Our aim at Conscious Growth is to create the right set and setting that allow you to embark on a transformative journey in your personal development within the context of a psychedelic retreat. Through a combination of somatic and creative practices, group dynamics and the psychedelic trip using psilocybin truffles, we help you explore your inner self, find clarity and connect to a community of like-minded people. Integration is also a fundamental part of the experience so as to bring what you live out in the retreat into your everyday life. Continue reading to have the opportunity to get to know more about us, what motivates us in our work and what our values are.
Our Team
Joan Sirera
Joan is a Gestalt psychotherapist who holds certifications in working with trauma, therapeutic dream work and Somatic Sexuality. Over time he has developed a holistic approach, integrating humanistic psychotherapy with body awareness, meditation techniques and creative exploration. He is especially skilled in facilitating personal development through artistic expression and facilitates retreats internationally. His main expertise is in the use of altered states of consciousness to enhance human potential.
Michael Conti
Michael is a consultant psychotherapist, coach and clinical supervisor working from an integrative somatic perspective. Trained in EMDR Therapy, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, and Somatic Sexuality, he specialises in working with altered states of consciousness, trauma, and gender and sexuality with a particular focus on the LGBTQIA+ population. He is the author of the book Living Better with Yourself – A Practical Guide to Embodied Growth and runs workshops internationally.
Why We Do This
Both of us have been on a lifelong journey of personal growth and quest for meaning and purpose. We’ve come to appreciate the complexity of life and our unique place in it, striving to live more consciously and in the present moment. We continue seeking to be truer to the ever-changing experience of life, staying open to what is and becoming freer from self-imposed and external judgements and expectations.
Our personal approach to life greatly influences our professional work. As psychotherapists, we have years of experience working with diverse people and psychological issues. Our paths, however, have extended beyond therapy and continue doing so. We’ve explored various disciplines like theatre, somatic practices, music, movement, philosophy, psychology, science and spirituality. We have experienced in ourselves the transformative potential of psychedelics and, having worked extensively with them, we’ve also witnessed the same in others.
In our work with psychedelics, we combine the knowledge we’ve learnt from traditional ceremonial practices that have been used in various cultures for thousands of years with modern psychological and therapeutic approaches. We respect the multifaceted nature of these substances which go beyond cultural expressions or interpretations and open up new dimensions of experience. We strongly believe in a ‘less is more’ perspective where safety and deep personal work lead to the most impactful psychedelic experience.
Our goal is to create opportunities for others to experience deep transformative personal growth with the help of psychedelics. We believe that much can be learnt from these experiences and want to provide the opportunity for whoever wants to explore them to have the means to do so.
Our Values
Trust
We are committed to creating the highest level of trust that enables people to challenge themselves and grow
Respect
We celebrate the diversity of gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, culture, age, and abilities
Nurture
We foster a nurturing environment through our guidance and support, always within an ethical framework
Uniqueness
We offer a highly-personalised experience and take the time to know each person on multiple levels
Transformation
We do our utmost to create an experience that is highly significant in the development of one’s life journey
Integration
We use different tools to help integrate various aspects of oneself while respecting the varied dimensions of life
Community
We believe that everything is interconnected and aim to create an accessible space to nurture this
Beauty
We believe that beauty is a fundamental component of the experience we are providing
