Speaker Bio
Anne created Remedy as a home for the creative exploration of practice and community, and to fund the work of Remedy Institute, a home for research and accessible services. Anne works with individuals, couples, other intimate relationship constellations, and groups to navigate experiences of growth, exploration, relationships, mindfulness, preparing for and integrating psychedelic and non-ordinary state experiences, life stressors, trauma, and depression. With extensive experience in mindfulness-based and contemplative practices, cognitive, behavioural, and psychedelic-assisted therapies, Anne has been exploring existential and humanistic therapies to complement her evolving interests and experiences. Strongly believing in the power of emotions and felt experiences in the body as cues and opportunities to become curious, she values non-judgment, presence, and openness in the therapeutic experience. She particularly enjoys working with artists, relationships, those who are hoping to expand in their lives, and exploring the experiences of gender and sexuality. Anne believes in being genuine, empathic, honest, curious, and warm as a therapist. Her practice is honouring and inclusive of all sexual and gender identities and expressions. She holds dear the values of inclusivity, trauma-competency, anti-oppression, and feminism.
Anne is the principal investigator of the pilot trial of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD + MDMA, and the randomized controlled trial of Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy (CBCT) for PTSD + MDMA. Anne collaborates on numerous projects with other researchers, spanning across the fields of psychedelics, trauma, couples therapy, HIV, and the experiences of women. Anne trains and supervises students, and provides consultation and training to peers. She sits on the board of Casey House, is the past-Chair of the Traumatic Stress Section of the Canadian Psychological Association, and is a Global Ambassador for the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
ICPR 2024 Abstract
Preliminary Results from the pilot trial of Cognitive Processing Therapy + MDMA for PTSD
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that has demonstrated significant efficacy in numerous trials across a variety of populations and for a variety of different sources of trauma (e.g., Asmundson et al., 2019; Resick et al., 2015; Resick & Schnicke, 1992). MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD has also demonstrated significant efficacy for the alleviation of PTSD symptoms across several randomized trials (e.g., Mithoefer et al., 2019; Mitchell et al., 2023). Given both interventions’ utility, and also considering the gap that remains with 30% to 50% of individuals with continued symptoms post-treatment, we have piloted a trial combining the two interventions. A condensed dosing version of CPT (12 sessions of content delivered over 6 therapy visits) was combined with two MDMA dosing sessions and two integration therapy sessions. Ten participants participated in this open-label pilot trial. Preliminary results, including participant rated and independent rater evaluated PTSD symptoms and related mental health outcomes will be presented. This is the first trial with individuals combining a standalone PTSD treatment with elements of MDMA-assisted therapy.