

Dr. Hanna Poikonen, PhD, is a researcher in neuroscience at the Professorship for Learning Sciences and Higher Education at ETH Zurich. Her studies focus on the connection between embodiment and cognition and how the brain can be transformed through movement. She is also founder of WiseMotion, a workshop concept (held at wellness resorts such as Six Senses) which improves embodied cognition and mental wellness through dance, movement and neuroscience.

Dr. Rebecca Robbins is an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an Associate Scientist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her research on sleep and circadian health has been published in numerous peer-reviewed medical journals and she is co-author of Sleep for Success! with Dr. James B. Maas. She will present eye-opening new research on sleep and workplace performance in her talk, “The Forgotten Frontier: Why You Should Be Sleeping on the Job.”

Louie Schwartzberg is an award-winning cinematographer and director, famed for his breathtaking imagery using time-lapse, high-speed and macro cinematography techniques. His theatrical releases include the 3D IMAX film Mysteries of the Unseen World and Wings of Life for Disneynature. He is also a mycelium expert, and his latest film, Fantastic Fungi (which ranked #1 for four weeks on iTune’s documentary charts), explores how the fascinating organisms that are mushrooms can be deployed to treat everything from Alzheimer’s to depression. His three TED talks have attracted over 60 million views.

Registration is now open for the in-person event at the Encore Boston Harbor; space is extremely limited.

Virtual attendees from around the world will be hosted by Anna Bjurstam, Six Senses Wellness Pioneer, and will have access to all on-stage presentations–live and on-demand–as well as special online breakout sessions and networking opportunities. Register to attend virtually here.

Media: To apply to attend the Summit virtually or in-person as press, please fill out the media accreditation form.

About the Global Wellness Summit —The Global Wellness Summit is the premier organization that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $4.5 trillion global wellness economy. Its future-focused conference is held at a different global location each year and has traveled to the US, Switzerland, Turkey, Bali, India, Morocco, Mexico, Austria, Italy and Singapore. GWS also hosts regular virtual gatherings, including Wellness Master Classes, Wellness Sector Spotlights and Investor “Reverse Pitch” events. The organization’s annual Global Wellness Trends Report offers expert-based predictions on the future of wellness. The 2021 Summit will be held in Boston from November 30–December 3.

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Alex Stavros, CEO Embark Behavioral Health

“We are always pleased when Embark is recognized for the work we are doing in the mental health field. It takes a team to build something special and of consequence, something that makes a big impact and changes the world.”

TEMPE, Ariz. (PRWEB)
October 18, 2021

Alex Stavros, Chief Executive Officer of Embark Behavioral Health, a network of nationwide therapy centers for adolescents and young adults, has been chosen by The Healthcare Insights as one of the U.S.’s most influential healthcare entrepreneurs.

“With the goal of improving healthcare for all, (these individuals) are continually strengthening the healthcare industry and setting a precedent for entrepreneurs in other industries,” the digital and print publication’s U.S. edition stated about its Most Influential Healthcare Entrepreneurs to Watch selections. “Their hard work, determination, and innovation capabilities have indeed made the industry more patient-specific.”

The publication selected 10 executives who it said are playing a central role in strengthening the industry and how it operates, especially in the following areas:

• 
  introducing technological solutions that drive both positive patient outcomes and industry growth
• fostering innovation-driven ideas and “outside-the-box” thinking
• changing the system to a model of genuine healthcare and positive patient outcomes from one of a sole focus on sick care
• exposing and rectifying inefficiencies in traditional healthcare and developing new models that help the industry
• making statistical predictions about care requirements that will be needed in the future

“Embark has set out to increase the awareness and lower the stigma of our society’s mental health crisis, as well as making good quality treatment more accessible,” the magazine noted. “Hence, most of their efforts are collaborative, social, action-oriented, and proactive in spirit, as they endeavor to provide some of the highest-quality mental health support services available in the U.S.”

“We are always pleased when Embark is recognized for the work we are doing in the mental health field. From our billing team to our clinicians, nurses, teachers, front line coaches, and everyone in between – it takes a team to build something special and of consequence, something that makes a big impact and changes the world,” Stavros stated. “This selection is an acknowledgment of our team and the singular goal we have set to lead the way in driving adolescent and young adult anxiety, depression, and suicide from the all-time highs of today to all-time lows by 2028.”

Prior to joining Embark Behavioral Health 10 years ago, Stavros was the Managing Partner of Lia Capital Partners, focused on growing the impact of mission-driven businesses, and the Associate Director of Firm Wide Operations at Cambridge Associates, the world’s largest investment advisory firm to not-for-profit organizations.

Earlier, he worked at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a U.S. government agency that mobilizes private capital to help solve critical world social and poverty challenges; and he served on the staff of a Minnesota Congressman.

Stavros graduated with Honors from American University with both an Economic Theory and International Development degree. He also earned an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business with a focus on Social Entrepreneurship. The son of missionaries, he grew up in Peru, and currently is on the Board of Peruvian Partners, a nonprofit established to connect North Americans with Peruvian families living in abject poverty.

Earlier this year, Embark became one of the first behavioral health organizations in the United States to undergo and be awarded the new System-Wide Accreditation and Gold Seal of Approval® from The Joint Commission. The accreditation confirms that Embark prioritizes all aspects of care and safety for the families it serves.

About Embark Behavioral Health

Embark Behavioral Health is a leading network of clinics and programs offering premier mental health treatment for adolescents and young adults. Dedicated to its mission of reversing the trends of adolescent and young adult anxiety, depression, and suicide by 2028, Embark is unlike any other behavioral health organization in the United States. Embark offers a full continuum and spectrum of services, a unique 25-years of specialization, a deep legacy of serving youth, and a set of internationally validated outcomes that drive treatment in real-time. For more information about Embark or its treatment programs, including wilderness therapy, long-term residential treatment centers, short-term residential treatment centers, day treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP) programs, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), outpatient, and virtual counseling, please visit embarkbh.com.

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“The animals make a huge difference,” said Beth Sharpe, Director of Life Enrichment. “You can see the positive benefit that animal interaction has on the residents’ moods.”

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. (PRWEB)
October 13, 2021

To promote the wellbeing of its residents, Brookview, a Villa Center, recently hosted a petting zoo event that provided opportunities for residents to hold and feed a variety of animals. Animal interaction may offer both emotional and physiological benefits to older adults in long-term care residences.

According to a study of animal-assisted activity among older adults in the journal Geriatric Nursing, animal interaction can reduce anxiety and loneliness in older adults. As little as 12 minutes of animal interaction may also improve lung and heart health by lowering blood pressure and reducing the release of epinephrine, which increases heart rate and can cause anxiety, according to a study by A. Gawlinski and N. Steers at UCLA Health.

“The animals make a huge difference,” said Beth Sharpe, Director of Life Enrichment. “You can see the positive benefit that animal interaction has on the residents’ moods.”

Their new four-legged (and no-legged) friends came in many shapes and sizes, including turtles, a snake, a hedgehog, a chinchilla, lizards, and a rabbit. Beth shared that even residents who normally don’t participate in activities get excited when animals come to visit their center.

Sharpe observes, “Whenever we host an interactive event with animals, the residents immediately want to know when the animals will be back!”

We’re Villa, and we make people better. Of course, we’re focused on quality care and good outcomes. But we’re here to do so much more. Villa’s leadership has a vision of rising above the status quo—of never settling and of shattering the old image of this industry. We’ve always wanted to be a part of something greater, and we’re making that a reality. Our commitment to our people, our environment, and our clinical programs will allow us to fulfill our mission of making people better. For more information, please visit http://www.VillaHC.com.

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FORT MYERS, Fla. (PRWEB)
October 12, 2021

Whether you’re single or in a relationship, it’s important to celebrate September as Sexual Health Month by taking care of yourself. With over 15 years of medical experience, Dr. Melissa (Mel) Irvine, DNP, has channeled her experience and knowledge to help singles and couples understand the importance of sexual wellness and how it affects their overall health, relationships, and quality of life.

“With a focus on ‘Love, Bonding and Intimacy’ for 2021, it’s important we acknowledge that it starts within ourselves,” says Dr. Mel. “How are you ever going to have a successful relationship if you don’t love and understand yourself, let alone how to please yourself?”

Many of the patients Dr. Mel sees are managing physical, mental and emotional aspects of what often turns out to be hormonal imbalance or lack of sexual education and knowledge that presents in their everyday lives as marital issues, lack of intimacy, and shame.

Some of the most common signs and symptoms to look out for are fatigue, decreased energy and libido, irritability, anxiety, depression, frequent bladder infections, hair loss, sleep disturbances, orgasm changes, erection changes, vaginal changes, difficulty sleeping, weight gain, memory issues, difficulty concentrating, brain fog, and hot flashes.

“There’s a lot of anxiety for women who are in this position because they feel like something’s wrong with them,” explains Dr. Mel. “And actually, the challenges they’re facing are often simpler than they think, and we work together to get them resolved.”

Dr. Mel sees patients of all genders but feels it’s especially important for women to understand their bodies and address their sexual health. “Changes occur way before menopause and once in menopause, they continue to worsen. This is every woman’s reality no matter their age. Without even realizing it, women fall into this lack of desire because we’re given excuses as to why we feel that way: you’re busy, you have kids, you have a husband and a career,” Dr. Mel explains. “I can tell when a woman’s been deficient as soon as I do a pelvic exam. Changes in a woman’s anatomy happen over a long period of time. This is so important, and not just for sexually active women, because as women age and their immune systems change, there are risks for infections that are very serious.”

In addition to physical changes, Dr. Mel says hormonal fluctuations result in depression and anxiety for many. “So often the answer is giving an anti-depressant. And what it’s going to do is it’s going to numb you,” says Dr. Mel. “Every year so many people are put on these antidepressants, and nobody even bothered to check their hormones.”

Hormone levels begin to decrease for both men and women as a natural part of the aging process. Dr. Mel focuses on balancing three essential reproductive hormones: Estradiol, Progesterone, and Testosterone, for both men and women to optimize overall health and quality of life. However, she believes there’s a huge discrepancy in care between men and women, in that hormone therapies are considered high risk in women.

“There are few providers willing to do it, but I hear from so many women, as soon as they get on hormones, their marriages were saved, or that they just now feel so good and didn’t even realize how miserable they were. It’s not just about love, bonding and intimacy with a partner. it’s for your life in general. For your own health and wellbeing.”

Dr. Mel sees patients through Revitalize Health Clinic and Spa, 14320 Metropolis Ave, in Fort Myers. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please visit drmelirvine.com, or call 239-351-5663. She will also speak at eXXXotica, the country’s largest and longest running adult consumer and educational event, held from September 17-19, at the Miami Airport Convention Center.

About Dr. Melissa (Mel) Irvine, DNP

Dr. Mel has been in the medical field for over 15 years and is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Brenau Women’s College, in Gainesville, Georgia. She received her Master of Science in Nursing at The University of Alabama at Birmingham and her doctorate degree at Florida Gulf Coast University. Dr. Mel is passionate about empowering and educating women so they can be their own advocate and make the best-informed decisions regarding treatment options and quality of life. As a Sexual Medicine provider, she takes pride in providing high-quality personalized care to meet the sexual health needs of both men and women. Her interest in Sexual Medicine took her to San Diego where she completed a preceptorship with the leading Sexual Medicine provider in the U.S., Dr. Irwin Goldstein. She is an avid learner and regularly attends educational trainings and conferences to stay up to date on the latest and most innovative treatment options available.

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Tom Caton on a motorbike

At Estancia, our mission is to get to know each and every resident and their family including life stories, daily joys, and hopes so that we can enrich their lives through extraordinary experiences.

FALLBROOK, Calif. (PRWEB)
October 12, 2021

Estancia Senior Living is excited to announce that it granted its first wish, as part of the Wishes Come True program, on Saturday, September 18, 2021, to a special resident, Tom Caton. Wishes Come True is a program that Soon-Gill Schnellinger, Life Enrichment Director at Estancia Senior Living, created for residents at Estancia who have a wish to do something grand. With support from local businesses, Estancia plans, organizes and implements the granting of the resident wishes. Each Estancia resident has an opportunity to have a wish come true.

“We are delighted to launch the Wishes Come True program to bring dreams to life for all of our residents,” said Kristin Beck, Executive Director of Estancia Living. “At Estancia, our mission is to get to know each and every resident and their family including life stories, daily joys, and hopes so that we can enrich their lives through extraordinary experiences.”

The first recipient of Wishes Come True was Estancia resident Tom Caton. Tom is described as someone who loves people and entertains them with his great sense of humor. He is active at the community by starting a card group and is working diligently at launching a Mahjong group. Tom has a rich life history. He served with honor in the National Guard from 1946 to 1950 and then became a printer with his own business. Tom married his high school sweetheart, Mickie. One of his most loved pastimes was riding on motorbike rides together with Mickie. It has been a long time since his last ride.

Tom’s wish was to ride on the back of a motorbike again, particularly the iconic Harley. On Saturday September 18th at 10AM, a group from American Legion Riders took Tom on a ride from his home at Estancia Senior Living through Fallbrook and Camp Pendleton. Then they stopped in for a tour at K9 Guardians in Fallbrook, a place that raises puppies to be service dogs for disabled Veterans.

Estancia expressed its heartfelt gratitude to Tim Herington from American Legion Riders and Leisa Tilley-Grajek from K9 Guardians for helping this fellow vet out and making Tom’s Wish Come True.

For more information about Estancia Senior Living and the Wishes Come True program, visit http://www.estanciaseniorliving.com or call (760) 645-0238.

About Estancia Senior Living

Estancia Senior Living, operated by Meridian Senior Living, offers compassionate assisted living and distinctive memory care services with residences ranging from studio to two-bedroom apartments in Fallbrook, CA. Luxurious details are abundant in the community that is well-equipped with a fitness center, art studio, theater, library, salons, and expansive dining rooms to support the health and wellness of its residents. Extensive outdoor walkways complement the community’s focus on active living such as daily social activities, exceptional dining experiences, and the highest quality of care. Its traditional mission-style architecture features exterior gas lamps and historic wood landscape elements. Learn more about Estancia Senior Living by visiting http://www.estanciaseniorliving.com or calling (760) 645-0238.

About Meridian Senior Living:

Meridian Senior Living, a privately held company based in Bethesda, Maryland, owns and operates seniors housing communities across the country and provides operational consulting to 24 communities in China. With approximately 60 communities in 18 states and more in development, Meridian is one of the largest seniors housing operators in the U.S. The company prides itself on providing the highest quality care, exceptional lifestyle programming and a distinctive dining experience for its residents. For more information on Meridian Senior Living, visit meridiansenior.com.

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Psychedelic Justice: Toward a Diverse and Equitable Psychedelic Culture

This book is a must-read for everyone in the field, especially those who believe the psychedelic community is a space of liberty and justice for all.

SAN FRANCISCO (PRWEB)
October 09, 2021

Psychedelic culture is at an inflection point. Within the last decade, psychedelics have assimilated into the mainstream, even becoming a multi-million dollar industry. As psychedelic medicine integrates into our widespread capitalist culture, the question of what forces will gain control and shape the direction of the psychedelic renaissance is front and center. In this pivotal time, with so many new players emerging, those who believe that psychedelics can transform society are being challenged to define, and embody, the values that will shape this growing movement.

“This book is a must-read for everyone in the field, especially those who believe the psychedelic community is a space of liberty and justice for all,” says NiCole T. Buchanan, PhD, clinical psychologist, author of “Psychedelic Justice: Creating a Socially Just Psychedelic Renaissance” and member of the Chacruna Institute’s Racial Equity and Access Committee. “Psychedelic Justice not only demonstrates the many ways we have failed to live up to the promise and potential of a psychedelic renaissance, but it also offers strategies to correct our course as a community and to revolutionize society.”

The essays within Psychedelic Justice examine both historical and modern issues within psychedelic communities that many may not be aware of. Radical, cultural transformation is the guiding force behind this socially visionary anthology. It guides us in cultivating a psychedelic culture that represents everyone, honors voices that have been suppressed for too long, and envisions a more beautiful tomorrow through the psychedelic lens.

​“This Chacruna anthology unites authors who recognize the power of psychedelics to change the way we think. It is not just that we need to update the browser on our search engine, but rather that we need to unplug the computer altogether and look instead to different sources of information, be it from the stars, plants, or people in our communities––especially those who are different from us,” shares Erika Dyck, PhD, professor and author of “Can Psychedelics Promote Social Justice and Change the World?,” Canada Research Chair in the History of Health & Social Justice, and member of Chacruna’s Board of Directors and Associate Director of Chacruna in Canada.

In this anthology, Indigenous contributors offer their perspectives on cultural appropriation, colonialism, and globalization of plant medicines. Topics addressed also include the following: overarching perspectives about western capitalism; queer issues, including LGBTQ+ affirmative psychedelic therapy; the issue of sexual abuse in intimate healing settings; and ecological concerns such as sustainability, policy, and Indigenous reciprocity. Taken as a whole, the authors focus on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) broadly and comprehensively.

As decriminalization, legalization, and medicalization of psychedelics advance in the West, relatively little has been done to address the injustices that People of the Global Majority face on any given day. ​“Psychedelics in the Global North are going mainstream, but many voices are being left out in the psychedelic renaissance,” shares Bia Labate, PhD, social anthropologist and the Executive Director of the Chacruna Institute. “Psychedelic Justice is a collection of essays that highlight Chacruna’s ongoing work of promoting diversity, equity, access and inclusion by uplifting voices that have long been marginalized in Western psychedelic culture. Psychedelic Justice guides us in cultivating a psychedelic renaissance that represents everyone and envisions a tomorrow whereby the revolutionary potential of psychedelics can support all, not just a few.”

This book is now available for purchase at Synergetic Press, Amazon, and other retailers: https://synergeticpress.com/catalog/psychedelic-justice/

ABOUT:

The Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines, an organization co-founded by Brazilian anthropologist Dr. Bia Labate and American psychologist Dr. Clancy Cavnar, produces high-quality research on plant medicines and psychedelics and helps propagate academic knowledge in more accessible formats. We educate the public and create cultural understanding and legitimacy regarding these substances so that they may cease to be stigmatized and outlawed. Chacruna also promotes a bridge between the world of plant medicines and the emergent field of psychedelic science, between “traditional ceremonial use” and clinical and therapeutic settings, bringing the knowledge and perspectives of the social sciences to health care professionals and practitioners of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Finally, we foster cultural and political reflections on the field of psychedelic science and facilitate conversations about controversial topics that have been simmering on the sidelines as psychedelics go mainstream.

Dr. Beatriz Caiuby Labate (Bia Labate) is a queer Brazilian anthropologist based in San Francisco. She has a Ph.D. in social anthropology from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil. Her main areas of interest are the study of plant medicines, drug policy, shamanism, ritual, religion, and social justice. She is Executive Director of the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines (https://chacruna.net, https://chacruna-iri.org, https://chacruna-la.org). She serves as Public Education and Culture Specialist at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), and Adjunct Faculty at the East-West Psychology Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). She is also Diversity, Culture, and Ethics Advisor at the Synthesis Institute. Additionally, she is a co-founder of the Interdisciplinary Group for Psychoactive Studies (NEIP) in Brazil and editor of its site. She is author, co-author, and co-editor of twenty-four books, two special-edition journals, and several peer-reviewed articles (https://bialabate.net).

Clancy Cavnar has a doctorate in clinical psychology (Psy.D.) from John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, CA. She currently works in private practice in San Francisco and is Co-Founder and a member of the Board of Directors of the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines. She is also a research associate of the Interdisciplinary Group for Psychoactive Studies (NEIP). She combines an eclectic array of interests and activities as a clinical psychologist, artist, and researcher. She has a master of fine arts in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute, a master’s in counseling from San Francisco State University, and she completed the Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). She is the author and co-author of articles in several peer-reviewed journals and co-editor, with Beatriz Caiuby Labate, of ten books. For more information see http://www.drclancycavnar.com.

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