Our Story

Odyssey was founded by Gabe, a Stanford-trained aerospace engineer with a passion for mental health. Psychedelics played a pivotal role in Gabe’s quest to manage his anxiety and lead a full life. You can read more about his story here.
Gabe’s search for his first psychedelic-therapy experience inspired the creation of Odyssey. He knew that there was nothing more important than finding an environment where he could feel safe and comfortable.

With an engineering and research background, he was looking for a place that was grounded of science and not overly new age-y, which proved surprisingly difficult to find.Over the next five years, Gabe worked at some of the leading psychedelic retreat centers and companies in the world. He saw first hand how beautiful and transformative these experiences could be. He was frustrated to see that to the general public, psychedelics were closely associated with astrology, tarot cards, and other new-age spiritual beliefs. This diminished the credibility of these experiences to many individuals who would otherwise greatly benefit from them.

Gabe felt that offering these experiences in a way that preserves the mysterious nature while maintaining a firm grounding in science and evidenced-based practices would be essential to realizing the potential benefit these could have for so many people. He dreamed of creating an organization that helped offer this to the world.
With Oregon’s monumental legislation taking effect in 2023, Gabe saw an opportunity to help bring this vision to reality. Odyssey opened its doors in September in 2023, shortly after the state opened to allow for legal services, by running the first retreat in US history.

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Benefits of a guided Psilocybin experience

Come back to life
Some of us have a sense that our spark has diminished. The journey that a psychedelic experience takes you on that often leaves you feeling full of life. Life starts to feel fresh and magical again.
Get past feeling stuck
We may be stuck in an old trauma, the loss of a loved one, or deeply entrenched thought patterns. Talk therapy hasn’t gotten us to where we want to be. A psilocybin experience can help give us the lift we need to feel like we're moving forward again.
Reconnect to self
A psilocybin experience brings out our essence. It reminds us of what the best version of ourself looks and feels like and provides insight into how we can be that person again. We emerge feeling more connected to ourselves; in touch with who we are and what matters most.

Our story

We are a team from Stanford dedicated to the safe exploration of the role of psychedelics can play in promoting human flourishing.

We've volunteered at some of the best psychedelic retreat centers in the world and worked at the best psychedelic companies.

Our Team has helped guide hundred of psychedelic experiences, ranging from 1:1 clinical retreats to group experiences.
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The scientific literature shows great promise

95% reported one of the most meaningful experiences of their lives
In 2006, Roland Griffiths and his team at Johns Hopkins published a seminal paper studying the effects of psilocybin in healthy volunteers. They found substantial and sustained positive effects, and that psilocybin was overwhelmingly safe when administered in a controlled setting. At a 14-month follow-up, 95% of the study participants ranked the experience as among the top five most meaningful experiences of their lives (Griffiths et al. 2008, 2011). This landmark study was key to launching the psychedelic renaissance.
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LASTING IMPROVEMENTS TO WELL-BEING
Ross et al. (2016) studied the effects of psilocybin on depression and anxiety in cancer patients, finding that “psilocybin produced immediate, substantial, and sustained improvements in anxiety and depression… improved spiritual wellbeing, and increased quality of life.” More than six months later, a majority of participants rated the experience as among the most personally meaningful and spiritually significant of their lives, and 87% reported increased life satisfaction or wellbeing due to the experience.
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Large and sustained decreases in depression
In a study of over 100 US adults, Raison et al. (2023) found that a single dose of psilocybin, administered with psychological support, resulted in rapid and sustained reductions in depressive symptoms for people suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The largest study of its kind to date, this phase 2 trial from the Usona Institute demonstrates the great potential of psilocybin-assisted therapy for treating depression.

Meet our professionals

Frank Larson, M.D.
Frank is a licensed psilocybin facilitator who believes we all can achieve wholeness and inner freedom. His medical background gives him the ability to listen for the nuances that make each individual unique, and he uses this expertise to help the psilocybin traveler in their journey toward true transformation.
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Alex Kenyon
Alex is a licensed psilocybin facilitator, intuitive counselor, and domestic violence and sexual assault prevention advocate in Ashland, Oregon. Shaped by nearly a decade in various mental health and human service agencies, her approach to facilitation is trauma-informed, person-centered, and highly attuned.
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Brian Pilecki, Ph.D.
Dr. Brian Pilecki is a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety disorders such as OCD, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic disorder, in addition to trauma and PTSD. He is also a trainer in psilocybin facilitation and an MDMA-assisted therapy study therapist.
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Michelle Roberts, Ph.D.
Dr. Michelle Roberts is a licensed psychotherapist, author, researcher and professor. She specializes in the treatment of relational trauma and co-occurring disorders, having served hundreds of women in her private practice.
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John-Paul Crowe
JP is a licensed psilocybin facilitator whose practice is informed by a mindfulness-based approach to facilitation work. He has an open-hearted style, providing a calm environment and a non-judgmental presence, which allows for deep and transformational experiences.
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Amanda Gerace
Amanda is a mother, death/grief doula, nature-lover, dreamer, massage therapist and experienced psilocybin facilitator. She draws from over 21 years of experience in the healing arts to support transformative psilocybin journeys.
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Laurent Picard
Laurent is a Portland-based firefighter and paramedic who has worked for Portland Fire & Rescue for 28 years. His psilocybin facilitation work is informed by his own powerful healing journeys, training in Somatic Experiencing, and 20 years experience as a member of PF&R’s peer support team.
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David Kahl
David combines his experience building inclusive organizations, executive coaching, and over 25 years of meditation practice to guide individuals and groups through transformative psychedelic experiences.
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Carrie McMullin, Psy.D.
Dr. Carrie McMullin is both a licensed psychologist and a licensed psilocybin facilitator. She has a 20 year career in mental health focusing on providing client-centered care for a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, and trauma.
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River Jenkins
River is a licensed psilocybin facilitator, psychedelic researcher, harm reductionist, and integration specialist with over a decade of experience in the psychedelic field. Her passion for holding non-judgemental, non-pathologizing space for clients as they explore and discover their resilience and inner wisdom guides her practice as a psilocybin facilitator.
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Paul Choi, M.D.
Dr. Paul Choi is a psychiatrist passionate about helping others find happiness, meaning, and peace. A graduate of Stanford Medical School, Paul integrates mindfulness, meditation, and psychedelic therapies to help clients break free from limiting beliefs and past traumas. His holistic approach fosters deep healing and lasting transformation.
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Caroline Holm
Caroline Holm, a state-licensed psilocybin facilitator, cultivates a safe, compassionate space for clients to explore new perspectives and process emotions. Her approach supports clients navigating loss, anxiety, depression, parental wounds, blocks and other challenges, empowering them to reconnect with their innate ability to create meaningful and lasting change.
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