Salil Kalra, MD (he/him): Co-Founder, Pulmonary & Critical Care Physician
Sal is a physician with board certifications in internal medicine, pulmonary and critical care, bringing a unique wealth of medical expertise to his role on the retreats. Known for his calm, laid-back demeanor and open-mindedness, he fosters an environment of trust, compassion and authenticity, inviting others to be vulnerable as they embark on their transformative journeys. He is dedicated to guiding others towards their own paths of healing and fulfillment, offering them the opportunity to rediscover their innate resilience and inner strength. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sal faced personal struggles with burnout and disillusionment within the healthcare system, and similarly saw how it deeply affected his colleagues. He noted a disheartening reality that there exists a silent epidemic of mental health struggles endured by those who dedicate their lives to caring for others, but unfortunately are unable to address their own needs. He hopes that psychedelic medicines will alleviate some of the moral injury and cognitive dissonance in healers, as we regain the sense of purpose that initially brought us to healthcare.
Moreover, his experiences in the ICU revealed the profound impact that prolonged ICU stays can have on patients. Surviving on the brink of death, these individuals often grapple with the aftermath of their traumatic experiences, leading to the emergence of post-ICU syndrome—an intricate web of physical and psychological sequelae. Patients in the ICU are usually sedated using high doses of narcotics for extended periods of time, while they undergo days to weeks of medical testing, procedures and treatment, with some still having acute awareness of their dire situation, but unable to make decisions for themselves or understand what is happening to them. Sal observed the enduring symptoms of PTSD that haunted these patients and their families long after leaving the confines of the hospital, often struggling with physical weakness, depression, chemical dependence and other psychosocial stressors as a result of critical illness. Being confined in the ICU has parallels with other suffering, and is a lens through which to view the challenges that keep people feeling trapped in other ways.
Deeply inspired by the therapeutic potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy for a multitude of uses, Sal envisions a ray of hope for patients, families, healthcare workers, and others struggling with pain and darkness, offering an avenue of healing from their traumas and an alternative path towards recovery. He believes that by integrating a mind-body approach into their recovery journeys, people can traverse a path towards holistic well-being, embracing a renewed sense of vitality and emotional equilibrium.
University of Illinois at Chicago, 2022: Pulmonary & Critical Care Fellowship
Rush University, 2019: Internal Medicine Residency
Chicago Medical School, 2016: Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
Northwestern University, 2011: Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences (B.A.)
Amy Milroy, DNP, APRN (she/her): Co-Founder, Psychiatric & Family Nurse Practitioner
Amy is a board-certified psychiatric and family nurse practitioner who is also a certified psychedelic-assisted therapy provider. For reasons both of nature and nurture, Amy loves to help people heal themselves. As a trauma survivor, Amy offers retreat participants the wisdom and expertise of her own healing combined with what she has learned from many patients’ healing journeys. Amy has a unique perspective on the art and science of thriving. Years ago when she started benefiting from psychedelic medicine coupled with therapy, she changed her mind in all the best senses.
When she started her career as a registered nurse, she felt demoralized as she witnessed how often the healthcare system does not help patients become healthier. In moving from registered nurse to family nurse practitioner and then to psychiatric nurse practitioner, Amy kept feeling she was getting closer to her true vocation, but not yet reaching it. After having very healing experiences with psychedelics, she realized her deepest calling and dedicated her life to helping people achieve lasting transformation and wellness through psychedelic medicine. In 2023, she completed a year-long fellowship and certification as a psychedelic-assisted therapy provider through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. During that program she was trained in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), MDMA-assisted therapy in partnership with MAPS, psilocybin-assisted therapy, and general psychedelic-assisted therapy. She and Sal launched Transcendelic so they could help people become their best, healthiest, most fulfilled selves.
Amy’s patients, students, and loved ones have told her she is very compassionate, wise, and open-minded. She has a talent for making people feel at home. During her career she has cared for patients of all ages in a variety of settings, including retreats, inpatient, outpatient, and telehealth. In addition to her role at Transcendelic, she currently provides ketamine-assisted therapy, psychotropic management, and psychotherapy via her private practice Phoenix Era Wellness. She is committed to equity, and a regular provider of free healthcare for those in need. Amy is grateful for her teachers: those who have traditionally used psychedelics (especially Indigenous peoples), loved ones, colleagues, therapists, authors, students, researchers, and of course her patients. She looks forward to meeting you, hearing your story, and helping you discover your highest self.
Integrative Psychiatry Institute, 2023: Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider (PATP)
Johns Hopkins University, 2021: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Rush University, 2018: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Michigan State University, 2011: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Michigan State University and Universidad San Francisco de Quito, 2010: Bachelor of Science in History, Philosophy, & Sociology of Science (B.S.)
Read More About Amy and Transcendelic:
https://sdvoyager.com/interview/exploring-life-business-with-amy-milroy-of-transcendelic/
Stacy Costopoulos Smith, M.A., LMFT (she/her): Licensed Therapist
Thirty years ago, Stacy began cultivating her skills in helping people heal their deepest inner wounds when she worked as a legal and medical advocate for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault after graduating from the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Stacy’s graduate work includes a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy from the California School of Professional Psychology, along with experience working with couples and individuals experiencing emotional trauma. She completed a year-long experiential certification program in psychedelic-assisted therapy through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute.
Stacy is grateful for her training in trauma-focused therapy approaches, because it equips her to attune to clients’ individual needs for safety in therapy sessions. Stacy welcomes conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to honor (and celebrate!) differences of race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexuality, ability, socio-economic status, and other factors of identity. Stacy’s goal is to provide support and skill as people heal traumatic emotional wounds in a gentle, trusting environment.
When Stacy is not providing therapy, her favorite things to do are having deep, existential conversations with her three adult children, hanging out with her granddaughter, hiking with her partner, caring for plants, knitting, walking her dogs, or sawing and soldering metals at her jeweler’s bench.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 3 Training, 2024
Integrative Psychiatry Institute, 2023: Fellow, Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
California School of Professional Psychology, 2018: Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (M.A., MFT)
University of Iowa, 1992: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (B.A.)
Kristi Marcuson, M.A., LMFT (she/her): Licensed Therapist
Kristi is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and received her M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy from Bethel Seminary San Diego. She has a private therapy practice in Carlsbad, California. Retreats have played a significant role in her own transformation and healing, and she is thrilled to be a part of the Transcendelic team. There are seasons in our lives where we need a safe place to explore, examine, and receive the healing that will empower us to live boldly and courageously. She is honored to support clients in their journeys toward freedom and their calling.
She is certified as a Somatic Experiencing practitioner, and continues to assist in training other practitioners in this modality. She has received training in EMDR, Trauma Recovery Part 1 and Part 2, and Emotionally Focused Family Therapy. She completed an Emotionally Focused Externship, and also Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s Certificate Program in Traumatic Stress Studies. She is a certified PREPARE-ENRICH instructor. She looks forward to journeying with those who pursue this beautiful work!
EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Emotionally Focused Family Therapy, Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies
Bethel Seminary San Diego, Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy (M.A.)
California State University, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (B.A.)
Amelia Bachtiar Jones (she/her): Yoga Instructor
Amelia is a first-generation Indonesian American woman who was born and raised on Arapaho/Cheyenne/Ute land in Colorado, and is currently residing on Kumeyaay land in San Diego, California. She is a mother and community-oriented wellness entrepreneur focused on bringing holistic, inclusive, and integrative yoga practices to individuals across the lifespan. She can do this through the private and corporate wellness business she runs alongside her husband. She has been practicing yoga for the past 13 years, and has been teaching for nearly six years. As a yoga and leadership educator, she is passionate about supporting people to become their best selves through holistic modalities of the mind and body.
Through yoga sessions with Amelia, participants gain in flexibility, strength, and mindfulness. She teaches from a lens of decolonization, and she honors and embraces yoga’s roots. She incorporates breath work, meditation, yoga movement, and yoga philosophy in her sessions. She is a firm believer that yoga is more than just a workout. She loves to guide people in learning all that yoga has to offer!
Amelia has had the pleasure of working with a diverse range of students including pregnant people, cancer patients, seniors, and people who have never done yoga. She takes great pride in connecting with her students! Amelia loves what she does because she values creating meaningful relationships with others. Her soul is fueled by others’ success and self-discovery!
E-RYT (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher): 300-hour RYT through Ignite Yoga Institute, 2020, and 200-hour RYT through CorePower, 2017. Registered through Yoga Alliance.
YTT (Yoga Teacher Training) Certifications: Trauma-Informed; Yoga History, Diversity, and Inclusion; Advanced Meditation & Mindfulness; Yoga Service, Philosophy, and Ethics; Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga
Lena Vartanian, Ph.D., AMFT (she/her): Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Lena’s passion lies in creating a nurturing and compassionate space for individuals seeking solace and support. In today’s fast-paced and often disconnected world, she believes in offering a sanctuary founded on kindness, empathy, and non-judgment. Here, individuals can unburden themselves and embark on a transformative journey towards well-being.
Her approach is rooted in strength-based and trauma-focused techniques. As a refugee and first-generation immigrant, Lena possesses a unique understanding of the challenges associated with navigating cultural and societal complexities in today’s world. This personal connection fuels her affinity for those facing similar struggles, inspiring her to provide the support needed to navigate life’s intricate path.
Lena holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology, and a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her other passions include spending time with her family, traveling and experiencing other cultures, reading, being in nature, and free diving. When not doing any of those things, you can find Lena cracking up while watching old episodes of “Seinfeld.”
Integrative Psychiatry Institute, 2023: Psychedelic-Assisted Therapist
Touro University Worldwide, 2022: Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (M.A., MFT)
California School of Professional Psychology, 2006: Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Psychology (M.S., Ph.D.)
University of California, Los Angeles, 2001: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (B.A.)
Jackie Roman, M.A.T. (she/her): Peer Supporter & Educator
Jackie is an educator and peer supporter with a profound belief in the power of psychedelics in empathetic healing spaces. She is excited to work with the staff at Transcendelic to offer a holistic approach that integrates peer-led facilitation, mindfulness, and integration support to help participants process the wisdom and insights that arise through their own individual psychedelic experiences. Through her own healing work with psychedelics, she has personal understanding of the depth and complexity of these experiences, along with the potential challenges they can present.
Jackie has supported others in a variety of settings throughout the years. While at Michigan State University, Jackie provided advocacy to survivors of sexual violence as a volunteer for the Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention (SACI) Team. Her experiences partnering with SACI were very formative, and she is grateful to have had the opportunity to accompany and assist survivors as they processed their trauma. During her ongoing master’s in social work at University of Chicago, Jackie completed a field placement as a peer coach for Prevail Health Solutions’ CBT-based program.
As a peer supporter, her facilitation approach is rooted in empathy, active listening, and non-judgment. Her goal is to create a safe, nurturing space where individuals can explore their inner landscapes and navigate the sometimes turbulent waters of their psyches. She believes that every individual possesses their own innate connection to deeper wisdom, and sees her role as to create a safe space for others engaged in this healing work to explore and strengthen their connection to that inner wisdom, offering guidance, support, and validation along the way.
Relay Graduate School of Education, 2017: Advanced Certificate in Special Education
Marian University, 2011: Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
Michigan State University, 2009: Interdisciplinary Studies in Community Relations with a specialization in Women, Gender, and Social Justice focusing in Race and Ethnicity (B.A.)
Lisa Garland, MSW, MPH (she/her/ella): Peer Supporter, Social Worker, & Health Educator
Lisa is a peer supporter, social worker, and sex educator who is bilingual in Spanish and English. She recently completed her Master of Social Work degree in order to practice sex therapy. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist with a master’s in public health. She has over twelve years of experience working with young people and adults in various settings.
Lisa offers retreat participants guidance and space to heal and truly be themselves. She is a compassionate and open-minded person who loves to hear people’s stories. Her sense of humor often helps people relax and be themselves. Lisa strongly believes in taking time to rest and knows that retreats such as these help people heal and learn about themselves. Lisa is a mother to two children. She also believes in the healing power of nature and being outdoors.
North Carolina Central University, 2024: Master of Social Work (MSW)
UNC-Chapel Hill, 2017: Master of Public Health (MPH)
Maricel Balanza (she/her): Massage Therapist, Reiki Master, & KALI Facilitator
Maricel is a Certified Massage Therapist, Reiki Master, and Kundalini Activation Light Integration (KALI) Facilitator. She specializes in Lomi Lomi Hawaiian Massage, and loves to integrate the Hawaiian spiritual culture in her healing services. She studied at Healing Hands School of Holistic Health in Escondido, California from 2011-2012. In 2016, she studied with instructors from Hawaii at a local Sacred Lomi® retreat rooted in the lineage of Kahu Abraham Kawai’i (sometimes referred to as Temple Style Lomi, Hawaiian Temple Bodywork, or Kahuna Bodywork). She also studied under a shaman at Balanced Energies Reiki and Shamanism School in Temecula.
She has been practicing massage and reiki for 11 years, and recently has felt drawn to KALI to help with her own personal evolution as well as her career. Maricel feels KALI helps her become more aligned with herself and her purpose, and strongly feels called to share this utmost, beautiful, and powerful energy with others to help them empower themselves. Maricel desires to be a conduit for healing, love, and light, and KALI gives her the opportunity to be just that. She also practices yoga, tai chi, and meditation, which she incorporates into her bodywork.
Her work was featured in SD Voyager, and in 2019 and 2020 she was awarded Best Reiki Therapist in Solana Beach, where her first massage practice was located. She also had the pleasure to work and train at The Chopra Center, and is grateful to share Ayurvedic massage techniques and marma point therapy.
In the beginning of 2020, she closed her practice due to the pandemic and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she passed the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam and learned other modalities from several spas that she worked for. Her credentials include cupping therapy and Himalayan salt stone massage, which she now offers in her private practice. Since early 2022, Maricel’s love for California has led her to move back closer to her family and the ocean.
While working alongside Transcendelic retreats, Maricel now works privately for her own practice at several locations in the Temecula and San Diego area.
Lomi Lomi, Reiki, KALI, Ayurvedic Massage, Marma Point Therapy, Cupping, Himalayan Salt Stone Massage
Natalie Artinian, D.O. (she/her): Psychiatrist
Natalie Artinian works as a double board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist. Her unique training allows her to take a holistic approach to mental health care, including having an appreciation for the role of our psychosocial development in our mental health and well-being. She incorporates integrative psychiatry, lifestyle medicine, and humanistic psychology into her practice, and she is trained in psychedelic-assisted therapy through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute in Colorado. Individual therapy is an important part of her practice, and she uses techniques from several modalities including psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), motivational therapy (MT), and supportive therapy.
Before receiving her doctorate in osteopathic medicine, Natalie worked as a sexual assault counselor for Project Sister Family Services, appreciating with grief and reverence the impact of our life experiences and mental health in our development and quality of life, and the impact of empathetic support in our healing. In osteopathic medical school, she learned how to approach medicine with a holistic lens, appreciating the role of each system of the body, from our skin to our neurons to our hormones, in creating and perpetuating dysfunction or healing of the mind and body. In residency training, Natalie gained invaluable experience working with a population deeply impacted by trauma, influencing her dedication to approach psychiatric care with a trauma-informed lens. In fellowship training, she learned the value of expression and community in healing. She facilitated art therapy and process groups in the inpatient and outpatient hospital setting.
Natalie’s motivation for mental health care is grounded in her deep love for humanity and desire to contribute to the healing of her fellow humans. What brings her a deep sense of joy and fulfillment in her work is connecting with others on a human level. As a singer and lover of the arts, she connects with medicines and therapies that help us ground, feel, and express. She is grateful to have found the opportunity to learn and engage with psychedelic-assisted therapy, and truly believes in its unmatched ability to heal through connecting with our truest selves and developing self-efficacy.
Outside of work, Natalie enjoys time with her friends, family, and two cats Argo and Alice, hikes in nature, singing and songwriting, dancing and listening to electronic dance music, and yin and Bikram-style yoga.
Integrative Psychiatry Institute, 2023: Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider (PATP)
Loma Linda University, 2022: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, 2020: Psychiatry Residency
Western University of Health Sciences, 2017: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
University of California, Riverside, 2012: Bachelor of Science in Biology (B.S.)
Zane Qarni (he/him): Executive assistant & peer supporter
Zane is a recent University of California, San Diego graduate. He graduated in September of 2024 with a B.S. in psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.
After having profound healing experiences with psychedelics, Zane founded the Psychedelic Club at UC San Diego in his freshman year with the goal of raising awareness for the healing potential of these medicines.
Zane believes in the tremendous healing power of psychedelics as they propel us into altered states that can bring about newfound perspectives and open doors for opportunity. He enjoys working in the psychedelic healing space, and is committed to making a lasting impact in the field.
University of California, San Diego, 2024: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology with a Specialization in Clinical Psychology
Guinevere Hittner: Massage Therapist
Guinevere is a holistic health practitioner and Ayurvedic Massage Therapist, recognized for her work at the Chopra Center in Carlsbad, California. She integrates ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with modern holistic health practices, offering treatments that include Ayurvedic massage, marma point therapy, sound healing, and emotional wellness techniques. Guinevere’s services aim to support physical, energetic, and emotional healing, guiding clients towards alignment, balance, and expanded consciousness. She tailors treatments to individual needs, facilitating both physical and emotional transformation.
Alma Alvarez: Massage therapist
The goal of Alma’s practice is to hold space for each and every person who allows her the gift of helping them along their healing journey. Alma’s previous career as a weapons mechanic in the United States Navy helps her appreciate the human body as a machine that performs optimally when proper care and attention are provided. Alma is an intuitive Holistic Health Practitioner with over ten years of experience, and holds certifications and licensure in Massage Therapy, Personal Training, Yoga Instruction, Esthetics, and Reiki.
Benjamin Hall, M.A., LMFT (he/him): Licensed therapist
Somatic psychotherapist, educator, and musician Benjamin Hall (he/him) M.A., LMFT serves children, families, individuals, schools, and non-profit organizations through a trauma-responsive approach exploring how music, movement, and creative expression can be cultivated as resources for resiliency, care, and deepened awareness, empathy, and connection with our bodies, emotions, our environment, and one another.
Ben studied music and theater at UCLA and earned a master’s degree in psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, publishing his thesis “Embodied Sound and Movement: The Soul, Science, and Containment of Music and Emotion in Psychotherapy,” which integrates research in neuroscience, expressive arts therapies, and depth psychology on the use of music and movement in ritual healing practice. He is trained in attachment-focused EMDR, as well as the Trauma Resource Institute’s Community Resiliency Model (CRM), and is a member of the International Somatic Movement Educators and Therapists Association (ISMETA).
Currently, at the Southern California Counseling Center - Watts, Ben helps coordinate the Trauma and Resiliency Training, Gang Reduction Youth Development, and Outdoor Equity programs. He strives to embody his commitment to the co-creation and expansion of relationships, spaces, and labor that continue the ongoing anti-racist, feminist, and social justice-oriented reimagining of community mental health.
Pacifica Graduate Institute; Carpinteria, CA - Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, May 2018
UCLA; Westwood, CA - Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theater, June 2003
