Leadership, Learning, and Lived Experience: CMAT on the Global PS2025 Stage

By Shoshana Ward, RTC
CMAT Co-Founder, Clinic Director & Practitioner

Returning from the PS2025 Psychedelic Science Conference in Denver, my heart is still brimming with gratitude, awe, and inspiration. Representing CMAT, Centre for Medicine Assisted Therapy — on an international stage was not just a professional milestone, but a deeply personal experience that reaffirmed why we do what we do.

PS2025 was more than just a conference. It was a convergence of minds, hearts, and intentions — a living, breathing tapestry of community, courage, and curiosity. This globally represented gathering held space for brilliant researchers, clinicians, advocates, and changemakers to sit in circles, present from stages large and small, engaging in learning, networking and fun.  There was a broad spectrum of opportunities to connect, and for me, the opportunity to honestly share from the stage, speaking of the light and shadow of psychedelic assisted therapy, was an immense honour.

I’ll admit - it was also a bit nerve-wracking to share the Rick Doblin Stage as a co-panelist. To be invited into that spotlight, not just as a clinic director, but as a person with lived experience and a fierce belief in the principles of equity and access, was profoundly moving. We didn’t shy away from hard topics. We spoke candidly about what’s working in this rapidly evolving field — and perhaps more importantly, what isn’t.

There is a bravery required in looking at the cracks in the system. But it’s in those cracks that the light comes in. I spoke wholeheartedly on stretching the edges of a fractured system, being practically radical, “pradical” a term coined by the CMAT core team, and turning barriers into bridges!  What an amazing honour, but also, what a beautiful opportunity to extend the reach of these conversations forward amongst values-aligned community partners and change makers!

What made PS2025 truly unforgettable were the connections — those spontaneous hallway conversations, the warm embraces from new friends, the shared meals, the stories exchanged over coffee or laughter echoing from breakout rooms. Each interaction planted a seed. Seeds of potential collaborations, of deepened understanding, of bold new ideas that will no doubt ripple into our respective communities.

For CMAT, this conference affirmed that we are not alone in our mission. As a Centre of Excellence grounded in a multidisciplinary, collaborative medical model, it was inspiring to see how our approach resonates with others across the globe. We hold a vision of care that is integrative, trauma-informed, community-oriented, and grounded in the social determinants of health. PS2025 was a clear reminder that the field is shifting — that more and more, we are moving toward models that honour the whole person, not just the diagnosis.

What touched me most deeply, perhaps, was the sense that we are all in this together. As much as the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy is clinical and research-driven, it is also deeply human. This is healing work. It is sacred work. And it is collective work.

I return home with a heart full of gratitude — for the brave souls who share their stories, for the colleagues pushing the edges of what’s possible, and for the opportunity to represent CMAT as we continue to grow and evolve. Our centre is committed not only to excellence in care, but to equity, access, and co-creating a future where healing is not a privilege, but a right.

Thank you, PS2025, for the space, the stage, the solidarity — and the spark.  CMAT is looking forward to continuing on this path and returning to Denver for PS2027.  

Want to learn more about Psychedelic Science 2025? ➡️ Psychedelic Science 2025 Conference Website

What’s next for us?  Co-Founders Shoshana Ward and Dr. Devon Christie will be participating in the Psychedelic Lived Experiences Summit, a free online event taking place November 21-23, 2025.  If you’d like to learn more about this exciting, inclusive and informative event, please follow the link:  ➡️ Psychedelic Lived Experiences Summit

In community,

—Shoshana Ward, RTC
CMAT Co-Founder, Clinic Director & Practitioner