Matthew Brennan, CADC-II

My interest in psychedelics began in 1992 when I was first introduced to the healing power of such medicines during my years as a psychedelic music DJ, producer and record label owner in the New York City area. During that time, I explored non-ordinary states of consciousness in the company of groundbreaking visionary artists, sculptors and psychedelic electronic music composers from across the globe.

After years of extensive self-exploration, I made a conscious choice to explore spirituality through non-medicine practices. With the assistance of a gifted spiritual mentor, I spent nearly 15 years addressing underlying PTSD, shame, anxiety, and low self-esteem through healthy living, study, mindfulness, prayer, meditation and various psychotherapeutic modalities.

Though still involved with aspects of the psychedelic music culture to this day, my primary focus has shifted towards psychology, and specifically toward addiction counseling for co-occurring disorders. In 2010, I completed my education in addiction counseling from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles and have since been certified as a CADC-II with the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP).

My open-minded, humanistic, harm reduction counseling style is primarily guided by the holistic principles of Gestalt Therapy (in which I am trained and certified), as well as in the spirit and skills of Motivational Interviewing, and the cognitive-behavioral/relational approach of Reality Therapy/Choice Theory. During the first 10 years of my career I provided extensive individual and group chemical dependency counseling to hundreds of chronically ill, co-occurring clients as well as supervised, educated and directed both credentialed and licensed clinicians at various treatment centers in the Los Angeles area.