About Anne

Dr. Anne Metz, an innovator in mental health and criminal justice reform, holds a PhD from James Madison University. She completed a research fellowship in criminal justice reform at the University of Virginia School of Law. Her groundbreaking research spans psychedelic therapy, mental health decriminalization, and drug policy reform. Through her research on criminal sentencing and risk assessment, she pioneered the field of qualitative legal research by conducting extensive interviews with 24 circuit court judges on their sentencing practices. The results from this first-of-its-kind study led to significant policy changes in the application of alternative sentencing in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. Metz's research, writing, and policy advocacy have led to a significant reduction in prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, enabling many to access much-needed community-based treatment instead of facing incarceration. A full-time counseling faculty member with extensive clinical experience and advanced training in psychedelic therapy, Dr. Metz is licensed in five states to practice therapy. As the host of the 'Psychedelic Skeptic' podcast, Dr. Metz brings the same rigorous scrutiny and intellectual curiosity to psychedelic therapy that she applied to criminal justice reform. She's at the forefront of this revolutionary mental health treatment, challenging overstated claims while offering realistic hope to those struggling with mental illness and addiction.

Fun facts

  • After college, I worked as a fashion model in Europe before returning back to Virginia to pursue a career in media. From 2005-2010, I worked as a reporter for an alternative newsweekly in Charlottesville, Virginia.

  • I’m passionate about our connection to the natural world, and serve on the American Counseling Association Climate Crisis Task Force. I believe Climate Change presents a significant threat to mental health and wellness and mental health providers need to step up!

  • I am prominently featured in the B-roll of a CNN documentary on the 1990s. I am still waiting for my residuals, unfortunately.

  • I make it a habit to take up new activities that I am not good at; being a perpetual beginner helps me connect with my students who struggle to learn new psychotherapy skills. In the past three years, I’ve learned to ski (again after 20 years off!), throw clay on a pottery wheel, tap dance, and produce a podcast. I am a big believer that being bad at something can be good for you.

Education

  • PhD – May 2018, Counselor Education and Supervision; James Madison University

  • MA/EdS - May 2014, Clinical Mental Health Counseling; James Madison University

  • Bachelor of the Arts, May 2003; University of Virginia

Specialized training

  • MAPS (now Lykos Therapeutics) MDMA-Therapy Education Training

  • Fluence KAP Theory and Methods

  • PsychAlchemy Soul Seed Psychedelic Therapy Training

  • Psychedelic Healing and Therapy: From Theory to Practice

  • Hendricks Institute Big Leap Coaching

  • Evidence-based Approaches to Suicide Risk Assessment

  • Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy Externship

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Licenses and certifications

  • Licensed Professional Counselor, October 2021 
    New Mexico Counseling Board, License No: CCMH0221571

  • Licensed Professional Counselor, October 2021
    Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations, License No: 0017710

  • Licensed Professional Counselor, August 2021
    California Board of Behavioral Sciences, License No: 10150 

  • Licensed Professional Counselor, August 2021
    Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, License No: C6329 

  • Approved Supervisor for Residents in Counseling, January 2020
    Commonwealth of Virginia, Board of Counseling

  • Licensed Professional Counselor, March 2017
    Commonwealth of Virginia, Board of Counseling, License No: 0701007030 

  • Certified Advance Directives Facilitator, March 2017
    Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

  • Certified Preadmission Prescreener, October 2016
    Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services