TRAUMA-INFORMED AYAHUASCA RETREAT
A compassionate approach to healing:
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE TRAUMA-INFORMED
We unerstand that everyone has experienced trauma at some point in their life. We've lived through traumas, both big and small, and know all too well how these silent wounds manifest in everyday life and how working with a powerful plant medicine like ayahuasca requires extra consideration and a delicate approach.
Life traumas shape our worldview. Traumas influence the way we cope with pain/discomfort, they shape our defense mechanisms, and they impact the way we interact with the world from a subtle to grand scale. At New Life Rising, we do not take lightly the responsibility that comes with holding space for healing. We have embodied an intuitive trauma-informed approach since day one and have guided thousands of beautiful souls through their ayahuasca journey.
When we started this work back in 2014, there wasn't yet a term like 'trauma-informed' to describe the respectful and gentle way we hold participants in grounding presence through the ayahuasca healing experience. The term 'trauma-informed' exploded onto the wellness scene around 2020 during and after the COVID lockdowns, a time marked by widespread isolation, grief, and collective trauma. That global experience transformed the way wellness communities and professionals approached trauma, mental health, and healing. From there, 'trauma-informed' became a trending buzzword used in marketing for trust signaling, and these days, just about every wellness influencer, coach, and retreat claims to have a 'trauma-informed' approach. This means it's crucial to identify what is marketing jargon and what comes from an authentic place of compassion and a genuine understanding of how to collaborate with people who have experienced trauma.
The trauma-informed approach is inspired by the works of Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps the Score), Dr. Peter Levine (In an Unspoken Voice & Somatic Experiencing), Dr. Stephen Porges (Polyvagal Theory), Dr. Gabor Maté (The Myth of Normal), and Dr. Richard Schwartz (Internal Family Systems and No Bad Parts). These visionaries had a unique philosophy that utilized a bottom-up approach to trauma healing that challenged the conventional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy models that were most widely used through the 1990s. They provided the methodology for therapeutic professionals to employ these theories into healing spaces ranging from yoga classes to psychiatric offices. After decades of application, there is no denying the results that come from a trauma-informed and somatic approach.
Still, it's important to be discerning as the term 'trauma-informed' is increasingly used as a form of spiritual virtue signaling. More so, while taking a trauma-informed class or certification course can certainly help lay out the framework to better understand trauma, its nuances, and how to interact in a healing space with those who have experienced trauma, ultimately, you can't learn compassion from a course. You can't learn how to have a nurturing, attuned, and grounded energy from a lecture. These are things that come not just from an internal place of compassion but from lived experience.
So let’s explore what it truly means to be a trauma-informed ayahuasca retreat as we look at some of the most common questions related to trauma itself, what it is, and how it shapes our lives.
Sarah Cutler
"Matt and Jeane are so incredibly loving and skilled with the ceremonies that I felt safe and able to explore whatever grandmother ayahuasca had in store for me.”
THE PILLARS OF A TRAUMA-INFORMED AYAHUASCA RETREAT
Safety
Feeling safe means knowing you have been considered in every detail, and that care is taken in each situation to maintain clear boundaries and ensure your needs are respected every step of the way. Our commitment to safety begins with the very first phone call, including a medical assessment and a conversation to better understand why you are drawn to ayahuasca. That same care continues at the retreat through our small groups and family-like atmosphere.
Presence
We listen with our hearts. Throughout your retreat experience, during ceremonies, integration circles, and one-on-one conversations, we are available to you with a grounded, compassionate presence. We’re here to witness your journey without judgment. We won’t attempt to reframe your trauma or offer solutions to your life circumstances. Instead, we hold space for you to look inward and uncover your own answers through deep, soulful exploration.
Empowerment
You always have a choice. We let you set the pace and engange with activities you connect with while passing on those you dont. There is never any obligation to participate in any activity, including the ceremonies themselves. We are not here to be saviors, we are here to walk the path alongside you in a collaberative effort, offering tools of support along the way. Our goal is to help you embrace the healer within, find your own strength and emopower you to embrace your full potential.
Integration
From group sharing cricles to 1:1 sessions, we do all we can to help you maximuze the benefits of the ayahuasca experiene while making sure you feel supported well after the retreat is over. We provide a variety of tools, resources and suggestions to help you self-navigate your integration journey while also offering 1:1 follow-up sessions for a more personal approach. We make sure every guest knows they have a family and community to turn to.
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What is your booking policy?First, take a look at our schedule and see which retreat dates work best for you. From there, reach out to schedule a medical screening. Once approved, we will provide you all the booking instructions. A 50% deposit is required to reserve your spot.
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What is your cancellation policy?If you cancel more than 60 days from the retreat start date, then your deposit is eligible for a full refund minus processing fees. If you cancel between 30 – 60 days, the deposit is nonrefundable but can be transferred toward a future retreat within 1 year subject to availability. If you cancel less than 30 days from the start date of the retreat your deposit will be forfeited.
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Where is your refund policy?There will be a 10% fee for all cancellations and refunds to cover processing fees. Once the retreat has started no refunds will be issued.