Unfold.Transform. Flourish.
body-based mindfulness
Dr. Ben Mati is an emergency medicine physician, transformational coach, and ketamine-assisted therapy provider working in Ventura, California, on the unceded lands of the Chumash Peoples. Ben's work focuses on building resilience, finding balance, and supporting people through personal transformation, career shifts, and recovery from burnout. He has experience working with healthcare professionals, men navigating life transitions, and individuals seeking deeper authenticity and purpose. His approach is a body-oriented mindfulness informed by a belief in our inner capacity for healing and wholeness.
Ben comes from a mixed lineage of Iraqi and Eastern European Jews. His father’s family are Iraqi Jews who fled to Israel in the 1950s. In the 1970s, his father then immigrated to New York City, making Ben a first-generation American on that side of his family. His mother’s family are Eastern European Jews who fled Europe in the early part of the twentieth century. While both lineages carry histories shaped by war, displacement, and anti-Semitism—experiences that have influenced Ben’s perspective and work—they also rooted in resilience and ancestral wisdom.
Cultivate generative resiliance
In addition to his clinical work, Ben offers workshops on stress resilience and healthcare provider well-being drawing from his varied professional and personal experiences. His background in anthropology and environmental science, along with time spent living in Asia, South and Central America, and Europe, continues to shape his understanding of healing in diverse contexts.
Ben’s medical path includes a family medicine residency and fellowships in emergency medicine, critical care, and point-of-care ultrasound. He also completed the Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship at UC Irvine. He is certified in ketamine assisted therapy from The Ketamine Training Center, holds a certification in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy from Naropa University, trained with MAPS|Lykos for MDMA Assisted Therapy, is a certified mind-body coach through The Embody Lab, and is a Hakomi therapy certification phase student. He owns Horizon Healing, a ketamine assisted therapy clinic in Ventura, CA.
method
Every Journey is Unique
While each session for each person is always unique, many coaching journeys share a common path.
Initial Sessions: Building Connection
In our first one or two meetings, we will review your intake forms and take the time to get to know each other. We will explore your goals, motivations, challenges, expectations, concerns, personal history, and current circumstances to establish a strong alliance and foundation for our work together.
Introducing Transformative Methods
In subsequent sessions, we begin to incorporate the Hakomi Method, which facilitates self-discovery through present-oriented mindfulness and body awareness. Depending on your needs, we may also integrate:
- Polyvagal Theory: Understanding the nervous system to enhance emotional regulation
- Somatic Exercises: Engaging the body to release stored tension and promote healing
- Breathwork: Using conscious breathing techniques to reduce stress and increase clarity
- Ecotherapy: Connecting with nature to foster well-being
- Lifestyle Medicine: Implementing healthy lifestyle changes to support overall health
- Mindfulness exercises: Being aware, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally
Core Principles: Curiosity, Mindfulness, Respect, Compassion, and Connection
All our sessions are grounded in these core principles. I honor your innate capacity for healing and wholeness, creating a nourishing and spacious environment. Whether you are a healthcare provider managing stress, a man exploring emotional awareness, or someone seeking deeper connection with yourself, there's no agenda or assumption that something needs to be fixed; instead, we focus on building a strong, supportive relationship that empowers your personal growth and healing. Frequently, when we slow down and listen to ourselves with the help of a compassionate listener, change and transformation naturally unfold.
A Safe and Supportive Space
Our relationship is built on trust and mutual respect. Together, we create a safe container where you can explore, heal, and thrive without judgment. This healing alliance provides the stability and support needed for meaningful transformation.