Gender Identity Initiative
Empowering Personal Discovery and Leadership in Psychedelic Spaces
SoundMind champions inclusive journeys and professional growth through our Identity Inclusion Initiatives, fostering profound connections to sexuality, gender identity, and queer leadership in the psychedelic realm.
Identity Inclusion:
Psychedelics & Identity Initiative
In 2023, we assembled a team of diverse individuals who have experienced profound insights into their sexuality or gender identity through psychedelic journeys. These individuals are passionate about leading and supporting others on similar paths.
Our approach recognizes the transformative power of psychedelics in personal identity exploration. This journey might involve discovering a sexual identity, questioning gender, or reevaluating relationship dynamics. In these pivotal moments, the importance of a nurturing and supportive environment cannot be overstated.
To facilitate this exploration, we've developed journey protocols focused on personal identity. Our facilitators are trained to guide participants through changes in gender identity, relationship structures, or other significant life transitions. We're also dedicated to equipping clinicians with educational resources to support individuals navigating these changes effectively. Our commitment is to provide a safe, inclusive space for personal evolution and discovery.
Identity Inclusion:
Queer Leadership Council
The SoundMind Queer Leadership Council is a professional network of queer and gender-expansive leaders in the field of psychedelic medicine.
Our group meetings are focused on leadership and professional development, consultation, and marketing to expand your opportunities in the psychedelic ecosystem. They are an uplifting space for members to form relationships, support one another’s success, and envision the future of our field. Fellows are selected according to merit and need and participate at no cost. Fifteen fellows will be chosen for our program starting in Fall 2023. Admission is paid for by us and free to you.
The QLC is a part of the SoundMind Sexuality and Gender Initiative, which works to create a psychedelic future more inclusive of queer and gender-expansive individuals. To support this mission, the Initiative has hosted live workshops on Psychedelics and Sexuality, has published the free Trans-Affirming Care in the Psychedelic Space guide, and deeply integrates the principles of DEI into our Psychedelic Facilitator Training Program.
SoundMind Queer Counsel Leadership
Chris Stauffer, MD (he, they)
Dr. Stauffer is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Physician-Scientist with the VA Portland Health Care System, and dual board-certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. Dr. Stauffer is an OHSU medical school alum, completed Adult Psychiatry Residency at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and was an Advanced Neuroscience Research Fellow at the San Francisco VA prior to receiving a Veterans Affairs Clinical Science Career Development Award.
Dr. Stauffer serves as Supervisor for MAPS’ MDMA Therapy Training Program, mentor for the Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research certificate program at the California Institute of Integral Studies, core faculty for the Integrative Psychiatry Institute’s Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Training, course contributor for Psychedelic.Support's "Foundations in MDMA and Psilocybin Safety, Therapeutic Applications & Research", member of the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board’s research subcommittee, and is part of the training team with Polaris Insight Center.
Hannah McLane, MD, MA, MPH (she, they)
Dr. Hannah McLane is a physician, psychoanalyst, and entrepreneur. She is the Founder of SoundMind, a Philadelphia and Oregon-based psychedelic facilitator training and research initiative aimed at bringing ethics, equity, and innovation to the psychedelic ecosystem. Dr. McLane identifies as queer, white, able-bodied, and neurodiverse. She grew up in rural New Hampshire and spent several years in South America and East Asia.
Dr. McLane conducts research on cognitive diversity, psychedelic science, ethics, PTSD, and emerging alternative therapies for mental health issues. She is the clinical director of the SoundMind Center, the first psychedelic therapy center in the Philadelphia region, and training director for retreat offerings in Philadelphia, Oregon, and Costa Rica. She attended McGill University and holds graduate degrees from Temple University (MA, Communication Sciences, Spanish Language), Brown University (MD, Doctor of Medicine, Contemplative Studies Concentration), and Harvard School of Public Health (MPH, Global health and Bioethics). She attended residencies in neurology and Occupational and Environmental Medicine (University of Pennsylvania) and completed a fellowship in Patient Safety at the VA Hospital in Philadelphia. She also completed a 5-year psychoanalytic training program and considers herself a relational psychoanalyst.
Emma Knighton, MA, LMHC, RYT (she, they)
Emma Knighton, MA, LMHC, is a white, queer, able-bodied femme. She is a somatic trauma therapist, psychedelic integration therapist, embodied organizer, and conscious leader. In their clinical work, Mx. Knighton works at the intersection of complex PTSD from childhood abuse, queer identity development, and consciousness exploration. Her clinical and leadership approach is grounded in queer, consent, feminist, and anti-oppression/pro-liberation theories.
Mx. Knighton teaches courses on integrating trauma-informed consent practices into psychedelic-assisted therapy and strives to be in service to the psychedelic space with integrated mind, body, spirit, and community. Mx. Knighton holds a master's in counseling psychology from Bastyr University, a Certificate in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Research from CIIS, and a master’s level Certificate in Holistic Health from St. Catherine University. A lifelong learner, she is in sacred relationship with their ancestors, tree elders, plant teachers, and the collective consciousness.
Mia Sarno, PSYD (she, they)
Mia Sarno is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the state of California. Mia is gender fluid, pan/queer, and uses she/they pronouns. She also goes by "Dr. Mimi." Her lifelong interest in consciousness inspired her to become a healer that is both scientifically and mystically informed. She completed her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant University, where she returned to teach as an Adjunct Professor. She completed the MAPS MDMA Therapy Training and is a study therapist for research with LSD, psilocybin and 5MeO-DMT. In addition to her private practice, she works with Kadima Neuropsychiatry Institute serving clients with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy.
Along with healing from complex trauma, Mia opened to her gender identity and sexuality through exploring plant medicine. She is passionate about self-expression and strives to create spaces for people to express themselves fully and colorfully.