Theradelic Retreats: Self-Leadership Transformation with Dr. Dick Schwartz & Sunny Strasburg, LMFT

Theradelic Retreats is a five-day healing retreat that brings Internal Family Systems (IFS) together with ketamine-assisted therapy, held at 1440 Multiversity in Scotts Valley, California. It is led by Dr. Richard C. Schwartz, the creator of IFS, and Sunny Strasburg, LMFT, and it is open to the public. The program is aimed at business leaders and learning professionals in technology, entertainment, healthcare and the psychedelic field, and it also equips professionals to bring IFS principles into ketamine-assisted treatment.

What to Expect

The retreat runs four nights and five days, from a Sunday arrival and opening dinner to a closing lunch and departure on Thursday. The work centers on IFS parts exploration and unburdening, with the aim of reaching the qualities IFS calls the 8 Cs of Self. Ketamine-assisted sessions sit inside that frame, and there is ample time for integration, self-inquiry, group healing and visioning together.

Monday begins with an introduction to IFS and ketamine-assisted therapy, followed by parts exploration sessions. Tuesday and Wednesday continue with workshop sessions, IFS-guided work, group healing and integration, and self-inquiry. Thursday is given to final integration and closure before lunch.

Each day also includes yoga, meditation, art and movement, with hiking, tai chi and qigong on offer. Participants are asked to stay onsite throughout, which helps hold the shared container the group builds together.

Attendees leave with practical, ethical, trauma-informed tools for supporting clients through expanded states of consciousness, integration and lasting therapeutic change.

About Dr. Richard C. Schwartz

Richard C. Schwartz, PhD, created Internal Family Systems. He began as a systemic family therapist and academic, and developed the model after hearing clients describe distinct parts within themselves. He noticed that when those parts felt safe enough to relax, clients naturally showed confidence, openness and compassion, which he came to call the Self. IFS sees the mind as naturally multiple and healthy in that way, and helps people lead from their compassionate Self.

He founded the IFS Institute, which primarily trains professionals, and is a Teaching Associate in Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate. He has written or co-written more than ten books, including No Bad Parts and Internal Family Systems Therapy, along with over fifty articles.

About Sunny Strasburg, LMFT

Sunny Strasburg is a psychotherapist, author, educator and trainer who specializes in trauma-informed psychedelic-assisted therapy. Her Theradelic Approach draws together Internal Family Systems, EMDR, attachment work, archetypal psychology and ketamine-assisted therapy. She has advanced training in ketamine, MDMA and psilocybin-assisted therapy and has collaborated with leading voices in the IFS field, including Dr. Schwartz.

The Setting

1440 Multiversity sits on Bethany Drive in Scotts Valley, California. Participants stay in private rooms on campus. Meals are sustainable and locally sourced, starting with dinner on the arrival day and ending with lunch on the final day. The grounds include four miles of walking trails.

Before You Go

No experience with ketamine, other psychedelic medicines or IFS is required, and the retreat is open to all levels. Every participant completes a medical and psychological intake form before arrival, to support readiness and safety. The program is taught in English.

The registration includes all program workshops, four nights of private accommodation, all meals, the daily yoga, meditation, art and movement classes, and access to campus amenities. Tax is added to the registration cost, and travel to and from 1440 Multiversity is not included.