German Ascani, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist, with a broad range of clinical expertise, having worked extensively over a decade in public and community mental health systems. He has experience in primary care and specialty clinics providing psychiatric consultation to serve diverse clinical populations across the full spectrum of mental health and illness. Dr. Ascani has particular interests in the potential for psychological, emotional and spiritual healing that new and emerging psychedelic medicines bring to the mental health field. He supports the safe use of these powerful transformative tools to open up a process of deep exploration, self-reflection and lasting growth.
German is a graduate of the University of California Davis School of Medicine. He completed his general psychiatric training at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California. He has a Masters of Science in Physiology from Georgetown University and a BA in psychology from the University of California at Berkeley. He has collaborated in the latest published research on Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). He also presently serves as co-faculty and medical lead for PRATI (Psychedelic Research and Training Institute) for their KAP trainings for mental health professionals, and is a research therapist for the MAPS phase 3 research trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in Fort Collins. He is a native of Argentina.
Moksha Donohue, LMFT is a Somatic Psychotherapist working with adults and teens addressing depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, and life transitions. She has been working as a guide in the psychedelic community for 4 years and has been trained in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy from the Polaris Insight Institute. She is interested in bringing KAP into groups because she believes the power of psychedelics to increase in community spaces. Much like in meditation, when there are groups sharing a sacred setting and intention, the potential for healing can be much deeper. She is also leading group psychedelic integration circles to foster greater connection in the community for her clients.
Celeste Monnette, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience. She earned her Master’s degree in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley and has worked in community-based nonprofits and private practice. In 2005, she completed a two-year, post-graduate training program at The Psychotherapy Institute in Berkeley. Since, she has been working with clients with a broad range of goals for symptom relief and healing through various therapeutic modalities. After discovering the power of Ketamine to heal and reduce suffering, Celeste’s professional focus and development began to center around ketamine work and psychedelic integration. Celeste is currently enrolled in the MDMA Therapy Training Program and has a particular interest in trauma and trauma-informed care. She recently co-authored a publication on Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).
Suegee Tamar-Mattis, DO is a board-certified Family Medicine physician, certified in psychedelic-assisted therapies and research from the California Institute for Integral Studies, and trained in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy at the Polaris Insight Center. Dr. Tamar-Mattis has worked for many community organizations such as Sonoma County Indian Health Project and Brookwood Health Center (serving people experiencing homelessness), and was the founder of the transgender clinic at Santa Rosa Community Health Centers. Dr. Tamar-Mattis is a long-time advocate for the intersex community, serving as a consultant for Human Rights Watch and as a medical advisor to interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth.
