In recent years, there’s been a growing acceptance of psychedelic therapies for treating severe mental illnesses. Alberta-based  company Atma Cena is poised to capitalize on this trend by opening a clinic at Western University’s research park. This clinic aims to address patients with major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and addiction through a combination of conventional counselling and psychedelic-assisted therapy.

“We’re talking about two things. One is the clinic, and then one is Atma Cena as the network,” said chief executive officer and co-founder of Atma Cena, Reverdi Darda. “We aim to enhance access and sustainability to these therapies through our network. This initiative will foster a robust community and expand the availability of these treatments.”

Darda emphasized the importance of integrating medicine and therapy.

“We offer the opportunity for medicine and therapy to come together, based on evidence and research, in a structured way that has shown much-increased benefits,” Darda explained. “When you put them together, you get better benefits from the participating individuals.”

Vice-president of Eastern Operations of Atma Cena, Andrew Charrette, expanded on the clinic’s multifaceted offerings.

“We’ll be offering traditional psychotherapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). In addition, we’re exploring accessibility for psilocybin-assisted therapy or MDMA-assisted therapy through Health Canada’s special access program,” Charette said.

The compounds responsible for the psychoactive effects in magic mushrooms are known as psilocybin and psilocin. These substances are regulated internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions and, in Canada, under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). Meanwhile, MDMA is a synthetic drug. Recently, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD has gained breakthrough status from drug regulators in the United States.

The clinic’s location at the Western Research Park was selected for its peaceful and tranquil environment, which Charrette believes is essential for effective therapy.

“The location in London was chosen because we felt it was a great fit in terms of the office space itself and the environment,” Charrette said.

Atma Cena’s London clinic will operate under the standards set by Alberta, which has been a leader in regulating psychedelic drug treatment services.

“We’re very cautious and compliant with the requirements for administering these drugs,” Charrette noted. “It’s essential to provide legal access to these therapies and facilitate the benefits they can offer while ensuring safety and adherence to regulations.”

These regulations ensure rigorous safety protocols, including comprehensive screening for contraindications such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, recent head injuries, or a history of schizophrenia.

“We want to ensure that people understand the safety and evidence behind these therapies,” Darda said. “There is still a stigma, and we aim to bring awareness to these treatments’ benefits.”

Darda underscored the paramount importance of evidence-based care.

“We ensure compliance with existing regulations and prioritize education and awareness. Psychedelic therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it may offer hope for individuals who have not responded to traditional treatments.”

Aside from Atma Cena’s efforts, it’s worth noting that Health Canada approved a clinical trial in which 20 London participants with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) would undergo psilocybin-assisted therapy.

Sponsored by Apex Labs and conducted at Centricity Research sites, the trial will involve health professionals such as psychotherapist Jared Dalton, who will use the Apex psychotherapy manual to guide patients through it.

“Psilocybin seems to offer some potential in treating trauma-related conditions like PTSD. It creates new pathways in the brain, leading to symptom reduction and improved mental health outcomes,” Dalton said.

Dalton described how psychedelic-assisted therapy could enhance traditional psychotherapy.

“In psychedelic-assisted therapy, the goal is not to keep going back to the medicine. And the goal is to have an experience, or maybe two or three experiences, that translates into symptom reduction,” Dalton said. “The dominant one presently is that it creates more, more permeability in the brain or more malleability in the brain so that new pathways can be formed that may not support the depressive or anxiety symptoms, following the treatment.”

Dalton emphasized that psychedelic-assisted therapy is not a cure-all but a promising new tool in the therapeutic arsenal.

“It’s not a silver bullet or a guaranteed fix for every problem,” Dalton cautioned. “But for those who haven’t found success with other treatments, it offers a new avenue of hope.”

Dalton envisions a future where psychedelic therapies seamlessly integrate into mainstream mental health care.

“We need to manage expectations and dispel misconceptions surrounding psychedelic drugs,” Dalton said. “I’ve been a psychotherapist for 12 years now. And recognize that in trauma, there are no treatments specifically designed for it. Most treatments are for other things, particularly medication or medicines.”