Somatic
The body's intelligence
The body is where we feel volition, intention and authorship. The Somatic frame develops the capacity to notice inner states, regulate intensity, and let insight become embodied change.
Soul friend · anam cara
Anam Cara Centre
A friend of the soul, for the healing voyage. Learn to navigate the current, and ease into the depth of renewal.
Trauma-informed, culturally aware and ethically grounded education in psychedelic and contemplative therapies.
Open to registered health professionals, facilitators working in lawful settings, and advanced students. Anam Cara Centre is an educational centre and does not provide patient mental-health, NDIS or Medicare services.
The soul friend
A friendship with the soul
The foundation of the Anam Cara Centre lies in the ancient Celtic understanding of anam cara, or "soul friend": a bond that invites deep connection and mutual growth. We support each person to become a friend of the soul, cultivating a compassionate, honest relationship with themselves, with others, and with the earth.
Anam Cara Centre is committed to education and support within the evolving landscape of psychedelic and contemplative therapies, grounded in Australian law, AHPRA's Code of Conduct, and a reverence for global healing traditions.
The spirit of the anam cara invites you to befriend your own life, to shape it with beauty, to cultivate awareness, and to awaken the eternal that sleeps in the clay of your heart. John O'Donohue
The SWIM model
Four currents of the healing voyage
There is vast beauty and salve in the psychedelic ocean of experience, and yet one may rapidly find themselves out of their depth. SWIM is an integrative map that holds psychedelic-assisted and contemplative work in four interwoven dimensions.
Wisdom
The art of orienting well
Philosophy, contemplation, ethics and flourishing in conversation. Wisdom keeps profound experience open to wonder without abandoning humility or ordinary life.
Interdependence
The self in relationship
Connection is not a byproduct of psychedelic-assisted therapy, it is the catalyst. Regulation emerges not in isolation, but in contact.
Metacognition
The mind meeting itself
You are not the cloud. You are the sky that holds it. Metacognition is the capacity to recognise mental activity as mental activity, and respond with flexibility.
Our values
EMPATHS
Our programs are rooted in values that shape the way we teach, the way we learn, and the way we walk alongside others on the path of transformation.
Ethics
Rooted in care and accountability, requiring deep reflection and collaboration to guide our actions.
Metacognition
The capacity to step back from experience, fostering insight and intentional action.
Potentiality
The interplay of creativity, impermanence, and a willingness to deepen understanding.
Agency
Empowering individuals to take an active role in their healing, relational and process-oriented.
Transpersonal
Acknowledging the self as inseparable from the larger web of existence.
Holistic
Honouring the complexity of our bio-psycho-social-cultural-spiritual being.
Science
Evidence-informed inquiry: critical thinking, observation, experimentation and reflection.
Wise empathy: to connect deeply without being consumed.
Our pillars
Four commitments beneath every program
Anam Cara Centre develops training, clinical and cultural retreat pathways for tomorrow's compassionate, ethical, and skilled psychedelic therapists.
I
Evidence-informed and clinically focused
Our curriculum bridges contemporary psychedelic science with real-world therapeutic applications, equipping practitioners with tools that support safety, efficacy and long-term integration.
II
Cultural holding and reciprocity
Anam Cara honours the diverse cultural roots of psychedelic healing, integrating Indigenous wisdom, ethical reciprocity and community engagement into our approach.
III
Contemplative and wisdom practices
We weave contemplative traditions with therapeutic frameworks, cultivating self-awareness, compassion, deep listening and ethical discernment for clients and therapists alike.
IV
Experiential, embodied, and creative
Learning is embodied. We combine theory with experiential practice, creative expression, somatic modalities and hands-on role play, held by supportive mentorship.
Voices from the field
Stories from those who have trained with us
Lani and Melissa complement each other beautifully, creating a psychologically safe and nurturing environment where participants connect and learn.
There is an emphasis on relational presence and deep honouring of people and the paths that brought them to these medicines. That is the uniqueness of what this course offers.
Their ability to integrate science, safety, and the power of human connection makes this course stand out. Highly recommended.
The founders
Dr Alana (Lani) Roy & Melissa Warner
Anam Cara Centre was founded and is directed by Dr Alana (Lani) Roy and Melissa Warner, co-creators of the SWIM model. Lani is a psychologist, social worker and Chair of AMAPP, with fifteen years in mental health, suicide prevention and complex trauma. Melissa is a researcher at Swinburne University and the Intangible Realities Laboratory, working across neuroscience, contemplative science and psychedelic therapy.
Together they bring clinical depth, cultural reverence and neurobiological insight to a training grounded in ethics, embodiment and relationship.
Because the human heart is never completely born, love is the continuous birth of creativity within and between us. John O'Donohue, Anam Cara
Are you ready to answer the call?
We welcome the next cohort of psychedelic practitioners in October 2026. Begin a conversation with our intake team, or request the CPACT syllabus.