Jessica Forrest, PhD
Holistic Coach & Psychedelic Guide
Welcome! I am so glad you are here. My name is Jessica (she/her), and I have been devoted to studying, researching, teaching, and practicing a broad range of approaches related to personal growth and healing for 16 years. I creatively synthesize and flexibly apply a variety of modalities and disciplines, holistically weaving together science and spirituality to support body, mind, heart, and soul.
My passion began as an effort to help myself. I am no stranger to lonely, dark, and hopeless places. For decades I struggled with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, disordered eating, health challenges, and dysfunctional relationships. I was able to shift from surviving to thriving once I discovered modalities and practitioners that empowered me to connect with my innate wholeness and capacity to heal.
Now I have the honour of helping others. Below you will find information about my approach and credentials. If you have any questions, I hope you will feel comfortable reaching out via email or using the connect form at the bottom of this page.
Approach
Empowerment Focused. In our partnership you are the expert of your experience and the leader of your journey. My role is to be a supportive companion and compassionate witness to your healing process. If along the way you encounter places that feel stuck or overwhelming, I will be right there to offer practices designed to help by reconnecting you with your inner healing intelligence.
Trauma Informed. Many of us have experienced some form of trauma. Our partnership will be informed by the guiding principles of trauma-informed care with the intention to best support healing and prevent re-traumatization. These principles include safety; trustworthiness and transparency; collaboration and mutuality; empowerment, voice, and choice; and responsiveness to cultural, historical, and gender issues. My hope is that within our partnership you will feel cared for, listened to, understood, and respected.
Attachment Based. Trauma frequently involves or results in a rupture to our connection with ourselves, others, or life itself. With this understanding, our partnership can become a safe container to explore relational wounds and provide corrective experiences to promote repair. Across all healing modalities, the relationship between client and practitioner best predicts positive outcomes. For this reason, I will frequently invite you to explore how our connection is feeling for you and what is arising in the relational field between us.
Ethically Grounded. I bring to my practice an education in the philosophy of ethics, research ethics, and counselling ethics as well as experience as a member of a university Human Research Ethics Board. I follow the Psychedelic Association of Canada’s Code of Ethics and I have signed the North Star Pledge. To support the safety and wellbeing of my clients I participate in ongoing personal healing, professional supervision, continuing education, external consultation, and peer mentorship.
Credentials
Please click here for a comprehensive overview of my experience, education, certifications, courses, and publications.
I have an Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) with a Specialist in Psychology, a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology, a Certificate in Psychedelic Integration Therapy, and a Certificate in Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration. I am a Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT), Certified Nutritional Therapist, Nectara Psychedelic Guide, and an Internal Family Systems (IFS) Informed Practitioner. I am in the process of completing a Master of Arts (MA) in Counselling Psychology and certification as a Dynamic Attachment Repatterning Experience (DARe) Provider.