Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Montreal

Montreal's psychedelic-assisted therapy landscape is distinctive in Canada for three reasons: Quebec's RAMQ public-funding precedent for psilocybin (Drs. Houman Farzin and Jean-François Stephan billed RAMQ in December 2022 — Canada's first publicly funded psychedelic therapy); the Montreal Model of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy developed by Dr. Kyle Greenway and the McGill Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry at the Jewish General Hospital, which integrates IV ketamine with structured integrative psychotherapy; and Bill 21 (loi 21, 2009) reserving psychotherapy as a regulated act in Quebec — meaning the psychotherapy component of psychedelic-assisted therapy must be delivered by a physician, psychologist, or Ordre des psychologues du Québec (OPQ) permit holder. ATMA CENA's Quebec member clinic is Clinic Dr. Bita at 1255 Avenue Greene in Westmount, operating bilingually. Montreal also hosts Field Trip Health Montreal, Numinus Montreal, Braxia Health Montreal (with Neurotherapy Montreal partnership), and other ketamine providers. Bill 96 language considerations apply across healthcare communications. This article walks through the Montreal landscape across all psychedelic-assisted therapy substances.

Key takeaways

• ATMA CENA's Quebec member clinic: Clinic Dr. Bita at 1255 Avenue Greene, Suite 410, Westmount, QC H3Z 2A4. Bilingual operation. KAT delivery via ATMA CENA's three-phase model.
• Quebec RAMQ public-funding precedent for psilocybin: Farzin/Stephan December 2022 billing. Modified billing codes for SAP-approved Quebec patients. Canada's only established provincial public-funding precedent for psychedelic-assisted therapy.
• The Montreal Model of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (Dr. Kyle Greenway, Jewish General Hospital, McGill) — published in Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023; integrates IV ketamine with structured psychotherapy.
• Bill 21 (loi 21, 2009) reserves psychotherapy as a regulated act in Quebec. Psychotherapy component must be delivered by physicians, psychologists, or OPQ permit holders.
• Bill 96 (Charter of the French Language, 2022) has implications for healthcare communications.
• Major Montreal ketamine providers: Field Trip Health Montreal, Numinus Montreal, Braxia Health Montreal/Neurotherapy Montreal, CHUM, Jewish General Hospital, Douglas Mental Health, Hôpital Sacré-Cœur. See Ketamine Therapy in Montreal.
• CMQ regulatory framework: position document on parenteral ketamine for TRD in adults; off-label psychiatric use within Canadian off-label prescribing principles.
• INESSS recommended against listing Spravato in November 2020 — Spravato non-benefit on RAMQ; private prior auth is the realistic Spravato pathway.

What Montreal offers across psychedelic-assisted therapy

Ketamine therapy

Substantial and distinctive Montreal landscape:

• The Montreal Model of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (Dr. Kyle Greenway, Jewish General Hospital, McGill Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry) — published in Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023 (Greenway et al., 2023). Integrates IV ketamine with structured integrative psychotherapy.
• ATMA CENA's Clinic Dr. Bita (Westmount) — KAT delivery via ATMA CENA's three-phase model. Bilingual operation.
• Field Trip Health Montreal
• Numinus Montreal — multi-substance KAP services
• Braxia Health Montreal / Neurotherapy Montreal partnership — multi-modal IV/sublingual/Spravato
• CHUM (Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal) — ketamine research and clinical pathway
• Douglas Mental Health University Institute — psychiatric research and clinical work; second-largest Canadian mental-health research center
• Hôpital Sacré-Cœur de Montréal — psychiatric services

See Ketamine Therapy in Montreal for more detail.

Spravato (intranasal esketamine)

• INESSS recommended against listing in November 2020 — Spravato non-benefit on RAMQ
• Private prior auth is the realistic Spravato pathway in Quebec
• PSHCP / Canada Life Form M7520 for federal public servants
• Janssen Journey-certified Montreal providers including Royal Ottawa BMO Innovative Clinic for Depression (Ottawa-based but referral-accessible) and Montreal psychiatric clinics

For coverage: PSHCP / Canada Life Spravato Coverage, Private Insurance Prior Authorization for Spravato.

Psilocybin (SAP-pathway only) — with Quebec RAMQ precedent

Montreal is at the centre of Canada's only established provincial public-funding pathway for psilocybin:

• Drs. Houman Farzin and Jean-François Stephan — Quebec physicians who billed RAMQ in December 2022 for SAP-approved psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy delivered to a Quebec patient with end-of-life distress. RAMQ subsequently modified medical billing codes.
• Eligibility: SAP authorization; Quebec residency with valid RAMQ; eligible indication (typically end-of-life distress); Quebec-based prescribing physician willing to apply for SAP and bill RAMQ
• Other Quebec SAP-pathway clinicians including Jewish General / McGill colleagues; psychiatry-aligned Montreal providers
• ATMA CENA's Clinic Dr. Bita supports preparation and integration via coordinated care in coordination with Quebec prescribing physicians

For the Quebec RAMQ deep dive: Quebec RAMQ Coverage for Psychedelic Therapy. For further reading: Psilocybin Therapy in Canada, Psilocybin Therapy in Quebec, Psilocybin Therapy for End-of-Life Distress.

MDMA-AT (SAP-pathway only)

MDMA-AT in Montreal operates under standard SAP framework. The Quebec RAMQ public-funding precedent has NOT been extended to MDMA at this time. Veterans with service-related PTSD have the most established VAC pathway.

For further reading: MDMA-Assisted Therapy in Canada, MDMA-Assisted Therapy in Quebec.

ATMA CENA's Clinic Dr. Bita — Quebec member clinic

ATMA CENA's Quebec member clinic operates bilingually:

Located on Avenue Greene's professional corridor near the Atwater Metro station. The clinic uses ATMA CENA's three-phase psychedelic-assisted therapy structure (preparation + dosing + integration) through ATMA CENA's member-clinic network. Confirm bilingual service capabilities and current operational status during the information call.

See Ketamine Therapy in Montreal for more detail.

Montreal's regulatory framework

Federal

Same as elsewhere in Canada — Schedule I/III CDSA scheduling; SAP-only for psilocybin and MDMA; off-label for ketamine; Health Canada approval for Spravato (TRD only).

Provincial — Quebec

CMQ (Collège des médecins du Québec) — published a position document on parenteral ketamine for TRD in adults ("Kétamine parentérale pour la dépression réfractaire au traitement chez l'adulte: pertinence clinique, enjeux et encadrement"). Off-label psychiatric use is permitted within Canadian off-label prescribing principles.

Bill 21 (loi 21, 2009) — reserves psychotherapy as a regulated act in Quebec. Implications for psychedelic-assisted therapy:

Only the following may deliver psychotherapy in Quebec:

• Physicians
• Psychologists (members of OPQ)
• Members of designated professional orders holding a psychotherapy permit from OPQ — guidance counsellors, criminologists, occupational therapists, nurses, psychoeducators, social workers, family therapists

The OPQ psychotherapy permit requires graduate-level program, 765 hours of theoretical psychotherapy training, and 300 hours of supervised direct clinical work.

Bill 96 (loi 14, 2022) — Charter of the French Language amendments. Healthcare services default to French; English-language services accommodated under specific exceptions. Confirm clinic language capabilities before booking.

For more Montreal regulatory detail: Ketamine Therapy in Montreal.

Insurance / coverage

• Quebec RAMQ: psilocybin via Farzin/Stephan precedent for SAP-approved patients (typically end-of-life distress). NOT extended to ketamine, Spravato, or MDMA.
• INESSS recommended against listing Spravato in November 2020 — Spravato non-benefit on RAMQ
• PSHCP / Canada Life: Spravato Form M7520 for federal public servants
• Private insurance: Spravato most likely covered with prior auth; therapy fees may be partially covered as standard psychotherapy
• VAC: ketamine coverage established for service-related TRD/chronic pain
• CNESST Quebec: workers' compensation case-by-case for compensable PTSD or chronic pain; no formal listings

For an overview of all coverage options: Insurance Coverage for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Canada. See also Quebec RAMQ Coverage for Psychedelic Therapy.

Local Montreal practical notes

• Population: Montreal CMA ~4.3M (Canada's second-largest city)
• Major hospitals: Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), McGill University Health Centre (MUHC including Royal Victoria + Glen site), Jewish General Hospital, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Hôpital Sacré-Cœur, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne
• Universities: McGill, Université de Montréal, UQAM, Concordia
• Health authority: provincial; CIUSSS regional structure
• Transit: Société de transport de Montréal (STM) Metro and bus; REM commuter rail (South Shore and West Island connections)
• Catchment: Montreal Island, Laval, Longueuil/South Shore, West Island
• Bilingual / French considerations: ~57% francophone home language; ~56% bilingual EN/FR
• First-responder workforce: Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), Sûreté du Québec, paramedics, firefighters; CNESST eligibility
• Federal workforce: meaningful PSHCP-eligible population; Service Canada hubs
• Post-session: 24-hour no-driving rule; STM Metro and rideshare practical alternatives

How to start

The realistic Montreal pathway:

1. Identify your indication and treatment history
2. Map to substance pathway: ketamine (broadly accessible; Montreal Model option); Spravato (HC-approved TRD; private prior auth); psilocybin SAP (Quebec RAMQ precedent for SAP-approved patients with end-of-life distress); MDMA-AT SAP (standard out-of-pocket)
3. Map to coverage pathway: Quebec RAMQ (psilocybin SAP only), PSHCP (federal public servants), VAC (veterans), CNESST (compensable conditions), private prior auth (Spravato)
4. Map to provider: Clinic Dr. Bita (ATMA CENA's Quebec member clinic), Field Trip Montreal, Numinus Montreal, Jewish General Montreal Model, Drs. Farzin/Stephan for psilocybin SAP
5. Confirm Bill 21 compliance for any psychotherapy component (must be physician, psychologist, or OPQ permit holder)
6. Confirm bilingual or French/English service preferences

Frequently asked questions

Where is ATMA CENA's Montreal clinic? Clinic Dr. Bita, 1255 Avenue Greene, Suite 410, Westmount, QC H3Z 2A4. ATMA CENA's Quebec member clinic. Bilingual operation. Confirm specific operational status during the information call.

Does Quebec RAMQ cover psychedelic-assisted therapy? Yes for psilocybin via the Farzin/Stephan December 2022 precedent for SAP-approved patients with end-of-life distress. Modified billing codes permit further claims. NOT extended to ketamine, Spravato, or MDMA. See Quebec RAMQ Coverage for Psychedelic Therapy.

What's the Montreal Model of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy? A clinical model developed by Dr. Kyle Greenway and the McGill Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry at the Jewish General Hospital. Integrates IV ketamine with structured integrative psychotherapy. Published in Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023.

Does Bill 21 affect my psychedelic-assisted therapy in Quebec? Yes. Bill 21 reserves psychotherapy as a regulated act in Quebec. The psychotherapy component must be delivered by a physician, psychologist, or OPQ psychotherapy permit holder.

Can I do my therapy in French or English in Montreal? Most Montreal psychedelic-assisted therapy clinics, including Clinic Dr. Bita, operate bilingually. Confirm specific language preferences with the clinical team. Bill 96 has implications for documentation language.

Why doesn't INESSS cover Spravato? INESSS recommended against listing Spravato in November 2020 due to uncertain demonstrated benefit. CDA-AMC (formerly CADTH) issued an aligned federal recommendation. The realistic Spravato pathway in Quebec is private prior auth.

Where can I do psilocybin therapy in Montreal? Through Health Canada SAP. Quebec SAP-pathway clinicians include Drs. Farzin and Stephan (Jewish General / McGill) plus other Quebec colleagues. The RAMQ public-funding pathway applies for SAP-approved Quebec patients with eligible indications.

What about MDMA-AT in Montreal? Through Health Canada SAP only. Quebec RAMQ has NOT extended to MDMA — patients face standard out-of-pocket costs unless covered through VAC (service-related PTSD case-by-case) or CNESST (compensable conditions).

What if I'm a Montreal first responder with PTSD? CNESST reviews ketamine and other psychedelic-assisted therapy claims case-by-case for compensable PTSD. No formal listings. SPVM, Sûreté du Québec, paramedics, firefighters are eligible populations.

What if I'm a Quebec veteran? VAC covers ketamine therapy for service-related TRD/chronic pain (case-by-case); MDMA-AT case-by-case for service-related PTSD; psilocybin not covered. Quebec residency does not change the VAC pathway.

Where can I get help finding a Quebec psychedelic-assisted therapy clinician? TheraPsil maintains a directory of Canadian SAP-trained clinicians (some Quebec-based). MAPS Canada supports MDMA-AT advocacy. ATMA CENA's intake call can orient Quebec patients to providers including Clinic Dr. Bita.

Does ATMA CENA's training program operate in Quebec? ATMA CENA's psychedelic-assisted therapy training program operates with Bill 21-compatible structures. See Psychedelic Therapy Training in Canada.

Sources

1. ATMA CENA — find care near you: https://psychedelic.healthcare/find-care
2. ATMA CENA — Montreal Member Clinic (Clinic Dr. Bita): https://psychedelic.healthcare/
3. TheraPsil — Quebec first province to cover psilocybin therapy: https://therapsil.ca/quebec-first-province-to-cover-costs-of-psilocybin-assisted-psychotherapy-done-by-two-physicians/
4. Greenway K, et al. (2023). The Montreal Model. Front Psychiatry. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1268832/full
5. McGill Newsroom — Montreal Model: https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/montreal-model-ketamine-therapy-yields-more-sustained-depression-relief-365774
6. INESSS — Spravato extract notice (November 2020): https://www.inesss.qc.ca/en/themes/medicaments/drug-products-undergoing-evaluation-and-evaluated/extract-notice-to-the-minister/spravato-5429.html
7. Collège des médecins du Québec — Publications: https://www.cmq.org/en/publications
8. Quebec Bill 21 (2009, c.28) — psychotherapy as a reserved act: https://www.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/Fichiers_client/lois_et_reglements/LoisAnnuelles/en/2009/2009C28A.PDF
9. Health Canada DPD — Spravato: https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=98903
10. Health Canada — SAP psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/announcements/requests-special-access-program-psychedelic-assisted-psychotherapy.html
11. Veterans Affairs Canada — Mental Health Benefits: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/financial-programs-and-services/medical-costs/coverage-services-prescriptions-and-devices/mental-health-benefits

Related articles

• Ketamine Therapy in Montreal
• Psilocybin Therapy in Quebec
• MDMA-Assisted Therapy in Quebec
• Quebec RAMQ Coverage for Psychedelic Therapy
• Psilocybin Therapy for End-of-Life Distress
• Insurance Coverage for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Canada
• Psilocybin Therapy in Canada
• MDMA-Assisted Therapy in Canada
• Ketamine Therapy in Canada
• Find care near you

Last updated: 2026-05-06