Our Approach: Preparation & Integration
The arc of an ETI retreat: before, during, and after the journey.
At the Experiential Training Institute, we don’t see the psychedelic journey as a single moment. It’s an arc — a process of opening, exploring, and returning. That’s why every retreat we offer is grounded in careful preparation, guided experience, and deep integration.
This page offers insight into how we hold that arc. Whether you’re preparing to attend one of our group retreats or simply curious about what an ETI experience looks like, you’ll find an overview of the key elements below — from our holistic intake process to the tools and practices we return to throughout.
Screening & Intake: A Holistic View
The journey begins before you arrive.
Every participant starts with a health screening form and a one-to-one intake session with Jeanine and Hans, our co-founders and lead facilitators. Jeanine is a psychologist, and Hans is a psychiatrist, and together they bring a rare combination of clinical expertise, therapeutic sensitivity, and human warmth.
This conversation is more than a medical check. It’s a moment to explore your history, clarify your intentions, and ensure that this experience is the right fit for you. Their combined lens offers a holistic view of your psychological, emotional, and physical readiness.
We believe that screening is an act of care — not exclusion. We’re here to meet you as you are.
Preparation: Laying the Foundations
After screening, the preparation process begins. In the weeks leading up to the retreat, we invite participants into a gentle rhythm of connection and support.
This includes:
Group calls to begin forming connections with fellow participants and facilitators
Guidance around intention setting, journaling prompts, and inner inquiry
Physical preparation advice, including sleep, nutrition, and calming practices
Tips for building your support network, setting boundaries, and creating space post-retreat
These touchpoints are designed to help you arrive with greater clarity and presence — emotionally, mentally, and physically prepared to enter this work.
The ETI Method: A Thread Through It All
One of the defining features of our retreats is the ETI Method — a practice rooted in systems theory, constellation work, and parts-based inquiry (inspired by modalities like Internal Family Systems).
Using stacking dolls as symbolic representations of the inner self, we invite participants to explore the different parts that shape their inner world — the protector, the child, the seeker, the unseen. This framework helps build language and emotional contact before the psychedelic experience, and we return to it again during integration.
Think of it as a thread — weaving through preparation, ceremony, and reflection — helping you make sense of what arises.
Ceremony: A Held Experience
The retreat itself unfolds over three days. Here's a glimpse into what that looks like:
Day 1 – Landing
You’ll arrive into a warm, natural space where you’re welcomed by Jeanine, Hans, and our extended team of facilitators. Our team is made up of experienced practitioners who are skilled in working with non-ordinary states of consciousness. We typically maintain a 2:1 participant-to-facilitator ratio, ensuring that everyone feels safe, supported, and seen.
The day includes opening rituals, grounding practices, and group exercises to prepare your body and mind. You’ll explore your inner world using the ETI method, reflect on your intention, write a letter to ‘self’, and take part in sharing circles — all held with presence and care.
Day 2 – Journey
After a light breakfast and a morning walk, we open the space for the truffle ceremony. Together, we revisit our group agreements, set the tone for safety and openness, and begin with a short meditation.
Throughout the day, Jeanine, Hans, and the wider team are there to hold space — offering both clinical wisdom and deep intuitive presence. After the ceremony, we gently return to food, conversation, and rest, with an evening circle to begin making sense of what’s emerged.
Day 3 – Integration
We begin with movement, breath, and bonding, allowing space for reconnection. In the final hours of the retreat, we return to the ETI Method as a tool for integration — helping you find meaning in the images, emotions, and insights that may have surfaced.
The final closing ceremony is often described as the most powerful moment of all: a collective reflection where the group’s transformation becomes visible, audible, and deeply felt.
Integration: Living the Insights
The days and weeks after a psychedelic experience are fertile — and fragile. That’s why integration is not an afterthought for us. We offer:
Group integration calls after the retreat
Reflection exercises to deepen insight
Access to trusted therapists and practitioners familiar with the ETI approach
Integration is about weaving insights into your daily life — not rushing to explain them away, but tending to what’s been revealed with patience and presence.
About the Team
Jeanine and Hans guide each retreat alongside a small team of facilitators trained in trauma-informed care, non-ordinary states of consciousness, and somatic and relational modalities.
With a background in psychiatry (Hans) and psychology (Jeanine), they bring a rare integration of science, spirituality, and soul to each experience. Their presence anchors the space — offering safety without control, and guidance without imposition.
Questions? You're welcome to reach out.
If you’re new to psychedelic work or simply want to understand how we hold space, we hope this page has given you a feeling for our approach. Every step of the ETI arc — preparation, experience, integration — is crafted with intention.
Ready to take the next step? Explore our upcoming retreat dates or reach out with any questions. We’re here to walk with you.
