Psychedelic Professionals Meet: Pikes Peak Region

Psychedelic Professionals Meetup Groups are happening now in the Pikes Peak Region!  Let's keep Colorado on the leading edge of psychedelic medicine work by coming together in community to learn, share, and grow. Each Psychedelic Professionals Meetup Group starts with an informative topic relevant to research, practice, policy, or activism around psychedelic medicines, followed by open discussion and an opportunity to connect with like-minded others. 

For the June meetup in Pikes Peak Region, we are excited to welcome Vanessa Cruz to talk about End-of-Life and Psychedelics! You'll also hear information about how to volunteer with the amazing FireSide Project. Please note that we are at a NEW LOCATION this month, Ohana Cava Bar on N Academy Blvd.

Vanessa Cruz, LPN II, RYT 200, CHWC

Licensed Practical Nurse, End of Life Doula, and Psychedelic Guide

Vanessa began learning about plant medicines from her grandmother and great grandmother in the mountains of New Mexico at 9 years old. Since that time, she has been immersed in various healing paths through herbalism, curanderismo, meditation, nursing and psychedelic medicine to reconnect to her indigenous roots.

As a member of marginalized communities, Vanessa is devoted to diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the psychedelic space, and passionately supports individual’s direct experience of the sacred through psychedelic healing and transformational life and death coaching. Vanessa received her practical nursing education through Concord Career Institute in Denver, CO, and has taken advanced nursing courses through Colorado State University – Pueblo. Vanessa completed MAPS MDMA Therapy Training Program, Ketamine Nurse Guide Training through KetaMD, and advanced training in Mindfulness-Based Psychedelic Therapy through the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness.

Vanessa also completed Kundalini Yoga training with Kia Miller of Radiant Body Yoga which included trauma informed and racial justice with Nikki Meyers and is a RYT 200. Vanessa is also a certified health and wellness coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.

Vanessa volunteers for Fireside Project, a psychedelic peer support line, and is certified in emotional CPR (eCPR), Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), and NADA ear acupuncture. She has completed 40 plus continuing education hours as a Cannabis Nurse educator supporting individuals exploring Cannabis as medicine. Vanessa’s primary focus is guiding individuals in death care through her work as a death doula. She believes we all have an innate ability to care for our dead, and advocates for bringing death care back to the home. She co-created and co-facilitates a monthly group-Herb & Bones encouraging conversations about death and psychedelics. She provides education on home funerals and alternative body deposition such as eco burials and supports families through spiritual and ceremonial space holding during transition and after. She supports individuals wishing to utilize medical aid in dying as Colorado is one of only 11 states that allow death with dignity. She specializes in using Psychedelics to ease end of life fear and pain, and aids in psychedelic guidance through legacy work and ceremonial story telling.

Professionals and interested community members alike are welcome to attend the meetup. The meetup is free, but donations are very appreciated and all go toward supporting the non-profit mission of The Nowak Society. Please be sure to follow all community guidelines at meetup events, including no soliciting for illegal substances or services. Let's keep all of us safe, please! 

If you have ideas for topics or presentations for these meetup groups or would like to be more involved, please contact us.