Michael Ho, M.d.
Anesthesiologist
Dr. Michael Ho entered medicine for two reasons: his affinity for science and passion for helping people. After graduating with a B.A in biochemistry at Cornell University, he received his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Next he completed a joint pediatric residency at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. Seeking to enhance his skills in crisis management and critical care, Dr. Ho moved to New Haven, CT, where entered an anesthesia residency at Yale University. During his training, he also worked on weekends as a part-time neonatologist at Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut.
Since completing his formal medical training, Dr. Ho has lived in Houston, where he has served as a member of the academic faculty in anesthesia at Baylor College of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and University of Texas Hermann Memorial Hospital. He is a published author, served on institutional and state medical committees, won Teacher of the Year awards three years in a row, and is the creator and principle instructor of the most popular and effective anesthesia board review course in the country. In his role as oral board instructor, he has dedicated over 10,000 hours helping thousands of anesthesiologist become board-certified perioperative consultants.
Over his diverse career, Dr. Ho has garnered over 30 years of experience administering ketamine in almost every medical setting imaginable. He founded Catalyst Ketamine for the same reasons he began his career in medicine: an enduring desire to use science to help those in need.
In his spare time, Dr. Ho enjoys spending quality time with his family, watching good movies, reading, and playing chess.
jennifer lancaster, LCSW-S
Social Worker
Jennifer Lancaster is a seasoned therapist specializing in eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. With over 13 years of experience, Jennifer has worked in inpatient, residential, and outpatient treatment settings, including as a therapist with The Menninger Clinic and as the Founder of Houston Healing Collective. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of St. Thomas and a Master of Social Work from George Mason University. She is a certified psychedelic-assisted therapy provider (PATP) with specialized training in ketamine therapy and is a member of Ketamine Psychotherapy Associates (KPA). She is a Texas board-approved LCSW supervisor and offers clinical supervision, training, and consultation services to mental health providers and treatment programs.
Jennifer’s therapeutic approach centers on the belief that each person possesses an innate healing wisdom and that the therapeutic relationship is a powerful catalyst for change. Her goal is to help clients move beyond merely managing symptoms to addressing root causes and unresolved trauma, fostering genuine connection and collaboration for a transformational healing experience. Her training in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) provides additional support, equipping clients with practical skills to navigate the challenges of deeper trauma work. Currently, she serves as Director of the Houston Healing Collaborative, a healing center for treating trauma, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.
Outside the office, Jennifer enjoys exploring nature, traveling, savoring great food and coffee, and connecting with others. She believes in discovering the wonder in everyday moments, appreciating life’s beauty, and embracing the synchronicities and connections that bring us closer to ourselves, others, and the world around us.
Linda barnard, RN, LPC
Licenced Professional Counselor, Registered Nurse
Linda Barnard is a Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist extensively trained by the Integrative Psychiatric Institute in Boulder, Colorado. As both a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Registered Nurse, she seamlessly integrates medical knowledge with a deep understanding of mental well-being.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Linda has a strong personal connection to the trauma experienced by veterans, healthcare workers, and first responders. She recognizes ketamine as a groundbreaking treatment for conditions such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, OCD, chronic pain, and autoimmune disorders. Her diverse training allows her to combine Ketamine Assisted Therapy with ego state theory, neuro-somatic therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to achieve results that are more robust and long-lasting than traditional talk therapy.
Linda believes in the inner healing intelligence in people – a transformative power that allows us to continually experience ourselves in new ways. Through her work at the Houston Center for Counseling, she uses ketamine’s ability to produce neuroplasticity and reopen neural pathways to help clients reshape behavior patterns, dysfunctional thoughts, and core beliefs. Leveraging this critical window created by ketamine, she applies brain-based therapeutic techniques to mend the deeper wounds underlying her clients’ symptoms.
Linda's personal experiences with stress, burnout, developmental and attachment trauma, and avoidant behavior serve as the foundation for her compassionate approach to healing. Her journey through facing and overcoming life’s challenges allows her to offer genuine empathy in a unique brand of compassionate care.