Relationship Resources is a professional community dedicated to working with individuals, couples and groups with integrity, love and commitment. As a team we value and share each others unique and extensive practice and professional expertise. We value collaboration, honesty, generosity, sharing, kindness and respect for what we each bring into our programs. Together we make an extraordinary team.
Together we hold the space for participants to explore the inner landscape of their relationships and the innate intelligence and empathy that can emerge when safety and trust are restored. Ketamine, as we have experienced, is one spoke on the wheel. We introduce couples, individuals and groups to this powerful medicine with respect and recognition that integration, mindfulness and other mind manifesting non drug practices are also important change agents.
*Limited space remianing- Welcome to Cultivate 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 out 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 each other.
James Lawer M.A., MDiv, an expert in guided journeys and staff at this retreat will be teaching a process for group visioning based on non-medicine induced trance states, 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 plan that will facilitate your move towards a more attuned and creative future.
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.
Applicants 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.
Applicants 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 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.
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 is for couples. If you are committed to the practice of sharing the fullness of your being, locating and nourishing your best self, your enthusiasm and vitality, your spirit, your openness, above all, your presence~ this may be a weekend experience for you. Join us at this retreat if you have a deep desire to find and cultivate joy in this way: with yourself,with the other members of this retreat, and with the natural world.
We invite you to break old patterns and habits by discovering your own impediments to joy and well being in spite of ongoing stresses and distractions of everyday life, and by the accumulated weight of trauma, alienation and cultural forces which can impede our access to joy, pleasure, presence and connection. Ketamine assisted sessions may help you open the doors of the mind, heart and body to what lies within, however lost or disengaged you may feel from these parts of yourself. Ketamine is an effective and safe medicine that can assist you to become aware in a new, clearer way, often with reduced defensiveness and increased insight and self acceptance. Mindfulness and meditation practices are taught and practiced throughout this retreat; these 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 retreat is structured to help individuals to step into realms of deep personal and interpersonal connection in a group setting with like-minded others. Participants who have, or wish to develop skillful means to navigate non-ordinary states of consciousness and a commitment to depth psychological/embodied work in a group setting are invited to apply for this retreat. No experience with psychedelic medicines or Ketamine is necessary for admission. All applications begin with a screening call to determine if this retreat is a good fit for you.
This retreat uses ketamine as a portal to enter into the depths of our being to allow for a safe and loving exploration of the sexuality and intimacy needs and experiences in your relationship and with your partner. Sexual energy is the basic energy of the being; when it is impeded we are unable to reach our full potential. When sexual energy flows, life flows, affecting not only our sexuality but our health and happiness.
Carmen Maria Machado: “I believe in a world where impossible things happen. Where love can outstrip brutality, can neutralize it, as though it never was, or transform it into something new and more beautiful. When love can outdo nature.” (from “Mothers” in Her Body and Other Parties, 2017)
Combining Ketamine with mindfulness and meditative practices offers a deep dive into a more conscious and purposeful life. These guided practices are designed to bring you home to yourself and to bring safety, resilience and aliveness into your life experience. Regardless of what is unfolding moment to moment, we each have an innate capacity and inner wisdom to choose to be present, to practice compassion and kindness with ourselves and recognize the healing power of pleasure and joy in our lives.
As noted, participation in this retreat begins with an initial screening interview (conducted by Jayne Gumpel), followed by a more extensive conversation and application process.
Safety is a core priority, including the exploration of what safety means for each individual. We strive to be certain that every individual attending has the readiness to be in a group setting and to experience Ketamine in a safe and constructive manner. Please note: this retreat is not a brief residential treatment retreat. It is not meant for anyone suffering from an acute mental health crisis, nor is it for those with severe and persistent psychiatric conditions.
Steps to join:
Step 1. Fill out the initial registration form and we will contact you for the 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 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 (not room and board).
Step 3. After a successful screening you will be assigned to one of the physicians on the Cultivating Joy staff for a medical interview. This interview is generally 60 minutes. There is a $500 fee for this medical interview paid directly to the prescriber. 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 psychopharmacologist. Following this, you will be given a prescription for ketamine which you pick up from your personal pharmacy, and then will bring the medicine to the retreat. Alternatively, you can request the prescription to a pharmacy in Kingston and the staff (with your permission given to the pharmacist) can pick it up from the pharmacy we use in Kingston, New York. If for any reason the physician who conducts your medical interview does not recommend this retreat for you your deposit will be refunded in full.
Step 4. After this payment is received, a zoom preparation session will follow, with one of the group leaders. 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) at Frontdesk@MENLA.org. Commuter participation is not an option for this retreat unless it is an air b n b within a mile of MENLA, as driving after ketamine sessions is prohibited and we are in session late into the night.
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 the Menla Retreat guidelines.
Seema is a board certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist with a clinical interest in the intersection of spirituality and psychiatry. She integrates principles of mindfulness into her work with patients and teaches on topics of mindfulness and mental health.
For the past 10 years she has served as assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine and at the NYU World Trade Center Health Program treating first responders who suffer from mental health conditions related to events of 9/11.
Seema has experience in leading mindfulness-based skills groups for stress reduction and wellness. She co-edited a book published by the American Psychiatric Association titled "Becoming Mindful: Integrating Mindfulness into your Psychiatric Practice" She has been a study therapist in research examining the effects of psilocybin on depression and existential anxiety related to end-stage cancer diagnosis.
She is currently a study therapist in a MAPS trial examining the effects of MDMA assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD. Seema offers psychopharmacology treatment and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in her private practice.
Seema is a member of the Woodstock Therapy Center.
Dee Dee 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 Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Team.
Dee Dee has written and presented widely on the topic of psychedelics and sexuality, queer identity, trauma, spiritual practice, and pleasure.
They have presented at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy, The Alt Sex Conference Speaker’s Series, The Center for Optimal Living, and have forthcoming publications on psychedelics and sexuality in the journal Sexual and Relationship Therapy and the Queering Psychedelics book.
Dee Dee is the Community Support and Integration Director of the Hudson Valley Psychedelic Society and has a clinical training background in Sex Therapy, EMDR, Internal Family Systems Therapy, and psychodynamic psychotherapy.
They are an artist and musician, and have additional training in shamanic healing and bioregional herbal medicine. Dee Dee’s approach to psychotherapy embraces body and sex positivity and spiritual growth as tools for self-actualization.
David Gumpel is co founder of Relationship Resources. He 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 (www.accessmindfulness.org) a 501c3 that brings mindfulness programs to schools and youth services organizations.
Currently David was a study coordinator for the MAPS sponsored MDMA-Assisted Therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder study in New York City.
As a coach, David teaches mindfulness to clients in private practice and to groups in corporate settings. At Fluence, David provides Mentoring and teaches MBSR courses for Certificate Program Participants. Find him online at ebcpathways.com.
Jayne is the founder of Relationship Resources LLC. Jayne 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 member of the Woodstock Therapy Center’s Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) team, and has completed MDMA-assisted psychotherapy training through the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).
Jayne describes meditation as a core life practice, is a teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and she includes mindfulness practice as a foundation of her work with clients.
She is additionally trained in Imago Relationship Therapy and Gestalt Psychotherapy. Jayne is a co-founder of accessmindfulness.org, a 501c3, along with her son David. Her passion is supporting clients on their journey towards inner wisdom and healing from trauma to have more rich and satisfying lives and relationships.
Jeffrey Guss is a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and researcher with specializations in psychoanalytic therapy, addictions and psychedelic therapy. He was Co-Principal Investigator and Director of Psychedelic Therapy Training for the NYU School of Medicine’s study on psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of cancer related existential distress, and is currently is a study therapist on studies of Psilocybin-Assisted treatment of Major Depressive Disorder and MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD. Dr. Guss is interested in the integration of psychedelic therapies with contemporary psychoanalytic theory and has published in Studies in Gender and Sexuality and Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society. He co-authored a paper on the influence of therapists’ first hand experience with psychedelics on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy research and is an Instructor and Mentor with the California Institute of Integral Studies’ Center for Psychedelic Therapies. He maintains a private practice in New York City.
Chief Medical Officer & Co-Founder, Nushama
Dr. Radowitz is a leading doctor in the emerging field of psychedelic medicine and has a wealth of experience seeing the effects trauma can have on our physical health firsthand. He joined Nushama to oversee and develop treatment modalities, believing psychedelics are the future of mental wellness as current solutions treat symptoms, not underlying issues. He and the Nushama team have administered thousands of journeys for mood disorders and are known to be best-in-class and among the most experienced globally.
Prior, Dr. Radowitz ran the primary care program at Goldman Sachs and practiced internal medicine and primary care since 1998. Originally from Montreal, he completed his M.D. at Chicago Medical School. He worked at St. Vincent’s in general medicine and HIV/AIDS units and was Medical Director of the inpatient alcohol and opiate detox and treatment unit.
Dr. Radowitz’s focus is preventive medicine, getting to disease’s source before it manifests as “dis-ease,” a misalignment of mind, body, and spirit. He believes psychedelics are a powerful tool to discover the origin of imbalance. On a spiritual journey with Kabbalah, he also studies meditation and yoga.
Sylvia Rosenfeld LCSW is an Imago trained, AASECT certified Sex Therapist, with more than 40 years of experience working with couples and individuals who want to enhance their sexual and emotional connection.
Her passion with her clients and in her own life is to cultivate mutually satisfying and deeply loving relationships.
Sylvia is currently participating in the Fluence ketamine assisted psychotherapy certificate program
Donna 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 the Director of a new Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Certificate program. Donna has spent her career working with diverse clients in multiple settings.
Donna’s current private practice includes KAP, Psychotherapy, and Psychedelic Integration Psychotherapy. In addition to KAP training Donna has completed training in MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD through the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Donna has a background in the creative arts.
She was a sushi chef, caterer, and enjoys painting and gardening. Donna is inspired in her work as a psychotherapist to help us move toward individual and collective transformation.
Matthias 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 Woodstock Therapy Center. Matthias became inspired to do psychedelic psychotherapy work after experiencing indigenous medicine ceremonies in Peru with the Shipibo people.
Since then he has deepened his knowledge of shamanic practices with training at The Four Winds Academy. Matthias feels passionately about couples work, particularly using ketamine as a tool for building trust and intimacy. He has recently became a student in sound healing.
He has been married 32 years and has raised two children with his wife Susan. They have lived in the Hudson Valley since 1999 after training as a rural physician in the Scottish Highlands. Matthias is a practicing student of yoga and meditation who has completed Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. He enjoys trail running with his two German Shepherds.