Who We Are
We are a team of ACT therapists, trainers, and researchers with a deep passion for and experience with preparing, guiding, and integrating psychedelic experiences in both group and individual settings. Our team is committed to promoting an ACT informed approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy in the service of our shared values: Openness, Self Transcendence, Safeness, & Light-heartedness. All of us are MAPS certified in psychedelic-assisted therapy, peer-reviewed ACT trainers, and/or are involved in psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trials. In the context of this retreat, we will act as the “Setters” – those responsible for fostering a Setting conducive to deep individual and group work.
Our Approach
We are a team of therapists, researchers, and trainers who take a pragmatic stance towards psychedelic science. We aim to create retreats that are practical and accessible for people wanting to learn to guide others in their use of psychedelics, and/or to deepen their practice of psychedelic harm reduction and integration therapy.
Our particular approach is one that is grounded in our best understanding of the science of how people thrive as well as how people overcome psychological struggles. Much of our psychological work is guided by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Contextual Behavioral Science. We integrate our knowledge of psychological science with a growing research base of psychedelic science and psychedelic-assisted therapy to inform how we prepare people for retreats, facilitate retreats, and conduct integration.
Our Approach
We are a team of therapists, researchers, and trainers who take a pragmatic stance towards psychedelic science. We aim to create retreats that are practical and accessible for people wanting to learn to guide others in their use of psychedelics, and/or to deepen their practice of psychedelic harm reduction and integration therapy. Our particular approach is one that isgrounded in our best understanding of the science of how people thrive as well as how people overcome psychological struggles. Much of our psychological work is guided by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Contextual Behavioral Science. We integrate our knowledge of psychological science with a growing research base of psychedelic science andpsychedelic-assisted therapy to inform how we prepare people for retreats, facilitate retreats, and conduct integration.
Our Guiding Principles
01
Safeness
Growth best occurs in a larger context of psychological and physical safety. This includes forming a sense of connection and belonging in the group, while also ensuring appropriate and effective interpersonal boundaries.
03
Self Transcendence
We seek to help people connect with being a part of something larger than our own limited self-conceptualizations. Transcending our limited self-stories
allows us to appreciate both what is different among us and what is shared.
02
Openness
Approaching whatever arises, including the challenging stuff with a posture
of openness, curiosity, and trust in the unfolding present. In the language of ACT, we might also call this acceptance or willingness.
04
Light-heartedness
While we believe in the importance of creating a sense of sacredness and seriousness, we also value play, laughter, and light-heartedness. We need lightness to blend the “deep” with play, pleasure, joy, and connection. We think of
this as going on an adventure together
Our Guiding Principles
There are four guiding principles that have informed the design and implementation of our
retreats. These principles were developed through a combination of experience and a review of
the empirical literature on what variables most reliably predict positive outcomes in psychedelic
assisted therapy and retreat contexts.
Openness
Approaching whatever arises, including the challenging stuff with a postureof openness, curiosity, and trust in the unfolding present. In the language of ACT, we might also call this acceptance or willingness.
Self Transcendence
We seek to help people connect with being a part of something larger than our own limited self-conceptualizations. Transcending our limited self-storiesallows us to appreciate both what is different among us and what is shared.
Safeness
Growth best occurs in a larger context of psychological and physical safety. This includes forming a sense of connection and belonging in the group, while also ensuring appropriate and effective interpersonal boundaries.
Light-heartnedness
While we believe in the importance of creating a sense ofsacredness and seriousness, we also value play, laughter, and light-heartedness. We need lightness to blend the “deep” with play, pleasure, joy, and connection. We think ofthis as going on an adventure together
Meet Our Team - The "Setters"
Our retreats are designed and overseen by our "Setters" - experienced ACT psychedelic-assisted therapists and researchers, most of whom are involved in psychedelic-assisted therapy research trials.
