Frequently Asked Questions
About Enfold
Enfold is for people who are called to deep, intentional work with psychedelic medicine. Our guests come from all walks of life — executives, therapists, artists, parents, seekers — united by a genuine desire for healing, growth, or a direct encounter with the depths of their own consciousness.
We are located on a small island outside of Vancouver BC, Canada.
We call our offerings Intensives for a reason. The protocol we’ve designed over the past 6+ years is comprehensive and blends many modalities together to create a deep and lasting impact in your life.
Enfold offers world-class facilitation that people describe as deeply healing. Our guest’s stories do the best job of describing their gift for this work.
We offer a five-day Intensive that includes multi-week preparation and integration programs. We feel this is mandatory for safety and effectiveness with 5-MeO-DMT. Many facilitators offer what we refer to as “drive-by five”: 2-3 hour sessions where you show up and are served medicine and then sent back out into the world alone. This is unsafe and unproductive in our opinion. We’ve heard from many people who experienced 5-MeO this way and either got very little from the experience or came away with serious dysregulation and psychological issues.
Our group Intensives are limited to six guests at a time. We have four or five team members working at most times to ensure a high level of support and safety.
Included in the price of the Intensive is two weeks of on-call support post-intensive. Plus access to hundreds of resources, community events and integration circles, and access to support from coaches, therapists, and our community of Enfold Angels who offer peer-support sessions.
The high-dose medicine ceremony is private. Many group retreats have guests consume the medicine all together so they can serve more people at once. This greatly limits your ability to feel safe and fully surrender to the medicine.
We only host 20 Intensives per year max. We bring an exceptional level of care, energy, and attention to every person we serve.
We’re located in Canada, one of the safest and beautiful countries in the world.
Awakening to Life is our flagship, comprehensive 5-MeO-DMT program — refined over 6+ years and 500+ transformative guest journeys. It blends modern psychology, somatic and energetic modalities, IFS-informed coaching, and universal spiritual wisdom to deliver lasting healing and transformation. It is a five-day on-site Intensive, but the full process spans weeks before and months after your time with us.
The word “retreat” implies stepping back from life. At Enfold, we believe that true transformation requires the opposite: developing the resilience and capacity to step fully into life. While the surroundings and accommodations are world-class, this is not a getaway. It’s a commitment to your healing, your growth, and your future. We call it an Intensive for a reason.
The program includes: a thorough intake and screening process; group and one-on-one preparation sessions with your facilitators; a comprehensive preparation program; a 5-day residential stay at our retreat property; group and private ceremonies; daily group integration circles; somatic sessions; a detailed post-program integration plan; and ongoing integration support following your return home. Additionally, guests receive access to hundreds of resources, community events and integration circles, and access to support from coaches, therapists, and our community of Enfold Angels who offer peer-support sessions.
Groups are limited to 6 guests at a time. We have 4-5 team members working at most times to ensure a high level of support and safety.
A maximum of 20. We bring an exceptional level of care, energy, and attention to every person we serve, and deliberately limit our volume to protect that standard.
Mid-life transitions and rediscovering purpose; enhancing intimacy, relationships, and connection; releasing deeply held traumas that therapy can’t access; connecting with God, source, or a sense of deep universal consciousness; discovering or deepening embodiment; finding love for yourself.
We have two private suites with king-size beds and private patios that open onto a lavender garden. We also have two spacious shared rooms that sleep two people each, with breathtaking views of the Howe Sound. All four rooms have ensuite bathrooms. Communal spaces are available 24/7 if you need somewhere to curl up with a book or journal at any hour.
Absolutely — we think hearing directly from the people who’ve been through Awakening to Life is one of the best ways to get a feel for what this experience is really like.
Our Still In It podcast features in-depth conversations with past guests about their 5-MeO experience – how they prepared, what shifted, and how they’ve integrated it into their lives.
You can also read written stories here from our community.
The short answer is yes, though only a very limited amount per year. Most typically, we offer a private version of the Awakening to Life Intensive for up to 6 guests, which allows you to curate your own group. We are also open to creating custom formats that focus in specific areas and offer various medicines and structures such as couples work, family sessions, and more. We have very limited space for privates, please contact us if you’re interested in learning more.
The Medicine + Safety
Not to be confused with N,N-DMT, 5-MeO-DMT is unique from any other psychedelics and one of the most powerful medicines in the world. It is technically legal in Canada, as an unrestricted substance.
5-MeO-DMT has incredible potential for healing and expanding consciousness. It’s also not a great fit if this is your first foray into personal development work. See the “How do I know if Enfold is the right fit?” question for more on this.
If you’re new to psychedelics, we encourage you to spend some time in our 5-MeO-DMT section to learn more. We offer a wide variety of resources, videos, and free online courses to help you determine if this medicine is right for you.
When administered carefully, with thorough screening, expert facilitation, and appropriate preparation and integration, yes — 5-MeO-DMT has a strong safety profile. The primary risks are psychological (the intensity of the experience can be overwhelming) rather than physiological. Serious adverse events are rare. Our rigorous screening process is designed to minimize risk and ensure appropriateness for each individual.
Contraindications include: personal or family history of psychosis or schizophrenia; active suicidal ideation; certain heart or cardiovascular conditions; certain medications including SSRIs, MAOIs, and lithium; pregnancy or breastfeeding; and acute psychological crisis.
We screen out folks who have physical conditions that affect heart and lung performance, and folks on certain medications. If you’re on SSRIs or anti-anxiety medications, that’s not necessarily a problem. However, if you’re taking any MAOIs, this medicine is not a safe choice.
This list is not exhaustive. We assess each applicant individually through our screening process. We have a pharmacologist on retainer and medical emergency plans in place for all Intensives.
Yes — there is a growing body of research being done at top institutions and pharmaceutical companies around the world. Enfold has compiled a collection of the most recent studies, found here.
No. We offer sober facilitation — which is not the norm in this industry. We believe you deserve the full, undivided presence of your guides during ceremony.
Profound psychedelic experiences can be fleeting and difficult to translate into lasting change without the right context and support. Integration is the bridge between the experience and your actual life. This is one of the biggest problems with “drive-by” style offerings — people have powerful openings with no structure to carry the insights forward.
Readiness
Generally speaking, the Awakening to Life Intensive is for people who have done a good amount of personal development and discovery work before arriving. This might be self-directed learning, therapy, coaching, workshops and retreats, psychedelic work, meditation, etc.
If you’re considering 5-MeO-DMT, know that it is a very powerful experience. It’s not well suited for folks who are just beginning their self-discovery journey. That said, we work with many guests that have never done large-dose psychedelics before. Through the screening process we can help you determine if this medicine is a good fit for you. See our 5-MeO-DMT section for more details.
We will also screen out folks who have physical conditions that affect heart and lung performance, and folks on certain medications. If you’re on SSRIs, or anti-anxiety medications, that’s not necessarily a problem, however if you’re taking any MAOI’s, this medicine is not a safe choice.
We are also not set up to work with people who are dealing with serious instability in their lives. If you’re having trouble managing the basic functions of your life, we are not a good fit. That said, we work with many people dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, and many other conditions.
If you have questions, email arthur@enfold.org.
Potentially yes. We work with guests who have never done large-dose psychedelics before. The screening process is where we help determine readiness. We also offer a free video series and a Discovery Call to help you make an informed decision before registering.
A previous challenging experience does not automatically disqualify you. In many cases, it may be exactly why this kind of comprehensive, supported approach is right for you. We assess each person individually. Please disclose all previous experiences in your application.
After submitting your application, we arrange a screening call to ensure alignment and readiness. This is not just a formality — we take it seriously to protect the integrity of the space we hold and the safety of every guest.
Yes — and many couples find it to be one of the most powerful things they’ve ever done together. If you’re joining as a couple, simply book two shared room spots and we’ll place you in the same room. We can also arrange the beds in a king configuration rather than doubles, just let us know.
Going through this experience alongside your partner can deepen intimacy and connection in ways that are hard to put into words. That said, each person’s journey is their own! You’ll each have your private ceremony separately, which means you can fully surrender to your own process without the weight of being “witnessed” by someone you love. The combination of individual depth and shared experience tends to be incredibly potent.
Booking + Payment
Review the information about the Intensive you’re interested in to determine if it’s a good fit for you. If you’re unfamiliar with 5-MeO-DMT, learn more here.
If you’re feeling ready, the first step is to submit an application. From there we’ll arrange a screening call to ensure your suitability.
If you have any questions, please email arthur@enfold.org.
If your initial application looks like a good fit, we’ll schedule a discovery call to get to know you and answer your questions. From there, if we’re aligned, you’ll receive a more comprehensive safety and readiness intake questionnaire and we’ll begin the registration process. We take this process seriously — and we appreciate you doing the same.
Yes, and it’s actually a required part of the process. Everyone who applies will be invited to a Discovery Call before being given access to book. It’s a chance for us to get to know you, understand what you’re looking for, and make sure this experience is the right fit for you and for us!
Submit your application and we’ll be in touch to set that up.
In the meantime, be sure to check out our 5-MeO-DMT page and learn more about Awakening To Life.
A referral from an Enfold Alumni is preferred and will be prioritized. However, we do accept applications from those who haven’t been referred. These undergo a more thorough screening process.
We are happy to offer interest-free payment plans. Please contact us to enquire.
Beyond payment plans, we do our best to make our Intensives accessible to people regardless of their financial means. Our scholarships are offered on a case-by-case basis when we have funds available. Please reach out and share more about your situation and we’ll see what we can do to support you.
Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable, except in rare cases where we determine that the Intensive is not a good fit for you (at Enfold’s discretion). If you need to cancel, we will do our best to support you while honouring the commitments required to hold space for the Intensive.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended to protect your investment in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as illness, personal emergencies, or travel disruptions. While Enfold cannot refund or transfer payments once confirmed, many travel insurance providers allow guests to insure their Intensive fee—as part of their total non-refundable trip cost—so they may recover it directly through their policy if a covered event prevents attendance.
For full details, please review our Refund & Rebooking Policy.
Enfold Intensives are small, carefully held spaces, and each guest’s participation directly impacts the experience we create and the sustainability of our work. While we wish we could offer full flexibility, participation is non-refundable once confirmed.
We strongly encourage all guests to purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes both trip cancellation and emergency medical coverage. This helps protect your investment in case of illness, injury, or other unforeseen circumstances.
When requesting a quote, include your total non-refundable travel costs (Intensive fee, flights, accommodations, and ground transportation) so your policy reflects the full amount. Common providers include Allianz, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Travel Guard, and Trawick International.
You can review our full refund policy anytime at enfold.org/refunds.
