Overcoming Addiction with Natura Care Programs

What's new and what's coming in 2023 for a novel approach to addiction that harnesses psychedelics

The progress I have made in my recovery serves as a testament to the current treatments available for addiction and, more importantly, the advancements on the horizon. I underwent medically-assisted treatment and detox, followed by hardcore AA, a Buddhist approach to recovery, and ultimately, through unexpected twists of fate, discovered the transformative power of psychedelic plant medicine in the Amazon rainforest.

Today I am stoked to share an update on Natura Care Programs, a non-profit organization I co-founded with some remarkable individuals. NCP is a cutting-edge approach to addiction that fuses time-tested practices and ancient wisdom with modern protocols. If I could turn back the clock, this is the program I would have loved to attend in my early recovery—or even several years into recovery, to take my life to new levels of depth and awareness.

Last year, NCP ran its first successful cohort, and there were some heartwarming stories of transformational recovery (see below). Today we are officially opening enrollment for our second cohort, which launches on March 14th, 2023.

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Exciting program developments:

1. Team Updates. We are thrilled to welcome Jean Tuller to the core NCP team, leading contemplative and meditative instruction. Jean was formerly the Executive Director of Refuge Recovery and later co-founded Recovery Dharma, one of the leading Buddhist-based recovery programs. She’s an experienced meditator, teacher, and practitioner. The mettā flows right out of her. 

We’ve also added two experienced ceremony facilitators and counselors with highly relevant addiction experience: Kopali Serna is an Ayurvedic practitioner and ceremony facilitator. Danesh Oleshko is a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in transpersonal and depth therapy for addiction counseling.

2. Curriculum Updates. NCP is a hybrid in-person and online longitudinal model. We are finessing and further developing our educational content hosted on Kajabi. It includes weekly videos, exercises, and nuggets of wisdom from our team. 

3. Expanded Integration Program. After our first cohort’s intensive two-week immersion at Posada Natura, we noticed there was a desire, and even need, for more on-site integration. Thus, we are happy to extend the immersive experience to one full month, with the minimum immersive experience still being two weeks for NCP participants. The second two weeks are now open to both NCP participants and a broader audience! See below for more details.

4. Mentor program. As a way to deepen their commitment to recovery, graduates from our first cohort will be returning as mentors to participants in the second Cohort. Mentors also have the option of attending the expanded integration program explained below.

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Introducing: Natura Care Integration Program!

This year, we are thrilled to open up the second two weeks of on-site programming as part of a novel Natura Care Integration Program. The idea is to provide an even more therapeutically structured environment for NCP participants and mentors to continue to receive support on their recovery path, while also inviting anyone looking to integrate entheogenic experiences, not necessarily just individuals facing addiction.

What this means: these two weeks are open to anyone interested in a supportive setting that nourishes the soul and encourages wellness on all levels! Ideal participants include people integrating entheogenic experiences, those navigating life transitions (new beginnings and endings, grief, loss, and new diagnoses), individuals in addiction recovery, cancer recovery, and individuals interested in habit change. 

The program is a balance of unstructured time for deep rest, relaxation, and reflection supported by optional classes in contemplative practice (yoga, meditation, conscious movement), nature immersion, ecstatic dance, periods of silence, and optional individual and group counseling. Nutritious, nourishing, and delicious organic meals complement the experience as well as deep support from nature through the surrounding rainforest and the pristine Naranjo river. Included in the program is participation in one optional Amazonian medicine ceremony.

Dates: Week 1: May 1-8th, 2023; Week 2: May 8-15th, 2023

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Testimonials from our first cohort:

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Indigenous Reciprocity & Scholarships 

Ayahuasca shamanism originates from the Amazon basin. NCP is a non-profit entity that directly engages in indigenous reciprocity, sharing participant proceeds with the communities from which our lineages derive. 

As you may know, this type of interdisciplinary entheogenic work can be expensive. Accessibility is extremely important to us. Thanks to our visionary donors like Project New Day and Paul Stamets, we are proud to offer financial scholarships for those with limited means, with special consideration given to combat veterans and individuals from marginalized communities.

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Please keep us in mind for your loved ones 

As we expand our programming into 2023, we are seeking referrals from folks in our network who might benefit from this innovative and holistic approach. And please feel free to share this post on social media, or to send your friends the NCP website below.

In the spirit of healing, thank you for your consideration.