Becoming Your Own Ally
A medicine-supported psychotherapy group experience for building inner trust and reshaping your life from the inside out.
At a certain point, the structures that once held you stop fitting.
- You hear the quiet voice of misalignment.
- You sense it’s time to center yourself again.
- You realize you’ve been orienting around others.
Becoming Your Own Ally is a medicine-supported psychotherapy group retreat designed to help you develop a radical, reliable relationship with yourself – one grounded in truth, agency, and inner trust.
This is not about becoming a better version of yourself for others.
It’s about someone you can genuinely rely on.
Begin the Conversation
Participation begins with an email conversation to ensure clarity, safety, candidacy, and fit.
Prefer to email directly?
Copy and email: info@fullliving.com
What This Experience Is About
There are many areas of life where we have limited influence.
How we treat ourselves – how we listen, respond, and care for our own needs – is not one of them.
Ketamine produces a somatic, embodied experience, allowing participants a bridge between body and mind, so they might “learn” things their head already “knows”. This retreat is where you come to learn – really learn – to love and support yourself.
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy relies on heavy intention setting prior to medicine journeys. For this group experience, participants will share the umbrella intention, a deep dive into having your own back. Reasons participants join:
- Sick of beating themselves up and doubting themselves
- Done with seeking external validation over inner wisdom
- Desperate for an embodied experience of confidence, self-celebration, and safety
- Ready to ditch the idea that shame will help them grow
Throughout the week-long experience, we will welcome you into a generous and generative – view of the self, – sprinkled with clinical teachings about radical commitment to the self, where participants are supported in reshaping how they relate to themselves from the inside out.
Why a Group Psychotherapy Experience?
Group experiences are the most gentle, supported, and accessible way to engage in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy – whether you are new to this work or already familiar with it.
Preparation is the key to relevant psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and that psychotherapy time can be costly. Groups allow for cost-sharing of the price of psychotherapy. And, they are magical.
Here is why groups are so impactful:
- You will be reminded that others suffer, and fail, and try, just like you
- You will both be witnessed and serve as a witness to acts of heroic self-reverie
- Group medicine journeys also allow for elements of ceremony, as we breathe together, get sprinkled with a sound bath, share a cozy space and good food, while still doing individual journeys and healing
In an effort to make KAP experiences affordable and accessible, we have designed this retreat-style experience without the overhead costs of lodging and the whole weekend programming. What we have included is a generous container to hold the group as each participant walks their individual path.
Retreat Structure & Dates
Dates: April 20th to 26th, 2026
Virtual Preparation
- Monday, April 20th | 6:30–8:00 PM
- Wed April 22nd – Virtual Prep | 6:30–8:00 PM
In-Person Medicine Journeys + Sound Bath
- Friday, April 24th | 2:00–8:00 PM
- Saturday, April 25th | 2:00–8:00 PM
Virtual Integration
- Sunday, April 26th | 6:30–8:00 PM
Location: Glenside, PA 19038
In an effort to make KAP experiences affordable and accessible, we have designed this retreat-style experience without the overhead costs of lodging and the whole weekend programming. Out of town participants will stay at local hotels/Airbnb’s. All participants will be asked to clear their calendars the weekend of for their own DIY additions to this retreat-like model.
What’s Included
- Candidacy evaluation and Intake
- KAP psycho-education materials from Karen’s book
- Two virtual group preparation sessions
- Two in-person medicine-supported psychotherapy group journeys
- Live Sound Bath during in-person sessions
- Fabulous post-journey food
- One virtual group integration session
- 3 KAP psychotherapists offering therapeutic containment and guidance throughout the experience
Investment & Fees
Investment in this work is significant, and we believe it’s important to be transparent about cost. This program is structured at approximately $100 per clinical hour, with three ketamine-assisted psychotherapy clinicians providing preparation, facilitation, and integration. Accessibility matters deeply to us at Full Living, which is why we’ve designed this group experience to make this level of care more attainable.
Secure Your Spot: $500
(applied toward program fee; fully refunded if not eligible based on medical evaluation)
Program Fee: $1500
Early Bird Options
- $1200 if registered by March 1
Additional Required Costs
- $250 medical evaluation
- $40 to $80 prescription fee
(or you may use your own verified prescription)
Who This Group Experience Is For
This experience may be a good fit if you are:
- Eager to try psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in a legal, structured, clinically rich setting
- Hungry for a full body experience of alliance with your inner healer
- Know the magic and wonder of the group experience and want to lean into self-care
- Desperate to stop whatever negative commentary echoes in your head and build a new frame as an ally to the self
- Wanting to learn about this tool for ongoing KAP, with at-home options
- Seeking an experiential journey as a psychotherapist with a professional interest in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
- Feel safest in the hands of a leader in the field
You won’t be “fixed” at the end of this retreat. Rather, you will be filled with material from your conversations with your inner healer and us, and prepped for weaving the lessons into your daily life, your psychotherapy work, and future KAP work for those interested in the use of this tool.
Safety, Screening & Fit
Participation begins with a conversation to ensure:
- You understand the structure, costs, and scope of the experience
- You meet medical and psychological eligibility requirements
- This retreat is aligned with your current needs and supports
This intentional screening process is part of what keeps the group safe, grounded, and effective.
How Participation Works
Participation in Becoming Your Own Ally begins with a thoughtful, relational process designed to ensure clarity, safety, and fit for everyone involved. This is not about gatekeeping; it’s about making sure this experience is aligned with where you are and what you’re seeking.
Here’s what the process looks like:
1. Begin with an email
You’ll email Karen to express interest and begin the conversation.
2. Complete a brief candidacy form
Karen will send a short Google form to gather information relevant to readiness, intentions, and fit.
3. 15-minute video consultation
You’ll meet with Karen for a free, brief consult to talk through whether this group experience aligns with your current work and support needs.
4. Secure your spot
If it feels like a good match, a $500 deposit secures your place in the group.
5. Medical evaluation and prescription
Karen will connect you with a trusted prescriber for a medical evaluation and medication. This appointment is scheduled and paid directly with the prescriber ($250).
6. Program payment
Early bird or standard program fees are due one month prior to the retreat.
Throughout this process, the goal is mutual clarity — so that when you arrive, you feel prepared, supported, and grounded in your decision to participate.
Participant Reflection
This experience is often described as deeply supportive, carefully held, and impactful in quiet but lasting ways.
“Everyone should experience this level of guided access to their inner self. I felt very cared for by the facilitators in this thoughtfully curated experience.”
— Meg M
“I sent several of my clients to the Ally retreat. All of them had wonderful experiences where they felt supported and witnessed and held. The skillful teaching of Karen Smith regarding self love and compassion and building a robust positive relationship with oneself seemed to take my clients to spaces within themselves that they couldn’t reach without the combination of the medicine and the space that Karen creates. I am now watching these clients build relationships with themselves that they previously were not able to access and it has made all the difference in their healing as we continue in our therapeutic spaces together.”
— Tracey LCSW
“This was a beautiful experience. Everyone should do it, especially if working in mental health.”
— Akash MD
— Sue N.
— Diane N. NP
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register?
Registration begins by emailing Karen directly. This allows space to confirm understanding of fees, medical requirements, and overall fit before moving forward.
Do I need prior experience with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP)?
No. Group experiences are often a gentle, supported way to engage in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, whether you are new to ketamine or already familiar with this treatment tool.
Is this therapy or a retreat?
Becoming Your Own Ally is a medicine-supported psychotherapy group experience. It is structured and includes preparation, facilitated group sessions, and integration, rather than a recreational retreat.
What happens if I’m not eligible after the medical evaluation?
Your $500 secure spot payment is applied to the program fee, and it is fully refunded if you are not eligible based on the medical evaluation.
What is the schedule and format of the retreat?
The retreat includes two virtual preparation sessions (March 23 and 25, 6:30–8:00 PM), two in-person medicine journeys with sound bath (March 27 and 28, 3:00–8:00 PM), and one virtual integration session (March 29, 6:30–8:00 PM).
Where is the retreat located?
The in-person sessions take place in Glenside, PA 19038.
How much does Becoming Your Own Ally cost?
The program fee is $1800. A $500 secure spot payment is required and is applied toward the program fee (and refunded if not eligible based on medical evaluation). Early bird pricing is $1500 by February 23rd, and Allies Early Bird pricing is $1200 by January 23rd.
Are there additional required medical costs?
Yes. There is a required $250 medical evaluation and a $50 prescription fee, or you may use your own verified prescription.
If you feel drawn to this opportunity, begin with a conversation.
Email Karen directly to explore whether Becoming Your Own Ally is the right next step for you.
Email Karen to explore fit, eligibility, and next steps. You can expect a thoughtful response within a few business days.
Prefer to email directly?
Copy and email: info@fullliving.com
Full Living does not provide emergency services. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency or need immediate support, please contact 911, 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or your nearest emergency room.