Cultivating Joy: A Ketamine-assisted Mindfulness Retreat

This is a safe, structured retreat led by a staff of licensed and experienced therapists and physicians in the beautiful Catskill Mountains at MENLA Retreat and Spa.

Join us for a safe, structured, and deeply nourishing four-day retreat at the intersection of science and spirituality, held in the serene beauty of the Catskill Mountains at Menla Retreat and Spa. This experience is guided by an exceptional team of licensed and experienced therapists and physicians and also serves as a practicum for the Emerging Leaders Program Cohort 2.

Together, we explore the profound landscape of the human experience.

This retreat is open to individuals from all walks of life, whether you arrive with a personal intention, a professional lens, or simple curiosity. All levels of experience are welcome. If you feel called to explore the fullness of your being, your vitality, spirit, trust, openness, and above all, your presence, this may be a transformative weekend for you.

You are invited to come if you carry a deep desire to touch into the heart of grief and loss, and equally, into love and joy within yourself, in connection with others, and in relationship with the wider world.

The structure of the retreat is designed for those ready to deepen their personal growth within a supportive group setting. As human beings with the innate capacity both to heal and to be healers, we will slow down together. We will gently move beneath our defenses and reconnect with emotions we may have set aside in order to survive. In doing so, we rediscover pathways toward self-care, connection, and flourishing.

Ketamine is offered as an optional component across three sessions. When chosen, it can support this process by softening defenses and reducing anxiety, allowing access to stillness, insight, and love. It can open the mind and heart to what lives within, especially in places that may feel distant or forgotten. Many participants experience increased clarity, compassion, and a non-defensive perspective that supports meaningful transformation.

At the heart of this retreat are guided practices, poetry, movement, and skillful, compassionate facilitation. These elements support a return to your own inner intelligence. No matter what arises moment to moment, we each hold an inherent capacity for presence, kindness, and compassion toward ourselves and one another.

As we attune to our shared humanity, something powerful unfolds: the group itself becomes the medicine.

The Cultivating JOY model is emerging as a transformative approach to group work, integrating evidence-based mindfulness practices with experiential and relational healing. This retreat offers a powerful opportunity to reconnect with what matters most and to step more fully into a conscious and purposeful life.

As Jon Kabat-Zinn reminds us:

“There is more right with you than wrong with you.”

Safety is our highest priority. Each participant is carefully screened to ensure readiness for the group experience and the safe, appropriate use of ketamine if chosen. This retreat is not a residential treatment program and is not appropriate for individuals experiencing an acute mental health crisis or unmanaged chronic psychiatric conditions.

‍Steps to join:

Step 1: Fill out the initial application to attend this retreat. After we receive that, the next step will be to conduct a screening call over Zoom with our Co-Founder and Lead Facilitator, Jayne Gumpel, LCSW (the confirmation email will include instructions on how to book this).

Step 2: If the phone or Zoom 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 (please note, this does not include the cost of housing).

Step 3: After paying the deposit to confirm your enrollment, you will receive an email with detailed instructions for all your next steps, including scheduling a medical screening appointment, booking housing at Menla Retreat Center, and choosing your Pre-Retreat Preparation Group Video Call with other retreat participants. You’ll also receive a login to our Customer Portal, where you’ll find all this information and more in one place, to help you prepare for the retreat.

All Fees & Expenses:

Relationship Resources Cost: $2100 per person (plus choice of housing), 50% deposit upon enrollment. 50% balance due to confirm registration.

Partial Scholarships are available, please let us know during screening and we will do our best to make this program accessible.

PLEASE NOTE: This cost does not include the cost of housing or the medical screening, which are paid separately (see details below)

Housing & Meals Cost ($750 ~ $1200)

Room prices range from $250 to $380 a night including delicious vegetarian meals. After being accepted, housing costs will be paid directly to Menla with instructions provided.

Medical Intake Costs

Medical Intake: Fee to be paid to medical provider $400. A payment link will be provided to pay your assigned medical provider.

Medication Cost: Paid direct to Pharmacy (~$75)



Refund Policy:

All deposits are non refundable unless you cancel 60 days before the retreat. There will be a $500 fee deducted from the deposit if you cancel at any time after the deposit is paid. Please be sure you intend to join this retreat! Once the balance is paid (due 45 days before the retreat) the fees are non refundable and a partial credit can be assessed to a future retreat. We appreciate your understanding. Many many steps go into creating this experience for you.



Schedule:

Thursday, October 22

3 - 6 pm Check-in starts
4 pm Medical Intake
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:15 - 9 pm Evening Program: Welcome, Opening poem, Safety & intentions, AEDP & medicine overview, Brave Agreements
9 pm Full group share, Closing meditation, Reminders: no breakfast, hold liquids

Friday, October 23

7:45 - 8:30 am Morning movement & meditation
8:30 - 9 am Body-centered meditation, Neighbor share, AEDP & journeying
9 - 9:30 am Meet the Medicine - calibration dose introduction
9: 30 - 10 am Zofran, bathroom break, pill cutters
10 am - 12:30 pm First ketamine dose - mats in silence, guided meditation, music
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3:30 pm BREAK (book a massage or spa treatment!)
3:15 - 4 pm Full circle
4 - 5:30 pm Small group integration (4 groups, rotating)
5:30 - 6 pm Whole group return, Quote Bowl
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:15 - 9 pm Evening Program - experiential AEDP

Saturday, October 24

7:45 - 8:30 am Morning movement & meditation
8:30 - 10 am AEDP lesson
10 am - 12 pm Second ketamine dose
12 - 12:30 pm Gentle close of medicine session
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3:30 pm BREAK (book a massage or spa treatment!)
3:15 - 3:30 pm Full circle, Take Your Seat
3:30 - 5:30 pm Small group integration
5:30 - 6 pm Large group integration
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:15 - 9 pm Evening Program - experiential AEDP, Open share, Quote Bowl
9 - 10 pm Dance Party - closing evening celebration

Sunday, October 25

8:15 - 9 am Take Your Seat, extended meditation, Whole group integration
9 - 11 am Third ketamine dose
11 am - 12:30 pm Brunch
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch
12:30 - 2 pm Small group integration
2 - 3 pm Closing Celebration
3 pm Farewells

*Please note that this schedule is subject to change at any time.