As psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) continues to develop within Canada’s regulated healthcare landscape, regulatory bodies are increasingly clarifying expectations related to competence, boundaries, accountability, and collaboration, particularly where psychotherapy intersects with medically regulated substances.

In Alberta, professional guidance from the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) and expectations articulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), make it clear that psychedelic-assisted therapy cannot be practiced in isolation. Instead, it requires interdisciplinary, team-based models of care that align psychological practice with medical oversight, ethical standards, and regulatory compliance.

This webinar will explore how evolving scope of practice and regulatory interpretation are shaping who can do what, under what conditions, and in collaboration with whom in psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Particular attention will be given to co-care and interdisciplinary models as practical, compliant pathways that support access, continuity of care, and professional integrity across disciplines.

Participants will be invited to:

• Reflect on how evolving scope of practice impacts their professional roles
• Identify where interdisciplinary models can strengthen compliance and care
• Engage with MAPS Canada’s ongoing advocacy and policy efforts to support responsible psychedelic-assisted therapy pathways

Learning Objectives

1. Understand evolving scope of practice
   Examine how psychology roles are expanding and being clarified in the context of PAT and identify responsibilities related to assessment, preparation, integration, and therapeutic care
2. Explore regulatory guidance in Alberta/Canada
   Learn about the National Guidance and evolution in scope of practice, and review AB expectations regarding therapist participation within regulated, interdisciplinary frameworks
3. Examine interdisciplinary and co-care models
   Understand why team-based care is increasingly required for compliant PAT delivery and explore how co-care models (AB specific) support ethical practice, role clarity, and shared accountability.
4. Translating policy into practice
   Gain practical insights for clinicians, clinics, and organizations navigating evolving regulation and scope

Panelists:
Priya Bains – R. Psych. Psychology Lead, ATMA CENA Psychedelic Healthcare Solutions
Priya is a registered psychologist and has been working in collaboration with clients for nearly 20 years in Alberta. Early in her career, she was introduced to somatic therapy and trauma therapy, which sparked her curiosity about how the body holds psychological burdens and patterns. Her undergraduate degree in neuropsychology shaped her belief that everything psychological is, at its core, biological. As a Certified Hakomi Practitioner, she learned various frameworks for understanding developmental patterns and the “stuckness” clients often experience. Her work is informed by Self-Regulation Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, Attachment Theory, and Hakomi. Her curiosity later led her to explore psychedelic medicine and its potential to facilitate the softening and opening of the unconscious mind, which allows for easier access to these stuck patterns. 

Priya currently works at ATMA CENA in Edmonton as a clinician on the interdisciplinary team and also provides leadership and supervision in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and somatic therapy.

Dr. Mitch Colp – Ph.D., R. Psych, CEO Hexagon Psychology
Dr. Mitch Colp is a Registered Psychologist and Chief Executive Officer of Hexagon Psychology. He has held senior clinical and executive leadership roles across Alberta and within national professional associations. His work focuses on psychological assessment, consultation, and intervention with children, adolescents, and adults in school and private practice settings. Dr. Colp also supports the development of training standards, ethical guidelines, and workforce frameworks in psychology. He holds academic appointments with multiple Canadian universities and regularly delivers national training in psychological assessment, ethical decision-making, and evolving regulatory and professional practice standards.

Host:
Reverdi Darda – RN, BScN , Board Chair MAPS Canada

Reverdi Darda, RN is the Founder & CEO of ATMA CENA Psychedelic Healthcare Solutions, a Canadian organization pioneering a co‑care model that pairs community therapists with robust medical oversight to deliver evidence‑based psychedelic‑assisted therapies. Drawing on 35 years of nursing and executive experience, Reverdi has built a national network of clinics and practitioners who support legal access to ketamine assisted therapy, as well as psilocybin, and MDMA assisted therapy under Health Canada’s Special Access Program. She champions interdisciplinary teamwork, culturally informed practice, and the use of digital tools to make innovative mental‑health care safe, scalable, and equitable. 

An active policy advocate and MAPS Canada board member, Reverdi works to enhance access to underserved communities and advance real‑world research in psychedelic medicine.