ABOUT
THE SYNTHESIS INSTITUTE
Our name is a tribute to our core mission: synthesizing diverse approaches to foster holistic well-being and transformative growth, where psychedelics serve as tools, and the set, setting, and skilled guidance of practitioners shape the potential for healing and lasting transformation.

We are a diverse community of seekers and explorers,

Mothers and fathers, daughters and sons,

Transformational leaders and practitioners from many paths.

Our purpose is to create sacred spaces,

Where our wholeness can be remembered, experienced, and shared.

We come together to honor the sacred,

To hold space for the many ways of knowing,

To realize our collective potential,

Co-creating a new paradigm of care.

You are warmly invited to join us on this journey.

Our Mission
The Synthesis Institute has emerged as a global leader in the modern psychedelic movement and the integration of psychedelics into contemporary culture. Dedicated to providing world-class education and training, we empower aspiring and established psychedelic practitioners with the professional foundations necessary to responsibly navigate this emerging field.
 
With a pioneering history of advancing psychedelic research and offering legal, intentional, and professionally guided psychedelic retreat experiences to over 1,000 individuals, the Synthesis Institute has established itself as a trusted educational provider for a global, growing community of more than 500 students and graduates. 
 

Discovery Our History

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2018: Pioneering Transformational Wellness and Advancing Psychedelic Research

Founded in the Netherlands, the Synthesis Institute emerged with a visionary goal: to provide broad, legal access to professionally guided, psychedelic-assisted retreat programs while advancing scientific understanding of these powerful medicines. In collaboration with prestigious institutions like Imperial College London and renowned researchers such as Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris and Dr. Rosalind Watts, Synthesis played a pivotal role in pioneering research on the therapeutic potential of psilocybin.

2020: The Birth of Psychedelic Practitioner Training

As psychedelics moved further into mainstream culture, the demand for skilled and knowledgeable practitioners was growing. In response, we launched the Synthesis Institute’s training division in 2020, dedicating over a year to developing the first-of-its-kind Psychedelic Practitioner Training.
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2021: Leading Psychedelic Education and Training

In 2021, we proudly welcomed the first cohort of students into our Psychedelic Practitioner Training, bringing together participants from around the world for an 18-month journey of personal and professional development. Our curriculum fuses modern psychedelic science, wisdom traditions, and deep self-exploration, cultivating compassionate, skilled space-holders for psychedelic-supported transformation.

2023: Challenging Endings, New Beginnings

In early 2023, coming out of a global pandemic, the organization faced significant financial challenges, leading the Dutch retreat arm—providing legal access to psychedelic experiences—to file for bankruptcy. These were difficult times not only for the Synthesis community, including team members, collaborators, partners, and students, but also for the broader psychedelic field.
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2024: Reimagining Retreats

We are proud that over 400 practitioners have graduated from our Psychedelic Practitioner Training. The art of psychedelic facilitation is highly nuanced and subtle, requiring a delicate balance of skill, intuition, attunement, and presence. Acknowledging the importance of hands-on experience, we re-introduced our retreats in both the Netherlands and Costa Rica – but this time with a renewed purpose and vision.

Meet the Psychedelic Practitioner Core Training Learning Facilitators

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Mina Samuels

Writer, Speaker and Performer

Mina Samuels is a writer, speaker, playwright, and performer, and in a previous incarnation, a litigation lawyer and ...

Mina Samuels is a writer, speaker, playwright, and performer, and in a previous incarnation, a litigation lawyer and human rights advocate; as well as an athlete and meditation practitioner, trained in Non-Violent Communication and Internal Family Systems. Mina offers workshops and one-on-one facilitations on the transformative power of the body-mind connection and how it nourishes our whole self.

Her books include, Run Like A Girl 365 Days: A Practical, Personal, Inspirational Guide for Women Athletes and Run Like a Girl: How Strong Women Make Happy Lives and she writes regularly for Medium and Fit Is A Feminist Issue.  She has also created and performed two award-winning solo shows and an ensemble play.

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Ladybird Morgan headshot 2
Ladybird Morgan

RN, MSW, RCST Practitioner

Ladybird Morgan RN, MSW, RCST practitioner, has helped guide medical practitioners, families, caregivers, programs, and institutions around ...

Ladybird Morgan RN, MSW, RCST practitioner, has helped guide medical practitioners, families, caregivers, programs, and institutions around the world (including with Doctors Without Borders and in California Prisons) on how to be present to difficult experiences by remembering, embodying, and responding from the deepest place of truth.

Her work is informed by a lifetime commitment to meditation, sacred practices, and personal inquiry. Currently a private palliative care consultant with Mettlehealth and a co-facilitator for Commonweal’s Cancer Care Help Program and Healing Circles, she is also a co-investigator/study therapist with a University of Washington study of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy and the Co-Founder/Program Director of The Humane Prison Hospice Project.

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Christopher Luard

Meditation Teacher

Christopher Luard has been studying and practicing various forms of meditation for over thirty-five years. He has received formal training in ...

Christopher Luard has been studying and practicing various forms of meditation for over thirty-five years. He has received formal training in Korean and Japanese Zen; Mahamudra and Dzogchen from the Tibetan traditions, and Vipassana from the Theravada Burmese tradition, Vedanta from the Hindu tradition. In addition to these trainings, Chris had studied extensively within more modern traditions such as Secular Dharma, Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness, Nonviolent Communication, Neuroplasticity, and MBSR.

Upon witnessing the tragic events of Sept 11th, 2001 in Manhattan, Chris dedicated his life to the study and teaching of contemplative practices. He teaches from a secular voice and is committed to bringing these timeless teachings to all who wish to receive them. Chris has facilitated in centers in Portugal, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, the USA, and the U.K. and continues to live and teach in Thailand. 

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Nikolaj Knub

Philosopher and Jungian Psychotherapist

Nikolaj Knub is a philosopher and Jungian psychotherapist based in Copenhagen. Besides offering individual therapy he facilitates workshops and ...

Nikolaj Knub is a philosopher and Jungian psychotherapist based in Copenhagen. Besides offering individual therapy he facilitates workshops and offers rituals with ceremonial cacao and the use of active imagination.

Currently, Nikolaj is pursuing a long-standing interest in eco-psychology and experimenting with ways in which to bring therapeutic practices out of the consulting room and into the wild.

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Dr. Lela Mosemghvdlishvili

Transformative Educator

Dr. Lela Mosemghvdlishvili is a transformative educator working on the intersections of academia, wisdom traditions, and embodied practices. Lela ...

Dr. Lela Mosemghvdlishvili is a transformative educator working on the intersections of academia, wisdom traditions, and embodied practices. Lela has served as a board member of the Amsterdam Psychedelic Research Association (APRA) since 2017. At the University of Amsterdam, they designed and have been teaching an interdisciplinary elective project Critical Issues in Psychedelic Renessainsefor the past five years.  

A notable part of Lela's life is devoted to the ongoing study and practice of Maha and Ati Yoga, experiential dancing, and regular silent retreats for introspection. These modalities are vital sources of insight and understanding to them. Lela is also an authorized Feeding Your Demons® facilitator, and meditation teacher.

 

 

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Chara Caruthers

Therapist & Educator

Chara Caruthers is a skilled facilitator with decades of personal and professional practice as an educator, therapist and lifestyle medicine ...

Chara Caruthers is a skilled facilitator with decades of personal and professional practice as an educator, therapist and lifestyle medicine practitioner working with groups and individuals. Her life and work is grounded in eastern spiritual traditions, ancient and indigenous wisdom and modern science and philosophy. She holds a professional certification in psychedelics, entheogens and transpersonal psychology, is a graduate of the Center for Holding Space Foundations program at the Leadership level, and is currently completing a master of science in transpersonal psychology. 

As a Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), certified Ayurvedic practitioner and psychedelic researcher, she is passionately dedicated to building bridges between ancient lifestyle traditions and modern western medical approaches to mental health and wellbeing.  Chara believes that a loving and supportive community is the vital and often missing piece of the picture of wellbeing for so many.  She recognizes that her work in the psychedelic space is that of building and empowering community as a container for embodying our wholeness.

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Mary Bredin

Psychotherapist

Mary is a psychotherapist with over 30 years experience of working in a variety of UK healthcare settings as a clinical supervisor, group ...

Mary is a psychotherapist with over 30 years experience of working in a variety of UK healthcare settings as a clinical supervisor, group facilitator, researcher, and educator. She specializes in helping people face loss and change, illness, and death, and is particularly interested in how nature connection, mindfulness, self-compassion, and vision quest rites of passage can support journeys of personal growth, transformation, and healing.

In her spare time, she tends an old Cornish garden, which has lots of flowers and brambles. She swims in the sea all year round and loves to walk in wild places.

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Dr. Stephanie Van Hope

Nurse & Nurse Coach

Dr. Stephanie Van Hope, R.N., D.N.P., is a registered nurse, certified nurse coach, and doctor of nursing practice with experience in oncology, ...

Dr. Stephanie Van Hope, R.N., D.N.P., is a registered nurse, certified nurse coach, and doctor of nursing practice with experience in oncology, hospice, and health coaching. She served as a study guide for New York University’s Psilocybin Cancer Anxiety project, guiding cancer patients through psychedelic journeys with psilocybin, and offers a continuing education course for nurses entitled Nursing & Sacred Medicine: Introduction to Psychedelic Therapy.

Stephanie is a Reiki practitioner and a student of yoga, meditation, shamanic healing, astrology, plant medicine, music, dance, and the sacred traditions of many faiths. She currently resides with her husband, son, and many animals in an intentional community in the Catskills region of New York.

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anja
Dr. Loizaga-Velder

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Loizaga-Velder is a German-Mexican clinical psychologist with a deep connection to indigenous psychedelic healing practices spanning over ...

Dr. Loizaga-Velder is a German-Mexican clinical psychologist with a deep connection to indigenous psychedelic healing practices spanning over three decades. She co-founded the Nierika Institute in Mexico, dedicated to preserving indigenous traditions with sacred plant medicines and research around their therapeutic applications for mental health and personal growth.

She has published several research articles and book chapters exploring the therapeutic potential of entheogens for treating mental health challenges and has presented her work as a speaker at many conferences. Anja collaborates as a learning facilitator and guest faculty in the Synthesis Psychedelic Practitioner Training program.

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Vibhu Khera

Educator, Meditation Teacher, and Transpersonal Therapist.

Vibhu Khera is an experienced educator, meditation teacher, and transpersonal therapist. She has a deep passion for yoga, whirling, nature walks, ...

Vibhu Khera is an experienced educator, meditation teacher, and transpersonal therapist. She has a deep passion for yoga, whirling, nature walks, and reading. Vibhu has received extensive training in Meta-cognitive awareness, NLP, Emotional therapy, Yogic science, and Mindfulness. Her primary focus is assisting individuals in achieving emotional coherence, reclaiming their minds, expanding their inner space, and overcoming the challenges and dramas of life.

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Dr. Allen Goodwin

University lecturer in Psychology

Dr. Allen Goodwin (Bsc (Hons), Ph.D.) has spent the last twenty years as a full-time senior University lecturer in Psychology focusing mainly on ...

Dr. Allen Goodwin (Bsc (Hons), Ph.D.) has spent the last twenty years as a full-time senior University lecturer in Psychology focusing mainly on the areas of Research Methods & Statistics, Neuroscience, and Visual perception. He has received numerous prestigious university inspirational teaching awards and is a contract-published author.

Dr. Goodwin holds an animistic perspective, a result of over thirty years of Druidic and Shamanic Practice. In 2013, he discarded his academic career as an act of faith and relocated to the place of his youth devoting himself to his family and working as a professionally trained shamanic practitioner (both in core and classical techniques). 

In all his work, he aims to facilitate a greater connection for his clients to develop their sense of connection to their true self and their sense of place within their own lives.

Close

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Natalie Reich

Yoga Teacher and Quantum Healer

Natalie is committed to fostering personal growth and transformation; her journey in the human services field has spanned over a decade. This ...

Natalie is committed to fostering personal growth and transformation; her journey in the human services field has spanned over a decade. This experience has deepened her understanding of trauma and its impact on individuals. As a master’s level intern in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, she has the privilege of directly counseling clients while gaining insights from the mentorship of experienced supervisors.

Natalie is deeply committed to engaging in harm reduction and providing supportive care as a volunteer on the Fireside hotline for those navigating psychedelic experiences. She also founded "Your Healing Guide," an initiative to guide individuals toward inner peace and holistic self-healing.

She has always believed that the power to heal and transform lies within us. We can unlock immeasurable potential by connecting with our breath and being attuned to our bodily sensations. She offers guided meditations tailored to diverse audiences, from individuals and groups to schools and businesses, to support this belief.

 

Additionally, she enjoys being a learning facilitator for The Synthesis Institutes Psychedelic Practitioner Core Training program. Natalie is a certified 200-hour yoga practitioner and is trained in the Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique. She focuses on somatic healing and ensures that her clients always find a supportive and compassionate space for exploration and growth.

 

A client-centered approach is at the core of her practice, ensuring that she understands and addresses each individual's unique needs and goals. She strives to create an environment of trust and respect where thoughts and feelings can be freely expressed.

 

She is on a continuous journey to explore and integrate various healing modalities. Embracing the philosophy that "You are your own best healer," she is dedicated to empowering each individual in their healing journey.

Close

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Meghan Kennedy

Therapist & Psychedelic Practitioner

Meghan Kennedy, LCSW, CPTR, 30-year private practice specializing in trauma & systemic disequilibrium, she has been an international ...

Meghan Kennedy, LCSW, CPTR, 30-year private practice specializing in trauma & systemic disequilibrium, she has been an international consultant on psychosocial and culturally-sensitive treatment issues for communities under siege due to war, political unrest and natural disasters. Her understanding of the interdependent features of trauma, addictions-formation and character structure lends to working with the parallel processes seen in greater cultural disequilibrium - and requiring greater healing modalities.   International consulting experiences lead her to explore the utilization of psychedelic substances across varying cultural settings.  In 2016 Meghan was certified in Psychedelic-assisted Therapies & Research at the California Institute of Integral Studies in their inaugural run of the first accredited university program of its kind.  This lead to working in research with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies as an adherence rater for the trials on MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.  She has taught on the topics of trauma and transpersonal healing frameworks, as well as risk mitigation and integration of non-dual states of consciousness for several years. Meghan is also working to create mainstream structures that will assure a swift and just roll-out of these treatments and the training necessary to provide them once governmental structures clear the way.Trust in the greater cosmology reached through this work is what fuels her belief in, and service to, this important healing paradigm.

Close

Julie Henningsen (1)
Julie Henningsen

Medical Healthcare Provider

Julie Henningsen, PA-C, MPAS, is a medical healthcare provider with experience in emergency medicine, urgent care, and dermatology; and is a ...

Julie Henningsen, PA-C, MPAS, is a medical healthcare provider with experience in emergency medicine, urgent care, and dermatology; and is a Synthesis-certified psychedelic practitioner. She prefers a holistic approach to patient care, acknowledging our inner healing wisdom and the potential for entheogens to facilitate authentic transformation. Having worked as an outdoor and environmental program director for several universities, Julie has an extensive background in facilitating immersive, nature-based experiences. She has been a faculty member of the National Outdoor Leadership School for over 20 years, leading wilderness emergency medicine courses around the globe. Julie is the founder of Headwaters Field Medicine, a Montana-based wilderness medicine training organization. Her passion for exploration of both the natural world, and the nature of consciousness drives her pursuit of life-long learning.

Close

Mina Samuels is a writer, speaker, playwright, and performer, and in a previous incarnation, a litigation lawyer and human rights advocate; as well as an athlete and meditation practitioner, trained in Non-Violent Communication and Internal Family Systems. Mina offers workshops and one-on-one facilitations on the transformative power of the body-mind connection and how it nourishes our whole self.

Her books include, Run Like A Girl 365 Days: A Practical, Personal, Inspirational Guide for Women Athletes and Run Like a Girl: How Strong Women Make Happy Lives and she writes regularly for Medium and Fit Is A Feminist Issue.  She has also created and performed two award-winning solo shows and an ensemble play.

Close

Ladybird Morgan RN, MSW, RCST practitioner, has helped guide medical practitioners, families, caregivers, programs, and institutions around the world (including with Doctors Without Borders and in California Prisons) on how to be present to difficult experiences by remembering, embodying, and responding from the deepest place of truth.

Her work is informed by a lifetime commitment to meditation, sacred practices, and personal inquiry. Currently a private palliative care consultant with Mettlehealth and a co-facilitator for Commonweal’s Cancer Care Help Program and Healing Circles, she is also a co-investigator/study therapist with a University of Washington study of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy and the Co-Founder/Program Director of The Humane Prison Hospice Project.

Close

Christopher Luard has been studying and practicing various forms of meditation for over thirty-five years. He has received formal training in Korean and Japanese Zen; Mahamudra and Dzogchen from the Tibetan traditions, and Vipassana from the Theravada Burmese tradition, Vedanta from the Hindu tradition. In addition to these trainings, Chris had studied extensively within more modern traditions such as Secular Dharma, Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness, Nonviolent Communication, Neuroplasticity, and MBSR.

Upon witnessing the tragic events of Sept 11th, 2001 in Manhattan, Chris dedicated his life to the study and teaching of contemplative practices. He teaches from a secular voice and is committed to bringing these timeless teachings to all who wish to receive them. Chris has facilitated in centers in Portugal, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, the USA, and the U.K. and continues to live and teach in Thailand. 

Close

Nikolaj Knub is a philosopher and Jungian psychotherapist based in Copenhagen. Besides offering individual therapy he facilitates workshops and offers rituals with ceremonial cacao and the use of active imagination.

Currently, Nikolaj is pursuing a long-standing interest in eco-psychology and experimenting with ways in which to bring therapeutic practices out of the consulting room and into the wild.

Close

Dr. Lela Mosemghvdlishvili is a transformative educator working on the intersections of academia, wisdom traditions, and embodied practices. Lela has served as a board member of the Amsterdam Psychedelic Research Association (APRA) since 2017. At the University of Amsterdam, they designed and have been teaching an interdisciplinary elective project Critical Issues in Psychedelic Renessainsefor the past five years.  

A notable part of Lela's life is devoted to the ongoing study and practice of Maha and Ati Yoga, experiential dancing, and regular silent retreats for introspection. These modalities are vital sources of insight and understanding to them. Lela is also an authorized Feeding Your Demons® facilitator, and meditation teacher.

 

 

Close

Chara Caruthers is a skilled facilitator with decades of personal and professional practice as an educator, therapist and lifestyle medicine practitioner working with groups and individuals. Her life and work is grounded in eastern spiritual traditions, ancient and indigenous wisdom and modern science and philosophy. She holds a professional certification in psychedelics, entheogens and transpersonal psychology, is a graduate of the Center for Holding Space Foundations program at the Leadership level, and is currently completing a master of science in transpersonal psychology. 

As a Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), certified Ayurvedic practitioner and psychedelic researcher, she is passionately dedicated to building bridges between ancient lifestyle traditions and modern western medical approaches to mental health and wellbeing.  Chara believes that a loving and supportive community is the vital and often missing piece of the picture of wellbeing for so many.  She recognizes that her work in the psychedelic space is that of building and empowering community as a container for embodying our wholeness.

Close

Mary is a psychotherapist with over 30 years experience of working in a variety of UK healthcare settings as a clinical supervisor, group facilitator, researcher, and educator. She specializes in helping people face loss and change, illness, and death, and is particularly interested in how nature connection, mindfulness, self-compassion, and vision quest rites of passage can support journeys of personal growth, transformation, and healing.

In her spare time, she tends an old Cornish garden, which has lots of flowers and brambles. She swims in the sea all year round and loves to walk in wild places.

Close

Dr. Stephanie Van Hope, R.N., D.N.P., is a registered nurse, certified nurse coach, and doctor of nursing practice with experience in oncology, hospice, and health coaching. She served as a study guide for New York University’s Psilocybin Cancer Anxiety project, guiding cancer patients through psychedelic journeys with psilocybin, and offers a continuing education course for nurses entitled Nursing & Sacred Medicine: Introduction to Psychedelic Therapy.

Stephanie is a Reiki practitioner and a student of yoga, meditation, shamanic healing, astrology, plant medicine, music, dance, and the sacred traditions of many faiths. She currently resides with her husband, son, and many animals in an intentional community in the Catskills region of New York.

Close

Dr. Loizaga-Velder is a German-Mexican clinical psychologist with a deep connection to indigenous psychedelic healing practices spanning over three decades. She co-founded the Nierika Institute in Mexico, dedicated to preserving indigenous traditions with sacred plant medicines and research around their therapeutic applications for mental health and personal growth.

She has published several research articles and book chapters exploring the therapeutic potential of entheogens for treating mental health challenges and has presented her work as a speaker at many conferences. Anja collaborates as a learning facilitator and guest faculty in the Synthesis Psychedelic Practitioner Training program.

Close

Vibhu Khera is an experienced educator, meditation teacher, and transpersonal therapist. She has a deep passion for yoga, whirling, nature walks, and reading. Vibhu has received extensive training in Meta-cognitive awareness, NLP, Emotional therapy, Yogic science, and Mindfulness. Her primary focus is assisting individuals in achieving emotional coherence, reclaiming their minds, expanding their inner space, and overcoming the challenges and dramas of life.

Close

Dr. Allen Goodwin (Bsc (Hons), Ph.D.) has spent the last twenty years as a full-time senior University lecturer in Psychology focusing mainly on the areas of Research Methods & Statistics, Neuroscience, and Visual perception. He has received numerous prestigious university inspirational teaching awards and is a contract-published author.

Dr. Goodwin holds an animistic perspective, a result of over thirty years of Druidic and Shamanic Practice. In 2013, he discarded his academic career as an act of faith and relocated to the place of his youth devoting himself to his family and working as a professionally trained shamanic practitioner (both in core and classical techniques). 

In all his work, he aims to facilitate a greater connection for his clients to develop their sense of connection to their true self and their sense of place within their own lives.

Close

Natalie is committed to fostering personal growth and transformation; her journey in the human services field has spanned over a decade. This experience has deepened her understanding of trauma and its impact on individuals. As a master’s level intern in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, she has the privilege of directly counseling clients while gaining insights from the mentorship of experienced supervisors.

Natalie is deeply committed to engaging in harm reduction and providing supportive care as a volunteer on the Fireside hotline for those navigating psychedelic experiences. She also founded "Your Healing Guide," an initiative to guide individuals toward inner peace and holistic self-healing.

She has always believed that the power to heal and transform lies within us. We can unlock immeasurable potential by connecting with our breath and being attuned to our bodily sensations. She offers guided meditations tailored to diverse audiences, from individuals and groups to schools and businesses, to support this belief.

 

Additionally, she enjoys being a learning facilitator for The Synthesis Institutes Psychedelic Practitioner Core Training program. Natalie is a certified 200-hour yoga practitioner and is trained in the Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique. She focuses on somatic healing and ensures that her clients always find a supportive and compassionate space for exploration and growth.

 

A client-centered approach is at the core of her practice, ensuring that she understands and addresses each individual's unique needs and goals. She strives to create an environment of trust and respect where thoughts and feelings can be freely expressed.

 

She is on a continuous journey to explore and integrate various healing modalities. Embracing the philosophy that "You are your own best healer," she is dedicated to empowering each individual in their healing journey.

Close

Meghan Kennedy, LCSW, CPTR, 30-year private practice specializing in trauma & systemic disequilibrium, she has been an international consultant on psychosocial and culturally-sensitive treatment issues for communities under siege due to war, political unrest and natural disasters. Her understanding of the interdependent features of trauma, addictions-formation and character structure lends to working with the parallel processes seen in greater cultural disequilibrium - and requiring greater healing modalities.   International consulting experiences lead her to explore the utilization of psychedelic substances across varying cultural settings.  In 2016 Meghan was certified in Psychedelic-assisted Therapies & Research at the California Institute of Integral Studies in their inaugural run of the first accredited university program of its kind.  This lead to working in research with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies as an adherence rater for the trials on MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.  She has taught on the topics of trauma and transpersonal healing frameworks, as well as risk mitigation and integration of non-dual states of consciousness for several years. Meghan is also working to create mainstream structures that will assure a swift and just roll-out of these treatments and the training necessary to provide them once governmental structures clear the way.Trust in the greater cosmology reached through this work is what fuels her belief in, and service to, this important healing paradigm.

Close

Julie Henningsen, PA-C, MPAS, is a medical healthcare provider with experience in emergency medicine, urgent care, and dermatology; and is a Synthesis-certified psychedelic practitioner. She prefers a holistic approach to patient care, acknowledging our inner healing wisdom and the potential for entheogens to facilitate authentic transformation. Having worked as an outdoor and environmental program director for several universities, Julie has an extensive background in facilitating immersive, nature-based experiences. She has been a faculty member of the National Outdoor Leadership School for over 20 years, leading wilderness emergency medicine courses around the globe. Julie is the founder of Headwaters Field Medicine, a Montana-based wilderness medicine training organization. Her passion for exploration of both the natural world, and the nature of consciousness drives her pursuit of life-long learning.

Close

Meet The Retreat Team

Costanza
Costanza Di Prisco

Lead Facilitator

Costanza began working with psychedelics in 2012, initially as a participant, later as an assistant, then began training with shamans and ...

Costanza began working with psychedelics in 2012, initially as a participant, later as an assistant, then began training with shamans and healers, and eventually studied to become a Psychedelic Practitioner. Her last few years have been devoted to psilocybin, though she has worked with a variety of plant medicines.She is also a breathwork coach, working with the body’s knowledge to achieve understanding and promote healing. She has trained in Bioneuroemotion, a field that blends biology, neuroscience, epigenetics, NLP, and psychology. She received training in India to be able to instruct in meditation, yoga, and pranayama. She has finished a master plant dieta with Noya Rao and follows the tradition of the Shipibo from Peru in terms of shamanic techniques.

Her facilitation style combines ancient wisdom methods with cognitive therapeutic techniques from the West to produce powerful transformational experiences. When singing in ceremony, Costanza places emphasis on the healing potential of music.

Her goal is to serve as a bridge for people seeking to start or continue their own journeys of self-discovery; creating safe spaces so others can engage in their psychedelic healing experiences feeling supported and empowered so their own inner wisdom can emerge.

Close

juan2
Juan Tepui

Retreat Facilitator

Juan has studied music since childhood and music production at University. He became interested in psychedelics and their strong influence ...

Juan has studied music since childhood and music production at University. He became interested in psychedelics and their strong influence on music and consciousness from an early age. He has spent years in India practicing meditation and yoga in various ashrams. He studied the Bansuri flute with the legendary Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, and now teaches and makes Bansuri himself.

He has been dedicated to facilitating live music for meditation, healing, and psychedelic ceremonies for many years, for the Ayahuasca tradition of Colombian Shamans and increasingly for psilocybin journeys. Juan is passionate about the transformative power of psychedelics, what they can bring to humanity, and how they can help us heal our connection to nature and spiritual growth.

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Mary Bredin headshot-1 (1)
Mary Bredin

Retreat Facilitator

Mary is a psychotherapist with over 30 years experience of working in a variety of UK healthcare settings as a clinical supervisor, group ...

Mary is a psychotherapist with over 30 years experience of working in a variety of UK healthcare settings as a clinical supervisor, group facilitator, researcher, and educator. She specializes in helping people face loss and change, illness, and death, and is particularly interested in how nature connection, mindfulness, self-compassion, and vision quest rites of passage can support journeys of personal growth, transformation, and healing.

In her spare time, she tends an old Cornish garden, which has lots of flowers and brambles. She swims in the sea all year round and loves to walk in wild places.

Close

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Bernardino Machado

Retreat Facilitator

Bernardino is a Religion Sociologist and Physiotherapist (specialised in manual therapy and myofascial disorders), born in Venezuela but currently ...

Bernardino is a Religion Sociologist and Physiotherapist (specialised in manual therapy and myofascial disorders), born in Venezuela but currently living in Madrid, Spain. He has been studying yoga, meditation and ancient traditions for more than 20 years.

In the last ten years he has worked as a yoga Alliance certifier delivering 200-TTC and workshops all around the world. Having a passionate interest for the use of psychedelics in ancient cultures and religion practices, he is very interested in exploring the effects of psychedelics combined with ancient eastern practices as yoga and Qigong as a way of expanding human consciousness and finding inner balance . Having music background as guitarist and flute player, he enjoys playing music from different traditions in the context psychedelic ceremonies.

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Costanza began working with psychedelics in 2012, initially as a participant, later as an assistant, then began training with shamans and healers, and eventually studied to become a Psychedelic Practitioner. Her last few years have been devoted to psilocybin, though she has worked with a variety of plant medicines.She is also a breathwork coach, working with the body’s knowledge to achieve understanding and promote healing. She has trained in Bioneuroemotion, a field that blends biology, neuroscience, epigenetics, NLP, and psychology. She received training in India to be able to instruct in meditation, yoga, and pranayama. She has finished a master plant dieta with Noya Rao and follows the tradition of the Shipibo from Peru in terms of shamanic techniques.

Her facilitation style combines ancient wisdom methods with cognitive therapeutic techniques from the West to produce powerful transformational experiences. When singing in ceremony, Costanza places emphasis on the healing potential of music.

Her goal is to serve as a bridge for people seeking to start or continue their own journeys of self-discovery; creating safe spaces so others can engage in their psychedelic healing experiences feeling supported and empowered so their own inner wisdom can emerge.

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Juan has studied music since childhood and music production at University. He became interested in psychedelics and their strong influence on music and consciousness from an early age. He has spent years in India practicing meditation and yoga in various ashrams. He studied the Bansuri flute with the legendary Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, and now teaches and makes Bansuri himself.

He has been dedicated to facilitating live music for meditation, healing, and psychedelic ceremonies for many years, for the Ayahuasca tradition of Colombian Shamans and increasingly for psilocybin journeys. Juan is passionate about the transformative power of psychedelics, what they can bring to humanity, and how they can help us heal our connection to nature and spiritual growth.

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Mary is a psychotherapist with over 30 years experience of working in a variety of UK healthcare settings as a clinical supervisor, group facilitator, researcher, and educator. She specializes in helping people face loss and change, illness, and death, and is particularly interested in how nature connection, mindfulness, self-compassion, and vision quest rites of passage can support journeys of personal growth, transformation, and healing.

In her spare time, she tends an old Cornish garden, which has lots of flowers and brambles. She swims in the sea all year round and loves to walk in wild places.

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Bernardino is a Religion Sociologist and Physiotherapist (specialised in manual therapy and myofascial disorders), born in Venezuela but currently living in Madrid, Spain. He has been studying yoga, meditation and ancient traditions for more than 20 years.

In the last ten years he has worked as a yoga Alliance certifier delivering 200-TTC and workshops all around the world. Having a passionate interest for the use of psychedelics in ancient cultures and religion practices, he is very interested in exploring the effects of psychedelics combined with ancient eastern practices as yoga and Qigong as a way of expanding human consciousness and finding inner balance . Having music background as guitarist and flute player, he enjoys playing music from different traditions in the context psychedelic ceremonies.

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Meet the Operations Team

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Maya Albert

Director of Operations

Maya is an operations specialist and writer, dedicating her professional energy to the growth of the psychedelic ecosystem. As a Director of ...

Maya is an operations specialist and writer, dedicating her professional energy to the growth of the psychedelic ecosystem. As a Director of Operations, Maya supports each department in achieving their specific goals through goal setting, organizational structure, and project oversight. She also leads the Practicum program, connecting sites and students for in-person learning around the world.

Having co-founded the annual psychedelic conference, Psyched, and hosted the first Psychedelic House of Davos, Maya continues her pursuit to strengthen the community through the open-source sharing of knowledge and interdisciplinary networking. She has consulted and worked with a number of other organizations in the space, including the Heroic Hearts Project and Tabula Rasa Ventures. She has authored a compressive analytical report on the business of psychedelics and is now co-authoring the book, Our Trip Together. 

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Michaela Mairinger

Director of Marketing

Michaela has dedicated the majority of her professional journey to fostering growth in startups. Prior to her association with the Synthesis ...

Michaela has dedicated the majority of her professional journey to fostering growth in startups. Prior to her association with the Synthesis Institute, she led the marketing initiatives at a digital mental health startup. Her educational credentials include a degree in Business and Marketing, as well as a Master's Degree in Marketing.

A personal experience with traumatic grief sparked a decade-long exploration into a variety of traditional and non-traditional healing methodologies. Michaela is particularly intrigued by the intersection of psychology and the symbolic language of archetypes. She has received training as a Gestalt Therapist, Drama and Art Therapist, Family Constellations Facilitator, SAT-certified Enneagram Practitioner, and Jungian Astrologer.

Michaela's first encounter with Ayahuasca in 2014 marked a significant turning point in her life, inspiring her to continue her exploration of various plant medicines ever since.

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Sarah Van Lange

Head of Growth and Partnerships

Sarah Van Lange (‘SVL’) is a seasoned communications and public relations executive with a 20-year career in Corporate Canada, known for guiding ...

Sarah Van Lange (‘SVL’) is a seasoned communications and public relations executive with a 20-year career in Corporate Canada, known for guiding organizations through transformational periods by helping them tell their most compelling stories. As a trusted advisor to C-suite leaders, she has driven communication strategies for high-stakes transactions, crisis management, and brand evolution, shaping enduring success across a wide range of industries.

After two decades of working both in-house and with agencies, Sarah experienced a personal transformation during a retreat with the Synthesis Institute. This pivotal experience led her to reimagine her purpose and career, now focusing on creating opportunities for others to find and amplify their own stories. She is committed to exploring the intersection of personal healing, community connection, and strategic communications to drive meaningful, lasting impact.Sarah’s approach is deeply rooted in empathy, storytelling, and strategic clarity, helping individuals and organizations align their actions with purpose, cultivate growth, and foster transformative change. Sarah proudly sits on the Board of Directors for the Psychedelics Association of Canada.

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Costanza
Costanza Di Prisco

Director of Retreats

Costanza began working with psychedelics more than 12 years ago, training with shamans and healers around the world. She is a Breathwork Coach and ...

Costanza began working with psychedelics more than 12 years ago, training with shamans and healers around the world. She is a Breathwork Coach and has studied to become a Psychedelic Practitioner, Somatic therapist and Bioneuroemotion therapist, a field that blends biology, neuroscience, epigenetics, NLP, and psychology. 

Her facilitation style combines ancient wisdom methods with cognitive therapeutic techniques from the West to produce powerful transformational experiences. She follows the tradition of the Shipibo from Peru in terms of shamanic techniques. Her goal is to serve as a bridge for people seeking to dive deep in their own journeys of self-discovery.

Costanza has been collaborating with Synthesis since 2021 as a Co-Lead Facilitator for the Retreats held in The Netherlands and as Guest Faculty for the Psychedelic Practitioner Training, more recently turning her focus to the development and delivery of the new Synthesis Immersion Experience.

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Andrew Lanterman

Admissions Guide

Andrew received his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and Protection from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. His academic training provided a ...

Andrew received his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and Protection from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. His academic training provided a foundation for understanding the relationship between human and ecological systems, although it was a consciousness expanding moment in 2013 that provoked a fully visceral and cathartic realization of the unsustainable systems of modernity. This existential awakening led him to seek alternative paths of living and being, and pinpointed the importance of a deep need for individual and collective transformation within consciousness.

His path naturally oriented towards practices within the yogic traditions, which ultimately led him to the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA where he devoted five years working and studying. Andrew ultimately found a love for psychedelic guiding and integration coaching, and he continues to find an ever-deepening well of compassion and awe for the complexities within our shared human experience.

His current inquiries include how to reorient our individual and collective values towards timeless wisdom, and how to personally and collectively remember the sacredness that is life.

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Mina Samuels

Program Manager

Mina Samuels is a writer, speaker, playwright, and performer, and in a previous incarnation, a litigation lawyer and human rights advocate; as well ...

Mina Samuels is a writer, speaker, playwright, and performer, and in a previous incarnation, a litigation lawyer and human rights advocate; as well as an athlete and meditation practitioner, trained in Non-Violent Communication and Internal Family Systems. Mina offers workshops and one-on-one facilitations on the transformative power of the body-mind connection and how it nourishes our whole self.

Her books include, Run Like A Girl 365 Days: A Practical, Personal, Inspirational Guide for Women Athletes and Run Like a Girl: How Strong Women Make Happy Lives and she writes regularly for Medium and Fit Is A Feminist Issue.  She has also created and performed two award-winning solo shows and an ensemble play.

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