TRAUMA-INFORMED SOMATIC PLANT MEDICINE INTEGRATION PRACTITIONER PROGRAM (SPMI) with Atira Tan

29th September - 2nd October 2023

Virtual & Online

“The deep psychological and spiritual dynamics potentially brought to our awareness during ceremony require guidance, both before and after, for their full integration. Even participants who have lovely experiences may not derive the complete benefit without some guidance and help with interpretation.”- Dr. Gabor Maté

In recent years, the literature and research around working with sacred plant medicines and psychedelics have grown, however, what’s still missing in the plant medicine world is what comes after the ceremonies. This stage of the work is known as integration, and it is at this point that the "real" work begins.

The profound healing experiences with plant medicine do not end with the ceremony. The real work begins at this stage. How we use the tools and how we embody the insights after the ceremony will determine how our lives change.

Also, the plant medicine experience often brings up traumatic memories and imprints from the past. Without the right awareness, understanding, and care, participants can be re-triggered and unsupported, which can lead to a deeper experience of re-traumatization. This is prevalent in the plant medicine world.

Unfortunately, the integration process after a ceremonial experience is not given enough importance in this field, nor is there ample and adequate training for integration coaches to understand how we can help participants process trauma memories that can arise in the plant medicine space, to respond effectively, or to support the integration of plant medicine experiences fully in body, mind and in our participants lives.

The Trauma-Informed Somatic Plant Medicine Integration Model

Plant Medicine Integration, in an unregulated sacred medicine culture, is perceived at best as an add-on. It’s not well understood, and for that reason, trauma-informed plant medicine integration work which is trauma-informed does not receive attention both within the ceremony and without.

We need, therefore, to better understand the importance of integration and what it might, context-depending, consist of in order to begin to conceive of it as equally as important as the medicine itself in promoting deep healing.

Integration, in our trauma-informed paradigm at AYA Healing Retreats, is about supporting participants to become an embodiment of their insights. If within the context of the sacred medicine experience, we can turn our insights into a living reality, one that we use to create new behaviours and ways of responding to difficult people and circumstances in the busyness of our every day, we’ve become an embodiment of our insights.

In short, the objective of integration is for the insights received through the sacred medicine experience to be embodied and a living reality, instead of a collection of experiences that fade into the background. This integration space needs to be held with safety, care, and compassion, alongside an understanding of trauma foundations.

Learning to embody one’s sacred medicine insights in a holistic way, that is, with the full participation of one’s body, mind, and spirit and to have it manifest externally through one’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours may be a lofty aspiration, but it is achievable, and what we consider to be the ultimate goal and guiding premise of any successful plant medicine integration practice.

In this 4-day program, led by somatic trauma specialist & #1 bestselling author Atira Tan (M.A., SEP, TEDx Speaker, & PhD candidate), you will learn:

Mod 1:  Principles of Somatic Psychology

• A foundation of Somatic Psychology
• The Somatic Approach vs Talk Therapy Approaches
• Building the Body-Mind Relationship
• Polyvagal Theory and the Soul Nerve
• 10 Trauma-Informed Plant Medicine
• Integration Principles

 Mod 2: Embodied Communication & Interoception 

• An introduction to Embodied Communication
• Interoceptive Awareness
• Self-Regulation and Co-Regulation
• Expanding Inner and Outer Resources
• Categories of Plant Medicine Integration
• Aspects of Self in Integration

 Mod 3: Somatic Plant Medicine Integration Model 

• The Trauma-Informed Plant Medicine Paradigm
• An introduction to Somatic Plant Medicine Integration
• Objectives of Somatic Plant Medicine Integration
• The Somatic Plant Medicine Integration Model
• The anatomy of a session
• Working with Trauma Imprints
• The Hero's Journey: An application to plant medicine integration

Program Description: This four-day course is a deep dive into the world of somatic psychology, embodiment, trauma-informed foundations, and plant medicine wisdom. The program will consist of a combination of video lectures and theory, Live Zoom Workshops and experiential exploration and learning, and homework and practice sessions.

This program is for those who are interested in becoming plant medicine integration practitioners, or those working in integration circles, individual sessions, or coaching.  

You will receive: 

• 24 hours of LIVE Zoom classes with Atira Tan, alongside community connections, on the 29th September to 2nd October 2023. 
• 1 x 2 hour follow-up group supervision online session with Atira. (Not Compulsory but highly encouraged)
• Live Zoom workshops will be recorded and you have 1-year access
• 8 hours of 18 downloadable video lectures
• SPMI in ACTION bonus demonstration videos
• 1 x 2 hour follow-up group supervision online session with Atira. (Not Compulsory but highly encouraged)
• 5 hours of practice sessions with fellow students, and one hour of reflection writing.
• Your PDF manual, worksheets and integration resources.
• Access to our community group on Mighty Networks.
• A certificate from AYA Healing Retreats upon the submission of homework assignments and completing the pre-requisites of the program.

Each day consists of:

As part of our program, you'll be required to partake in required reading and assignments, 5 x practice sessions with your peers, and a supervision session (group or individual) with Atira to receive your certificate of completion.

From the 29 September - 2nd October, there will be 6 hours of live Zoom workshops (with a 1-hour break in between for community connections). All live zoom workshops will be recorded and uploaded to the learning platform Kajabi within 48 hours. 

Students are welcome to join us live or to watch the recordings at their own self-study pace and rhythm.

The times for the live zoom workshops are: 7 am PST (Los Angeles)/ 10 am EST (New York) / 4 pm CEST (Paris) / 3 pm BST (London) / 9 pm ICT (Bangkok)

*This program will start on the next day for Australian and New Zealand students.

**Times are subject to change.

Where: LIVE Online and Self-study   Dates: 29th September to 2nd October 2023

Full Cost: $795 USD

Late Bird before 15th August: $695 USD

* This program can be taken as a self-paced learning experience. All live workshop videos are recorded and you have lifetime access to the content.

** Please read our Terms and Conditions before booking. Your booking is confirmation that you have read and agree to our terms and conditions.

*** Completion of the Trauma-Informed Plant Medicine Program is highly encouraged but not compulsory for this program.
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WHO WE ARE:

AYA Healing Retreats: AYA Healing Retreats offer sacred plant medicine and teacher plant retreats with Peruvian shamans in the heart of the Amazon jungle. We are passionate about fusing indigenous wisdom with contemporary approaches to healing trauma to create safer and more integrated spaces of healing for each person. For more information, please visit: www.ayahealingretreats.com 

Your Facilitator, Atira Tan: 
A TEDx speaker, activist, somatic trauma specialist, #1 Best Selling Author, and yoga teacher & group facilitator, Atira Tan,  is a powerful agent of transformation and change. She has touched the lives of thousands of women, men, and children around the world, supporting them through her 19 years of experience in various somatic and creative trauma recovery approaches. 

Passionate about creating safer spaces for everybody, and bringing healing and awareness in the “shadowy” areas of life, Atira has worked as a trauma-informed integration specialist in retreat centers such as the Temple of the Way of Light and is currently the head of integration at AYA Healing Retreats. 

Atira has mapped the trauma recovery of hundreds of PM participants in her private practice as an integration trauma specialist and co-facilitates Trauma-informed and Somatic Experiencing Plant Medicine retreats and dietas in Peru with AYA Healing Retreats. She is also the pioneer and founder of the Trauma-Informed Plant Medicine Program, which has over 150 graduates in 2 years.

Atira has also worked for over a decade internationally in community organizations and international development as a consultant, clinician, and supervisor, as well as an educator in non-for-profit settings. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the European Graduate School in Switzerland, researching the effectiveness of somatic and creative trauma recovery interventions for sex-trafficked survivors in Asia. Atira also has presented at numerous conferences alongside Dr. Peter Levine, Dr. Stephen Porges, Dr. Pat Ogden, and Dr. Gabor Mate, just to name a few. 

Testimonials: 

"Wow!! Thank you so much Atira!!!!! I just want to say thank you for holding space for such an incredible informational experience in this Trauma-Informed Plant Medicine Workshop. I feel that I have SO many resources now to draw upon now. 

You are filled with experience and hold such beautiful. vibrant energy that is powerful, but also open and level with the people you work within such a way that it is easy to feel safe, and seen in your presence! True magic!"

– Molly Moon
Grandmother Facilitator, Isreal.

"This TIPM workshop’s deep dive into the realms of living impeccable service was nothing short of life-changing.

I remembered so much about the nervous system, about my life, about my purpose, about the bridges between paradigms, and the collective trauma on the Earth. I was deeply warmed, inspired, challenged, and excited by the entire experience.

Atira transmits genuine, care, curiosity, understanding, and expertise. She is devoted to providing safe spaces for people to heal and her life’s work is testimony to her wisdom and character.

If you’re curious to learn about the nature of trauma and how to access and support its healing potential, this body of work is well worth opening your heart and mind to."

– Melanie Gunn
Naturopath and Transpersonal Art Therapist, Australia

"I’m super grateful for this unique program. Atira’s extensive knowledge on the subject of trauma and working within the PM context has been immensely beneficial. I’ve gained a deeper sense of how to hold the container of healing, which in turn, opens doors for journeyers to be met with more compassion, understanding, and safety to move through their process.

This program is essential for anyone supporting or facilitating PM ceremonies and the process of preparation and integration."

– Simone McKay
Somah Journeys Founder, Canada

"I just came out of the 1st Trauma-informed Plant Medicine Facilitation online training with Atira Tan from Aya Healing Retreats and wow!!

I cannot recommend this training enough for anyone working in the PM space – whether you are pouring medicine, a supporter/facilitator, a pre or post-ceremonial integration specialist, or even a student of the plants.

In fact, I feel that this should be a basic foundational training (alongside 1st Aid) for all healers and support staff.

As the medicine continues to gain momentum in its spread across the globe- we are beginning to see and hear more and more stories of harm from its unskilful use, the lack of quality screening and preparation beforehand, the lack of integration support afterward, and/or the limited understanding of trauma activation and re-traumatization during retreats and ceremonies.

I feel that, in addition to traditional training, this community would benefit hugely from having facilitators and spaces rooted in a basic understanding of the nervous system and how to work skillfully with trauma survivors (and of course, how to work with our own trauma when it shows up in these spaces).

I personally feel that Atira is an excellent bridge and guide into the intersectional realms of plant medicine and trauma therapy."

– Skye Cielita Flor
Wilderness Therapist, South Africa

"My mind and heart are in deep amazement and gratitude as I apply all that I learned in the Trauma-Informed Plant Medicine workshop. 

Now more than ever, the world is in need of people who have the ability to listen and hold open space, as the entire human population is currently undergoing a traumatic event. This course is filled with gems of how to meet and support those who are intensely impacted by trauma at any stage of life. I highly recommend this course/workshop, not only to those who are interested in the relationship between trauma and plant medicine but anyone who is curious about understanding human relational patterns to self and society.

Atira shares in-depth knowledge and expertise of trauma studies while offering takeaways that are applicable for ceremonies, friendships, and even for common conversations during the COVID time. Atira and Elio’s work is much needed in the world.

– Betty Gottwald
Photographer & Kambo Facilitator, USA.

"If you are ready to engage in serious trauma healing work, Atira is the practitioner to go for. Her own genuine humanness consistently lived and embodied, and her outstandingly compassionate nature creates a strong and safe therapeutic container that cannot be surpassed. 

After a search for decades for the right trauma therapist, all thumbs up for her, as the healing and transformation, I’ve been looking for has finally become real!"

– Jessica Bertram
Eco-Tour Guide, Germany.