Therapist’s First Step: Ayahuasca in Peru

Hi friends, I’m Daniel, a freshly licensed therapist (yes, finally!) (10 years of school later) and I’m raising funds to travel to Peru for a 10-day plant medicine retreat, including three Ayahuasca ceremonies guided by Shipibo curanderos deep in the Amazon. 

 A couple of years ago, I had a life-shifting moment following a hapé ceremony and microdose of ayahuasca, which healed me of  sleep paralysis. In a visceral vision, (one where I stepped through my bathroom door and into the sights and sounds of the Amazon jungle) Ayahuasca called me to the origin. After a long search, nearly 2 years, I’ve found a group I trust and Shipibo healers who feel aligned to guide me through this next chapter. 

I will be practicing in Austin, Texas with wonderful therapists at an amazing site, Willow Tree Collective, as well as starting my own practice, Feel. Therapy and Consulting. 

As I take my next steps toward embodying the healer, building a full caseload and practicing as a therapist, it’s important to me to get clear and connected. I have a responsibility as a therapist to be aware of what I am bringing into the relational presence of my work with clients, and I have already experienced this in over 300 direct hours with clients as an intern. As I step in to my new role at Willow Tree, I would like to embark on this ayahuasca trip to deeper see myself as well as clear the space I need to hold steady for my clients.

This trip is not a vacation. We will be fasting, purging, dieting with plants, praying day and night, and sitting in ceremony for 10 days. 

 I’ve already paid the deposit and booked the first part of travel. What I still need help covering is the cost of the ceremonies and getting back home in one piece (hopefully with a few new insights and a lighter soul). If you’re able to support—whether it’s $5, $50, or a prayer—I’ll carry your name with me into ceremony. 

Your help is an extension of healing, connection, and service. I plan to share my reflections through writing and video, honoring the medicine and the Indigenous wisdom behind it with the reverence and credit that is more than deserved. 

Thanks for being in my corner, love y’all big. 

I need $1600 to get across this finish line. I've spent all my money on school, and startup costs for my practice. I would deeply appreciate your support.

Cost Breakdown: – $1,400 for ceremony & retreat – $200 for travel and resources