Mindfulness of Death: Therapeutic Group Ketamine Session with Cardea and Your Morbid Friends
With Zach Rieck, LCSW, Cassandra Biron LCSW, and Robin Silver
TUITION
Session Fee: $650.00
Medical Fee: $100.00
Cardea hosts Your Morbid Friends, a death literacy company working to help people in various stages of life grow comfortable with the inevitable fate that unites all living beings: death. We hold space for you and Your Mordbid Friends to explore the practice of maraṇasati (mindfulness of death), found in Therevada Buddhism, which is when one contemplates the unpredictable and ever-present possibility of death. Through this practice, it is believed the practitioner can more fully embrace and appreciate what it means to be alive. Their intellectual ancestors for this curated session are Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner, Ram Dass and their interpretations of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, as well as Mary Cosimano from the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins.
WHAT TO EXPECT
1.Prior to the ketamine journey, Your Morbid Friends Cassandra & Robin will guide you through the waters of death awareness using mindfulness and somatic exercises, as well as creative practices to interact with our own mortality. You will also receive a guided meditation and a packet of questions and resources for contemplation in the days leading up to the group experience.
2. Following their practices, Cardea Sound Facilitator and Clinical Director, Zach Rieck, will guide you through a one hour inward ketamine journey with live sound. Our hour-long ceremonies take place in a specially curated room created for psychedelic therapies, where each guest has a designated space to lay down and get comfortable with plenty of pillows and blankets. Once everyone self-administers their ketamine nasal spray, the group will receive live vibrational sounds from our experienced sound facilitators, to deepen the experience. Eye masks will be provided and are strongly encouraged to be worn throughout the session.
3. In the hour following the ketamine journey, we invite everyone to gather in our landing lounge over fruit and tea as they begin to explore their shared, yet inward experience. We also allow quiet space for solitude for those who’d like to remain in their processes.
4. Days after the experience, Your Morbid Friends will conduct a follow up integration session virtually, where they will continue to hold space for exploration and meaning making of your experience. Beyond that, if you are still looking for additional integration, Cardea also holds weekly drop-in group integration virtually each Wednesday evening, from 7-8pm. It’s an open group available to all our clients. You do not need to sign up in advance and you can join as frequently as you want. It will be facilitated each week by Zach Rieck, LCSW, our Clinical Director.
NEXT STEPS TO REGISTER
Introductory Call
You will begin with a 30-minute free consultation with Cardea’s Clinical Director, Zach Rieck to discuss the session in more detail and register. This is a time for us to begin the process of getting to know you and understand your interest and intentions. We will share more information about the group experience and answer any questions you may have. If it feels like a good fit, we will schedule a medical intake session and send you some intake paperwork through our client portal.
Medical Intake Session
You will then meet virtually with Cardea’s doctor for a medical intake session where we will explore your medical and mental health history with you to ensure a safe and therapeutic process. At this point, if there aren’t any unresolvable contraindications, our doctor will write you a prescription for a ketamine nasal spray which will be delivered to your home prior to the first session. You will need to bring your prescription with you to each group.
Schedule a FREE consultation with Cardea’s Clinical Director to discuss the session in more detail and register
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS:
Zach Rieck, LCSW
Zach holds the position of Clinical Director at Cardea, where he serves as both lead psychotherapist and guide for the Ketamine Care program. A licensed clinical social worker with over 13 years of experience in psychedelic communities, Zach is also an advocate and active proponent of psychedelic harm reduction. He has applied his extensive personal experience and training to educate and guide others, through trip-sitting and integration work. Zach’s work is heavily influenced by his own transformative experience using iboga to move beyond years of intravenous drug addiction.
Cassandra Biron (She/They), LCSW
Cassandra Biron is a social worker, psychedelic therapist, death doula, and end-of-life and grief educator. She works as an individual therapist specializing in 2SLGBTQ+ identity, somatics, and grief. Outside of work, she loves trees and aerial dance.
Robin Silver
Robin Silver (she/her) is an Ecopsychologist with a masters from Naropa University. Robin has studied TK for 14 years and is a Certified Mindfulness Instructor. She is passionate about helping people integrate the physical, emotional, spiritual, and ecological bodies through authenticity and connection. She believes in collective liberation above all.
Schedule a FREE consultation to discuss the session in more detail with the Cardea team:
Cardea is dedicated to assisting individuals in their recovery from deep psychological anguish and supporting those seeking an awakened life. We believe that breaking free from standardized living and embracing uncertainty and novelty are key to personal growth and well-being. Join us as we explore the limitless possibilities for self-knowledge and increased wellness through the fusion of psychedelic-assisted therapy, ketamine care, and acupuncture.
