Awaken & Expand:
A Psychedelic Wellness Retreat Weekend
3-Day Weekend Retreat
Healing the Soul, Discovering the Self
October 3-5, 2025
Lake Arrowhead, Hiawassee, Georgia
The Heart Way Counseling & Coaching will be offering a 3-day retreat in the foothills of Northern Georgia on Lake Arrowhead. This is an intimate small group psychedelic (ketamine) and meditation retreat to support healing, personal discovery, and transformation. You will be guided by a trauma informed therapist and well-trained psychedelic assisted therapist in this holistic weekend with the intention of supporting and fostering mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Payment plans available
Who will Benefit from this Retreat
This retreat is developed for those who are seeking to awaken and understand their inner self, for self-discovery, transformation of inner beliefs and evolve into the highest version of you. The retreat is beneficial to support releasing of old ways of being, identify inner resources, ground in your own self energy, connect in a group with other beautiful souls, and experience a restorative feeling within.
You don’t need to have experience with Ketamine, meditation or counseling but a desire to open up, to heal, seeking to journey inward, and self-discovery. Ideal for those who have participated in meditation practice at the Heart Way and those with experience with Ketamine and seeking to elevate their personal healing journeys.
This retreat is also perfect for anyone in the medical or therapeutic fields. We strongly support those individuals who are “healers” and needing their own support and a restorative experience so you can go back into the world an do your best work. Additionally, friends, partners, and couples are warmly welcomed to join in this connective and restorative weekend.
We aim to provide a safe, trusting, curious, and compassionate environment for your growth and healing. We welcome you with an open heart.
What to Expect
Up to seven participants are invited to join us for a transformative retreat in a beautiful lakefront home surrounded by serene woodlands. The home features spa amenities designed to help you relax and unwind. Each day will offer opportunities for personal growth, healing, and meaningful connection—with yourself and others.
While the psychedelic journey is a key component, it is just one part of this thoughtfully curated experience. The retreat integrates a trauma-informed mental health therapist with holistic and spiritually aligned offerings, including meditation, crystal bowl sound baths, and holotropic breathwork.
You’ll also have free time to walk in nature, relax by the lake, unwind in the sauna, swim in the indoor pool, or soak in the outdoor hot tub. The experience includes a fire pit ceremony, nourishing daily meals and snacks, and a farewell brunch on our final day together. The itinerary will remain flexible to meet the evolving needs and desires of the group.
Tailored to support your healing journey.
Community
The true healing medicine unfolds when like-minded souls gather in sacred space—where hearts open, minds soften, and the energy of collective intention rises. In this shared journey, something powerful happens: we begin to see ourselves reflected in one another, held not only by the practices, but by the presence of the group itself. This is where the magic lives—in a space that is safe, supportive, and confidential.
Holistic
Offering practices and activities that focus on healing the mind, body, emotions, and spirit through meditation and energy work, sound bath healing, breathwork, and art. These immersive experiences are designed to gently guide you back to your center—restoring inner harmony, cultivating self-awareness, and awakening your natural state of peace and vitality.
Medical
Ketamine has been shown to produce rapid and significant improvement in symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and many other mental health conditions. Additionally, psychedelic medicines (including ketamine) significantly increase neuroplasticity, which can be an incredibly powerful tool for rebuilding neural pathways, healing from trauma, and rewiring “stuck” thought patterns, beliefs, behaviors, etc. You will be medically evaluated first for approval and
ketamine dosing prescription before the retreat.
Activities
Meditation
This meditation will be guided by a therapist and devoted practitioner of a Heart-Centered meditation. The practice focuses on the path of the heart—releasing, healing, and transforming the energies we’ve held onto that contribute to pain, resistance, and fear. As the heart heals, it begins to open, allowing love to flow in and fostering greater compassion for ourselves and others, as well as deeper authenticity.
This meditation cultivates awareness of the energies within and around us, supporting spiritual growth and enhancing mental, emotional, and physical balance, clarity, and overall well-being. For those new to this practice, it offers a gentle introduction to self-discovery and energy awareness, shared among a supportive group that includes experienced practitioners who can aid in your healing journey.
Fire Pit Ceremony
We will hold a fire pit ceremony to release, with loving compassion, what no longer serves us—creating space to reconnect with our authentic selves and align with our true purpose.
Free Time
You may choose to rest, go for a walk, sit outside and enjoy the lake, grounds, spa
amenities, and connect with others in the group.
Art
After the second guided Ketamine journey, we will create art with pastels, watercolors, or
paint pens to allow what needs to be seen, understood, and expressed with this media to
support our healing and integration.
Sound Bath Healing
Immerse yourself in the healing vibrations and tones of crystal bowls, inviting deep relaxation and restoration for the body, mind, and soul. The sound and resonance of the bowls have a transformative effect—shifting the mind from states of activity, anxiety, and distraction to stillness, calm, and grounding.
Breathwork
Holotropic Breathwork is a therapeutic breathing technique that aims to help with personal growth and emotional healing. Developed in 1975 by Chhristina and Stanislav Grof. HB involves rapid, controlled breathing patterns and music to help participants enter an altered state of consciousness. This process is intended to help participants access deep-seated aspects of themselves. HB can be especially helpful after a Ketamine journey to support integration.
Itinerary
Day 1
2:00pm: Arrival and Check-In
4:00pm: Meditation
5:15pm: Ketamine Preparation Review and Intentions
6:00pm: Guided Ketamine Group Session
8:00pm: Dinner
9:00pm: Fire Pit Ceremony
10:00pm: Free Time to enjoy the sauna or indoor pool
Day 2
8:00am: Morning Circle
9:00am: Meditation
11:00am: Guided Ketamine Journey
1:00pm: Lunch
2pm-4pm: Free time to enjoy the grounds, lake, and amenities
4:00pm: Integration and Art
6:00pm: Dinner
7:00pm: Crystal Bowl Sound Bath Meditation
8:00pm: Evening Fire Ceremony
Day 3
8:00am: Morning Circle
9:00am: Meditation
10:30am: Holotropic Breathwork
12:00: Brunch
1:00pm: Closing Circle
2:00pm-4pm: Free Time to enjoy the spa amenities, the lake, and the grounds.
5pm: End of Retreat
Why Ketamine?
Legality and Efficacy
This Psychedelic and Meditation Retreat is 100% legal and ketamine is medically prescribed for the purposes of improving mental health. The therapist guiding the retreat is well trained in psychedelic assisted therapy and a trauma informed therapist. In the State of Georgia, Ketamine is the only legal psychedelic medication available for these purposes. A ketamine session like other traditional psychedelics provide a mind altering experience however, ketamine will last 40 minutes to an hour with an hour down time vs. other traditional psychedelics that last 4-6 hours.
Experience
Some people experience ketamine as a deep state of relaxation and tranquility. Others report joy, gratitude, and love. If you never experienced an altered states of consciousness Ketamine can be beneficial to your first experience as the duration is short but providing deep introspection and emotional processing. Ketamine has the potential that can lead participants into breakthroughs, improve moods and symptoms within hours. Individuals have experienced prolonged periods of symptom relief, enhancing overall functioning and well-being.
Lodging Options
Private Room
3 Individual Queen size bedrooms available
Total Cost of All Inclusive Stay $1650 each
Shared Room
Shared room for 4 with 2 sets Bunk Beds
with one full size mattress
All Inclusive Stay $1450.00 each
Join us in 5 easy steps
Step 1
Complete the
screening form
Step 2
Schedule an appointment with therapist to review screening, intake/preparation and signed forms.
*If you are already a client skip steps 1 and 2. But go ahead to step 3 if you need to receive additional ketamine for the retreat.
Step 3
We will refer you to our medical partner Journey Clinical to schedule an appointment for a medical evaluation that will provide the eligibility for Ketamine (cost of the evaluation and 2 Ketamine doses 347.00).
Step 4
Once approved you can make a payment to register for a space in the retreat.
Step 5
Congratulations you are in and we will see you at the retreat!
There will be virtual Q&A sessions on Wednesday, June 25 at 8pm or Wednesday July 23 at 8pm.
Eligibility
In order to participate in the retreat, you must be screened by our clinical and medical staff and determined to be an appropriate fit for a psychedelic-assisted therapy retreat. Generally, those who have struggles with anxiety, depression or trauma history make great candidates.
Journey Clinical will refund your evaluation costs if it is determined that you are not eligible.
Applications & Payments
Application are due by September 1, 2025.
Retreat balances are due by September 1, 2025.
Payments may be split into monthly or bi-monthly payments as requested.
