Dr. Nick Atlas

Dr. Nick Atlas has 30 years of experience with psychedelics and the healing arts, having facilitated over 500 solo and group journeys with a variety of psychedelic substances. Nick holds a Ph.D. in Psychology with multiple certifications, has taught extensively at the university-level, and serves as both Chair of the Department of Transpersonal Psychology and Faculty Chair at Atlantic University. The Director of Evolutionary Education®, he also offers personal and professional training in Breathwork, Meditation, Yoga Nidra, and Lucid Dreaming, and specializes in trauma-sensitive, body-centered approaches for emotional release. He works with a wide range clients dealing with various issues including anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, substance abuse, and terminal illness, as well as those seeking spiritual awakening, reconnection and realization. Originally from New York City, Nick has authored a memoir ("The Light Travelers") detailing his own psychedelic journey and world travels, and enjoys making music, open-water swimming, and hiking with his dog in the beautiful, Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts.

1. Deepen Understanding of Psychedelic Facilitation

• Historical and Cultural Contexts: Explore the use of plant medicine in Indigenous, Eastern, and Western traditions. Understand the cultural significance and historical evolution of psychedelic practices.

• Legal Landscape and Risk Management: Review the legal status of various psychedelics at state + federal levels. Explore strategies for managing legal risks, including maintaining thorough documentation, obtaining informed consent, and implementing risk mitigation practices.

• Ethical Considerations: Discuss the ethical implications of psychedelic facilitation, including consent, safety, and boundaries.

2. Develop Practical and Trauma-Informed Facilitation Skills

• Facilitation Techniques: Practice guiding clients through psychedelic experiences using techniques such as verbal guidance, non-verbal support, somatic attunement, and crisis intervention.

• Dual Roles: Participate as both facilitator and journeyer to gain insights from both perspectives, enhancing empathy and understanding of the client experience.

• Crisis Management: Learn to recognize and manage challenging situations during psychedelic sessions, ensuring client safety and emotional support.

3. Enhance Personal and Professional Growth

• Transformative Practices: Engage in meditation, yoga, breathwork, dreamwork and embodiment practices to integrate non-ordinary states of consciousness. Apply these practices to enhance personal insight and professional efficacy.

• Self-Care Strategies: Develop routines and practices to maintain personal well-being, manage stress, and prevent burnout.

• Reflective Practice: Review personal experiences and professional practices to identify areas for growth and improvement.

4. Implement Effective Screening, Preparation, and Integration

• Client Screening: Learn to assess clients' suitability for psychedelic facilitation through comprehensive screening processes, identifying potential risks and contraindications.

• Medical History Review: Evaluate the client's physical and mental health history, current medications, and any previous experiences with psychedelics.

• Psychological Assessment: Conduct thorough assessments to identify underlying psychological conditions, trauma history, and current emotional state.

• Risk Factors Identification: Identify potential risk factors such as family history of mental illness, current substance abuse, and suicidal ideation.

• Informed Consent: Ensure clients fully understand the potential benefits, risks, and unknowns associated with psychedelic facilitation, and obtain informed consent.

• Preparation Techniques: Develop strategies to prepare clients for their psychedelic experiences, including setting intentions, creating a safe environment, and establishing trust.

• Integration Support: Understand the critical role of post-session integration, helping clients process and apply their experiences in meaningful ways through follow-up sessions, integration circles, and ongoing support.

5. Cultivate a Holistic Approach to Healing

• Holistic Integration: Merge clinical methodologies with energetic practices to create an integrated approach to healing that respects both scientific and spiritual dimensions.

• Contemplative Practices: Explore how meditation, "parts" work, yoga, breathwork, and other practices can be used to support psychedelic integration, enhancing overall therapeutic outcomes.

• Embodied Wisdom: Emphasize the importance of body-based practices and somatic awareness in the healing process, helping clients reconnect with their physical selves.

6. Build a Supportive Community

• Communal Learning: Participate in group activities designed to foster collaboration, mutual support, and shared learning among participants.

• Peer Support Networks: Establish connections with fellow practitioners to create a support network for ongoing professional development and collaboration.

• Group Dynamics: Learn to facilitate and navigate group dynamics effectively, fostering a safe and supportive environment for all participants.

7. Promote Integral Practice

• Continual Learning: Commit to ongoing education and adaptation to stay current with the latest research, developments, and best practices in the field of psychedelic facilitation.

• Professional Integrity: Uphold the highest standards of professional integrity, ensuring that all practices are conducted with respect, care, and responsibility.

1. Experiential Learning:

• Direct Experience: Participants will have the opportunity to personally experience the transformative processes they will guide their clients through. This first-hand experience is invaluable for understanding the nuances of psychedelic journeys.

• Facilitation Practice: Engaging in both experiencing and facilitating sessions will enhance practical skills and build confidence in supporting clients.

2. Comprehensive Skill Development:

• Therapeutic Techniques: Learn and practice a variety of contemplative practices (meditation, breathwork, dreamwork, "parts" work, journaling, etc.) that help access and integrate non-ordinary states of consciousness.

• Integration Strategies: Gain insights into effectively integrating these experiences into clients’ therapeutic journeys, using both psychedelic and non-psychedelic methods.

3. Holistic Approach:

• Interdisciplinary Learning: The retreat incorporates elements from Eastern, Indigenous, and Western psychologies, providing a well-rounded perspective on healing and integration practices.

• Combining Traditions: Explore the synergy of clinical and shamanic traditions to enhance therapeutic outcomes.

4. Enhanced Empathy and Connection:

• Empathetic Attunement: Develop deeper empathetic skills and learn to create a safe, supportive environment for clients undergoing psychedelic experiences.

• Community Building: Engage in communal learning with peers, fostering a supportive network of like-minded professionals.

5. Personal and Professional Growth:

• Self-Care: Emphasis on self-care and cleansing practices - a crucial and often overlooked step of energy workers and mental health providers.

• Reflective Practice: Use of journaling and other contemplative practices to review teachings, personal development and gathered insight.

6. Scenic and Safe Environment:

• Natural Surroundings: Held in the serene Berkshire Mountains, the retreat provides a peaceful backdrop conducive to deep inner work and relaxation.

• Safe Container: A secure environment ensures participants can fully engage in the training without external distractions or concerns.

7. Experienced Guidance:

• Expert Facilitator: Benefit from the knowledge and expertise of facilitator with 25 +years experience and a track record of successfully supporting several hundred psychedelic journeys.

• Diverse Perspectives: Learn from a team that values and integrates various healing modalities and philosophies.

8. Enhanced Communication Skills:

• Effective Communication: Improve your ability to communicate effectively and with attuned sensitivity with clients in vulnerable states, helping them navigate and articulate their psychedelic experiences.

• Embodied Wisdom: Develop the ability to embody the wisdom gained from personal and facilitated experiences, making you a more grounded and effective practitioner.

• APPLY + PREPARE ONLINE

After submitting an application and deposit, you will receive a call from Dr. Nick (30 mins), during which time you can ask questions and learn more about the training/retreat experience. In the weeks that follow, you will receive additional instructions and reading material to help you prepare, be introduced to your journey partner (who you will both sit for and journey with), and have the opportunity to meet other participants via three online sessions over Zoom (10/11, 10/24 and 11/08/26). You will also have time to prepare and practice guiding screening and Preparation sessions with your journey partner in the weeks leading up to the retreat.

• RETREAT: ARRIVE + SETTLE IN

On the afternoon of your arrival (Day 1), you can settle in to the retreat space, explore the land, enjoy the fresh mountain air, and connect with Dr. Nick and other members of the group.

• CIRCLING + CEREMONY

Prior to dinner on the first evening, we will formally gather as a group to "open the circle" and set intentions for the transformative journeys ahead on Days 2 & 3. We'll continue to meet in small groups and as a whole throughout the retreat, in addition to participating in a variety of activities and 1-on-1 check-ins conducive to creating the best possible experience for everyone.

• EXPERIENCE

The transformative journeys take place on the second and third day of the retreat, beginning mid-morning and lasting the better part of the day. Each participant will have an opportunity (but is not required) to journey with their "guide" on one of the journey days, and to facilitate for their "client" on the other day. The journeys will be conducted in a comfortable, indoor setting--either communally or in private--where the atmosphere may be curated to deepen and enhance your experience. Dr. Nick will be present in a common area throughout your entire experience, but will not directly intervene or "guide" you unless called upon. You will also have access to the outdoors and the natural beauty of the Berkshires.

• INTEGRATION

The evenings after the journeys will be spent resting, processing, and exploring different forms of integration which will stay with you long after the retreat is over. You will have an opportunity to share your experience with the group, gain feedback, and check-in with Dr. Nick, as well as take time for yourself to read, journal, meditate, and enjoy nature.

• CELEBRATION + DEPARTURE

Our final morning together (Day 4) will feature a wonderful brunch prior to our closing the circle and departure around noon. You will be invited to stay in touch with your journey partner and other group members, and to take part in a 1.5 hour Group Integration session (via Zoom) about a week after the retreat, followed by a 1-on-1 session (30min) with Dr. Nick at your leisure. Dr. Nick will continue to support your integration in the weeks and months that follow via email support and additional sessions by request.

Tuition includes all online programming and 4 days & 3 nights food and accommodation at the retreat venue in the Berkshires. Participants will have a choice between a private or shared bedroom, and have access to one of several shared, hall bathrooms (See "Investment" below for options). The space features airy, light-filled common areas, cozy nooks, a fire pit, outdoor seating and panoramic mountain views throughout.

The tuition costs listed below include all online sessions and the in-person retreat. You have four accommodation options for the retreat:

Option 1: $3600 per participant (or $5760 per couple) for a private room with king bed and shared, hall bath;
(1 space available).

Option 2: $3500 per participant (or $5600 per couple) for a private room with queen bed and a shared, hall bath;
(SOLD OUT).

Option 3: $3300 per participant for a shared room (2 people per room) with single bed and a shared, hall bath;
(1 space available).

Tuition includes a $500 application deposit.

We are also pleased to offer a Payment Plan, which consists of your $500 deposit + 2-3 installments of equal value to be completed before 11/01/26.

All payments are due by 11/01/26 in order to ensure your space.

Please note that gratuities for staff (chef, etc.) are not included in the price of tuition.

In the event of a serious illness (as deemed by the retreat leader), a death in your immediate family (parents, children, or siblings), or an unforeseen cancellation on our end, you will have the option of receiving a full refund or transferring your tuition to a future retreat.

Please note that refunds will not be given in the event of Covid-19 infection prior to the retreat (so please protect yourself as best you can in the lead-up).

The retreat needs a minimum of (4) participants to proceed. If we do not meet that number within (5) weeks of the start of the retreat and, at our sole discretion, decide to postpone or cancel, you will receive a full refund or may transfer your tuition to a future retreat.

It is our sincere hope that the threat of infection will remain low, making it feasible for us to hold the retreat in person. During the retreat, we are fortunate to have ample space with proper air circulation, as well as opportunities to gather outdoors whenever possible. Still, we intend to take every safety precaution, including the employment of social distancing and the use of face masks if and when necessary, etc. While we do not require that you have been vaccinated by the start of the retreat, you are strongly encouraged to consider the risks of participation, both for yourself, your family, and your fellow participants.

• The training was everything I wanted, combining the didactic with experiential learning, and the in-person component was essential for me. I enjoyed how small and intimate the cohort was. Coming out of the training, I feel quite comfortable and confident in facilitating journeys. This is exactly what I was looking for.

• The in-person retreat was a safe and nourishing container in which to explore the very edges of beingness and the defenses we build against knowing love and who we really are. To be able to journey and then sit for another was quite a unique and powerful experience. I also enjoyed gathering together in the morning for breathwork and movement and at the delicious meals at the table together.

• The content, camaraderie, and the integrity of Nick were all big influencers for me.

• I was looking looking to acquire enough knowledge in this realm to gain enough confidence and also to experience both going through and facilitating a journey to gain firsthand experience. The training met my expectations in both areas.

• Nick holds a very strong container for exploration and curiosity with calm and clear presence and wisdom.

• Attending this retreat was one of the most transformative facilitation and learning experiences I have had so far. From the moment I arrived, I felt supported, safe, and genuinely seen. Nick held a compassionate and intentional space, allowing me to go deep into my growth process. The combination of journey preparation work, integration practices, and heartfelt community connections was powerful beyond words. What stood out the most was how the retreat wasn’t just about the experience but about equipping us with tools and practices to integrate what we learned into daily life. I left with a lighter heart and a sense of empowerment to navigate my work more intentionally. If you’re considering attending, know you’ll be held in a space of love and growth. This retreat was truly career-changing, and I’m deeply grateful.

In order to apply for the retreat, please submit an online application along with a $500 deposit.

The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. Your deposit will be returned in full if you are not accepted into the retreat.

Please note that we will not review your application until your deposit has been received.

Space is limited, and registration closes 10/08/26.

IMPORTANT: When making your payment, please do not mention anything psychedelic-related in the payment notes. Simply write, "Facilitator Training." Thank you!

You are welcome to pay your deposit via the following, preferred methods:

Zelle: nick@evolutionaryeducation.org
Venmo: @evolutionary-ed

PLEASE NOTE: When paying via Venmo, do not check "For Goods & Services," as our services are not covered by their policy and this will incur an additional fee that will be passed onto you.

It is also possible to pay via PayPal or Credit Card by clicking the "Pay Deposit" button below. Both options will incur an additional $25 transaction fee.

After you make your deposit via any of the above methods, please email us a brief note to say "hi" and alert us of your application and payment. You may send the email to nick@evolutionaryeducation.org and include "Facilitator Training" in the subject header.

APPLICATION

PAY DEPOSIT