Trauma care meets psilocybin in a structured retreat

Afterlight Retreats will host its first clinical psilocybin therapy and integration retreats in Jamaica from today through to March 8 at Negril Huts, a private cluster of cottages on the West End cliffs. The organisers describe Afterlight as “a therapeutic container designed by clinicians who understand trauma, identity, and the long arc of healing”.

Its mission, they say, is “to make integration the heart of psychedelic work, and to help people move into the next chapter of themselves with clarity, honesty, and care”.

Formed by psychologists and trauma-informed practitioners, Afterlight was created “for people seeking a more thoughtful, structured, and clinically supported way to work with psilocybin”. The compound, a naturally occurring tryptamine alkaloid found in more than 200 mushroom species, has been used recreationally, spiritually, and in clinical research.

According to Vivene Wallace, property director at Negril Huts, the collaboration marks “a significant step forward in Jamaica’s growing reputation as a global destination for transformative wellness tourism”. She said the retreat is designed for people seeking “deep personal growth, emotional healing, and mental clarity” in a clinically supported setting.

The five-day programme will be led by psychologist Dr Crystyn Scott, together with Professor David Luke, described as “a globally recognised scholar and leading voice in psychedelic research and consciousness studies”. Participation is capped at ten people, combining clinical preparation, guided psilocybin-assisted therapy, and structured integration sessions “to help participants achieve meaningful and lasting psychological and emotional breakthroughs”.

EMERGING PROMISING APPROACH

The retreat also includes therapeutic art sessions, nature immersion, and reflective practices. The organisers argue that psilocybin-assisted therapy is emerging worldwide as a promising approach to treating anxiety, trauma, and depression. “Unlike recreational use, Afterlight Retreats operates within a structured therapeutic framework, providing participants with professional psychological support, trauma-informed care, and intentional integration processes,” the organisers noted.

Luke said the work aims to quiet mental overload. “It’s about shutting off the monkey mind, and when we do this, we automatically become more connected, to ourselves and our past, to one another, to nature and the universe.”

The partnership with Negril Huts also reflects the island’s growing appeal for wellness tourism, combining natural scenery with more progressive therapeutic offerings. “This collaboration is about creating space for people to reconnect with themselves, with community, and with Jamaica,” Afterlight said. “Negril Huts offers the perfect setting: privacy, natural beauty, and an energy that simply cannot be replicated.”

Wallace said the retreat aligns with the property’s long-standing focus on nature-based wellness. “Our mission has always been to offer authentic, high-quality experiences rooted in nature, wellness, and the unique spirit of Negril. This retreat aligns perfectly with that vision.”

Afterlight, which also operates in Amsterdam, designs clinically supervised wellness-travel experiences led by PhD-level psychologists and trained facilitators.

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