Meet The Team
Matthew Hicks, ND, MS
Matthew is the founder of Synaptic Integrative Care and Training Institute, a naturopathic physician specializing in integrative mental health, the host of the Integrative Psychiatry Review podcast, and a facilitator of psychedelic therapy. He also holds a degree in medical research and has authored peer-reviewed papers on empathy, mindfulness, and psychedelic topics.
Sunil Aggarwal, MD, Ph.D., FAAPMR
Sunil is a Board-Certified Physician in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as well as a Medical Geographer and serves as the Past Chair of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) Integrative Medicine Special Interest Group as well as an inaugural member of AAHPM’s Safe Use in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies Forum.
Peter Addy, PhD
Peter has studied psychedelic substances and states and consciousness for 15 years. He earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology studying transpersonal psychology. Dr. Addy has presented internationally on a variety of subjects related to spirituality and transpersonal states, psychedelic science, and research methodology. He is currently a psychotherapist in private practice in Washington and Oregon.
FirstMan
Firstman is a co-founder of the Rastafari Indigenous Village in Jamaica where he is a ceremony guide for ganja and mushrooms, an advocate against discrimination of indigenous people and plant medicine, and a chanter and facilitator for spiritual gatherings and movements.
Tahlia Harrison, MS, LMFT
Tahlia is a Marriage and Family Therapist Associate who provides supportive, trauma-informed individual and relational therapy. Tahlia incorporates systemic, existential-humanistic, somatic, and narrative approaches that value relationship and experience as foundational to healing. Tahlia completed her Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy from Lewis & Clark’s Graduate School of Counseling.
Lama Mike Crowley
Mike was ordained as a lay-lama in the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in 1987. He is the author of Secret Drugs of Buddhism and Psychedelic Buddhism.
Jarrod Franklin, ND, MS
Jarrod is a Naturopathic Doctor and also holds a Master's in Ayurvedic medicine.
Erica Zelfand, ND
Dr. Zelfand is a licensed family physician specializing in integrative mental health, a ketamine prescriber, and a facilitator of therapeutic psychedelic experiences. She is also a medical writer, teacher, and international speaker. Her favorite things include snacks, naps, one-way tickets, group hugs, the forest, big sunglasses, and huge dogs.
Leanna Standish, ND, PhD
Co-founder of AIMS Institute, naturopathic doctor, and neuroscientist, Leanna is also conducting a phase 1 trial of ayahuasca.
Alison Draisin, PsyD
Alison Draisin is the founder and CEO of Ettalew’s Edibles, past President of the Board of Directors for the Center for Cannabis and Social Policy (CASP), and an original member of Women of Weed. As an active member of the Washington State cannabis community, she speaks publicly on cannabis education locally and internationally.