Original Face:
Finding and Forgetting the Self
A Ketamine and Mindfulness Retreat for Mental Health Clinicians
April 9-12, 2026
The Bishop's Ranch, Healdsburg, CA
What was your original face before you were born? In this transformative retreat we will use the power of ketamine, meditation, and Buddhist psychology to deeply explore the nature of the self and to cultivate spiritual creativity.
This is a safe, structured three-day retreat led by a staff of licensed and experienced therapists and physicians in the beautiful hills of Sonoma County at The Bishop's Ranch, about 1 1/2 hours north of San Francisco.
Join us for this carefully planned, nourishing retreat at the intersection of depth psychology, spirituality, and science, guided by an exceptional team of experienced facilitators. Together, we'll explore the profound mysteries of the human experience. We will move from learning meditation techniques, to exploring expanded states with ketamine, to connecting deeply with each other to share and integrate our experiences.
This retreat is open to licensed mental health professionals, and welcomes people of all levels of experience with meditation and psychedelic medicine. If you are interested in exploring the fullness of your being in heart, mind, spirit, body, and community, this may be a transformative long weekend for you. Join this retreat if you are interested in exploring aspects of your self-experience in more depth, and in expanding that self to open more possibility, creativity, spiritual meaning, and connection in your life.
The retreat's structure is designed for people ready to dip into meditation, Buddhist psychology, and psychedelic medicine within a safe and supportive group setting. We will slow down together, connect with each other and ourselves, reach beneath our defenses, do necessary healing, and open up to the true, expansive nature of the self as a natural antidote to the suffering and constriction of the modern world. We will use a Buddhist koan as a way to work with the energy of the body-mind, and to include images, feelings, and thoughts in our creative meditation process.
There will be group preparation and integration sessions, and ongoing integration is available through participation in an ongoing meditation and koan group.
People from all walks of life are welcome here! We support all ethnicities, identities, genders, sexualities, and abilities. No previous experience is needed, but openness and willingness are essential.
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 appropriate for people experiencing an acute mental health crisis. Participants will be asked to attend all sessions.
Faculty
Megan Rundel, Ph.D, Lead Facilitator
Serina Deen, M.D., Facilitator
Carl Spitzer, M.D., Medical Director and Facilitator
Steps to join:
Step 1: Fill out the initial application to attend this retreat. After we receive your application, we will schedule a screening call over Zoom with Megan Rundel, Ph.D. or Serina Deen, M.D.
Step 2: If the screening call results in a mutual sense that there is a good fit, you will be asked to make a deposit of 50% of the retreat fee.
Step 3: After paying the deposit, you will receive an email with detailed instructions for next steps, including a medical screening appointment, and information on a preparation group video call. If for any reason the medical screening rules you out, the full deposit will be refunded.
Retreat Schedule at Bishop's Ranch
Thursday:
Fees and Expenses
*Medical Screening and ketamine is billed separately and costs approximately $475.
Tuition, housing, and delicious meals:
Single room: $2900
Double room (per person): $2500
Dorm room (per person): $2200
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 any time after the deposit is paid, unless it is because of a medical screen out. 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. If you screen out for medical reasons a full refund will be given. We appreciate your understanding. Much care goes into creating this experience for you!
Registration will begin in November 2025. For more questions, email [email protected]. Application below.
This is a safe, structured three-day retreat led by a staff of licensed and experienced therapists and physicians in the beautiful hills of Sonoma County at The Bishop's Ranch, about 1 1/2 hours north of San Francisco.
Join us for this carefully planned, nourishing retreat at the intersection of depth psychology, spirituality, and science, guided by an exceptional team of experienced facilitators. Together, we'll explore the profound mysteries of the human experience. We will move from learning meditation techniques, to exploring expanded states with ketamine, to connecting deeply with each other to share and integrate our experiences.
This retreat is open to licensed mental health professionals, and welcomes people of all levels of experience with meditation and psychedelic medicine. If you are interested in exploring the fullness of your being in heart, mind, spirit, body, and community, this may be a transformative long weekend for you. Join this retreat if you are interested in exploring aspects of your self-experience in more depth, and in expanding that self to open more possibility, creativity, spiritual meaning, and connection in your life.
The retreat's structure is designed for people ready to dip into meditation, Buddhist psychology, and psychedelic medicine within a safe and supportive group setting. We will slow down together, connect with each other and ourselves, reach beneath our defenses, do necessary healing, and open up to the true, expansive nature of the self as a natural antidote to the suffering and constriction of the modern world. We will use a Buddhist koan as a way to work with the energy of the body-mind, and to include images, feelings, and thoughts in our creative meditation process.
There will be group preparation and integration sessions, and ongoing integration is available through participation in an ongoing meditation and koan group.
People from all walks of life are welcome here! We support all ethnicities, identities, genders, sexualities, and abilities. No previous experience is needed, but openness and willingness are essential.
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 appropriate for people experiencing an acute mental health crisis. Participants will be asked to attend all sessions.
Faculty
Megan Rundel, Ph.D, Lead Facilitator
Serina Deen, M.D., Facilitator
Carl Spitzer, M.D., Medical Director and Facilitator
Steps to join:
Step 1: Fill out the initial application to attend this retreat. After we receive your application, we will schedule a screening call over Zoom with Megan Rundel, Ph.D. or Serina Deen, M.D.
Step 2: If the screening call results in a mutual sense that there is a good fit, you will be asked to make a deposit of 50% of the retreat fee.
Step 3: After paying the deposit, you will receive an email with detailed instructions for next steps, including a medical screening appointment, and information on a preparation group video call. If for any reason the medical screening rules you out, the full deposit will be refunded.
Retreat Schedule at Bishop's Ranch
Thursday:
- 5 pm: Check-in
- 6 pm: Dinner
- 7-9 pm: Evening Program
- 8 am: Meditation
- 9 am: Meeting the Medicine
- 10 am: Ketamine session
- 12:30: Lunch
- Break until 3:30
- 3:30-5:30: Afternoon program and integration
- 6 pm: Dinner
- 7-9 pm: Evening Program
- 8 am: Meditation
- 9 am: Morning Program
- 10 am: Ketamine session
- 12:30: Lunch
- Break until 3:30
- 3:30-5:30: Afternoon program and integration
- 6 pm: Dinner
- 7-9 pm: Evening Program
- 8 am: Meditation *Check out of rooms by 10 am*
- 9 am: Optional ketamine session for those who have a ride home and are not driving
- 12:30: Lunch
- 1-3 pm Final Integration and Closing Circle
Fees and Expenses
*Medical Screening and ketamine is billed separately and costs approximately $475.
Tuition, housing, and delicious meals:
Single room: $2900
Double room (per person): $2500
Dorm room (per person): $2200
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 any time after the deposit is paid, unless it is because of a medical screen out. 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. If you screen out for medical reasons a full refund will be given. We appreciate your understanding. Much care goes into creating this experience for you!
Registration will begin in November 2025. For more questions, email [email protected]. Application below.