Nicholas Canby, Ph.D.

Dr. Nicholas Canby is a licensed clinical psychologist and a Visiting Assistant Professor at Brown University who helps individuals and couples navigate profound life shifts, existential questions, and relational challenges. With specialized training from the VA healthcare system in gold-standard trauma therapies, Dr. Canby brings a rigorous, evidence-based approach to deep psychological healing. He is highly experienced in treating complex trauma and emotional dysregulation, but he is equally passionate about helping clients explore questions of meaning, identity, and personal growth. He believes therapy isn't just about addressing pain—it is about clarifying your deepest values and using them as a compass for a more fulfilling life. Building on this foundation of clinical rigor, he also holds specialized expertise in complex non-ordinary states. He is a sought-after expert for individuals integrating psychedelic experiences or navigating adverse effects from intensive meditation and spiritual practices. His clinical practice is directly informed by his active research on meditation and psychedelic-related challenges and his teaching on the psychology of altered states at Brown. Dr. Canby recognizes that returning from a profound non-ordinary state—whether from deep contemplative practice, psychedelic use, or trauma— can sometimes result in ontological shock, anxiety, or relational disconnection. To help clients ground these experiences, he utilizes structured, gold-standard therapies, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and trauma-focused approaches. Whether you are recovering from trauma or integrating a profound spiritual insight, he helps you translate abstract experiences into measurable, values-driven changes in your daily life. In his couples work, he uses Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) to help partners break out of gridlock and rebuild empathy when navigating massive personal transformations. As a PSYPACT authorization holder, Dr. Canby provides secure online therapy for clients across Rhode Island and over 43 participating states.