What happens when healing steps outside the clinic and into ceremony? Paije and Fletcher from ETEREO join to discuss their psychedelic retreat work, which focuses on ceremonial healing using traditional medicines like Iboga and combining clinical approaches. They explained their philosophy of meeting individuals where they are in their healing journey, serving people dealing with addiction, mental health issues, and trauma through comprehensive screening and integration processes. The conversation covered the evolution of psychedelic medicine from indigenous practices to modern applications, their upcoming Baja California retreat center, and how they acquire new clients primarily through word-of-mouth referrals.

This episode does not advocate for or against psychedelic use, but instead opens a conversation about emerging pathways in healing and recovery — and the questions professionals should be asking. As psychedelic-assisted approaches continue to gain attention, how do we responsibly discuss risk, readiness, culture, and integration?

About the Guests:

Paije West brings a unique blend of personal transformation and professional leadership to ETÉREO Baja. After her own iboga journey catalyzed a profound healing process, she became an advocate for safety, “spiritual safety,” and professional standards in psychedelic practice. At ETÉREO Baja, she oversees guest preparation, integration protocols, ceremonial offerings, and safety governance, ensuring every experience is trauma-informed, clinically supported, and spiritually attuned. Her leadership centers on transparency, integrity, and compassionate rigor, hallmarks of ETÉREO Baja’s reputation.

Fletcher Burdick brings grounded, hands-on leadership to ETÉREO Baja, informed by years of collaboration with ibogaine clinics and deep ceremonial study in Peru. Drawing on his background founding and operating a construction company, he integrates practical execution with a deep respect for structure, process, and integrity in the development of ETÉREO’s regenerative healing center. With over a decade of experience in the psychedelic space, he applies ceremonial depth and cultural alignment to clinical and business contexts, guiding operations and strategy through thoughtful, values-driven collaboration. Fletcher’s approach to psychedelics remains rooted in humility, never claiming origination, always honoring the lineages and traditions that came before.

Links:

• https://www.etereobaja.mx/

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.

To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com

To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail talkingaddictionandrecovery@gmail.com

Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

What happens when outreach stops being passive and starts becoming relational? In this episode, we sit down with Megan Poliquin, Gambling Treatment and Prevention Program Manager at the ZEPF Center, to explore how her team transformed their community engagement strategy in Ohio. Megan shares how what began as a grant-funded obligation evolved into a passionate mission—one that has reached more than 2,300 individuals through brief gambling screens. Instead of simply “sitting at a table,” her team created interactive, engaging, data-driven outreach events that build relationships and demonstrate measurable impact.

We discuss: the difference between marketing and true outreach, why human connection matters more than information alone, how to approach community partnerships with clarity and confidence, creative strategies for engaging college students, and how small, consistent steps can build large-scale impact.

About the Guest:

Megan Poliquin (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor with her Gambling Endorsement. Megan has specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of gambling disorder since 2018. She is well-versed in the areas of substance use, anxiety, depression, and relationship and financial stressors. Her counseling style is supportive, interactive, and empathetic. She encourages sessions to be client-led, with her role being to help guide you to your own path of gambling recovery. Megan’s clients would describe her as authentic, humorous, relatable, and encouraging. Megan believes a trusting therapeutic relationship is the most powerful tool to create lasting change. Gambling addiction carries burdens of shame and guilt that lead to isolation, but we all need human connections to thrive. Megan’s own personal experience in therapy has shown her that it can be life-changing. Megan believes that no matter what is going on in your life, you are worthy and deserving of healing, happiness, and recovery. 

Links:

• E-mail: mpoliquin@zepfcenter.org
• https://www.zepfcenter.org/gambling-treatment-program/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-poliquin-567a2185?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BVjelCD72S86%2BMr4ITY%2FlHA%3D%3D

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.

To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com

To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail talkingaddictionandrecovery@gmail.com

Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

Psychoeducation is often treated as secondary to “real” clinical work—but what if it’s actually foundational? In this episode of the Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast, we are joined by Tom Karl, Founder and CEO of R1 Learning, to explore the critical (and frequently undervalued) role psychoeducation plays in addiction treatment and recovery. Drawing from Tom’s background in corporate learning and development—and his personal recovery journey—the conversation challenges how treatment programs think about education, engagement, and fundamentals.

Together, we unpack the gap between counseling and teaching skills, the importance of shared language and basic vocabulary in early recovery, and why engagement between sessions matters just as much as what happens in the therapy room. We also explore gamification, learning styles, stages of change, and how tools like micro-content and feedback loops can support both clients and clinicians. This episode is a reminder that effective treatment doesn’t always mean more complexity—it often means returning to the basics and doing them well.

About the Guest:

Tom Karl founded R1 as the result of his own personal experiences in addiction, and recovery. The idea and vision for the R1 Learning System, the Discovery Cards, and R1 Discover App was inspired following Tom’s last substance use and hospitalization when he noted a lack of practical tools in addiction treatment settings. He has used the creation of the tools to help better understand himself, make a living amends to those he impacted, and build a positive path for others on a similar journey. Through R1, Tom’s goal is to put impactful self-discovery tools into the hands of individuals in recovery and empower them to reach their full potential. In addition, R1’s mission is to address the workforce shortage in the Behavioral Healthcare industry by equipping practitioners at all levels of knowledge, skill, and experience with evidence-based interactive support resources in both hands-on and online formats and in multi-languages. Tom has 25+ years of experience in workforce and leadership development, learning and development, employee engagement, and talent retention, working with global companies, government agencies, and education institutions.

Links:

• Website: https://r1learning.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/r1learning/posts/?feedView=all

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.

To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com

To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail talkingaddictionandrecovery@gmail.com

Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.