Ashley Carmen
Founder | Psychedelic Psychotherapist | Medicine Woman
Ashley is a deeply compassionate, trained, and skilled licensed psychotherapist with a wealth of experience in supporting individuals on their journey to recovery from addiction, severe trauma, and a wide range of emotional challenges. Over her eight years of practice, Ashley’s path took a turn when she realized the limitations and potential drawbacks of conventional pharmaceutical treatments. This revelation ignited her passion for the healing power of psychedelic medicine and holistic behavioral therapies, leading her to become a fervent advocate for their transformative benefits.
Further enhancing her skills, Ashley has undergone specialized training with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy and the School of Consciousness Medicine for Psilocybin Guide training, informed by the Mazatec traditions of Huautla de Jimenez, Oaxaca, Mexico. Ashley knew there was more for her and more that she could offer to those in the psychedelic space, but what was the desire and need?
The genesis of PGN came from Ashley’s desire to create a nurturing and collaborative community where practitioners can unite, share insights, and consult with one another. Her goal is to ensure that a diverse array of traditions and methodologies within the psychedelic field are celebrated and integrated, particularly within the framework of Western medicine.
The Psychedelic Guide Network serves to decentralize the medical model and old paradigm that once harmed through aggressive marketing tactics and 'medications' with high addiction profiles. This old paradigm is now seeking to dictate psychedelics and execute administration similarly to pharmaceuticals. We respect the medicine as medicine. Through PGN, we aim to connect medical professionals who are trained by academia and governed by licensing boards with more native, spiritual, and traditional practitioners.
OUR TEAM
Powering the Vision | Empowering Guides
Mariel Josefa Tayko
Administrative Assistant | Operations
Mariel is a Communications graduate and licensed teacher from the Philippines with a deep dedication to learning and sharing valuable knowledge. Her career spans diverse roles, including mentor, journalism coach, and staff researcher, showing her versatility. She currently works as Operations and administrative Support for PGN, where she ensures smooth network operations and collaboration between network co-creators and partners. She is very tech-savvy and provides that support as well.
Outside of office hours, she says that she is a homebody and enjoys playing video games and jumping into the next certification course that catches her attention.
Maria Sophia Dimakos, MA, EMT
Brand Marketing Strategist | Contributor
Maria Sophia's transformation from a psychotherapist disenchanted with traditional psychiatric practices to a holistic healer and advocate for plant medicine encapsulates a journey filled with twists and turns. Her initial work with emotionally disturbed individuals in a psychiatric setting led her to question the prevailing reliance on medication, steering her towards a path that explores the synergy between nutrition and mental health within the natural products industry. Her professional career turned into the marketing sphere, where her skills and passion for storytelling led to marketing roles with Fortune 100 companies, blending her diverse interests and expertise uniquely and strategically. Alongside her career in marketing, Maria Sophia deepened her knowledge in meditation, sound healing, and energy work, integrating these practices into her life and work, all the while knowing that is where her true calling lived.
A pivotal moment came with a family crisis, which drew Maria Sophia to plant medicine for deeper healing. This led to her certification as a Psychedelic Integration Coach and further specialization as a Conscious Death Doula and end-of-life coach, emphasizing her dedication to guiding others through the greatest initiation a human consciousness can experience. As a faculty member at the Psychedelic Coaching Institute and a student of plants and consciousness through Plant Medicine People, she aims to serve as a source of wisdom and compassion. When she’s not a champion for the power of the plants, you’ll find her writing, learning new languages, and learning how to play the guitar.
Mike Bledsoe
Business Mentor& Advisor
Mike stands at the forefront of psycho-emotional optimization and leadership coaching, offering a transformative journey for high achievers. His dynamic approach melds cutting-edge mental agility and emotional resilience techniques, propelling elite performers beyond their limits to realms of unprecedented success.
From a young age, Mike embarked on his quest for optimization. His path is a tapestry of rich experiences, ranging from his valorous service in the US Navy to trailblazing in the fields of emotional and cognitive enhancement. He navigates the intricate challenges inherent to peak performance: breaking through unseen barriers, harmonizing personal and professional evolution, and pursuing a life of depth beyond ordinary achievement measures.
With a strong background as a digital entrepreneur, online coach, business consultant, and podcast host, Mike possesses a panoramic view of the hurdles one can encounter in business. He channels this comprehensive insight into every coaching session, offering a rounded strategy for growth that resonates with the multifaceted needs of top performers.
Our Contributors
Holding the Vision | Holding Guides
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Frederic Wiedemann, PhD
Elder Sage | Medicine Man
Clinical Psychologist Depth Psychology | Mentor Coach | Author | Creator of The Four Alchemies
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Aimee Noemi Pena
Medicine Woman | Animal Medicine
Red Road | Kambo | Bufo | Ayahuasca
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CHI
Co-Founder | Retreat Facilitator
Co-founder of Tripsitters | Mushroom Tao | Psychedelic Community Costa Rica
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Glen Nielsen
Hakomi | Somatic Practitioner
Bioenergetics | Reiki | Somatic Experiencing | Hakomi | Mindfun Somatic Psychotherapy |
Owner The Aerie Center
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Maria Sophia
Energy Medicine | Death Doula
Energy Worker | Death Doula | Medicine Woman | Consciousness Coach | Writer | Oracle
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Magdalena Mystik
Transformation Facilitator | Coach
Co-founder of Mystika Retreats | Founding member of Sacred Light Mastermind | Transformational Coach | Curanderismo
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to forge a new path in the world of psychedelic medicine. We unite the cutting-edge advancements of Western practitioners with the deep-rooted wisdom of ancient healing traditions. We're not just bridging gaps; we're crafting a vibrant tapestry of global healing practices.
We envision a decentralized network of guides, igniting a shift towards holistic wellness that celebrates the full spectrum of healing knowledge. This is more than integration. It's a revolution in how we understand and create healing.
We stand firm in the belief that the alchemizing power of psychedelic medicine knows no cultural bounds. It demands diverse voices to unlock its full potential, weaving together perspectives into a unified approach to wellness.
By empowering both the facilitators and those on their healing journeys, we are reclaiming the inherent human right to expand consciousness. This journey belongs to all of us, collectively steering the course towards a future where the authority to heal, grow, and transcend is truly in the hands of the people.
