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Plant Medicine Retreat Staff Training & Professional Development

Develop the skills to work confidently and responsibly in the plant medicine retreat industry. Mountain Wind offers practical training for retreat center administrators and plant medicine facilitators, covering guest safety, professional communication, emergency preparedness, integration support, and retreat center operations.

Whether you’re entering the field or developing your existing skills, our one-on-one training programs help you build the knowledge and experience that reputable retreat centers look for.

Practical Training

Skills for real retreat center environments

Self-Paced Learning

Learn around your own schedule

Affordable Tuition

$50 per section or $200 for all five

Building Better Retreat Centers Through Professional Training

A successful plant medicine retreat depends on more than the ceremonies themselves. Behind every well-organized center is a team of people responsible for guest communication, preparation, safety, and day-to-day operations.

Mountain Wind’s training programs focus on the practical skills that make these experiences safer, more organized, and more supportive for everyone involved.

We believe professional development should be accessible, practical, and grounded in the realities of working at a retreat center. That’s why our courses combine individual instruction, structured learning, and guidance on finding responsible employment within the industry.

Building Better Retreat Centers Through Professional Training

Explore professional training designed for two essential roles in the retreat center environment. Whether your strengths are organization and administration or hands-on guest support and facilitation, our programs help you develop the skills centers need.

Why Train With Us

Practical Training Built Around the Realities of Retreat Center Work

Our training focuses on what retreat centers actually need: practical skills, one-on-one instruction, and honest guidance on finding fair, responsible work in the field.

Real-World Skills

Learn practical skills used in the daily operation of retreat centers, not just theoretical concepts.

Individual Instruction

Work directly with experienced instructors who can address your questions, experience, and professional goals.

Responsible Employment

Understand professional expectations, recognize reputable centers, and learn how to identify fair working conditions.

Our Training Aims to Build a Better Community

Mountain Wind believes that better-trained staff contribute to better-run retreat centers and more responsible guest experiences. Our programs are designed to help develop that foundation.

THE PATHWAY

How the Training Works

1. Consultation:

Share your experience level, expectations, and focus

2. Choose Your Path:

Take a single section for $50 or all five for $200.

3. Learn at Your Pace:

Work through the material on your own schedule.

4. Take Your Next Step:

Put your skills to work and look for administration work.

Whats Included:

Personal, Practical, and Built Around You

Your training begins with a one-on-one consultation, so we can shape the program around your goals and experience. From your first conversation to your final session, you are guided by experienced trainers. All you have to bring is a willing spirit. We will handle the rest.

Price: $50 per Section or $200 for All 5

Curriculum Overview for Each Course

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This section is an introduction to the course and gives basic information on the course. Including layout of lessons, syllabus, and how receiving international accreditation works. No matter where you want to facilitate this section sets you up for success. The topics will cover in depth:

  • Skills you can teach to guests, offer to a center, or use to resolve challenges in your industry.
  • How to find qualified teachers and earn verifiable certifications in these skills.
  • What are guests looking for? What are centers looking for? Which valuable skills do guests and centers often overlook?
  • How the rest of the course will benefit you, the center, and guests.

Being prepared for any emergency regardless of location is imperative to guest safety. Today one of the most popular searches is “safe ayahuasca retreat.” Guests need to feel safe to go deep into the work retreat centers are offering.  This section addresses this by teaching:

  • Certification options that increase guest safety.
    • Where to begin?
    • What is optimal?
    • Advanced options.
  • How to evaluate a location for emergency situations.
  • How to build an emergency medical response plan tailored to a location, center, or situation.
  • Best practices for building an emergency medical kit, advice on equipment, and legal concerns when giving medical help.

Integration begins before the guests leave the center and learning how to provide basic integration services is imperative to guests getting the most out of their experiences. This will give you the keys to how to hold space when a guest is sharing their experience with you. Designed to help facilitators run group or one on one integration support during retreats with optional recommendations for certifications in psychedelic integration coaching. We take guidance from traditional therapy in dream interpretation and apply that to psychedelic visions. The section breaks down into the following topics:

  • Understanding Jungian, Freudian, and New Age approaches to dream interpretation, and their limitations.
  • How to guide guests toward interpreting their own experience.
  • How to explain and prepare guests for any challenges they may experience during or after their stay.
  • The importance of integration after guests return to their lives.
  • Certifications that qualify you to be a professional integration coach.

Retreat Centers are often places where people from all kinds of background are working on traumatic or intensely personal issues. That is a recipe for interpersonal conflict. In this section we will explore how to address these issues when they arise. Guest to Guest or Staff to Staff facilitator who are prepared to help provide a solution are extremely valuable to the Center and the guest experience.

  • The goal is a workable resolution for the center, not a permanent solution to the underlying personal conflict.
  • How to get to the root of the challenge.
  • Understanding the scope of your responsibility in conflict resolution.
  • How to address potential conflicts before they happen.

After completion of the previous sections, our students are ready to work anywhere in this challenging and rewarding field. But how can you find your first position? How can you identify good centers to work for? We answer these questions and more:

  • Red flags and green flags for facilitators seeking a job.
  • How much should you earn? What is expected of you? Which responsibilities should you decline?
  • The risks of unpaid internships, and how to recognize when volunteers are being taken advantage of.
  • Next steps and how to gain experience.
  • Job recommendations at reputable centers seeking your skills.

This section introduces the course and the roles and functions of administrators in retreat center operations. No matter which center you work for, it sets you up for success. The topics covered in depth:

  • Evaluation of existing documentation, digital assets, and processes a center may have.
  • Organization of assets so a center can recognize where it needs to improve.
  • What are guests looking for? What are centers looking for.
  • Which valuable details do guests and centers often overlook?
  • Establishment of a standard of services a center wishes to provide.
  • How the rest of the course will benefit you, the center, and guests.

Strong forms and clear documentation are the backbone of a well-run center. This section teaches you how to create comprehensive forms that evaluate guest readiness and protect the center from liability. It covers:

  • Creating a standard screening form to evaluate guest readiness.
  • Creating a standard release form to protect the center from liability.
  • Organization of forms and how to ensure they are properly stored.
  • Documentation of policies, procedures, and processes, including how to create them and evaluate existing documentation for flaws.
  • Ethics of gathering and storing guest information.

The screening process is vital to bringing the right guests to a center safely. This section teaches you how to screen potential guests, from the basics to medications and medical conditions, and what to be aware of after screening. It covers:

  • Why guests often fill out screening forms incorrectly.
  • Covering the basics: when guests want to attend, the cost of the experience, and why they are attending.
  • Medication contraindications: how to evaluate medications for potential contraindications.
  • Beyond medications, which medical conditions might interfere with the process, and what to look for.
  • What to be aware of after screening: potential difficulties, communication, and how to assess whether a guest has been fully forthcoming.

Administrators keep a center’s digital presence current. This section teaches you how to update websites, manage social media, and create marketing campaigns for retreat centers. It covers:

  • Basic website editing for minor updates, such as adding a new retreat to an existing page, and how to correct mistakes.
  • Social media strategies and best practices for multiple platforms.
  • Foundational instruction on marketing for retreat centers, including which aggregators to use and what they cost.
  • Managing conflict online, including how to respond to negative reviews and malicious bots.
  • How often to post, respond, and update across all digital assets.

Where to look, when to apply, and what to look for in administration work. How can you find your first position? How can you identify good centers to work for? We answer these questions and more:

  • Red flags and green flags for administrators seeking a job.
  • How much should you earn? What is expected of you? Which responsibilities should you decline?
  • The risks of unpaid internships, and how to recognize when volunteers are being taken advantage of.
  • Next steps and how to gain experience.
  • Job recommendations at reputable centers seeking your skills.

Your wellbeing comes first

Are you are Retreat Center Owner and would like to train your Staff?

We offer bulk pricing options for retreat centers that want to level up their staff. Or we can teach an owner or manager and give you our course structure so you can get your staff the accredited certifications we recommend for all retreat centers operating in the wellness space.

Extend Your Journey

Guests are looking at your staffs qualifications.

More and more guests are looking for centers that offer the training we have developed. They want to feel safe, supported and that your staff has the authority of qualifications. We have done the research, now your center can benefit and attract more high quality guests with an internationally accreditied certified staff.

Start From Scratch

Our programs can teach one person in leadership to guide your staff.

Our program is a simplified and basic instruction used to guide retreat staff to external accredited sources of certification. With this information you can guide your own staff to these certifications. We can tailor the training specifically to your centers needs by analyzing your reviews, website and online reputation. Keeping costs of leveling up low and improving your bottom line.

Share your ideas and we’ll help shape the details.

Who It’s For

Which Training Fits You?

You don’t need previous professional experience to begin. Our programs are designed for newcomers as well as people already working in the industry who want to improve their skills.

Aspiring or Experienced Retreat Administrators

For people interested in working behind the scenes of a plant medicine retreat center, managing guest inquiries, organizing documentation, coordinating screening, and maintaining digital platforms.

Aspiring or Experienced Retreat Facilitators

For people interested in working directly with guests and supporting retreat teams, helping maintain a safe, organized, and supportive environment throughout the retreat experience.

Aspiring Psychedelic Integration Coaches

For people who want to coach others through the time before and after a ceremony. We point you to the training that prepares you.

Undecided?

If You Still Are Unsure Which Training Fits You, Contact Us.

We are ready to help you find out what training works best for your skills, lifestyle and goals. Book a call and we’ll tell you plainly which path suits your goals, including when it’s a different one than ours.

After Training

From Training to Responsible Work

Finishing a course gives you more than knowledge. You leave with a certification, a listing trusted partners can review, and honest guidance on finding fair work at reputable centers.

Mountain Wind Certification

Awarded when you complete all five sections of the full course.

Database Listing

You’re listed where trusted partners can find and evaluate you.

Web Badge

Show centers that hire you where your training came from.

Job Referrals

We recommend graduates to trusted partners to support your search.

Employment Readiness

Training includes a section on finding honest, fairly paid work

Mountain Wind Retreats FAQ

Below you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about all of the retreat offerings with Mountain Wind. We’ve compiled the most important information to help you prepare.

Our Raymi Retreats (Quapaq, Pawkar, and Inti Raymi) are Huachuma retreats in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, built around Andean festivals. The Serpent & The Condor is a 9-day journey from the Manu jungle, with Ayahuasca and Kambo, up to the mountains near Cusco for Huachuma. Not sure which fits? Book a free call and we’ll help you choose.

Mountain Wind arranges your lodging, meals, transport, and the ceremonies and medicines for your retreat. You arrange your own flight to Cusco and your travel documents.
 
Mountain Wind arranges your lodging, meals, transport, and the ceremonies and medicines for your retreat. You arrange your own flight to Cusco and your travel documents.
 
Mountain Wind arranges your lodging, meals, transport, and the ceremonies and medicines for your retreat. You arrange your own flight to Cusco and your travel documents.
 

Booking starts with a free consultation, usually by video call on WhatsApp or Telegram, where we talk through your intentions, health, and medications. You then complete our intake form and reserve your space with a 50% deposit. The deposit is non-refundable, but with enough notice, or in an emergency, it can be moved to a future retreat.

Every participant has a personal onboarding interview before booking, where we ask about your reasons for joining, your health, and any medications you take. Some conditions and medications make Huachuma, Ayahuasca, or Kambo unsafe, and if a medicine isn’t right for you, we’ll tell you honestly. Please don’t stop or change any medication without speaking to your physician first.

Raymi Retreats are limited to 9 guests, and The Serpent & The Condor is limited to 6. Small groups give every guest more attention from our guides and keep the experience personal and improve sustainability. 

Yes. We can add Machu Picchu, the hot springs, or almost anything available in the Cusco region to an existing retreat, or build a private retreat around your own dates and intentions. Visit our custom retreats page to start planning.

Yes. Our own certified integration coaches, each screened and hired by Mountain Wind, support you before and after your retreat. You don’t need to have attended a Mountain Wind retreat to reach out.

We don’t offer master plant dietas. If you’re looking for a dieta, a center in a different location, or a way to dieta without traveling, book a call and we may recommend a partner center from our community. Our partners are centers we work with professionally, and we receive no compensation from them for these recommendations.

What is the Booking Process for Mountain Wind?

The Booking Process follows the following steps in order.

  1. First we ask for you to choose a retreat or custom retreat offering. So we know what questions to ask in step 2.
  2. Next, we will conduct a Free Consultation to verify that the retreat matches what you wish to experience. After your consultation is finished we will provide a code and a link for you to make a deposit.
  3. Then we ask that you make a deposit to secure your spot in the retreat you have chosen. Payment methods are Stripe by Credit/Debit Card, PayPal by Credit/Debit Card or from your Bank Account/PayPal Balance, or by Western Union Wire Transfer. Verify the code given is the correct code or put it into the Memo of your transfer for security that you have finished your Consultation. We reject all payments that do not have a code, please have your Free Consultation before making a payment, or contact us.
  4. Finally, you will be provided a PDF by email talking about the preparation for your retreat. A few weeks before your retreat please send us your travel information or hotel so we can be sure to pick you up at the correct location.

Safety is very important to Mountain Wind. We also want to be sure we don’t accept payments unless we can provide you with the highest quality experience possible.

We ask you to follow our Booking Process to be sure you can attend our retreats with confidence and in a safe way, without unnecessary charges to your payment method.

In some emergency cases beyond your or our control, we will refund your deposit in full. There are some conditions to consider:

  • If you are cancelling your attendance to our retreat, is there enough time to find someone to take your spot? Generally we ask for 6 weeks minimum to find another guest and if that time is available a full refund will be issued within 5 business days.
  • Is the reason for cancellation our fault? If so a full refund will be issued as soon as possible.
  • Is the reason for cancellation beyond your control? In certain cases, there is simply nothing you can do and you must cancel. We understand, if there is less than 6 weeks before your retreat we may have already sent your deposit to our partners to secure the retreat, if there is even less time we have bought food, supplies, or plane tickets for staff. Please work with us, communicate, and we will do our best to find a solution. We do suggest travel insurance if at all possible to be assured that a situation like this is covered.
  • In many cases the first solution we will offer is to move your deposit to a future retreat of your choice. If this solution works, we ask that you please understand, prices change, exchange rates change, and not every retreat cost will stay static. We will ask that you cover the difference if at all possible, and we ask that you please move your retreat to a future retreat within 1 year of your previously booked retreat.
  • If you do not notify us, and do not show up for your retreat, we can not help you. If you know you can not attend, even hours before your pickup, please contact us and let us know so we can be of assistance.

A WhatsApp message is the best way to get a hold of us in a timely manner. Contact us here, if you have any questions or concerns. In the past, there has never been a time when a customers deposit was lost, unless they refused to contact us or answer their phone number on file. Our refund policy is subject to change without notice, however be aware we can always find a solution. Book with confidence, we will take care of you.

We accept payment by credit or debit Card various providers. You may also transfer directly from your bank account Or you may pay by cash, credit, debit, or bank account with other services. 

After your free consultation, we send secure payment instructions and help you arrange payment.

Booking links are created once for your deposit. Contact us on WhatsApp or by email and we will help you, and we can send a copy of your invoice.

The product code verifies that you completed your free consultation, and links your paperwork to your payment. This keeps your records secure and lets us contact your emergency contact if needed.

We use your information only for our internal safety and booking processes. We do not share it. We keep records for [CONFIRM: 3 years], then archive them as required by law and destroy them when no longer required. To request your data, contact us and verify your identity by video call.

The deposit is 50% of the retreat price. The remainder is due on arrival. Our partners prefer cash in dollars if at all possible. Coordinate with us if you prefer another payment method.

All prices are in US dollars, and we prefer payments in this currency. Exchange rates often effect the cost of our services and retreats. If you are moving your deposit to another retreat the exchange rate could affect the cost.

We have no minimum retreat size and will not cancel a retreat for this reason. If Mountain Wind cancels a retreat we will fully refund your deposit as quickly as possible.

How do I prepare for 3,800 m (12,400 ft)?

Arrive early to acclimatize, drink plenty of water, eat lightly, rest, and avoid alcohol for your first days. Mild headache and fatigue are common at altitude. Ask your doctor about altitude medication before you travel, especially if you have heart, lung, or blood pressure conditions.

If at the mountain house we have oxygen, over the counter medications, natural supplements, and the staff has 30 years of experience helping guests acclimatize quickly. We have had 80 year old guests and others in varying degrees of health come and work with medicine. In extreme cases we follow NOLS WFR best practices and can descend in altitude and slowly return to help acclimatizations.

Huachuma has no strict diet. Ayahuasca does require dietary restrictions, and Kambo requires fasting from food and caffeine for at least 8 hours beforehand. Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs before any ceremony.

A preparation PDF is available on request in or after your booking process.

Fly into Cusco (CUZ). Send us your flight or hotel details a few weeks before your retreat and we will pick you up at the correct location.

We recommend you arrive a minimum of 12 hours before your retreat begins for best results. Closer arrival times are fine, however we need you to coordinate closely with us to ensure we pick you up and bring you directly to our meeting point.

Pack layers: a warm jacket, thermal base layers, hat and gloves, rain gear, sun protection, sturdy shoes, a water bottle, insect repellent, a flashlight, and comfortable loose clothing for ceremonies. 

A PDF on what to bring is included in your booking process. If you have not received it please contact us and we will respond quickly.

Requirements vary, so consult a travel-medicine clinic well before you travel. Yellow fever vaccination is commonly recommended for Amazon regions of Peru.

However in Manu we are still in the high jungle and mosquitoes are extremely rare compared to lower Manu or the Amazon basin. Consult a travel physician for expert advise but our experience says malaria prophylactics and yellow fever vaccinations are only used when an abundance of caution helps the guest feel more secure.

Choose a policy that covers medical care, emergency evacuation from remote areas, and trip cancellation or interruption. Check that it covers high altitude and does not exclude participation in plant medicine ceremonies.

How much does a private retreat cost, and how far ahead should I book?

Retreat costs for Custom Retreats are so variable in price there is no way to clearly answer this question without knowing more about what you are looking for. Tickets for attractions like Macchu Picchu can be hard to obtain and the closer to your desired date the more expensive they become. Prices of fuel for transportation fluctuate greatly and can affect this cost as well. These are only two of the many variables among many.

Our Custom Retreat form is designed to gather this information efficiently and submit it to our team for review and pricing.

We have set this minimum to ensure a quality experience. At least a day is needed for acclimitization before participating in any activities. A day for ceremony. Followed by another day for observation after the ceremony. Another day for departure organization. This is already 4 days. Our Custom retreats are designed to pair a ceremony with an attraction at a minimum. That is why we choose a 5 day minimum.

Absolutely. If we include Macchu Picchu added onto a retreat or in a custom retreat we include tickets, transportation, and any additional accommodations you might need to experience Macchu Picchu in the best possible way.

Yes. This is exactly the purpose of our Custom Retreats options. Customizing a retreat to a guests needs and precisely pricing the retreats for affordability, accommodations, and requests that don’t fit into our retreat packages.

What is plant medicine integration?

Plant medicine integration is the process of making sense of an Ayahuasca, Huachuma, or Kambo experience and applying its insights to daily life. It usually involves reflection, support, and gradual changes in habits or relationships after a retreat.

Integration helps guests process what they experienced and carry it into everyday life, rather than letting it fade. Returning to routines, work, and relationships can feel difficult after a retreat, and support during that period helps guests stay grounded.

Our integration support is broken down into three categories. Preparation, Post Retreat, Crisis. 

  • Preparation: Integration is a practice. In the preparation stage we help you understand your motivation and your intention. So that you can prepare yourself for your adventures in the plant medicine world.
  • Post Retreat: After you return to your daily life, making sense of your experience is an important part of getting the most of your retreat. You can work with us to gain more understanding and incorporate what you have learned from the plant medicine experience.
  • Crisis: Sometimes the plant medicines we work with can unlock difficult feelings, memories or effect interactions with others in our lives. Guests should know that they are always supported if they encounter challenging re-entry after their experience with us.

Mountain Wind offers all of these included in the price. We only support the psychedelic experience. We are not therapists. As such we offer two preparation and two post retreat integration calls per guest per retreat. However crisis calls are always free and we offer crisis calls to anyone, even  if you attended a retreat at another center.

Yes. Integration support is included in every retreat. We also offer integration support for anyone that asks for it at $100 per session.

Integration begins the moment you decide to attend a retreat. This is the process of incorporating a psychedlic experience into your life and there are things you can do to help prepare yourself before your retreat.

During your retreat we will discuss your experience, encourage you to journal, and give you tools to understand what you are experiencing.

After you leave integration moves from theory to practice. Reflecting on your retreat journal, having supporting calls with us, and taking steps to implement the lessons learned in your daily life.

If you ever decide to return to plant medicine for more experiences or deeper lessons, this process you have invested in will prepare you well for even more profound understanding.

There is no fixed timeline. Some guests feel settled within weeks, while others continue integrating for months. It depends on your experience, your circumstances, and the support you have.

Guests often report emotional ups and downs, tiredness, difficulty returning to routine, strong reflections about relationships or work, and feeling disconnected from people who were not there. If distress is persistent or severe, or you feel unsafe, contact a licensed mental health professional or local emergency services.

Helpful practices include journaling, time in nature, gentle movement, regular sleep and meals, creative expression, and talking with trusted people. It is often wise to avoid making major life decisions immediately after a retreat.

No. Integration coaching supports reflection and applying insights, while therapy treats mental health conditions and is provided by licensed professionals. Integration support from Mountain Wind is not a substitute for medical or mental health care. 

Shane Parks – The facilitator and owner of Mountain Wind provides the majority of the support. He is a certified integration coach with Out of the Dark Academy and has been providing integration coaching for many years.

Zach Khan – Also provides some integration coaching. He often works with Mountain Wind and provides support to guests who feel connected with him. Zach has also be working with plant medicine and integration support to many years.

Others may also be added here soon. If they are you can rest assured they are qualified, authentic and supportive individuals.

Absolutely. The reason most of our guests seek plant medicine is to add new insights into their daily lives. That is what integration is all about! So please reach out to us by voice or video call. We are excited to get curious about your experience and how you are doing after your retreat with us.

Yes. Tell your doctor or therapist about your retreat and any medicines you took, especially if you take prescription medication. Never restart, stop, or change medication without your doctor’s guidance.

Look for someone with relevant training, clear boundaries, and experience supporting people after plant medicine experiences. Ask about their credentials and approach, and choose someone who respects your health history and encourages professional care when needed.

Another important quality to look for is integrity of support. Integration coaching should not be about selling you another retreat. An Integration Coach should be focused on helping absorb or understand your experience instead of a way of advertising for a specific center or medicine.

Additionally Integration Coaches should not be interpreting your experience for you, or giving you life advice. They should be using guiding questions to help you decode your own experience for yourself.

Finally, be wary of anyone offering Integration support by making promises. No one can tell you what integration will do for you in absolutes. Integration support is about assistance for you to make the changes you wish to make with agency, authenticity, and guided understanding.

Allow time to settle and reflect before another ceremony. Your integration coaching offered through Mountain Wind will never tell you it’s time for another ceremony. You tell us when you think you are ready. Then we will revisit motivation and intention of this decision to help you make an informed decision.

It is important to note, a common challenge for some participants in any psychedelic experience is chasing. After a profound interconnected psychedelic experience, some guests want to run back and experience it again. However good integration coaching will guide you to understanding why you are looking for another experience and help you make your own decision.