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Cultivating the Joy of Sexuality & Intimacy: A Ketamine-assisted Retreat for Couples
August 08 - August 11, 2024
Jayne Gumpel, LCSW
David Gumpel M.A
Irina Linetskaya, MD
Donna Sorgen, LMHC,LPC
Daniel Zimmerman, M.D.
This is a safe, structured retreat led by a staff of licensed and highly experienced therapists and physicians in the beautiful Catskill Mountains at MENLA Retreat and Spa.
~Meet at the intersection of science and spirituality~This retreat offers a safe, structured environment where couples can deeply explore the nuances of their relationship, including aspects of sexuality and intimacy. Participants will learn to understand each other’s needs and navigate challenges collaboratively. The retreat emphasizes cultivating an intimate bond through what we refer to as noble communication—clear and compassionate exchanges that lay the foundation for healthy relationships. By developing these communication skills, couples can enhance their connection, leading to greater joy and a deeper sense of unity.Ketamine is utilized here as a tool to explore profound existential realms, facilitating open and loving communication about sexual and intimate needs. Sexual energy, seen as a core aspect of our being, when unblocked, enhances not only our intimacy but also our overall health and happiness. Ketamine-assisted sessions are designed to open mental, emotional, and physical channels, allowing participants to connect with these aspects in a clear, insightful, and accepting way. The retreat also integrates mindfulness and meditation, crucial for regulating emotions and thoughts and fostering the ability to face each moment with balance and grace.The program is designed to deepen personal and interpersonal connections within a group setting of like-minded couples. Structured, meaningful conversations and guided practices help explore pleasure and intimacy in this nurturing environment. No prior experience with psychedelic medicines or ketamine is required, and all participants begin with a screening call to ensure the retreat is a suitable fit.The combination of ketamine with mindfulness and meditation offers a profound journey into a more conscious and purposeful life. These practices aim to reconnect participants with themselves, enhancing safety, resilience, and vitality in their lives. With an innate capacity for presence, compassion, and recognition of joy's healing power, the retreat emphasizes safety and preparedness for all participants to engage meaningfully with the group and the experiences offered.Please note: This retreat is not a short-term residential treatment and is unsuitable for anyone experiencing an acute mental health crisis or those with severe, persistent psychiatric conditions.Steps to Join:Step 1. Fill out the initial registration form, and we will contact you for a phone or zoom screening call. This 15 minute screening call is designed to determine if this retreat is a good fit for you, to answer questions you might have, and so forth.Step 2. If the phone or Zzoom screening results in a sense that there is a good fit (mutually decided, of course) you will be asked to make a deposit of 50% of the retreat fee (not room and board).Step 3. After a successful screening you will be assigned to one of the physicians attending the retreat for a medical interview. This interview is 60 minutes. There is a $500 fee for this couples' medical interview paid directly to the medical provider. This fee includes the cost of prescribing the ketamine to you, which is done on an individual basis. This medical assessment is essential and may include our speaking with your psychotherapist or prescribing psycho-pharmacologist.Step 4. After your deposit is received, a zoom preparation session will follow with one of the group facilitators. The purpose of the preparation session is for us to get to know you better and provide education to you regarding the retreat. We will assign the session after receiving your deposit.Step 5. When the steps above are completed, you will need to reserve your room accommodations (private or semi-private room) and board (delicious vegetarian and vegan meals) via Frontdesk@MENLA.org. You will be provided a code to register.Step 6. You will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement that delineates our request that you hold the names/identities of other participants as confidential. There will also be an Informed Consent document which we ask you to read carefully and sign. This process (Informed Consent) describes risks inherent in participation in retreats such as this one. Additionally we will be requiring you to sign a standard indemnity release form, which is required by Menla's guidelines.Fees
Cost: $2150 per person (plus choice of housing), 50% deposit upon enrollment50% balance due by June 1, 2024Payment plans and limited scholarships available upon request.This fee does NOT include housing. Prices range from $250 to $400 a night including delicious vegetarian meals.- After being accepted, housing is paid directly to Menla. We will provide you with the password to register for your choice of room.Organizer/faculty contact detailsJayne Gumpel, LCSWJayne's Email AddressJayne's Phone NumberRelationship Resources LLC914 924 1509 (C)15 Pine Grove St, Woodstock, New York 12498 (O)ScheduleThursday, August 8
ABOUT THE TEACHERs
Jayne Gumpel, LCSW
Jayne Gumpel, LCSW (she/her/hers) is a psychotherapist, trainer, and teacher with 30 years of experience working with couples, individuals, and groups in New York City and Woodstock, NY. Jayne is a professional clinical trainer in Psychedelic Integration Psychotherapy, is a membe...
David Gumpel M.A
David Gumpel, Co-founder of Relationship Resources, is an Integral Master Coach and a qualified teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) through UMASS medical school. He completed his MA in Psychology at The New School for Social Research. David is the co-founder of...
Irina Linetskaya, MD
Irina is a board certified Internal Medicine physician and LGBTQ+ health and HIV specialist whose integrative medicine practice, Contemplative Medicine, focuses at the intersection of physical illness, emotional trauma, and spirituality. Irina has supplemented her rigorous medica...
Donna Sorgen, LMHC,LPC
Donna Sorgen, LMHC, LPC (she/her/hers) is a psychotherapist with over 20 years experience working with adults, children, adolescents, couples, and groups. She is the Director of the Woodstock Therapy Center and the Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Program at WTC. She is also...
Daniel Zimmerman, M.D.
Dan is a board-certified psychiatrist in private practice in New York City. Dan completed his residency at MGH/McLean in Boston, where he received the Hackett Award for academic research. He subsequently completed a public psychiatry fellowship at Bellevue Hospital. As a former...
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