Psychedelic Integration: Experiential Training Retreat for Clinicians | Phoenicia, NY 2022

‍This 5-day experiential retreat is designed for therapists who practice psychedelic integration or psychedelic-assisted therapy, or are training to do so. Experiential training is a component of training in which therapists experience the transformative process of the given modality themselves, and apply their insights to their own lives and to their professional work with others. Experiential training is a key training experience for therapists who wish to engage with clients who have used psychedelics or facilitate psychedelic experiences. At this retreat, contemplative practices will be used to practice accessing and integrating non-ordinary states of consciousness in the same way one would approach psychedelic experiences.

At Menla, we will be in the natural surroundings of the Catskill Mountains, a comfortable and safe haven to convene and practice engaging with and integrating non-ordinary states of consciousness into the larger fabric of our lives as we would assist our clients in doing. Together we will cultivate and practice working with non-drug contemplative practices using similar methods to those we use with psychedelic medicines. Writing, music, and creative expression are on the agenda in order to explore and extend our personal understanding of integration of non-ordinary states.

‍The retreat space facilitates our focus on self-care, healthy meals, and learning together. We will learn and practice the skills and process of Noble Communication and effective inquiry skills. Each day will offer morning yoga and meditation and time to enjoy the natural surroundings. There will be a day of silence for cultivating reflection and insight. The merging of Eastern contemplative practices with Western psychotherapeutic modalities will be considered during evening talks and discussions. Participants will be invited to look deeply at how a variety of contemplative practices relate to psychedelic integration work, and can be used in conjunction psychedelics or on their own to benefit the integration process. Note: This program does not teach psychedelic-assisted therapy, does not include the administration of any psychedelic compound, and does not suggest or support the self-administration of any psychedelic compound during the retreat.

Retreat Schedule

Tuesday, April 19

3 – 6pm Arrival & Check in

6 – 7pm Dinner

7:30 – 9pm Program Opening Session

• Welcome
• Introductions of our team
• Who is in the room?
• Agenda and housekeeping
• Expectations for the week
• Introducing the Mural – Visual art as an integration practice
• Brief meditation and good night

Wednesday, April 20

7 – 8am Morning Yoga

7:15 – 8am Meditation and Inquiry

8 – 9am Breakfast

9:30am – 12pm Morning Session

• Take your seat meditation
• Mediation – why am I here (intention)
• Introducing writing as an integration practice
• Seeds of Noble listening and practice.
• Morning close (thank yourself) and off to lunch.

2:30 – 1:30pm Lunch

2 – 3:30pm Optional Activities

• (See list below)

4 – 5:30pm Afternoon Session: Mindfulness of body and breath

• Walking meditation
• Lovingkindness meditation
• Mountain meditation

6 – 7pm Dinner

7:15 – 9:00pm Evening Program Part One: Values Card Sort in Partners

Thursday April 21

7 – 8am Yoga

7 – 8 Mural

7:15 – 8am Meditation and Inquiry

8 – 9am Breakfast

9:30am – 12pm Morning Session

• Take your seat meditation
• Noble Listening: reflecting, validating, empathy
• Practice in dyads
• Morning close (thank yourself) and off to lunch.

12:30 – 1:30pm Lunch

2 – 3:30pm Optional Activities

• See list below

4 – 5:30pm Afternoon Session

• State to trait: What is mindfulness and how do we relate it to psychedelic integration?
• Practice noble listening
• Group discussion How does noble listening facilitate integration?

6 – 7pm Dinner

7:15 – 8:30pm Evening Program Part One

• Psychedelic integration, Buddhism, and psychoanalysis.

8:30 – 9pm Evening Program Part Two

• Instruction for tomorrow, Raisin exercise, Silent day (including mindful eating)

Friday, April 22  (Silent until 5PM)

7 – 8am Yoga

7 – 8am Mural

7:15 – 8am Meditation

8 – 9am Breakfast

9:30am – 12pm Morning Session

• Take your seat meditation
• Body Scan
• Walking Meditation
• Self-compassion meditation
• Walking meditation
• Morning close (thank yourself) and reminder about mindful eating

12:30 – 1:30pm Lunch (Silent)

2 – 3:30pm Optional Activities

• See list below

4 – 5:30pm Afternoon Session

• Open awareness (introducing mindfulness of sound, emotions, thoughts)
• Dyads for breaking silence and practice listening using Listening Hands (at a distance)

6 – 7pm Dinner

7:15 – 8pm Evening Program Part One

• Small group inquiry – Reflecting on today’s experience

8:15 – 9:15pm Evening Program Part Two

• Sound Meditation

Saturday, April 23

7 – 8am Yoga

7 – 8am Mural

7:15 – 8am Meditation and Inquiry

8 – 9am Breakfast

9:30am – 12pm Morning Session

• Take your seat meditation
• Guided visualization revisiting values and how those are working out for you.
• Practicing integration – from insight to action
• Morning close (thank yourself) and off to lunch.

12:30 – 1:30pm Lunch

2 – 3:30pm Optional Activities

• See list below

4 – 5:30pm Afternoon Session: Mindfulness of body and breath

• Walking meditation
• Mountain Meditation

6 – 7pm Dinner

7:15 – 9:00pm Evening Celebration with Music and group sharing.

Sunday, April 24

7 – 11am Check-out of Rooms

7 – 8am Yoga

7 – 8am Mural

7:15 – 8am Meditation and Inquiry

8 – 9am Breakfast

9:30am – 11am Morning Session

• Take your seat meditation
• Moving on from here – integrating this experience into the larger scope of your life
• Noble listening practice with talking about your experience of the retreat
• Closing Circle

12:30-1:30 Lunch and Departures

Optional Afternoon Activities:

• Sitting meditation with inquiry

• Walking meditation

• Guided hike

• Outdoor time on one’s own

• Spa (Massage/Sauna)

• Restorative Yoga

• Individual Meetings

• Prepare for your group sharing

• Mural Time

*Please note that this schedule is subject to change.