About Brendan Hughes
Therapy and Psychedelic medicines have been transformational for me, and I’m here to use my skills and experience to empower trained therapists so they can open up more paths to healing for their clients.
For most of my career, I’ve been driven by a passion for making quality and innovative mental health therapy (including Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy) more accessible to others. This passion comes from my own experience with amazing therapists and healers who have helped open up paths to transformative personal growth and self-understanding. I dedicate my energy towards helping others find this healing in their own way. As someone with a strong love of organizational systems, automations, streamlined operations, and technology used for good, I decided to use my experience and expertise in these areas to empower individuals and organizations in the mental health and psychedelic fields whose missions align with my values.
To learn more about my personal creative endeavors, follow me here.
Pronouns: he/him
About InnerTrek Consulting
Founded in 2023, InnerTrek Consulting’s mission is to empower mental health professionals with the tools and guidance needed to build thriving, automated practices that prioritize client care, expand access to healing, and increase the availability of psychedelic-assisted modalities.
My goal is to help you thrive in a way that is aligned with your vision and priorities. I want to make sure your practice integrates in a healthy way into your life/work balance. I start by trying to understand your goals, needs, strengths, and areas for improvement. I always endeavor to bring empathy, listening, and patience to my professional relationships.
Why “InnerTrek”?
There’s something you should know about me: I’m a huge geek. Among many geeky interests, I LOVE Star Trek the most. I’m a lifelong fan, and I watch and read anything I can get my hands in the Star Trek universe (favorite captain: Picard. But Janeway is a close second). When I was coming up with the name for my business, I wanted to convey that my services helped individuals and organizations working in the realm of consciousness, self-exploration, and healing. And suddenly it came to me: why not put trek in the name, in particular a reference to the trek to go inward! While Star Trek is indeed about exploring space, the final frontier, it’s also about exploring the unknown possibilities of consciousness and existence. And maybe when we go inward, we might discover that all the other stuff on the outside isn’t so separate from us after all. 🖖🌌
Who I Work With
Mental Health Professionals such as Therapists, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, and Researchers
Licensed Clinicians hoping to get started in or grow their work in the Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy field
Mental Health Nonprofits, Clinics, and other Businesses
Retreat Centers that offer therapeutic experiences for their clients
Researchers & Academics working in Consciousness Studies
Why work with Brendan?
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I received my Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The University of California - San Diego Rady School of Business and my Bachelor of Science (BS) in Environmental Science from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. During my MBA, I specialized in social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility.
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With over 16 years of experience, my career got kickstarted when I joined the Peace Corps right out of college and I lived and worked in Paraguay and El Salvador for over 3 years as an Environmental Education Specialist. I continued working for Peace Corps at their headquarters in Washington, DC, where I was also drawn towards nonprofits whose missions I felt passionate about. That led me to Project and Program Management roles at Housing Rights and Youth Development nonprofits. Some years later, I decided to refocus my energy on my passion: the mental health field. I took on a role as the Director of Development at a mental health nonprofit offering affordable and accessible therapy and I later worked as the Director of Operations and Marketing at an Integrative Psychiatry clinic offering Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). I currently work as the Director of Operations for Nectara, who offers an online platform of courses, events, and community building that supports individuals seeking healing through psychedelic ceremony.
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In addition to my work with individual therapists and clinicians, my clients have included an Integrative Psychiatry clinic offering Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in a nature based setting, a psychiatrist and researcher in Switzerland offering legal Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy with Psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA, a Retreat Center offering Ketamine-Assisted Mindfulness retreats, and an online platform offering courses, live events, and community spaces for psychedelic preparation and integration.
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For over 8 years, I've immersed myself in learning about the psychedelic therapy field and I keep up to date on the latest regulations, legalities, research, therapist training programs, and best practices when it comes to offering Psychedelic Therapy or ceremonial programs with robust preparation and integration.
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I live in Asheville, NC, USA, and I feel so grateful to be surrounded by beautiful mountains and rivers.
One of the loves of my life is my adorable pup Zoe, a sweet and gentle lab mix who has been with me for over 9 years since she was a puppy. She's traveled to 2 countries with me and accompanied me on many adventures.
I'm a huge geek and spend many hours devouring books, movies, comics, and video games in the Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres. Among my greatest fandoms: Star Trek, Nintendo (Zelda in particular), Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Superman.
I'm fascinated by consciousness and trying to understand exactly what it is!
Favorite hobbies: Tennis, learning the piano, contra dancing, and writing fiction.
“Brendan has a deep understanding of the psychedelic-assisted therapy field and is passionate about providing guidance to practitioners who are interested in learning and growing in this therapeutic approach. Not only is he passionate about this work, but he is also skilled at connecting people and teams with the resources they need to flourish. Above all, he is committed to mental health and finding ways to make mental health services accessible to all - a commitment that I witnessed during our time together at All Souls Counseling Center.”
— Meredith Switzer, Executive Director at All Souls Counseling Center
