With the renaissance of psychedelic medicines, it’s important for practitioners to be familiar with how they work and, especially, how to support their client’s integration of their experience.

This 5-day retreat in majestic Big Sur, California, will provide experiential opportunities, integration practices, and practical information for practitioners seeking to deepen their connection and knowledge of psychedelic states. Practitioners will learn preparation for, holding space for, and integration of expanded states of awareness (ESA) while working with their own psycho-spiritual development. Experiential sessions include a low-dose oral or IM ketamine experience, breathwork, shamanic drum journey, art process, movement, ceremony, and group process work. Screening and intake for ketamine sessions are offered to participants through a medical provider.

Retreat attendees will have the option of an ongoing, year-long Growth Group where they engage in their personal unfoldment, commit to the group process, and learn skills to work with clients who request integration for expanded states of awareness. This may include ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) clients who work with a KAP-trained therapist for initial treatment and who need ongoing integration post-medicine sessions. While this training is not a training on psychedelic administration, it is a way to deepen skills-based training and can be taken before or after other didactic trainings.

Who is this retreat for?

This retreat is for both new and experienced clinicians, ketamine providers, psychedelic therapists, guides, healthcare professionals, integration coaches, and anyone supporting others after expanded states of awareness. Each retreat is limited to 12 participants. If you are not a practitioner, please check out this integration retreat open to all.

• One low-dose subQ ketamine and one psychedelic dose IM ketamine session and integration
• Experiential breathwork, shamanic drum journey, art process, movement, ceremony, and group process work 
• Ceremony as set and setting, and for integration
• Spiritual emergence vs psychotic breaks
• Basics on the legal use of ketamine for mental health
• Traditional psychotherapy vs integration
• Respect for the client’s innate healing intelligence (inner healer)
• Theories and methods that lend themselves well to integration
• Using mythology vs “woundology” perceptual shift
• Art for Access integration technique
• 3 categories of a client’s psycho-spiritual center of gravity

Learning Objectives:

• Distinguish 4 ways in which traditional psychotherapy and integration are different.
• List 3 psychological theories/methods that lend themselves well to integration.
• Apply the 8 steps of Jennifer’s Art for Access integration technique for integration.
• List 3 bridge Integration practices.
• List 3 ways art acts as a bridge to non-ordinary states of awareness.
• Describe the relationship between Intention and Integration.
• Apply 3 energy practices used in preparation.
• Discern 3 unique characteristics of ketamine integration from other psychedelics.
• List 4 considerations with group integration vs. 1:1.

About the Instructors:

Jennifer, a licensed therapist, and Micheal, PhD psychologist, are both full mesa-carriers and students of Andean and Amazonian Shamanism. Jennifer has had 25+ years of practicing psychotherapy, specializing in trauma and shifted her focus to Integration after receiving her Certificate in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy from California Institute of International Studies (2018). She began providing KAP services after her training in ketamine through the Ketamine Training Center (2019). Jennifer is a board-certified Art Therapist, is certified in Depth Hypnosis and a trained yoga teacher. After 19 years of practice as a Clinical Psychologist, Micheal combines the conventional perspectives of family systems, EMDR and IFS with modern psychedelic work. He has training in ketamine from Polaris, in integration from the first Clinician's Integration Retreat in 2019 and has participated in an ongoing Growth Group since, which is a self-led exploration of integration in a group format. Professional medical provider, Julie Vilardi, PMHNP, is trained in ketamine therapy, and will be present to administer the ketamine.

Location:

The retreats take place at Kayru Lodge – a beautiful, private yurt at a Big Sur residence (25 min from Carmel). It is highly encouraged to stay on the land for the full experience. Lodging options include a few paid private indoor options (additional cost), or camping on the land or sleeping bag space in the yurt (no cost). One healthy meal per day will be provided as well as coffee and tea. Participants will have access to an outdoor kitchen and outdoor bathroom with a hot shower. Hiking trails and Pacific Ocean views on site. Covid vaccinations/negative tests are recommended. Current safety precautions will be observed. 

Continuing Education (CE) option:

• 40 hours of continuing education (CE) credits for an additional $79
• Be sure to select the CE credit option when filling out the application.
• Upon completion of the program, you will receive a Certificate of Attendance for your credits.
• Psychedelic Support is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Psychedelic Support maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
• The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.
• LCSWs, MFTs, and other mental health professionals from states other than California need to check with their state licensing board as to whether or not they accept programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.
• For questions about receiving your Certificate of Attendance or to report a grievance, contact info@psychedelic.support   

Apply now to reserve your spot or to have your questions answered. Sign up here!