Many of us have a hard time knowing how to be with or even access our grief. The mere thought of a grief space can be rattling. Our modern day society marches to a mechanized rhythm with little, if any, reflective space. By way of coping, we compartmentalize and carry on. The simple act of feeling can elude us. We’re often numb, distracted, heartbroken, angry, isolated, and confused. None of this is our fault. We aren’t meant to grieve alone, and yet that’s often what unfolds.
This spring, with the hope of contacting and being with our shared grief, Riverbird Clinic is offering a multi-week, soul-opening, heart-expanding ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT) cohort to support the softening of our habituated and often unconscious defense strategies, and in turn, being with grief. Having the fortitude to do this sacred work ripens and deepens us, and alchemizes suffering into something beautiful and life-giving. Our grief doesn’t need healing, but rather our healing needs grief.
Led by Riverbird Clinic clinicians David Wright PMHNP, Liz Strawbridge MD, Carolyn Branson LCPC, and along with interfaith minister Ashley Jansen, we will use our time to slow down and find courage in being with our tender places, together. It is our wish that you may know and remember we are not alone on this path of healing.
Dates/Times:
Week 1
Sunday, April 26th from 7-8:30 pm: Zoom Prep Info Session
Week 2
Monday, April 27th from 3-5 pm: Initial Grief Practice
Tuesday, April 28th from 12-5 pm: Group Ketamine Session #1
Wednesday, April 29th from 9-11 am: Group Integration Session #1
Week 3
Wednesday, May 6th from 9-11 am: Grief Practice/Integration
Week 4
Tuesday, May 12th from 12-5 pm: Group Ketamine Session #2
Wednesday, May 13th from 9-11 am: Group Integration Session #2
Week 5
Wednesday, May 20th from 9-11 am: Grief Practice/Integration
Week 6
Tuesday, May 26th from 12-5 pm: Group Ketamine Session #3
Wednesday, May 27th from 9-11 am: Group Integration Session #3
Week 7
Wednesday, June 3rd from 9-11 am: Closing Grief Practice/Integration
*Invesment: $3,250; potential sliding scale spots available via application which must be submitted by 3/29/26*
To apply, please email info@riverbirdclinic.com
All applicants are required to submit intake paperwork, which will be reviewed once received. If it seems like this group may be appropriate for you, we will schedule an Initial Consult appointment with you ($375, which is included in the $3,250 listed above). Thereafter, we require a $500 non-refundable deposit to secure your place in the group. The remaining amount is due 4/19/26, and is non-refundable. Participants pay one lump sum, regardless of whether they cannot attend all sessions (or may be out due to illness).
*Potential sliding scale spots available via application, which must be submitted by 3/29/26.
**For group participants, additional individual support (e.g. 60-minute session) is available outside of the listed group gatherings for an additional fee.
**This group is not intended to diagnose or completely address major depressive disorder or other mental health illnesses. However, grief is often accompanied by aspects of suffering, which may include aspects of depression, and as such, we anticipate working with these parts. If you are interested in a depression-specific focused mental health group, please reach out to info@riverbirdclinic.com to request information about our Longitudinal KAT Group.