Group Retreats
Our Approach
At the Ikaros Project, we honor the depth, nuance, and mystery of your inner work. Our ethos for cultivating change was forged through decades of rigorous training in psychotherapy, coaching, and apprenticeships with ethical plant medicine facilitators, shamans and guides. Your Ikaros Project facilitators are all seasoned, experienced coaches and therapists, who also have extensive firsthand experience with psilocybin and aim to bring in the most impactful elements of each lineage to your process of healing, growth and expansion.
As skeptics ourselves, we embrace complexity and the unknown. We are constantly investigating what science, practice, intuition, and tradition each bring to your psilocybin journeys. We are trained to guide real emotional transformations as they unfold in both individual and group settings, in order to co-create a space where you can process what comes up in a safe, grounded, and caring way. With this kind of support, the insights from your journey don’t just stay in your mind, they can take root in your day-to-day life.
What to expect
We believe your journey with psilocybin begins the moment you decide to join our retreat. That’s why creating a sense of safety and belonging is central to every Ikaros Project event. Before arriving, you’ll have the chance to meet one of the founders, connect with your facilitators, and get to know your fellow participants through one-on-one and group preparation calls.
Once you arrive, it’s important that you feel seen and cared for. Our facilitators are here to support you, to answer practical questions, offer emotional guidance, and ensure your personal needs are met with attention and care throughout your stay.
We respect that you might be exploring ways to set new boundaries or might be working with a new experience of yourself and your emotions during the retreat. We provide a schedule of meals, expressive arts and activities, always with an ethos that you decide, which individual and group activities you participate in throughout your time with us.
Next : Hermes Retreat
9-13, March 2025
Catricum, The Netherlands
Transitium ZeeVELD
Special Guests/Events:
Cacao Ceremony
Sound Bath, Live Music & DJ Session with:
Jurgen Groezinger
Fireside integration day chat with:
Professor Wouter Hanegraaff
Meals & Foraging Wisdom:
Celina Bedbur
Cost: Price includes all initial consultations, screening calls, pre- and post-retreat one-on-one integration coaching calls, group preparation and integration calls, all meals, lodging, and psilocybin truffles.
€3975 - Private Room
€4375 - Private Room w/ Ensuite Bathroom
Where Icarus embodies longing and daring, Hermes offers navigation and return, guiding us to move between worlds without losing ourselves. In his many forms, from the winged messenger to Hermes Trismegistus, he stands at the threshold between spirit and matter, guiding the passage between worlds. His ancient teachings speak of correspondence - as above, so below; as within, so without, reminding us that true transformation isn’t found in escape, but in integration.
The Hermes Retreat invites this kind of alchemy: a deeper journey that honors both longing and presence, vision and embodiment. It’s a path for those who wish not just to transcend, but to return, carrying what they’ve seen into the fabric of daily life. What we touch in the heights must be lived on the ground.
Typical Retreat Day and Itinerary
During our 5 Day, 2-Psilocybin Signature Journey Retreat, you can expect the following schedule:
Day 1: Welcome, one-on-one preparation session, opening group circle
Day 2: Light breakfast, group check in, psilocybin journey, group dinner
Day 3: Group check-in, One-on-one integration coaching session, expressive arts
Day 4: Light breakfast, group check in, psilocybin journey, group dinner
Day 5: Meditative walk, brunch, group sharing & integration planning, goodbyes
On non-journey days, all meals will be provided: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Testimonials
« I was dealing with burnout, severe depression, anxiety disorder, significant weight gain, and a lack of clarity and purpose. I felt completely hopeless. My experience with Susanna and Courtney has been nothing short of life-changing. »
— Jody, IKAROS client.
They bring a lifetime of hands-on, practical experience that you can sense as soon as you speak with them.
Susanna draws on her decades of coaching experience and deep expertise to help you confront what has been holding you back and create tangible results in your life. Courtney applies her psychological training to help you explore your inner world and turn those insights into meaningful change. Together, they are a powerhouse. I owe my newfound freedom, sense of self, and ability to live in truth to them both.
And the best part is the courageous way they show up for others in this world. They genuinely love to help, guide, and support people, and it is incredible to witness this unfolding during one of their ceremonies.
« In June 2025 I attended a psilocybin retreat with Courtney and Susanna. This was the best gift I have ever given to myself. »
— Laura, IKAROS client.
I have never before used psychedelics so this was out of my comfort zone but it felt like coming home within myself.
It has now been 3 months ago and I still experience change and growth within myself. It's difficult to put into words how "big" this experience is. The care and warmth that Susanna, Courtney and the rest of the team bring, creates a safe place. I look back on my retreat with a big smile and full of gratitude.
« Susanna has been accompanying me for almost 10 years, and there are very few people I trust as much as her. I appreciate her for her unique combination of humor, compassion, and expertise. Her irrepressible interest in people and humanity makes her one of the best listeners I have ever encountered. »
— Claus, IKAROS client.
Courtney accompanied me both via Zoom and in person—during preparation and follow-up, as well as directly on site at the retreat. Rarely have I experienced such mature coaching skills. Courtney knew how to meet me with openness and compassion, but also with focus, exactly where I was at that moment, and support me in my self-exploration. In addition to her methodological skills, she brings a wonderful blend of joy and reliability. Her decades of experience in accompanying people could also be felt in the group, where she provided valuable structure and a lovely casual swing.
Susanna has been accompanying me for almost 10 years, and there are very few people I trust as much as her. I appreciate her for her unique combination of humor, compassion, and expertise. Her irrepressible interest in people and humanity makes her one of the best listeners I have ever encountered. Her ability to grasp the deeper and more complex connections of the soul in conversation is extraordinary and reflects her decades of experience and personal maturity. As a fundamentally cheerful and easy-going person, she can be clear and precise when circumstances require more focus and mindfulness. For me, her support is a real gift.
Facilitation Team
In addition to our signature 5-day retreat, we are thrilled to be joined by some very special guests to enhance your experience.
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Edle Hofsli
Licensed clinical psychologist, certified ISTDP therapist from Norway with 25 years of experience who integrates EMDR and mindfulness in her work. She is passionate about the healing potential of psychedelics and also harm reduction. Edle leads a local group of the Norwegian Psychedelic Science (NVP) organization. Edle has a lifelong curiosity for the unconscious and dreams, and is called to support others in accessing deeper wisdom and healing, making way for authenticity and living from our hearts. She enjoys yoga, singing, dancing, silence/meditation and hiking in the mountains. She is the mother of two grown up children.
See her website
LinkedIn -
Christopher Russo
Licensed U.S. psychotherapist who specializes in experiential therapies, guiding individuals and couples toward states of connection, security, and liberation. His clinical approach is rooted in attachment theory, affective neuroscience, and body-oriented and psychodynamic theory. He holds advanced training in Transformative Couples Therapy (TCT), Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), and EMDR. In his practice, Chris creates a comfortable and heart-forward environment for clients to meet the parts of themselves who have been in lifelong need. He helps them draw on their inner resources and innate capacity for healing. He is particularly enthusiastic about how psychedelics can help bypass defenses and offer new pathways to healing, leveraging neuroplasticity for deeper and more lasting change. Outside the office, he loves exploring new towns and trails with his wife and daughter, sharing stories with friends, and perfecting his s'more roasting technique.
Website
LinkedIn -
Wouter Hanegraaff
Wouter Hanegraaff is a scholar whose lifelong curiosity has always led him toward what lies at the edges of mainstream culture, such as the neglected, the overlooked & the forgotten. From his early fascination with mushrooms in the Dutch Mycological Society, to his studies in music, philosophy, and cultural history, he has followed the red thread of exploring hidden traditions and ways of knowing. Through his writings and teachings, Wouter invites us to step into unfamiliar worlds that expand our perspectives and enrich our imagination.
Before the retreat, Wouter will give an online presentation to set the stage, inviting us to see the journey not only as personal healing but as part of a larger human story. At the retreat, he will join a fireside chat, drawing on ancient wisdom and visionary traditions in dialogue with participants. Linking his perspectives with the previous day’s experiences, the exchange can inspire and prepare for the journey ahead, offering fresh insights into how psychedelics can help us find meaning, balance, and creativity in the world.
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Celina Bedbur
Celina, is based in Cologne. Her own psychedelic journey began several years ago, first alone, then with the compassionate guidance of Susanna. Through this, she came to deeply appreciate the healing power of this work, which makes her all the more grateful to now contribute herself.
As a wilderness educator, cycle mentor, and nutritionist, Celina supports people in reconnecting with themselves, with nature, and with forgotten wisdom. She also brings her passion for food, foraging, and cooking into the retreat, caring for the group in the kitchen with love and mindfulness helping you to nourish the body, heart, and soul throughout the process.
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Juergen Groezinger
Throughout our 5 days, we will be gifted with live music from Juergen Groezinger on percussion. Juergen will be facilitating a sound bath following an opening night cacao ceremony on your first night with us and DJing a music and movement session on our 3rd night together. He will also be playing live music during both psilocybin journeys, playing in sync with the collective emotions in the journey room.
Instagram
Private Retreats
Just like in our group retreats, your safety and wellbeing come first. With experienced facilitators by your side, you’ll receive plenty of personal attention and space to move at your own pace. A private retreat can be a gentle, powerful way to go deeper, with the support that’s fully focused on you.
Pricing will depend on the number of private retreat participants, lodging and travel costs for our facilitators.
Our Approach
We understand that larger groups do not meet everyone’s needs. Depending on the issue you are working on and your own experience getting your needs met in a group, it might be important to explore setting up an individual or small group private retreat with the Ikaros Project team. We would be happy to initiate this process with you by scheduling an introductory call to assess your needs and goals, and the logistics of a private retreat.
Our private retreats give you (or a small group of friends or partners) the chance to design a retreat that matches your priorities. Maybe you want more privacy, a flexible schedule, or a location that feels just right for you here in the Netherlands. Together, we’ll curate the setting that works best.
Integration coaching
Our Approach
Our integration coaching extends the support you receive during retreat, helping you carry insights into daily life. Integration means taking what arises in expanded states of consciousness and translating it into positive habits you can sustain in your daily life.
Psychedelics are not a cure-all, but they can open windows of insight and new neural pathways. With intention and guidance, these openings can lead to real transformation; without them, the mind often slips back into old patterns.
Through practices like setting intentions and honoring the process on personal, ceremonial, and collective levels, we create a container for meaningful change. Integration is not a one-time event but an ongoing practice of renewal. A way to reimagine life, and ground vision into reality.
Susanna
Susanna guides clients through psychedelic integration with empathy, humor, and a deep respect for each person’s unique path. With over 35 years of personal experience with psychedelics and more than a decade supporting individuals in altered states, she brings both wisdom and grounded insight to her work. Trained as a master coach, body-oriented coach, and yoga teacher, Susanna helps clients turn profound experiences into meaningful, lasting change. Her approach weaves embodiment, relational presence, and the meeting point of science and lived wisdom, anchoring expanded states into everyday practices of connection, healing, and growth.
Courtney
Courtney brings over 25 years of experience as a clinical psychologist, family therapist and consultant for organizational change to her work in psychedelic integration coaching. Rooted in attachment-focused, trauma-informed, and relationship-based approaches, she creates a compassionate space where clients can safely explore and make sense of their experiences. Informed by her training in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), she helps clients transform fragmented or unspoken experiences into coherence, connection, and resilience. With warmth and expertise, Courtney supports people in weaving the insights of their journeys into lasting personal and relational transformation.
Do you have questions before booking your retreat ?
