Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Vancouver

ATMA CENA does not operate a clinic in British Columbia. This article is for Vancouver-area patients who want an honest map of the BC psychedelic-assisted therapy landscape — and how ATMA CENA's coordinated care model can support patients while a Vancouver-area therapist remains the primary therapeutic relationship. Vancouver has a substantial ketamine landscape: SABI Mind Vancouver, Numinus, Field Trip Health, and the Vancouver Coastal Health Ketamine Intervention Program at UBC Hospital — Canada's other publicly funded psychiatric ketamine pathway alongside Edmonton's Misericordia/Grey Nuns. Roots to Thrive in Nanaimo (~115 km from Vancouver via BC Ferries) operates Canada's published group-based KAT model and has expanded SAP-pathway capacity to psilocybin and MDMA-AT. BC PharmaCare made a non-benefit decision on Spravato; private insurance prior auth is the realistic pathway. CPSBC's August 2025 ketamine guidance update clarified the regulatory framework for non-hospital community-setting ketamine work (NHMSFAP for IV; lighter requirements for IM/SL/intranasal). This article walks through the full Vancouver and BC landscape honestly.

Key takeaways

• ATMA CENA does NOT operate a BC clinic. Vancouver patients can work with ATMA CENA via the coordinated care model — a Vancouver-area therapist remains primary while ATMA CENA's clinical infrastructure provides medical oversight.
• Major Vancouver ketamine providers: SABI Mind Vancouver, Numinus Vancouver, Field Trip Health Vancouver, other private clinics
• Vancouver Coastal Health Ketamine Intervention Program (UBC Hospital) — Canada's other publicly funded psychiatric ketamine pathway alongside Edmonton's Misericordia/Grey Nuns. Eligibility: ultra-resistant TRD with psychiatric referral.
• Roots to Thrive (Nanaimo) — ~115 km from Vancouver via BC Ferries. Canada's published group-based KAT model with expanded SAP-pathway capacity for psilocybin and MDMA-AT.
• CPSBC August 2025 ketamine guidance update — IV ketamine requires NHMSFAP accreditation in non-hospital settings; IM, SL, oral, intranasal lighter requirements.
• BC PharmaCare non-benefit decision on Spravato: private prior auth is the realistic pathway. PSHCP federal public servants have Form M7520 pathway.
• Psilocybin and MDMA SAP-pathway access: standard Health Canada framework. TheraPsil heavily concentrated in BC; Roots to Thrive supports SAP work.

ATMA CENA in BC — honest framing

ATMA CENA's Canadian network includes corporate clinics in Edmonton and Calgary plus a network of member clinics across multiple provinces. ATMA CENA does not operate a BC clinic. Vancouver patients can still work with ATMA CENA:

• Coordinated care — ATMA CENA's care coordination model lets a Vancouver-area therapist remain the primary therapeutic relationship while ATMA CENA's clinical infrastructure provides medical oversight, screening, and dosing support
• ATMA CENA's intake call can orient Vancouver patients to BC providers and discuss whether the coordinated care model fits their situation

For BC-specific clinical context, see our Ketamine Therapy in Vancouver article.

What Vancouver and BC offer across psychedelic-assisted therapy

Ketamine therapy

Substantial Vancouver-area options:

• SABI Mind Vancouver — multi-clinic SABI network expansion to Vancouver; anesthesiology-led IV ketamine
• Numinus Vancouver — multi-substance KAP services; Vancouver clinic at The Drive
• Field Trip Health Vancouver — KAP-model
• Vancouver Coastal Health Ketamine Intervention Program at UBC Hospital — Canada's other publicly funded psychiatric ketamine pathway. Eligibility: ultra-resistant TRD with psychiatric referral; treatment-resistant depression focus
• Other Vancouver ketamine providers including various private psychiatric clinics

See Ketamine Therapy in Vancouver for more detail.

Spravato (intranasal esketamine)

Vancouver Spravato providers operate as Janssen Journey-certified clinics. BC PharmaCare made a non-benefit decision on Spravato, so the realistic Spravato pathway in BC is private insurance prior auth. PSHCP federal public servants have the Form M7520 pathway.

For coverage: PSHCP / Canada Life Spravato Coverage, Private Insurance Prior Authorization for Spravato.

Psilocybin (SAP-pathway only)

BC has substantial psilocybin SAP-pathway capacity:

• TheraPsil — based in BC; founded by Dr. Bruce Tobin and Spencer Hawkswell. Maintains a directory of trained Canadian clinicians; concentrated in BC. Helped secure first Section 56 exemptions in August 2020.
• Roots to Thrive (Nanaimo) — Vancouver Island University partnership; published clinical protocol (Dames et al., Frontiers in Psychiatry 2025); Canada's published group-based KAT model with SAP-pathway expansion to psilocybin (and MDMA-AT in development). ~115 km from Vancouver via BC Ferries (Tsawwassen–Nanaimo Duke Point or Horseshoe Bay–Departure Bay).
• Numinus Vancouver — KAP services with SAP-pathway support
• Other BC SAP-pathway clinicians

For further reading: Psilocybin Therapy in Canada, How to Access Psilocybin Therapy in Canada.

MDMA-AT (SAP-pathway only)

BC MDMA-AT operates under the same SAP framework. Roots to Thrive has expanded SAP-pathway capacity to MDMA-AT. Service-related PTSD is the dominant indication; VAC considers MDMA-AT case-by-case for service-related PTSD where SAP-approved.

For further reading: MDMA-Assisted Therapy in Canada, MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Veterans.

Vancouver and BC's regulatory framework

Federal

• Ketamine: Schedule I CDSA; Health Canada approved as anaesthetic
• Spravato: Health Canada approved for TRD May 2020
• Psilocybin and MDMA: SAP-only since January 5, 2022

Provincial — CPSBC

• August 2025 ketamine guidance update — IV ketamine in non-hospital settings requires Non-Hospital Medical and Surgical Facilities Accreditation Program (NHMSFAP) accreditation; IM, SL, oral, intranasal have lighter requirements
• BCCNM governs NP scope; BCACC registers Clinical Counsellors who participate in KAP teams
• For more regulatory detail: Ketamine Therapy in Vancouver

Insurance / coverage

• BC PharmaCare: non-benefit decision on Spravato. Generic ketamine for psychiatric use also not on formulary. Special Authority pathway exists but rarely approved for psychedelic-assisted therapy.
• PSHCP / Canada Life: Spravato Form M7520 for federal public servants
• Private insurance: Spravato most likely covered with prior auth
• VAC: ketamine coverage established for service-related TRD/chronic pain
• WorkSafeBC: case-by-case for compensable PTSD or chronic pain; Evidence-Based Practice Group has published cautious 2025 ketamine reviews

For an overview of all coverage options: Insurance Coverage for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Canada. See also Provincial Drug Plans for Psychedelic Therapy.

UBC Hospital Ketamine Intervention Program

The Vancouver Coastal Health Ketamine Intervention Program at UBC Hospital is Canada's other publicly funded psychiatric ketamine pathway alongside Edmonton's Misericordia/Grey Nuns. Eligibility: ultra-resistant TRD with psychiatric referral; treatment-resistant depression focus. The UBC Hospital program represents a meaningful BC public-system option for severe TRD.

For comparable Edmonton context: Edmonton Misericordia/Grey Nuns Public Ketamine Program.

Local Vancouver and BC practical notes

• Population: Vancouver CMA ~2.7M (BC's largest city)
• Major hospitals: Vancouver General Hospital, St. Paul's Hospital, BC Children's Hospital, BC Women's Hospital, UBC Hospital (ketamine program), Lions Gate Hospital, Royal Columbian Hospital
• Universities: University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, BCIT
• Health authority: Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH); Fraser Health (Burnaby and east); BC Cancer
• Transit: TransLink (SkyTrain, buses, SeaBus); BC Ferries (to Vancouver Island including Nanaimo for Roots to Thrive access)
• Vancouver Island access: BC Ferries Tsawwassen–Duke Point (~2 hours) or Horseshoe Bay–Departure Bay (~1.5 hours) for Nanaimo Roots to Thrive
• First-responder workforce: Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, BC Ambulance Service, Lower Mainland nursing populations
• Federal workforce: smaller than Ottawa but meaningful PSHCP-eligible population
• Post-session: 24-hour no-driving rule; TransLink and rideshare practical alternatives

How to start

The realistic Vancouver pathway:

1. Identify your indication and treatment history
2. Map to substance pathway: ketamine (broadly accessible in Vancouver); Spravato (HC-approved TRD; private prior auth); psilocybin SAP (TheraPsil-supported pathway in BC); MDMA-AT SAP (Roots to Thrive expansion)
3. Map to coverage pathway: WorkSafeBC (compensable conditions case-by-case), PSHCP (federal public servants), VAC (veterans), private prior auth (Spravato)
4. Map to provider: SABI Mind, Numinus, Field Trip Health, UBC Hospital public program (TRD only), Roots to Thrive Nanaimo (group format)
5. Consider coordinated care for preparation and integration support with a Vancouver-area therapist remaining primary

Frequently asked questions

Is there an ATMA CENA clinic in Vancouver? No. ATMA CENA's corporate clinics are in Edmonton and Calgary; ATMA CENA does not operate a BC clinic. Vancouver patients can work with ATMA CENA via the coordinated care model — a Vancouver-area therapist remains primary while ATMA CENA's clinical infrastructure provides medical oversight.

Where can I do ketamine therapy in Vancouver? SABI Mind Vancouver, Numinus Vancouver, Field Trip Health Vancouver, UBC Hospital public Ketamine Intervention Program (ultra-resistant TRD only), and other private Vancouver psychiatric clinics.

Is there a BC publicly funded ketamine program? Yes — the Vancouver Coastal Health Ketamine Intervention Program at UBC Hospital. Eligibility: ultra-resistant TRD with psychiatric referral. Canada's other publicly funded psychiatric ketamine pathway alongside Edmonton's Misericordia/Grey Nuns.

Does BC PharmaCare cover Spravato? No — BC PharmaCare made a non-benefit decision on Spravato. The realistic Spravato pathway in BC is private insurance prior auth.

Is psilocybin therapy available in BC? Through Health Canada SAP only. BC has substantial psilocybin SAP-pathway capacity through TheraPsil, Roots to Thrive (Nanaimo), Numinus, and other providers. ATMA CENA supports preparation/integration via coordinated care.

What's Roots to Thrive? Roots to Thrive is a Nanaimo BC clinic offering group-based ketamine-assisted therapy with published clinical protocol (Dames et al., Frontiers in Psychiatry 2025). Vancouver Island University partnership; Snuneymuxw Community Wellness Centre integration. ~115 km from Vancouver via BC Ferries. Has expanded SAP-pathway capacity to psilocybin and MDMA-AT. See Group Ketamine Therapy.

Is MDMA-AT available in BC? Through Health Canada SAP only. Roots to Thrive has expanded SAP-pathway capacity to MDMA-AT. Veterans with service-related PTSD have the most established VAC pathway.

What's CPSBC's August 2025 update? CPSBC updated its ketamine guidance in August 2025. IV ketamine in non-hospital settings requires NHMSFAP accreditation; IM, SL, oral, intranasal have lighter requirements.

What about WorkSafeBC? WorkSafeBC reviews ketamine and other psychedelic-assisted therapy claims case-by-case. Evidence-Based Practice Group has published cautious 2025 reviews on IV/oral ketamine for chronic non-cancer pain. No formal listings comparable to WSIB Ontario.

What if I'm a Vancouver veteran? VAC covers ketamine therapy for service-related TRD/chronic pain (case-by-case); MDMA-AT case-by-case for service-related PTSD; psilocybin not covered. See VAC Coverage for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.

Where can I get help finding a BC psychedelic-assisted therapy clinician? TheraPsil maintains a directory of Canadian SAP-trained clinicians (concentrated in BC). MAPS Canada supports MDMA-AT advocacy. ATMA CENA's intake call can orient Vancouver patients to BC providers and the coordinated care model.

Sources

1. ATMA CENA — find care near you: https://psychedelic.healthcare/find-care
2. CPSBC — Ketamine Administration Interim Guidance (August 2025): https://www.cpsbc.ca/files/pdf/IG-Ketamine-Administration-via-Intramuscular-Oral-Sublingual-Intranasal-Routes.pdf
3. CPSBC — NHMSFAP IV Ketamine for Mood Disorders: https://www.cpsbc.ca/files/pdf/NHMSFAP-AS-Intravenous-Use-of-Ketamine-for-the-Treatment-of-Mood-Disorders.pdf
4. BC PharmaCare — Esketamine (Spravato) decision: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare/decisions/esketamine_hydrochloride_spravato_dds.pdf
5. Vancouver Coastal Health: https://www.vch.ca/
6. Roots to Thrive: https://rootstothrive.com/
7. Dames S, et al. (2025). Roots to Thrive group-based KAT clinical protocol. Front Psychiatry. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1568017/full
8. Health Canada — SAP psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/announcements/requests-special-access-program-psychedelic-assisted-psychotherapy.html
9. Veterans Affairs Canada — Mental Health Benefits: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/financial-programs-and-services/medical-costs/coverage-services-prescriptions-and-devices/mental-health-benefits
10. TheraPsil: https://therapsil.ca/

Related articles

• Ketamine Therapy in Vancouver
• Ketamine Therapy in Victoria BC
• Ketamine Therapy in Kelowna
• Group Ketamine Therapy
• Psilocybin Therapy in Canada
• MDMA-Assisted Therapy in Canada
• Ketamine Therapy in Canada
• Insurance Coverage for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Canada
• Find care near you

Last updated: 2026-05-06