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Dr. Jessica Forrest
she/her
6 years of exp.
Vancouver, Canada
$120/hour+
Modalities
Medicines
Areas of Expertise
Welcome! I’m Jessica, and I am referred to by she/her pronouns. It is with deep gratitude that I live on the stolen, unceded land of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
I spent decades living with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and difficulties with socializing and relationships. I tried everything: therapy, medication, exercise, breathwork, support groups, various philosophical and spiritual frameworks, diets, supplements, yoga, meditation, self-help books… you name it. I even pursued a career in the field of mental health, all in hopes of understanding the human experience and finding freedom from suffering. But by the time I entered my 30s I was still struggling and beginning to feel hopeless. Then I came across studies, articles, and documentaries that spoke of the benefits of psychedelic medicine. I was nervous at the thought of trying psychedelics, but the science convinced me it was something worth exploring.
My first psychedelic experience opened me up in ways I never could have imagined. I embarked upon a journey with psychedelics that transformed my life. But it was not an easy road. Navigating the underground psychedelic community was difficult, and in many spaces, I felt unsafe and vulnerable, even as a human occupying several positions of relative power and privilege. The opportunities to access psychedelic medicine were limited and unfortunately, I encountered practitioners along the way who engaged in unethical, unsafe, and sometimes actively harmful practices. I was shocked and disheartened at what I discovered behind the scenes.
For this reason, I am passionate about helping others, sharing what I have learned in hope that I can reduce the risk of harm and improve the likelihood of a beneficial psychedelic experience. It is an honour to support others on this journey.
I weave the scientific and spiritual together to facilitate a safe, supportive container for your inner healing intelligence to unfold. It’s your inner healer that will lead your experience and take you where you need to go.
My role in our partnership is to gently encourage you to connect with your inner healer, and to create an environment of safety in which you will be supported in a non-judgmental, unconditionally loving, and accepting way.
The process of working with me begins with a complimentary consultation to explore what you are hoping to receive through working with a guide, and feel into whether my approach resonates with you. If we are both feeling comfortable with moving forward, the next step is to align you with one of my offerings.
Regardless of where you land, know that I will be there to support you with compassion, understanding, presence, and encouragement.
Each session together will unfold along a gentle ceremonial structure. I will invite you to join me in a simple grounding, meditation, and breathwork practice to arrive in the present moment and to support setting an intention for our time together. This opens a safe and sacred space to honour your commitment to growth and healing.
Throughout our time together I will listen, reflect, and offer skills, tools, and practices where I feel they might be helpful to you. At all times I encourage you to stay connected with your agency, honouring your choice to engage or not engage with what I offer, because I believe you are the expert of your own experience, needs, and boundaries.
We will close our time together with a practice to anchor any insights, lessons, or experiences.
(In Progress) Earth and Energy Medicine Mentorship
(In Progress) National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM) - Working with Core Beliefs of "Never Good Enough"; The Neurobiology of Attachment; Undo Patterns of Pleasing and Appeasing
(In Progress) The Resilient Heart™ – Trauma-Sensitive HeartMath® Certification
(In Progress) Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (Yorkville University)
2021 Returning to Wholeness – A Guide to Understanding and Integrating Trauma (Dr. Gabor Mate)
2021 Spirit Plant Medicine Mentorship (Intronaut)
2021 Phoenix Academy – Psychedelic Preparation and Integration Therapy
2021 The Embody Lab – Psychedelics & Somatic Therapy
2021 Science of Psychedelics – Professional Training in Psychedelic Medicine
2016 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Psychology (Macquarie University)
2014 Master of Public Health (MPH) – Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention (University of Newcastle)
2010 Honours Bachelor of Science (Hons. BSc.) – Specialist in Psychology (University of Toronto)
2016 Certified Nutritional Therapist (Health Sciences Academy)
2016 Certified Advanced Sports and Exercise Nutritional Advisory (Health Sciences Acadmey)
2016 Certified Yoga Teacher (Aura Wellness)
2015 Yoga Mentorship (Dr Melissa West)
One-on-one Sessions
Programs and Workshops
Packaged sessions
Group Sessions
Testimonials
I am currently 3 ish weeks post-ceremony and I have continued to bring spirituality into my daily practice which has made me become a more present mom to my kids. I am no longer focusing on things that I can’t control and I am allowing myself to feel love and kindness cause I now know I deserve it. Thank you so much Jessica for giving me my life back. I can’t express in words how grateful I am to you and Amy. 10/10 highly recommended.”
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H. W.
Jessica is an extraordinary woman who is most definitely in her calling. Her expertise, care, support, compassion, understanding, intuition, and depth of knowledge is incredible. From the moment I met her I knew that she cared deeply about psychedelic medicine and how it can transform and heal and that she truly cared about me and my experience and life journey as well. Jessica’s openness and willingness to learn and grow is such a breath of fresh air. I can’t recommend her enough for this kind of work and guidance.”
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Jenny Wren
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