OUR TEAM
Natalie Vandenberg
Chief Executive Officer
“But along with the feeling of ineffability, the conviction that some profound objective truth has been disclosed to you is a hallmark of the mystical experience, regardless of whether it has been occasioned by a drug, meditation, fasting, flagellation, or sensory deprivation. William James gave a name to this conviction: the noetic quality. People feel they have been let in on a deep secret of the universe, and they cannot be shaken from that conviction.”
― Michael Pollan
I believe that the integration of the mental health system, the medical system, and traditional interventions more fully supports people’s pursuits of wellness. It provides a collaborative and holistic approach to well-being that supports the whole person. I believe that we can all experience growth and positive change within our lives and that we can find clarity of mind and heart. I believe that we can find ways to live authentically and that we can find our voices and sense of belonging in our worlds.
It is my mission that every experience at Vivid feels supportive, non-judgmental, compassionate and is focused towards finding engagement, balance, and growth. I believe in creating community and connection and creating accessible ways to receive care.
Owner of Vivid Psychology and Registered Psychologist, Natalie has spent over 15 years working within the business sector to help and coach employees within their careers as well as in their daily lives. Natalie has spent the last seven years as CEO of Vivid Psychology. Natalie has also acted as an advisor to business leaders, providing coaching and mentorship. Natalie has had the opportunity to work with diverse groups of people on a variety of outreach and non-profit initiatives in the communities of Northern and Southern Alberta.
Natalie has a Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Calgary and her Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the University of Calgary.
Dr. Joe Raiche
Medical Director
Dr. Joe Raiche is a psychiatrist who’s been a life-long listener and learner, using his natural curiosity of the world to study and grow personally and professionally. Raised in southern Alberta, he completed his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Lethbridge before attending medical school and completing his residency in Psychiatry at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and board-certified from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Currently, he lives and works in Calgary where he maintains a busy outpatient psychiatry practice at Foothills Medical Centre since 2014 and is an Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary. He is active in research, teaching medical students and residents, and ongoing advocacy for marginalized and vulnerable populations. He continues to hold clinical leadership and program development roles, most notable being the creation of two specialized trans care clinics in Calgary that serve the sexual and gender-diverse 2SLGBTQ+ community for adults and youth. This work has been both a humbling privilege and ongoing reminder as to the importance and need for holistic care and personal agency in each our own journeys and experiences.
Dr. Christine Knight
Director of Psychotherapy and Research
“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious”
– Carl G Jung
Dr. Christine Knight is a clinical psychologist and clinical neuropsychologist with 20 years of experience providing assessment and psychotherapy to clients with a wide variety of mental health struggles, including trauma, depression, anxiety, grief and loss. From both her professional and personal experience, Christine understands the power of therapy and how life changing it can be when someone holds space for you with compassionate awareness and responds with genuine empathy and understanding. She appreciates how psychedelics increase neuroplasticity and can be an additional therapeutic tool to support the brain’s shift away from deeply ingrained patterns of thoughts and behaviours to be more accepting of change. Using her experience with various therapeutic models, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, EMDR and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Christine strives to provide a safe and encouraging space for clients to understand, integrate and transform their experiences.
Dr. Knight received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from McGill University, a joint Master’s degree in Applied Psychology and Gerontology from the University of Waterloo and a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Lakehead University. She completed additional training in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy through Fluence, Polaris, Psychedelic Support and ATMA. She has an appointment as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Calgary and actively participates in the training and supervision of psychology students, interns and medical residents.
Daya Kramer
Director of Psychedelic Vision
I am Daya Kramer, Director of Psychedelics at Vivid Psychedelics. My role focuses on intention setting and psychedelic journey preparation to promote the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics.
Over the past 8-10 years, I have dedicated myself to educating and training in various health and wellness industries. With over 500 hours of yoga training, experience in meditation facilitation, registered massage therapy, breathwork facilitation, life coaching certification, men's work leadership training, and management in psychological services, I have developed a well-rounded understanding of the holistic approach to wellness.
As a strong believer in the healing properties and capacity of psychedelics, I am committed to promoting a safe and supportive environment for individuals who choose to explore their inner worlds through psychedelic therapy. I am inspired by the words of Aldous Huxley, who said, “To be shaken out of the ruts of ordinary perception, to be shown for a few timeless hours, the outer and inner world, not as they appear to an animal obsessed with survival or to a human being obsessed with words and notions, but as they are apprehended directly and unconditionally by Mind at Large—this is an experience of inestimable value to everyone and especially to the intellectual.”
Chelsea Haines
Director of Pharmacy
Chelsea Haines is an inspirational advocate for expanding access to psychedelic drugs in a safe and supportive setting. With nearly 15 years of experience as a hospital pharmacist, the bulk of which has been focused on the Addictions and Mental Health team, Chelsea has become an authority on psychedelics and their potential therapeutic benefits.
Chelsea draws upon her extensive professional history as well as her passion for mind-body connection to provide individuals with a balanced and thoughtful approach to the use of psychedelics. She is strongly committed to educating individuals about the safe use of these impactful substances to help them realize their full potential during their psychedelic experience.
Additionally, Chelsea strives to make meaningful progress regarding drug policies around psychedelics, aiming to ensure that all individuals can benefit from these substances without fear of legal repercussions or social stigma. Overall, Chelsea is working hard towards creating a healthier world where everyone can feel supported by their community while safely exploring their own consciousness through psychedelics.
Selena Clauson
Director of Nursing
My name is Selena Clauson, I’m a registered nurse. I have worked in many disciplines and departments during my thirty-year career in health care, across the spectrum from labour and delivery and postpartum, pediatrics, critical care, the emergency department and the operating room. A few years ago, a very close friend and a family member both began exploring the healing benefits of psychedelics. As I watched their experiences, I was drawn to the immense possibility of this safe and effective alternative and decided to explore it personally and now I am so excited to be involved in offering this healing opportunity to others.
