Cultivating Joy: An Experiential AEDP®, Ketamine and Mindfulness Retreat

Join us for a four-day retreat guided by an exceptional team of facilitators: Diana Fosha PhD, Mark Green MD, Jayne Gumpel LCSW, David Gumpel MA, and Lisa Wang MD. Together, we’ll explore ketamine-assisted AEDP, and mindfulness.

This immersive experiential retreat is for professionals seeking deep healing, renewal, and transformation through the integration of AEDP in combination with ketamine-assisted work. First and foremost, this is an experiential participant retreat; secondarily, it is a unique training opportunity. Experiential participation offers valuable learning experiences.

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

What is AEDP?

Developed by Diana Fosha, PhD, AEDP is an evidence-based healing-centered, relational experiential therapy that integrates affective neurobiology, attachment theory and transformational approaches to support deep emotional processing and transformation. AEDP is based on the understanding that healing happens when emotions and memories are processed to completion in a safe, attuned relationship. A hallmark contribution of AEDP – metatherapeutic processing – deepens and consolidates these transformations, rescuing and strengthening the authentic core self and prompting integration.

Grounded in the latest neuroscience research, AEDP harnesses positive neuroplasticity the brain’s ability to rewire itself through experience. The therapy focuses on undoing aloneness, activating core affect, and harnessing positive neuroplasticity to rework painful emotional states into experiences of safety, connection, and integration. The four-state model of AEDP maps out the process of emotional transformation:

1. Accessing our Wired-in Capacity for Healing and Self Righting, and thus navigating through defense & resistance that protect against emotional pain.
2. Accessing and Experientially Processing Core Emotions and Relational Experiences: Tapping into deep feelings stored in the body and brain to experientially process them and bring forth corrective relational experiences.
3. Facilitating Transformational Processing: supporting the experience of healing and transformation and allowing healing waves of emotion and insight that integrate the new learning.
4. Supporting the Emergence and Consolidation of the Authentic Self: A deep sense of joy, connection, and wholeness.

These psychological, spiritual and neurobiological processes are facilitated and enhanced by ketamine which in a therapeutic setting reduces anxiety and resistance and can provide novel perspective, resolution of trauma and experience of release into the mystery of being and connection. Through opening of critical periods, ketamine enhances openness and learning.

What You’ll Experience:

• AEDP-Informed Healing: Learn to tap into the innate capacity for transformation, embracing emotions as pathways to deeper connection and vitality.
• Ketamine Sessions: Three sessions with SL Ketamine. Supported by experienced facilitators, participants explore expanded states of consciousness, uncovering insights, and releasing barriers to joy.
• Mindfulness & Somatic Awareness: Develop present-moment awareness, learning to attune to your body, heart, and mind with compassion and curiosity.
• Relational Practices: Engage in guided dialogues and practices to co-regulate, connect, and deepen emotional resilience and authentic self-experience
• Community & Reflection: Share space with like-minded professionals, exploring how to integrate these transformative experiences into your personal and professional life.
• The Neuroscience of Joy and Transformation

AEDP, ketamine, and mindfulness all work by engaging positive neuroplasticity—our brain’s ability to reorganize itself in response to new experiences. Research shows that deep emotional connection, safety, and presence can shift implicit memories stored in the nervous system, creating new pathways for resilience and joy.

Who is This For?

This retreat is open to AEDP-trained clinicians (immersion + ES1 or individual supervision), and other helping professionals who want to experience their own deep healing while cultivating tools to bring back to their work.

Come As You Are

Joy is your birthright—not a luxury, but a way of being that can be reclaimed. Come sit with us, breathe, and rediscover the aliveness, awe, and tenderness that have always been within you.

Safety is our top priority, and we take great care in the enrollment process. Each participant is carefully screened to ensure they are prepared for a group setting and can experience ketamine safely and constructively. This retreat is not a residential treatment setting and is not intended for individuals experiencing an acute mental health crisis or those with chronic and untreated 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: $2500 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) which are booked after acceptance with Menla.

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)

Total Cost: $3725 to $4175

Tuition Refund Policy 

All deposits are non refundable unless you cancel 60 days prior to 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 prior to 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.

Organizer/faculty contact details
Jayne Gumpel, LCSW

jayne@relationshipresources.info

914.924.1509 (cell)

Relationship Resources LLC

Online on Zoom
Individual Inquiry Call

Each participant will have a one-on-one call with a faculty member to ensure alignment with the retreat’s goals and readiness for the experience.

Group Zoom Preparation Meetings

Engage in group preparation sessions designed to set the foundation for a meaningful retreat experience.

Specialty Offerings from Lead Faculty

Learn from our lead faculty’s expertise in working with grief and loss. These sessions provide unique insights into navigating these profound human experiences, integrating professional and personal perspectives to foster healing and growth.

Post-Retreat Integration and Learning

• Post-retreat cohort meetings on Zoom to support continued integration and application of retreat material.
• Ongoing peer support: We encourage and facilitate a no-fee peer group to continue fostering connection and learning after the retreat.

Schedule

Thursday, October 23

• 3 pm Room Check-in *Optional early arrival to schedule spa treatment
• 4 pm Check-in starts
• 6 – 7 pm Dinner
• 7 – 9 pm Evening Program

Friday, October 24

• 7:15 am Meditation and Yoga (optional)
• 8 am Check-in & Opening Program *no breakfast
• 9:30 am Meeting the Medicine
• 10 – 12 pm 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, October 26

• 7:15 am Meditation and Yoga (optional)
• 8:30 am Morning Program *no breakfast
• 10 am – 12 pm 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 Night Activity

Sunday, October 27

• 7:15 am Meditation and Yoga (optional).
• 8 am *Check out of rooms
• 9 am Ketamine Session (optional)
• 11 am Group Process
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
• 2 pm Group Activity
• 3 pm End of program & Departure

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