Cultivating Joy: A Ketamine-assisted Mindfulness Retreat

4.502 reviews
Location icon
375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
Date
October 24 - 27, 2024

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

Welcome to Cultivating Joy: a Ketamine-Assisted 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 attend

This 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 fellow retreat members, with your family, 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 opening the doors of the mind and heart to what lies within, however lost or disengaged you may feel from this part of yourself. Ketamine is a powerful medicine that can assist you 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. All applicants will be interview by phone to determine if this retreat is a good fit.

Combining ketamine with mindfulness and meditation practices can be a jump start to a more conscious and purposeful life. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a world renowned author, speaker, and mindfulness teacher, likes to say “there is more right with you, than wrong with you”. At our retreats we use guided practices to bring individuals home to their inner intelligence. 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 one another.

We take great care in the enrollment process. Safety is our top priority while making sure every individual that will attend has the capacity to be in a group setting and to experience Ketamine in a safe and constructive manner. This retreat is not a residential treatment setting and is not meant for people suffering from an acute mental health crises, and it is not for those with chronic and persistent psychiatric conditions.

‍Steps to join:

Step 1: Apply to the retreat.

You will have a screening call to determine if this is the right retreat for you. You will be asked to fill out the application form before the interview. If the screening call determines that the retreat is appropriate, you will be invited to attend and provided a payment link to make a deposit. Instructions for reserving housing with Menla will also be shared.

Step 2: Complete the medical interview.

You will be assigned to a medical doctor on staff for a medical interview. This is essential and may involve speaking with your psychotherapist or prescribing medical professional. Following this, you may be approved for the prescription of ketamine lozenges.

Step 3: Preparation with retreat staff.

You will be assigned to a staff member for a 60 minute group preparation session on Zoom. The preparation session is included in the tuition. This meeting is an important part of the process and introduces you to the retreat in detail. The staff member assigned for this session will be sitting with you during the medicine dosings. It is possible that this session will result in a decision that the retreat is not a good fit.

Step 4: Complete retreat documentation.

You will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement that addresses our request to hold the names/identities of other participants as confidential. We also provide an informed consent document which we will ask you to read carefully and sign.

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

Cost: $2150 per person (plus choice of housing), 50% deposit upon enrollment.

50% balance due when registering.

This fee does NOT include housing. Individual or shared (on request) accommodations available.

Prices range from $250 to $380 a night including delicious vegetarian meals.

After being accepted, housing to be paid directly to Menla with password provided.

Medical Intake: Fee to be paid to medical provider $400 (this includes the Rx)

Organizer/faculty contact details

Jayne Gumpel, LCSW

Jayne's Email Address

Jayne's Phone Number

Relationship Resources LLC

914 924 1509 (C)

15 Pine Grove St, Woodstock, New York 12498 (O)



Schedule

Thursday, October 24

Optional early arrival to schedule spa treatment
3 - 6 pm Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7 - 9 pm Evening Program

Friday, October 25

7:15 am Meditation and Yoga (optional)
8 am Check-in & Opening Program *NO BREAKFAST
9:30 am Meeting the Medicine
10 am Ketamine Session
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3:30 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, October 26

7:15 am Meditation and Yoga (optional)
8 am Check-in & Opening Program *NO BREAKFAST
9:30 am Meeting the Medicine
10 am Ketamine Session
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3:30 BREAK (Book a Massage or Spa Treatment!).
3:30 - 5:30 pm Afternoon Program
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7 pm Evening Workshop
9 pm Evening Activity

Sunday, October 27

7 - 11 am Check-out of Room
7:15 am Meditation and Yoga (optional)
8 - 9 am Breakfast For Those Not Dosing
9 am Ketamine Session (optional)
11 am Group Process
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
2 Group Activity
3 pm End of program (optional stay Sunday night)

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

Getting Here

Location icon Menla, 375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States

Accommodation

Deluxe Queen

Accommodation
Deluxe Queen Room with Queen Bed and Private Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning All Rooms in Lhasa are Handicap-Accessible, Including Four Rooms with Wheelchair Accessible Showers. Deluxe Queen Rooms are Available in Lhasa Inn and Kathmandu House * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations

Deluxe Double (Shared Room)

Accommodation
Deluxe Double Room with Two Full Size Beds and Private Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning All Rooms in Lhasa are Handicap-Accessible, Including Four Rooms with Wheelchair Accessible Showers. Deluxe Double Rooms with Private Bathrooms are Located in the Lhasa Inn * Please note rates include meals and accommodations. This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One.

Standard Single - Shared Bath

Accommodation
Menla Private Queen Room with Queen Bed and Shared Bathroom Public Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available This lodging type is not ADA Compliant Private Queen Rooms with Shared Bathroom are Available in Thimpu House, Panther Cottage and Potala House * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations

Standard Double Full - Shared bath (Shared Room)

Accommodation
Deluxe Double Room with Two Full Beds and Shared Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning This lodging type is not ADA Compliant. Please note that due to the stairs we recommend that guests with mobility issues book other accommodations. Deluxe Double Rooms with Shared Bathrooms are Located in Thimphu * Please note rates include meals and accommodations. This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One.

Standard Double Twin - Shared bath (Shared Room)

Accommodation
Deluxe Double Room with Two Full Beds and Shared Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning This lodging type is not ADA Compliant. Please note that due to the stairs we recommend that guests with mobility issues book other accommodations. Deluxe Double Rooms with Shared Bathrooms are Located in Thimphu * Please note rates include meals and accommodations. This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One.

Customer Reviews

4.50 out of 5.0 average rating

4.0
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Weekend retreat stay
The property is on a beautiful, peaceful location.
Nature is all around and sometimes a little too close but you are literally surrounded by woods.

The food was really good and I liked the buffet style and fruit basket.

The gift shop although small had a nice selection of items and I purchased a few fun items.

Since the dining area was on the opposite side of the site from the convention center, a lot of students drove back and forth on the property. I chose the walking paths to get around.  


5.0
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Lovely
I had a fascinating and enlightening experience during an “Energy squared Reiki,” class at Menlo this past week. The grounds, rooms, facilities amenities and spa at Menla were all beautiful, clean, and peaceful. The food was delicious and nourishing. I can say only good things about both Menla and the program I attended, and would wholeheartedly recommend both.

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