Speaker Bio
Cristina has a master degree in Psychology and postgraduate degrees in Community Mental Health and Development Studies. She is passionate about exploring and promoting the role of civil society in constructing fair health systems and human rights. She has extensive experience as a project manager in the fields of health and education. At ICEERS, she has coordinated various projects related to local drug policy advocacy, accompanying community-building processes with vulnerable groups, and promoting capacity-building initiatives and the role of civil society in constructing fair health systems and human rights. She is currently director of El Faro, ICEERS Support Center, where she monitors harm reduction and crisis integration services relating to psychedelics.
ICPR 2024 Abstract
Navigating the high seas: Confronting the challenges of the psychedelic renaissance
Cristina’s panel will focus on the experience of the El Faro ICEERS Support Center, a harm reduction service that has been operating for the past 13 years, providing support for challenging psychedelic experiences. The ICEERS Support Center has assisted over 4,000 individuals with various needs, ranging from inquiries about interactions between medical treatments and psychoactive plants, to guidance in preparing for ceremonies, and integration therapy for managing challenging experiences. This service has allowed us to better understand the adverse effects commonly encountered in non-clinical psychedelic practices, especially when protective factors are lacking. We are continuously developing and promoting training on best practices, expanding community-based support models, and fostering a network to offer a specialized response for survivors of sexual abuse. The knowledge at the Support Center is a collaborative effort, co-created with the community, other experts, and health professionals. This demonstrates the importance of building alliances to address some of the major challenges in the field of psychedelics.