Moana Meadow, MA, MDiv, serves as staff director for the Berkeley Psychedelic Facilitation Certificate Program, a philanthropically funded project aiming to create and share knowledge with the world about the art and science of psychedelic care and its place in society. The project has provided three years of psychedelic facilitation training for advanced health and spiritual care professionals, developed a comprehensive and robust curriculum, and produced multiple publications and presentations regarding best practices for work with these medicines, including applications in clinical, cultural and spiritual contexts.
110 alumni have completed the program, some of whom have gone on to participate in psychedelic research, provide ketamine therapy, or pursue licensure in state-regulated psychedelic service models in Oregon and Colorado.
Extensive evaluation research has been conducted within the program by Dr. Tina Trujillo, the Faculty Director. This evaluation research will be published to support the development of the psychedelic education field.
As director, Moana has led a multidisciplinary team of curriculum specialists, including clinical scientists, contemplative practice specialists, psychotherapists, ethnobotanists, and Indigenous practitioners. This interdisciplinary approach emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives in psychedelic care.
Moana brings experience as a birth doula, hospice chaplain, spiritual director, and psychedelic guide. She studied with Indigenous elders in the United States and Mexico, as well as with Western practitioners providing psychedelic facilitation in a variety of contexts. She was ordained as an interfaith minister at the Chaplaincy Institute in 2010, where she stayed on as guest faculty and academic advisor until 2018. As the former Executive Director of a non-profit, plant medicine church, Moana participated in the early development of the Sacred Plant Alliance, where she continues to serve on the advisory board.
Within the Psychedelic Facilitation Certificate Program, Moana has developed and taught the spiritual care curriculum, emphasizing the importance of spiritual care and chaplaincy within psychedelic facilitation. She holds a Bachelor of Science from MIT, a Master of Arts from Boston University, and a Master of Divinity from the Pacific School of Religion. She completed the Comprehensive Training at the Hakomi Institute as well as four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children in Honolulu, Hawaii and John Muir Medical Center in Concord, California.
Publications
“Relationality in Psychedelic Facilitation Training Programs,” Harvard Divinity School, Center for the Study of World Religions “Psychedelic Intersections” Conference Anthology published in December 2024. (Link: https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/publications/psychedelic-intersections/rela...)
Professional Experience
MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Science) Conference June 2025 Presentation: “UC Berkeley Psychedelic Facilitation Certificate Program: Ethics, Challenges and Responsibilities,” with Tina Trujillo, Marlena Robbins, and Claudia Cuentas. Focus on impacts within Indigenous communities.
DoSER (Dialogues on Science, Ethics and Religion) Dialogues event: December 2024 “Perspectives on Psychedelics: Past, Present and Future,” hosted by AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science), with Ariel Clark and Jamila Hokanson. The panel discusses the spiritual features of psychedelic experience; the formation of psychedelic churches; the psychedelic legal landscape; challenges to diversity in psychedelic research and access to psychedelic care; Indigenous perspectives on sacred medicines; and impacts of the increase in psychedelic use on Indigenous communities. Recording: https://sciencereligiondialogue.org/resources/perspectives-on-psychedeli...
Keynote: “Establishing Training Standards for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies,” April 2024
The Emerald Conference. Explored the need for policies, regulations, and guiding
standards for psychedelic assisted therapies, including cannabis. Addressed basic qualifications for trainees, concepts related to training delivery, and considerations related to a future accreditation process.
“Psychedelic Spirituality and Medicine“ panel: Harvard Divinity School, February 2024 Center for the Study of World Religions Psychedelic Intersections Conference,
with Dr. Sharday Moserinjohn, Victoria Litman, and Dr. Franklin King. The panel discusses diverse psychedelic experiences, legal and ethical considerations related to spiritual experiences in psychedelic care, requirements for psychedelic education, and specific implications for psychedelics in psychiatry. Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDaDsLYRJxc
Healing Hearts, Changing Minds May 2024 conference for grantees increasing access to psychedelic treatment for LGBTQIA+ communities. Moana’s interview with HHCM
describes the early stages of development for the program and some of the outcomes of the first two years. Recording: https://vimeo.com/1062576078/757533faab
PBS ViewFinder overview of the psychedelic field, “Psychedelics and Healing.” Link: https://www.kvie.org/programs/viewfinder/?watch=psychedelics-and-healing...
KJZZ Phoenix interview on The Show: “Legalized psychedelic therapy will require safe, culturally sensitive spaces.” Link: https://www.kjzz.org/2023-06-21/content-1850115-legalized-psychedelic-th..."
