Brenda Burgard is the President of Decriminalization of Psychedelics of New Mexico, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing education, access, and policy reform around psychedelic medicines. She is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Substance Abuse Associate (LSAA), and Registered Art Therapist (ATR). Brenda specializes in art therapy, addiction recovery, trauma healing, and psychedelic integration, providing compassionate care that bridges both traditional clinical methods and psychedelic-informed approaches.

Certified in MDMA-assisted therapy, Brenda also brings decades of lived experience with a variety of psychedelic medicines including LSD, DMT, Salvia, Mescaline (in ceremonial contexts), and Psilocybin. Her personal and professional journey has shaped her vision of psychedelics as powerful tools for healing, transformation, and community connection.

Brenda is particularly passionate about ensuring that psychedelic healing is not limited to clinical or privileged settings but is also accessible to individuals and communities marginalized by legal, cultural, and systemic barriers. She believes in honoring indigenous and traditional practices, safeguarding religious, spiritual uses, end of life, and affirming personal freedom for self-exploration. At the same time, she strongly advocates for mental health, therapy, medical research, education, and therapeutic applications, recognizing that clinical and scientific frameworks have an equally important role in validating and expanding access to these medicines.

Through her leadership, Brenda works to uplift community voices, support grassroots organizing, and foster collaboration across diverse groups—from researchers and clinicians to indigenous healers and advocates. She views people themselves as the bedrock of the decriminalization movement, emphasizing that meaningful change happens when communities are empowered to guide the future of psychedelic policy, practice, and healing.