MY JOURNEY

My path from psychiatry doctor to integrative medicine practitioner, psychedelic therapy guide, and group retreat facilitator began with a transformative personal health crisis. Facing the physical and emotional challenges of stage IV cancer radically shifted my understanding of health, healing, and the profound connection between body, mind, and spirit. This experience led me to explore holistic healing modalities, including sacred plant medicines/psychedelics. Below, I share more about my personal story and the key insights I've gained along the way.

THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION

In our fast-paced, modern world, many of us live in a state of chronic stress, unaware of how deeply it affects our bodies and minds. When I was working as a junior doctor, I found myself trapped in this cycle - exhausted, overwhelmed, and disconnected from my deeper needs. It wasn’t until I faced my diagnosis that I began to understand how unaddressed emotional and spiritual pain can manifest as physical illness. Chronic stress, by continually triggering the body’s fight-or-flight response, creates inflammation, weakens the immune system, and sets the stage for disease.

Science now shows us the undeniable link between stress, inflammation, and illness, and yet many of us continue to push through, ignoring the signals our bodies are sending. Through my own experience, I’ve learned that true healing requires us to listen to these signals and address the root causes of our suffering.

A HOLISTIC APPROACH

When faced with the enormity of my diagnosis, I knew I needed to go beyond conventional medicine and tap into my body’s innate healing potential. I embraced a holistic approach - integrating conventional medical treatment with lifestyle changes that supported my immune system and overall wellbeing. I optimised my gut health, improved my sleep, adopted a plant-based diet, and made time for rest, adventure, and time in nature. But it was the incorporation of contemplative and spiritual practices that truly set me on a path of deep transformation.

After an initial period of disease progression, approximately four months into immunotherapy treatment, the tumours in my chest started to visibly shrink. By six months, the tumours in my lung and adrenal gland were also no longer visible on scans, and eight years later, I am grateful to still have N.E.D. (no evidence of disease).

Through this experience and my subsequent chapter of ‘survivorship,’ I came to understand that healing is a far deeper process than simply curing a disease. True healing is about returning to a state of balance and wholeness - not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well.

HEALING V. CURING

One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned is that curing and healing are not the same. While curing refers to the removal of physical symptoms, healing is a much more integrative process - it’s about restoring balance and harmony to the whole person, including mind, body, and spirit. You can be cured without being healed, and you can experience deep healing even if a cure is not possible.

TRAUMA-INFORMED HEALING

Through my personal experiences and subsequent training, I’ve come to recognise the critical role of trauma-informed approaches in healing. While traditional talk therapy can be valuable, it doesn’t always resolve trauma at its core. Trauma often lies at the root of many physical and emotional imbalances, leaving an imprint on the nervous system and disrupting the body’s natural ability to regulate and heal itself. Practices such as somatic therapy, EMDR, breathwork, trauma-release exercises (TRE), and plant medicines like psilocybin can help tap into the body’s innate capacity to process trauma and heal.

PLANT MEDICINE AND PSYCHEDELICS

Shortly after going into remission in 2016 I watched a TED talk by the late Roland Griffiths titled ‘The science of psilocybin and its use to relieve suffering’ and this inspired me to attend a psilocybin retreat that changed the direction of my life. This experience opened my eyes to the extraordinary potential of psychedelics to support spiritual growth, disrupt unhelpful patterns of thought and behaviour, facilitate emotional release, and give transformative insights. The experience I had during the psilocybin ceremony inspired me to train in psychedelic-assisted therapy, and I’ve since made it my mission to guide others through their own healing journeys.

I believe that psychedelics, when used with reverence, in the right setting and with appropriate preparation and integration support, offer a powerful path to deep healing - addressing the root causes of suffering rather than merely treating symptoms. As research continues to highlight the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for conditions like depression, PTSD, anxiety, existential distress, and addiction, I am hopeful that these medicines will become more widely accepted and accessible in both clinical and retreat settings. My work is dedicated to creating safe, supportive spaces where people can explore the transformative potential of these sacred medicines. Please also see Essence Medicine.

CRISIS AS A CATALYST FOR TRANSFORMATION

Over the last decade, I’ve come to realise that even the most difficult challenges can serve as powerful catalysts for growth and transformation. When we face adversity with the right tools and support, we have the opportunity to move through it with greater meaning, joy, and purpose. I am committed to helping others harness their own inner healing wisdom and experience the deep transformation that is possible when we approach healing from an integrative, whole-person perspective.

MY VISION

My vision is a world where we all have the opportunity to flourish - where optimal wellbeing, a deeper sense of purpose, and collective healing are within reach for everyone. Through my work, I aim to support individuals and communities in reconnecting with themselves, each other, and the natural world, fostering a more compassionate, interconnected future.