Ketamine-Assisted Meditation Retreat

With Loch Kelly

June 11th–14th, 2026

Menla Retreat Center

Phoenicia, NY

Overview

This is a special opportunity to participate in a private retreat with renowned spiritual teacher Loch Kelly. Loch’s work will be integrated with ketamine as a means to support the journey towards spiritual awakening. This will be a cutting edge exploration of the synergy between psychedelics and contemplative practice and an opportunity to be part of an exciting new era of the nondual path.

Loch’s unique teaching style focuses on the recognition, realization, and full embodiment of our true nature. He starts with the view that the awakeness, wisdom, and love that we are seeking are already inherent within each of us. Through his ‘glimpsing’ method, we gain access to an awareness that is spacious and compassionate and that relieves suffering at its root.   

Psychedelics, with an intentional approach to set and setting, can be potent catalyzers of spiritual growth. They offer an opportunity to explore the nature of consciousness, break out of stuck points on the spiritual path, and gain first hand knowledge of nonduality and interconnectedness. 

Perhaps most significantly, psychedelics offer a neuroplastic window marked by the creation of new neural pathways and the reopening of critical learning periods. Through using Loch’s methods in conjunction with ketamine, we will leverage that neuroplasticity to ‘train to remain’ in awakened, open-hearted awareness. 

This retreat is appropriate for spiritual seekers who are oriented towards awakening and are interested in embarking on the adventure of a skillfully supported psychedelic journey. This retreat is not appropriate for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or seeking treatment for debilitating symptoms of depression, anxiety or trauma.

Please note that dyad work will be a foundation of this retreat. Participants will have the opportunity to partake in their own ketamine journey while being supported by their dyad partner, as well as experience the sacred task of sitting for their dyad partner’s journey. Our skilled staff team will offer support and training for both journeying and contemplative sitting.

Included in the retreat

  • Medical and psychological evaluation prior to the retreat to ensure fit

  • One 90 minute group zoom preparation session prior to the retreat

  • One 90 minute group zoom integration session following the retreat

  • Orientation, education and guidance prior to the use of ketamine to create a safe and nurturing set and setting

  • Group IFS session to work with protector parts before the psychedelic journeys 

  • Three group ketamine journeys in dyads (one low dose, two medium-high doses)

  • Ketamine-assisted peer inquiry/relational practices in dyads

  • Meditation practices led by Loch Kelly 

  • Nourishing food prepared by the chefs at Menla

Retreat Logistics

Cost:

Tuition: $3,850

Medical evaluation and medication fee: $335

Room and board: TBD (depends on room selection)

Location:

Menla Retreat Center

375 Pantherkill Road, Phoenicia, NY 12464

Dates:

Thursday, June 11th at 1:00pm-

Sunday, June 14th at 1:30pm

Registration:

Attendance at this retreat is by application only. Please click the button below to apply.

Those accepted will be given a link to book this retreat directly through Menla, and another link to book their medical evaluation with Sapience.

Apply Now

Meet Our Team

Loch Kelly, M.Div., LCSW

Loch Kelly is an award-winning author, meditation teacher, psychotherapist, and founder of the 501(c)(3) non-profit, Effortless Mindfulness Institute. His teachings synthesize ancient wisdom practices, neuroscience, and contemporary psychology. Loch is dedicated to relieving suffering at its root and supporting people to live from their basic goodness. Loch is known for his warm sense of humor and his trust that awakening is the next natural stage of development. He teaches advanced, yet simple, nondual pointers and direct methods of nondual mindfulness, informed by psychology and social justice.

Loch has been fortunate to be trained by some of the greatest meditation teachers of our generation. His teachings are based in the earliest nondual wisdom traditions, modern science, and psychotherapy. Loch has practiced in different schools of meditation and psychology, and he has gathered the most effective methods from all the world traditions.

Loch’s work is to help people access awakening as the next natural stage of human development. He offers in-person retreats, workshops, and online video/audio and streaming courses. He served on the New York Insight Teachers Council, co-taught with Dick Schwartz and Dan Siegel and is affiliated with Adyashanti.

Loch has collaborated with neuroscientists at Yale, UPenn, and NYU in the study of how awareness training can enhance compassion and wellbeing.

  • Paige is an experienced psychotherapist with an extensive history of working in the mental health field using multiple modalities. She is skilled in EMDR, Life Transitions, Clinical Supervision, Post Traumatic Stress, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as well as being Level 3 Internal Family Systems (IFS) trained. Paige also has expertise with Couples therapy, using Imago and IFS techniques.

  • Karen Scott, MD, co-founder of Sapience Therapy, is passionate about the promise of psychedelic medicines to help people find psychological healing and facilitate personal and spiritual growth. She is board certified in internal medicine with 20 years of clinical practice experience, including working in hospital medicine as well as addiction treatment. She has post-graduate training in ketamine assisted psychotherapy, psychedelic integration therapy, and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and holds a certificate in psychedelic therapies and research from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Dr. Scott believes that all people have within them the capacity for wholeness, and that access to this innate healing capacity can be facilitated by the use of consciousness technologies including (but not limited to) psychedelic medicines.

    Dr. Scott is a long time practitioner of meditation, and holds with reverence the knowledge that all life is an interconnected whole. She aspires to embody integrity and compassion in all her actions. She believes that our natural state prior to trauma and adversity is inner peace, and that it is the birthright of all people to experience this peace in daily life.

  • Dr. Bhavya Rajanna is the visionary and founder of Sapience Therapy. She is a practicing internal medicine physician. She is trained in Ketamine assisted psychotherapy, and a graduate of the California Institute of Integral Studies certificate program in psychedelic therapy and research. Dr. Rajanna is passionate about education and research in the field of psychedelic medicine. She has a focus on studying the neurophysiology and neuropharmacology of psychedelic medicines. She is certified in guided imagery meditation and SKY yoga from the Art of Living institute.

    Dr. Rajanna is well traveled, and is passionate about travel with purpose. She is interested in photography, food and learning about different cultures. Dr. Rajanna has captured the majority of the landscape photographs featured on this website, depicting sunrise from different vantage points, a mark of ascension, of light, knowledge and wisdom.

  • Jamie Samowitz is a licensed psychotherapist focused on IFS and psychedelic therapy. She works as a clinician providing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy at Sapience, and is a co-founder of Threshold Experiential Therapy.

    Jamie is certified as a Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider by the Integrative Psychiatry Institute and is trained as an IFS therapist by the Internal Family Systems Institute. She is also a Level 3 facilitator of Effortless Mindfulness and serves on the board of Loch Kelly’s Natural Wakefulness Center.

    As a lifelong meditator and seeker, Jamie is passionate about the exploration of consciousness and the facilitation of innovative programs at the intersection of psychedelic therapy and contemplative practice.

 FAQs

  • Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic drug. In doses lower than used in anesthesia, it creates an altered state of consciousness. At a low dose, this can be a mild state of relaxation and openness; at a higher dose, it can induce a profoundly psychedelic or mystical state. Ketamine is used off-label in the treatment of depression, PTSD and other mental health conditions. It is also known for its ability to engender neuroplasticity and facilitate increased cognitive flexibility. In this retreat, we will take advantage of ketamine’s unique consciousness altering properties to facilitate a different way of looking at the mind, the inner world, and reality itself.

  • The meditation practices in this unique retreat combine the consciousness expanding properties of ketamine with the nondual awakening practices of Loch Kelly. Participants will be guided in practices of deep inquiry and inner exploration, both individually and in a dyad with a partner. These practices will be guided by Loch and supported by our facilitation team.

  • This retreat is aimed at those who have a meditation or contemplation practice and have a desire for nondual awakening. Those who have meditation retreat experience, or are familiar with the work of Loch Kelly or other teachers of nondual awakening, are especially encouraged to apply. However, anyone with an authentic interest in clearly seeing the nature of mind is invited to apply. There will be suggested reading for all participants prior to arriving at the retreat to ensure that everyone is familiar with Loch’s core terminology and methods.

  • Not at all! Everyone facilitating this retreat has extensive experience assisting people in engaging in altered state work for the first time. This retreat is designed for both experienced and novice psychedelic practitioners within our supportive and safe environment.

  • There will be three ketamine sessions offered during the retreat. The first night, there will be a low dose whole group “meet the medicine” session, during which all participants will be guided in meditative inquiry while using a low dose of sublingual ketamine. The second day will offer a medium dose session, in which you will be guided by your dyad partner in an inquiry practice designed to help you recognize awake awareness as your natural state.

    The third day, you will have the opportunity to choose a larger dose which can facilitate a deeper experience, including potentially a fully psychedelic or even mystical experience, again with the 1:1 attention of your dyad partner.

    Note that the second and third day feature two blocks of ketamine journeys - during one block you will take the ketamine with support of your dyad partner, and in the other your dyad partner will take the medicine and you will support them as a sitter. Both journeying and contemplative sitting can be profound experiences.

    During all sessions, Loch and the other facilitators will be present and assisting in the process. And as both a journeyer and a sitter, you will have the full support of the retreat facilitators available at all times.

  • When used in a therapeutic, controlled environment, ketamine is rarely addictive. While ketamine addiction does occur, this is generally in the setting of street ketamine use. Unlike opiates or stimulants, ketamine does not tend to rewire the dopamine reward system in such a way as to cause craving or compulsive use. Our facilitators will ensure that the use of ketamine is done responsibly and within the therapeutic context of the retreat.

  • If you have a mental health diagnosis like PTSD, it's important to let us know in advance so we can assess whether ketamine-assisted meditation is appropriate for you. In many cases, ketamine has been shown to be helpful for individuals with PTSD, but it’s essential that our facilitators are aware of your history to ensure a safe and supportive experience. You will be asked to complete a medical/psychological intake screening form and intake zoom session with Dr. Scott prior to final acceptance, and your honest answers will allow us to create a safe and supportive experience for you.

  • Yes, there are certain medical conditions that may contraindicate ketamine use, such as:

    • Severe heart conditions or high blood pressure

    • History of psychosis or schizophrenia

    • Active substance abuse disorder

    • Certain neurological disorders

    If you have any concerns or significant medical conditions, please share them with us beforehand so we can determine whether this retreat is right for you.

  • Profound experiences can bring joy and delight, or uncertainty and change, or both. Our team is experienced in the full spectrum of possible post-retreat effects and will offer teaching on a variety of integration practices. We strongly encourage all participants to attend the post-retreat integration zoom session.

    Sapience facilitators are available for additional guidance as needed to help you integrate your experiences. Sapience offers low-cost ongoing integration sessions if needed as well as resources for finding a therapist.

    Loch Kelly offers retreats as well as an app to assist participants in continuing to explore and deepen their familiarity with awake awareness.

  • First, applicants will fill out the initial application.

    Upon acceptance, you will receive a link from Menla to pay your tuition and select your room.

    Participants will also receive a scheduling and payment link to arrange for a medical evaluation and ketamine prescription. The ketamine will be sent to Sapience’s clinic and provided to you at the retreat.

    If you have any questions about whether this retreat is a good fit for you medically, psychologically, or otherwise, please reach out to us at welcome@sapiencetherapy.com to inquire before applying.

  • We have a limited number of scholarships available on the basis of financial need, and to assist attendance for those from marginalized communities. If you would like to be considered for a scholarship, please send a brief description of your request to welcome@sapiencetherapy.com and the team will review your application.

    Please note that the typical scholarship amount awarded is $500.

  • Full payment is due at the time of receiving the acceptance email. A 50% refund may be requested if cancelling 60 days prior to the retreat start date. Please note all fees are non-refundable beyond this date. No refunds will be issued for the medical evaluation fee once this intake has taken place.

    In the case of a Covid-19 infection or a medical emergency, please provide appropriate documentation. Refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and will be subject to loss of credit card processing fees.

    Please note that participants will be required to complete a rapid covid test at home within 24 hours of the retreat.

  • Thursday:

    • Arrival

    • Meet and greet, check in

    • Opening circle

    • Basic IFS introduction 

    • Review of ketamine

    • Introduction to your dyad partner

    • Low dose group ketamine journey

    • Dinner

    • Evening circle / talk / practices

    Friday:

    • Early practice (yoga etc)

    • Breakfast

    • Morning circle

    • Medium dose dyad journey partner 1

    • Lunch

    • Medium dose dyad journey partner 2

    • Integration practices

    • Dinner

    • Evening Talk / practices

    Saturday:

    • Early practice (yoga etc)

    • Breakfast

    • Morning circle

    • Psychedelic dose dyad journey partner 1

    • Lunch

    • Psychedelic dose dyad journey partner 2

    • Integration practices

    • Dinner

    • Evening Talk / practices

    Sunday:

    • Early practice (yoga etc)

    • Open forum with Loch and Paige

    • Breakfast

    • Practice for training to remain

    • Closing circle

    • Departure

Participant Testimonials

  • I can't recommend this retreat more highly. The teachers, organizers, and sitters created a safe space and a perfect structure for deep healing and awakening. It was one of the most profound experiences and retreats of my life.

  • The ketamine-assisted Meditation Retreat with Loch Kelly was an amazing experience! I have been practicing Loch’s glimpses for several years. Prior to this retreat, I was content with my practice, however I still had some doubts as to whether I was really “getting it.” Glimpsing while on ketamine made a big difference. On this retreat, my glimpses into nondual awareness were more pronounced and stable and left me with much more confidence and a great sense of joy. Thank you to Loch and the team for this wonderful event!

  • The reverent use of psychedelics within a contemplative atmosphere in a group setting is rare indeed; however, it offers the potential to connect to and embody one's own heartspace. Thank you for the gift of such a retreat and the bravery it takes to lead the way to exemplify the tremendous synergy between contemplative practice and psychedelics.

  • This is a psychedelic-assisted meditation retreat done RIGHT.

  • Insightful, kind, compassionate, skilled and highly approachable leaders bringing us to new explorations, cross pollinating new and important terrains. So grateful to have been a part of this exploration and can’t wait for this to grow and take root. What a needed intersection.

  • I highly recommend this retreat for those interested in a deep dive into their own presence.

  • This retreat was a fantastic opportunity to bring together nondual practice, IFS, and ketamine. The modalities are clearly synergistic and the expertise from leadership allowed a deepening of understanding through experiential learning supported by instruction and discussion. It is innovative and timely.

  • This ketamine, IFS and Loch Kelly meditation retreat was outstanding from conception to execution. The blend of modalities provided familiarity with the ketamine experience (both low and high dose), the basic IFS model, as well as Loch Kelly's approach to glimpse meditation. As a whole, this retreat created immense opportunity for opening to and experiencing more sustained states of Self energy/awake awareness. Not a small feat! Bravo and thank you to all leaders involved, a spectacular group. 5 stars!

  • Thank you for the incredible weekend. It is hard to describe just how powerful the experience was for everyone involved.

  • Being at a retreat where I felt welcomed and seen was a gift in itself. From the very first interaction with the staff I felt a sense of connection and trust in my own knowing. They are supportive, knowledgeable, connected and confident. Such caring! They created a safe and easy container for us to do our inner work. To be in a space where the power of the Internal Family Systems framework and Loch Kelly's Effortless Mindfulness practice is combined with ketamine, was the best medicine for healing long-held wounds, and for my visioning on how to move in the world.  The integration process was enlightening and helpful,  I look forward to continuing to do the inner work! 

  • A life changing spiritual and psychological experience!