Deeper

A 12-Week Nervous System Training Arc for Lasting Change

Many people have experienced powerful breakthroughs through therapy, retreats, or psychedelic work.

Yet over time, familiar patterns often return.

DEEPER is designed to stabilize transformation through structured preparation, immersive work, and sustained integration.

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Founding cohort limited to six participants

THE PROBLEM

Why Insight Alone Often Isn’t Enough

Many people reach a point in their personal work where they understand their patterns clearly. They have had meaningful breakthroughs. They have felt expanded. And yet over time, familiar reactions, behaviors, and relational dynamics slowly return. This happens because insight alone does not automatically rewire the nervous system.

True transformation requires:

Prepration

Reinforcement

structured integration over time

Without these elements, even powerful experiences can fade.

AUTHORITY

Built Through Experience. Informed by Research.

DEEPER was developed after years of facilitating immersive transformational work and observing the same question arise again and again: Why do some individuals experience lasting change while others slowly revert to familiar patterns? To explore that question more deeply, the program draws from emerging research in psychedelic-assisted mental health and behavioral change.

  • Clinical Contributors

Dr. Rayyan Zafar

Researcher studying psychedelic-assisted treatments for addiction and compulsive behavior. His work informs how preparation and integration influence the durability of altered-state experiences.

Dr. Rosalind McAlpine

Developer of the Psychedelic Preparedness Scale and researcher studying psychological readiness and outcome tracking in psychedelic therapy. Her work informs participant screening and the measurement of change over time.

Facilitation Team

DEEPER is guided by Buena Vida’s facilitation team — medicine women who have supported over 2,000 participants across seven years of immersive retreat work. This depth of experience allows the program to combine clinical insight with practical facilitation expertise.

The Deeper Process

A 12-Week Psychedelic Transformation

DEEPER is structured as a contained three-phase process designed to prepare the nervous system, facilitate deep experiential work, and stabilize lasting behavioral change. Participants are supported by experienced facilitators throughout preparation, immersion, and integration.

Phase I — Preparation (4 Weeks) Starting June 1st

Preparing the Mind, Body, and Nervous System

Before entering the immersive phase, participants complete a structured preparation process designed to clarify intentions, regulate the nervous system, and identify the behavioral patterns they are ready to change.

Preparation includes:

  • intensive intake and readiness assessment
  • microdosing guidance and medicine support when appropriate
  • somatic practices to regulate the nervous system
  • mindset preparation for deep experiential work

Participants receive:

  • one 2-hour group call each week
  • one private session with their assigned facilitator each week
  • ongoing Voxer support for guidance and accountability

This phase ensures the immersive experience is grounded, intentional, and aligned with each participant’s goals.

Phase II — Immersion (Residential Retreat) August 2026

The Experiential Core of the Work

Participants then enter Buena Vida’s signature immersive retreat program, a carefully held environment designed for deep psychological and emotional transformation.

During immersion participants work with:

  • psilocybin medicine
  • MDA (sassafras medicine), an empathogenic compound supporting emotional openness

The immersive experience includes:

  • group ceremonial work
  • one-on-one facilitation support
  • somatic processing and integration practices

This phase allows participants to access profound insight and emotional breakthroughs within a safe, supported container.

Phase III — Integration (6 Weeks) August-September 2026

Stabilizing Change in Everyday Life

Following immersion, participants enter a structured six-week integration process designed to translate insights into lasting behavioral change.

Integration includes:

  • weekly 2-hour group integration sessions
  • weekly one-on-one sessions with their facilitator
  • continued Voxer access for real-time support

Participants also track measurable indicators of nervous system change, including:

  • heart rate variability (HRV)
  • sleep and recovery patterns
  • brainwave entrainment and nervous system regulation

This phase reinforces new patterns so the changes initiated during immersion become sustainable.

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Testimonials

See What Others Say

"The Buena Vida retreat I attended was hands down the best experience I have invested and participated in throughout my entire life. I made lifelong friends there, worked through so many emotional hurdles and learned so much about myself and others all while feeling incredibly safe and well cared for. I would"
Lauren Eastwood
Lauren Eastwood
"Review My time at Buena Vida Retreat in Joshua Tree was by far the most amazing and impactful experience I’ve ever had in my life. The love, care, and support from the facilitators made me feel completely safe and seen throughout the journey. Nikki, Jayne and Minna are beyond amazing!! THANK YOU!!!"
Carlos
Carlos
"The whole experience – the yoga, breath work, group integration, location, food, and the medicine was nothing short of extraordinary. Of note, the medicine guided us into deep, intentional spiritual work. This was not “recreational” use."
Amy
Amy
"Words cannot convey the depth and beauty of my transformational journey led by Amanda! Amanda is deeply wise and powerful yet vulnerable. I felt safe to also be vulnerable and still stand in my own power. The ceremonies were sacred and ancient and carefully designed. I highly recommend this to anyone"
Katelyn
Katelyn
"I attended the 7 day retreat in Nov 2024. I chose to attend because I have struggled with Depression and Anxiety from a young age, and have tried many different treatments with little success. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to walk a new path with Buena Vida. This was a new experience for me, and I felt completely safe and supported."
Carlos Martinez
Carlos Martinez

Solve your doubts

Frequently Asked Questions

DEEPER is designed for individuals who have already engaged in meaningful personal development work, such as therapy, retreats, somatic practices, or psychedelic experiences, and are ready for deeper and more lasting change.

Participants should be psychologically stable, emotionally mature, and willing to engage in a structured process of preparation, immersion, and integration over several weeks.

Most retreats focus primarily on the experience itself.

DEEPER focuses on the entire arc of transformation — preparation, immersive work, and structured integration. The program is designed to help participants stabilize the insights they gain so that real behavioral and nervous system change can take hold over time.

Participants are supported by a multidisciplinary team of experienced practitioners, including PhD researchers, clinical scientists, registered nurses, medicine women, and somatic healing practitioners.

This team combines scientific expertise, clinical support, and years of hands-on facilitation experience to create a container that is both deeply supportive and informed by emerging research in psychedelic mental health and nervous system regulation.

Participants receive consistent support throughout the 12-week process.

During both the preparation and integration phases, participants receive one 2-hour group session each week and one private session each week with their assigned facilitator. Participants also have Voxer access for ongoing support and communication between sessions.

During the immersion phase, participants are supported by Buena Vida’s experienced facilitation team within a carefully held retreat environment utilizing psilocybin, MDA and San Pedro cactus medicine.

Before enrolling, applicants participate in a private screening conversation with a member of our team.

This allows us to assess readiness, answer questions, and ensure the program is an appropriate fit. Because of the depth of the work involved, not all applicants will be accepted.

Founding Cohort Enrollment

Connect with our experienced guides for all your questions about psilocybin retreats, preparation, and integration.

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