Cultivating Joy: a Ketamine-assisted Therapy Retreat for Individuals

Days

Hours

Mins

Cultivating Joy: a Ketamine-assisted Therapy Retreat for Individuals

June 08 - June 11, 2023

Welcome to Cultivate Joy ~ A Ketamine Assisted and Mindfulness Retreat for Inspired Individuals looking to Cultivate Joy in everyday life.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~Participation in this retreat begins with an application to attendThis retreat is for individuals. If you are committed to the practice of sharing the fullness of your being, locating your best self, your enthusiasm & vitality, your spirit, your trust, your openness, above all, your presence~ this may be a weekend experience for you. Join this retreat if you have a deep desire to share yourself in this way, with yourself,with the other members of this retreat, with your family and friends, and with the world.We invite you to break old patterns and habits and cultivate space for joy and well being, even in the midst of all the ongoing stresses and distractions of everyday life. Ketamine assisted sessions may be helpful in the doors of the mind and heart to what lies within you, however lost or disengaged you may feel. Ketamine is a powerful medicine that assists in seeing things in a new, clearer way, often in non-defensive and insightful ways. Mindfulness and meditation practices, taught and practiced throughout this retreat, are skills we need for improved self regulation of emotions and thoughts, and can support the ability to meet each moment with equanimity and grace.The structure of the retreat is designed for individuals who are ready to step into realms of deep connection and personal development within a group setting. Participants who have skillful means to navigate non-ordinary states of consciousness and the capacity for depth work in a group setting are invited to apply for this retreat. No experience with psychedelic medicines, or ketamine, is necessary for admission; we ask all applicants, though, to begin with a screening call to determine if this retreat is a good fit for you.James Lawer, an expert in guided journeys and core faculty with the Cultivating Joy project will be teaching a process for group visioning based on non-medicine induced trance state induction,, a group process towards connection and community through shared experience. Personal growth, life planning and creativity are central to the focus of this retreat; we hope that you will leave with an empowered narrative and action plans that will facilitate your move towards a more attuned and creative future.Viktor Frankl says when we are no longer able to change a situation we are challenged to change ourselves. This retreat pays attention to that and offers a deep and effective program for individuals with self awareness and the discipline to participate with vulnerability and curiosity.Combining ketamine with mindfulness and meditative practices is a jump start to a more conscious and purposeful life. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a world renowned author and speaker, and my meditation and mindfulness teacher, likes to say “there is more right with you than wrong with you”. Retreat guided practices bring you home to yourself. Regardless of what is unfolding moment to moment, we each have the innate capacity and inner wisdom to choose to be present and to practice compassion and kindness with ourselves and with each other.NEXT STEPS: We take great care in the enrollment process. Safety is our number 1 priority and making sure every individual that attends has the capacity to be in a group setting and to experience ketamine. This retreat is not a residential treatment setting and is not meant for people suffering from acute illness.‍Steps to join:Step 1. Screening: Every participant will have a screening call to determine if this is the right retreat for you. You will be asked to fill out the registration forms.Step 1.5 If the screening call shows there is a good fit, there will be a full intake session with one of the group leaders to get to know you better and provide education about the retreat.Step 2. Following that, you will be assigned to a medical doctor on staff for a one hour medical interview. This is essential and may involve speaking with your psychotherapist or prescribing psychopharmacologist. Following this, you will be approved the prescription for the ketamine lozenges, which you will bring to the retreat.Step 3. You will be assigned to a therapist who will facilitate a zoom preparatory session with you. The medical interview and the therapist session/s are included in the tuition. The therapist interview will last about an hour. This session is an important part of the process and introduces you to the retreat in detail. In addition your prep therapist will be sitting with you during the dosings. It is possible that this session will result in a decision that the retreat is not a good fit. In addition to the ketamine assisted exploration sessions, there wil be Rhythmic Trance Induction sessions (James Lawer), nature walks, bonfire ceremonies and optional yoga/movement sessions.Step 4. When all of the above are completed, you’ll be invited to reserve your room and accommodations (private or semi-private room and delicious vegetarian meals) at MENLA.org.Step 5. You will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement that addresses 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. Additionally we will be requiring you to sign a standard release form.Step 6. Arrive! Check in by 4 PM Thursday June 8th!This retreat utilizes a powerful healing medicine, ketamine, in supervised, guided sessions.

How to Apply

Complete application and schedule your screening call to determine if this is the right retreat for you.

Cost: $1650 per person (plus choice of housing), 50% deposit upon enrollment

50% balance due by May 1, 2023This includes:

*Screening call 20 minutes

*Preparatory zoom pre retreat on zoom for every person

*Post retreat zoom in group format

*retreat materialsThis fee does NOT include housing and meals.-Housing to be paid by participants directly to MENLAMedical Intake: If it's a good fit you will be assigned to a medical doctor on staff for a medical interview.Cost: $400

Organizer/faculty contact info

Jayne Gumpel, LCSWJayne's Email AddressJayne's Phone NumberRelationship Resources LLCwww.relationshipresources.info914 924 1509 (C)15 Pine Grove St, Woodstock, New York 12498 (O)

ScheduleThursday, June 8

3 pm Room check-in Begins - Optional early arrival to schedule spa treatment

4 - 6 pm Check-in starts

6 - 7 pm Dinner

7 - 8:30 pm Evening Program

Friday, June 9

7:15 am Meditation and Yoga (optional)

8 am Check-in & Opening Program *no breakfast

9:30 am Meeting the Medicine

10:00 am Ketamine Session

12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch.

1:30 - 3:30 pm BREAK (book a massage or spa treatment!).

3:30 - 5:30 pm Afternoon Program

6 - 7 pm Dinner.

7 pm Evening Workshop

9 pm Bonfire (weather permitting)

Saturday, June 10

7:15 am Meditation and Yoga (optional).

8:30 am Morning Program - *no breakfast.

10 am Ketamine Session

12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch.

1:30 - 3:30 pm BREAK (book a massage or spa treatment!).

3:30 - 5:30 pm Afternoon Program

6 - 7 pm Dinner

7 pm Evening Workshop

9 pm Night Activity

Sunday, June 11

7 - 11 am Check-out of Rooms for Sunday Departure Guests

7:15 am Meditation and Yoga (optional).

8:30 am Morning Program

9:30 am Ketamine Session (optional)

11 am Group Process

12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch

1 pm Closing Group Process

3 pm End of Program

6 pm Dinner *optional and participants can choose to stay Sunday night to enjoy Monday spa day - This night is not included in listed rates to book please reach out to frontdesk@menla.org or 845 688 6897 ext 101. Dinner is only available to guests staying over Sunday April 30th.

Monday, May 1st (Optional) - This night is not included in listed rates to book please reach out to frontdesk@menla.org or 845 688 6897 ext 101.

7 - 11 am Checkout of Rooms

Menla Spa Day

*Please note schedule is subject to change

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...

James Lawer

James Lawer has graduate degrees in theatre and divinity. He studied with and was initiated into tribal traditions in North, Central and South America as well as the indigenous (Druid) traditions of Great Britain. He was an ordained Christian minister serving congregations until ...

Jeffrey Guss, MD

Lead Trainer, Fluence Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine Jeffrey Guss, MD is a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, researcher and teacher with specializations in psychoanalytic therapy and psychedelic therapy. He was Co-Principal Investigator and Director...

David Gumpel M.A

David Gumpel is an Integral Master Coach and a qualified teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) through UMASS medical school. David is the co-founder of Access Mindfulness and a study coordinator for the MAPS sponsored MDMA-Assisted Therapy for the treatment of post...

Dee Dee Goldpaugh, LCSW

Dee Dee Goldpaugh, LCSW (they/them/theirs) is a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor in private practice specializing in sex and relationship therapy, trauma, spirituality, and Psychedelic Integration Psychotherapy. They are also a member of the Woodstock Therapy Center Ketami...

Matthias von Reusner, MD

Matthias von Reusner, MD (he/him/his) is a board-certified Family Physician with an active practice in the Hudson Valley. Matthias received training in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy at the prestigious Ketamine Training Institute and is a team member of the KAP team at the Woods...

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...