Field Trip Health’s Ottawa location team offers innovative and compassionate care through ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, focusing on personalized and integrative treatment plans to support mental health and well-being.
Cameron Schallenberg
Registered Psychotherapist
Cameron is a Registered Psychotherapist who has been working in private practice since 2019. In 2009 he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Studies and Communications Studies from McGill University. Here he learned to think analytically and honed his interpretive skills. He completed an Honours degree in Psychology in 2014 also from McGill, giving him a strong foundation in understanding human behaviour, cognition, motivation and psychopathology. It was during this time that he first became aware of the potential for psychedelics to facilitate and deepen the psychotherapeutic process. Since then, he has attended academic conferences and written journalistically on the subject. In 2019, he graduated with a Masters degree in Counseling and Spirituality from Saint Paul University, where he trained in humanistic psychotherapy.
Cameron works from a psychodynamic orientation. Psychodynamic theory focuses on the internalization of early childhood relationships that lead to current issues and understands that the source of psychological conflict can often lie beneath conscious awareness. Depending on the goals and nature of the treatment, he also draws on specific therapeutic techniques from a variety of theoretical orientations including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, existential therapy, and narrative therapy. He participates in ongoing professional development and has received specialized training in attachment theory, integrative meaning therapy, narrative therapy and psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
Outside of work, Cameron enjoys exploring the waterways of the Outaouais region by canoe and picking along to old blues and folk records on his guitar.
Yamina Abassi
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Yamina is passionate about innovative therapeutic approaches. Prior to commencing her career as a therapist Yamina embarked on an explorative journey of personal growth. She travelled to various countries, immersed herself in different cultures, and connected with people from all walks of life. With an undergraduate degree in addictions counselling and a master’s degree in counselling and spirituality she has been working in the field of mental health since 2016. She values the importance of ongoing learning and is now working towards a post graduate degree in psychedelics and consciousness. Yamina has also completed a certification training in complex trauma and is committed to facilitating therapeutic sessions in a way that embodies safety and connection. She uses a person-centered approach which prioritizes the individual needs and comfort level of each client. Drawing on various trauma informed modalities including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), and Inner Child Work, she aims to engage clients with their inner wisdom and inherent capacity for healing. Having experienced the profound ways in which healing can emerge when engaging with this work, Yamina is honoured to be supporting others with unwavering compassion and acceptance.
Jacob Pollack
Registered Social Worker
Jacob is a Registered Social Worker who has been working in the fields of disability, mental health care and addictions since 2015. Having transitioned from an earlier career in evolutionary-developmental biology, his psychotherapeutic approach integrates evolutionary theory, attachment, polyvagal and sensorimotor modalities with certified training in CBT, DBT and Motivational Interviewing. Jacob has worked alongside individuals and facilitated therapy groups in a variety of community/hospital/shelter settings, exploring the links between mental well-being and having unmet emotional needs during childhood as well as in adulthood. Through this work, he saw the many ways in which invalidating social environments contribute to the onset of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, PTSD, OCD, schizophrenia and chronic physical pain. Jacob is excited to support clients using ketamine and other psychedelic medicines to safely let go of unneeded thoughts, feelings and behaviours, gain personal insight and allow space for their innate healing capacity. By cultivating connection to our authentic selves we can more easily strengthen our bonds with our loved ones, our community and nature. On the side, Jacob is a community organizer, plays guitar in a local funk band and enjoys trail running in Gatineau Park.
Manon Sookocheff
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Manon is a bilingual (French/English) Registered Psychotherapist (RP) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. She is also certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) as a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) and holds
a Master’s degree (M. Ed.) in counselling.
Her focus in psychotherapy revolves around anxiety, trauma, overwhelm, burnout, and self-doubt. Manon employs a variety of cognitive and somatic approaches to therapy to assist clients in identifying and modifying false negative beliefs, thereby transforming anxiety
into peace, overwhelm into self-empowerment, burnout into joyful engagement, and
self-doubt into self-love. Her approach heavily relies on accessing the subconscious mind and harnessing clients’ personal power to facilitate self-healing. Rather than solely focusing
on symptom management strategies, Manon collaborates with clients to address the root cause of their distress.
Dr. Mario Nucci
Medical Director
Dr. Mario Nucci, MD, CCFP, is a dedicated and forward-thinking physician with a deep passion for mental health and medical innovation. With a focus on pioneering advancements in mental health care, Dr. Nucci has been at the forefront of ketamine treatment for mental health conditions since 2016. He has contributed significantly to the field through numerous academic lectures and clinical research, serving as an investigator in pivotal clinical trials exploring the benefits of ketamine for mental health. His efforts have been instrumental in improving accessibility to these evidence-based treatments across Canada, solidifying his role as a leading figure in the evolving landscape of mental health therapy.
Dr. Esa Leinonen
Psychiatrist
Coming Soon!
Ben Shimshoon
Nurse Clinic Manager
With over 15 years of dedicated experience as a Registered Nurse, Ben brings a wealth of expertise to his role as the Nurse Clinic Manager of the Ottawa clinic. His journey in the world of healthcare began in the fast-paced environment of the emergency department, where he honed his skills in critical care and patient management.
Following this, he ventured into a deeply rewarding role as a Nurse Consultant at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. In this capacity, he collaborated closely with a diverse group of healthcare professionals, particularly in the mental stress injuries department. Guided by his passion for mental health support, he took an active role in the care and rehabilitation of first responders who were grappling with workplace-related mental health injuries, including conditions like PTSD. It was during this transformative phase that he recognized the pressing need for innovative therapeutic approaches to address the complex challenges of mental health. Intrigued by the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy, he embarked on a journey of exploration and research in this emerging field. His desire to bridge the gap between conventional medical practices and alternative modalities led him to pursue opportunities for involvement in this revolutionary area of healing.
Now, as a proud member of the Field Trip Health team, he is thrilled to contribute his diverse background and passion for mental health advocacy. His experiences have reinforced his belief in the power of multidisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge therapies to create positive change. He is committed to making a meaningful impact within our community and advancing the frontiers of mental health care.
Larissa Sparkes
Assistant Nurse Clinic Manager
Larissa is a Registered Practical Nurse with a deep-rooted passion for holistic health and wellness. Prior to her nursing career, she completed a Business Administration and Marketing Diploma in her hometown of Winnipeg. She has experience in Virtual Healthcare, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Maternal-fetal Medicine. Her role within these specialized areas has allowed her to provide care and support to patients throughout many stages of life. She strongly believes in the power of holistic approaches and incorporates her passion for health and wellness into her nursing practice. She is fascinated by the connection of the mind, body, and spirit and recognizes the importance of mental and emotional well-being in achieving optimal health. In addition to her nursing career, Larissa enjoys cooking with homegrown vegetables, listening to educational podcasts and enjoying fitness activities. Larissa is enthusiastic about the ketamine therapy industry and is passionate about this therapeutic approach.
Alana King
Registered Nurse
Coming Soon!
Tara Adams
Registered Nurse
Coming Soon!
Rajveer Soos
Nurse Practitioner
Rajveer is a Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner. She has worked in the acute care setting as well as in the community, where her focus has always been to provide compassionate client-centred care. In the community she worked to serve marginalized populations, including indigenous and homeless individuals. Rajveer believes that optimal health requires a holistic approach in which there is balance within the mind, body, and spirit. She understands the impact of mental health challenges on individuals, families, and communities, and is passionate about helping individuals heal from deep-rooted patterns and traumas, in order to create lasting healing. In 2021, Rajveer completed Therapsil’s Psilocybin Practitioner Training for End-of Life care, where she gained deeper insight into the true healing potential of psychedelics. She is passionate about the work being done at Field Trip Health and the use of psychedelics to help individuals suffering from mental illness. She is optimistic about the direction and future of mental health care and excited to be contributing to this paradigm shift in the field.
Rita Mannarino
Nurse Practitioner
Rita Mannarino is a skilled and compassionate nurse practitioner with over two decades of nursing experience. She has always had a special interest in mental health issues, mindset and chronic pain and focuses on a holistic approach that focuses on mind, body and spirit.
With advanced training and experience in a variety of settings including primary care, ICU/critical care, oncology, mental health and mindset coaching, pain and symptom management and palliative care, she is dedicated to providing comprehensive and compassionate patient-centred care that is focused on promoting mind and body wellness.
Rita combines her clinical knowledge, empathetic and caring approach, and evidence-based practices to develop personalised treatment plans that empower her patients to achieve optimal physical and mental health to lead more fulfilling lives.
Rita completed her Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner and her Master of Science in Nursing degree at Laurentian University. Prior to this she completed her Nursing Degree from Athabasca University after previously completing her nursing diploma from Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology. Rita has completed many certificate and advance training
programs over the last two decades from various educational institutions in her constant pursuit to expand her knowledge and experience.
Outside of work, Rita enjoys spending time at their cottage on Lake Superior with her husband, two dogs and their two grown children and their partners. Rita enjoys hiking, gardening, snowshoeing, going on adventures with her family and just being in nature.
Kelsey York
Nurse Practitioner
Coming Soon!
Joy Kolic
Nurse Practitioner
Joy, a seasoned Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years of expertise in healthcare and dedicated her career to Mental Health and Geriatrics. She earned her Masters in Nursing/Nurse Practitioner degree in 2017 and has since spent 6 years excelling in the Mental Health field. Joy is certified in Mental Health and Addictions from the University of Toronto.
Beyond her role as a Nurse Practitioner, she is a certified yoga teacher with a deep passion for yoga, meditation, and mindful movement, recognizing their positive impact on wellness and healing. Embracing a holistic approach to patient care, Joy is eager to assist you in achieving your wellness goals.
Shahnawaz Ali
Nurse Practitioner
Shahnawaz has been working as a Nurse Practitioner in multiple mental health and addictions settings in his career. This includes working in several psychiatry clinics at Niagara Health and within the concurrent disorders program at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. He has embraced leadership opportunities including chairing the Nurse Practitioner advisory committee and clinical leadership for an interdisciplinary community team. He is also active in Nurse Practitioner education and holds an adjunct faculty position at the University of Toronto. Currently, he is working at the Canadian Mental Health Association in Peel in the RAAM (Rapid access addiction medicine) clinic. Shahnawaz has completed a Master’s degree in Nursing in the Adult Nurse Practitioner field at University of Toronto in 2015, receiving a Schulich Award for academic achievement. He is passionate about mental health and addictions care and an advocate for the Nurse Practitioner role.
Rodea Casem
Nurse Practitioner
Rodea obtained her Masters of Nursing Degree at Ryerson University and subsequently completed the Post-Masters Nurse Practitioner Program at University of Toronto. Being an Advanced Practice Nurse, she joins Field Trip Health with over 13 years of nursing experience in acute care, ambulatory, and community settings. She has also obtained the Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Certification from the Canadian Nurses Association.
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