About

Joe Flanders is a psychologist and the founder of Refuge, a community of practice specializing in transformative psychotherapy. He also serves as an Assistant Professor (Professional) in the Department of Psychology at McGill University. Previously, he was the Director of Mindspace, a clinic he founded in Montreal in 2011. Dr. Flanders obtained his PhD in Clinical Psychology from McGill University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Joe brings extensive experience in transformative psychotherapy and psychedelic-assisted therapy. His training includes certifications from Numinus, the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), and advanced certifications in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) from the Centre for Mindfulness Studies (CMS). He is also trained in Internal Family Systems therapy (IFS; Level 2) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Joe's approach is grounded in connection, trauma-informed care, mindfulness, harm reduction, and evidence-based practice. 

Costanza began working with psychedelics more than 12 years ago, training with shamans and healers around the world. She is a Breathwork Coach and has studied to become a Psychedelic Practitioner, Somatic therapist and Bioneuroemotion therapist, a field that blends biology, neuroscience, epigenetics, NLP, and psychology. 

Her facilitation style combines ancient wisdom methods with cognitive therapeutic techniques from the West to produce powerful transformational experiences. She follows the tradition of the Shipibo from Peru in terms of shamanic techniques. Her goal is to serve as a bridge for people seeking to dive deep in their own journeys of self-discovery.

Costanza has been collaborating with Synthesis since 2021 as a Co-Lead Facilitator for the Retreats held in The Netherlands and as Guest Faculty for the Psychedelic Practitioner Training, more recently turning her focus to the development and delivery of the new Synthesis Immersion Experience.

Michaela has dedicated the majority of her professional journey to fostering growth in startups. Prior to her association with the Synthesis Institute, she led the marketing initiatives at a digital mental health startup. Her educational credentials include a degree in Business and Marketing, as well as a Master's Degree in Marketing.

A personal experience with traumatic grief sparked a decade-long exploration into a variety of traditional and non-traditional healing methodologies. Michaela is particularly intrigued by the intersection of psychology and the symbolic language of archetypes. She has received training as a Gestalt Therapist, Drama and Art Therapist, Family Constellations Facilitator, SAT-certified Enneagram Practitioner, and Jungian Astrologer.

Michaela's first encounter with Ayahuasca in 2014 marked a significant turning point in her life, inspiring her to continue her exploration of various plant medicines ever since.

Andrew received his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and Protection from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. His academic training provided a foundation for understanding the relationship between human and ecological systems, although it was a consciousness expanding moment in 2013 that provoked a fully visceral and cathartic realization of the unsustainable systems of modernity. This existential awakening led him to seek alternative paths of living and being, and pinpointed the importance of a deep need for individual and collective transformation within consciousness.

His path naturally oriented towards practices within the yogic traditions, which ultimately led him to the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA where he devoted five years working and studying. Andrew ultimately found a love for psychedelic guiding and integration coaching, and he continues to find an ever-deepening well of compassion and awe for the complexities within our shared human experience.

His current inquiries include how to reorient our individual and collective values towards timeless wisdom, and how to personally and collectively remember the sacredness that is life.

Mina Samuels is a writer, speaker, playwright, and performer, and in a previous incarnation, a litigation lawyer and human rights advocate; as well as an athlete and meditation practitioner, trained in Non-Violent Communication and Internal Family Systems. Mina offers workshops and one-on-one facilitations on the transformative power of the body-mind connection and how it nourishes our whole self. Her books include, Run Like A Girl 365 Days: A Practical, Personal, Inspirational Guide for Women Athletes and Run Like a Girl: How Strong Women Make Happy Lives and she writes regularly for Medium and Fit Is A Feminist Issue.  She has also created and performed two award-winning solo shows and an ensemble play.