AYA Society in collaboration with enamory.org

UntetheredA Ketamine-Assisted Couples Retreat

You know the relationship you want. Living it is the harder part.

Three days in a private desert estate with psychologists Dr. Chandra Khalifian and Dr. Kayla Knopp, hosted by April and Scott of AYA Society, for couples ready to work on the patterns that understanding alone hasn't moved.

DatesMarch 21–24, 2027

LocationGreater Palm Springs, CA

GroupLimited to 15 couples

Investment$4,975 per couple

Schedule your call How it works

The gap

You've had this conversation a hundred times.

You know what sets it off. You could narrate both sides by now: what you'll say, what they'll say, where it ends up. You've read the books and talked it through at one in the morning.

You understand it. And the next time, it happens anyway.

You understand where jealousy comes from.It still shows up in your body before you can think.

You know your partner loves you.Some part of you is still braced for them to leave.

You believe in each other's freedom.It feels different when they actually use it.

You can name your old patterns.You still hear yourself repeating them.

You want to be closer.You also keep one door half-shut, just in case.

None of this means something is wrong with you or your relationship. Insight and emotional response simply live in different places, and changing the second usually takes more than another good conversation.

Why ketamine-assisted couples therapy?

A different way into the same old patterns.

Good couples therapy works on three things at once: the stories we tell about our partner, the emotions underneath our reactions, and the behaviors that keep a conflict going.

Ketamine-assisted couples therapy pairs established couples therapy methods with a carefully screened, clinically guided ketamine experience. The idea being studied is not that the medicine does the work for you. It's that the work may become easier to reach.

What researchers are exploring

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy has mostly been studied for individual concerns such as depression, anxiety and PTSD. Researchers have proposed that some of its effects, including more flexible thinking, less defensiveness and avoidance, and easier access to softer emotions like hurt and fear, line up closely with what couples therapy tries to help partners do.

ii.

Why that might matter for a couple

With defenses lowered, it can be easier to see a recurring fight as a pattern you're both caught in rather than something your partner is doing to you, and to say the more vulnerable thing underneath the anger. Integration work afterward is where couples practice carrying what they noticed into ordinary life.

iii.

What isn't known yet

Research on ketamine with couples specifically is early. Drs. Khalifian and Knopp's 2024 paper proposes a clinical framework and describes pilot cases; it is not a controlled trial of outcomes. Experiences vary widely from person to person. No one can promise a breakthrough, and we won't.

Meet the psychologists

The people who helped write the framework.

Chandra and Kayla are clinical psychologists and researchers who have spent their careers on couples therapy. In 2023 they co-founded Enamory, a San Diego practice where they still see clients every week, train other therapists in couples ketamine-assisted therapy, and publish on couples and psychedelics.

Chandra Khalifian, PhD

Clinical Psychologist · Researcher · Co-founder, Enamory

Chandra has developed and evaluated couple-based treatments for relationship distress, suicide prevention and partner violence, and has served as a principal or co-investigator on federally funded clinical trials of couple-based interventions, including approaches enhanced with psychedelics. In her clinical work she specializes in non-monogamy, sexual expansion and psychedelic-assisted therapy, and she trains clinicians and clinics across the U.S.

PhD, University of Maryland, Baltimore County · trained at UC Berkeley
Internship & postdoctoral fellowship, UC San Diego / VA Consortium
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, California (PSY 31914)
Completed the MAPS MDMA-assisted therapy training program

Kayla Knopp, PhD

Clinical Psychologist · Researcher · Co-founder, Enamory

Kayla specializes in couples and intimate relationships, particularly expansive and non-traditional ones. Her work focuses on making relationship interventions more inclusive, accessible and effective. She practices from an explicitly affirming stance, with specialized training in LGBTQ+ relationships and in open and non-monogamous relationships.

PhD, University of Denver · internship & postdoc, VA San Diego / UCSD
Certified in Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT)
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, California (PSY 32016)
Co-Leader, Couples Research & Treatment SIG, ABCT

Frontiers in PsychiatryPublished August 2024 · Review

A novel framework for ketamine-assisted couple therapy

Khalifian C, Rashkovsky K, Mitchell E, Bismark A, Wagner AC, Knopp KC

The paper reviews the evidence on therapeutic ketamine and proposes a structured way to bring it into evidence-based couple therapy: assessment, a shared understanding of the couple's pattern, preparation, medicine sessions, and couples' integration afterward. It is one of the first published frameworks for this work.

Read the paper Visit Enamory

What the retreat is designed to explore

Six threads you may follow.

Areas of exploration, not promised outcomes.

Emotional safety

The fears and reactions that show up uninvited and get between you.

Trust & vulnerability

How each of you protects yourself, through avoidance, defensiveness or control, and what that protection costs.

Communication & understanding

Recognizing the loop you fall into and trying a different response from inside it.

Freedom & security

The balance between autonomy and connection, and the honest pace of each partner's readiness.

Connection & intimacy

Unhurried time to understand yourself, and each other, more fully.

Integration & what comes next

Turning what you noticed into small, practical changes you can actually keep.

For open, polyamorous, swinging & exploring couples

Your beliefs can change faster than your emotional reactions.

Many couples in our community have done the reading, the podcasts and the long talks. You chose your structure on purpose. And still: one of you is ready for the next step and the other isn't. A new connection stirs up a fear you thought you'd retired. An agreement made in good faith starts to feel like a scoreboard. Jealousy shows up and brings shame with it, because you "know better."

That gap isn't proof that non-monogamy is wrong for you, and it isn't proof that it's right. It's the place where what you believe and what your nervous system expects haven't caught up with each other yet. Chandra and Kayla work with expansive relationships every day.

We have no preferred outcome.

Some couples leave wanting more openness. Some want less, or different agreements, or simply understand each other better than they did. The aim isn't a particular relationship structure. It's choices that are more honest and less driven by fear, whatever those choices turn out to be.

Created with a deep understanding of non-monogamy. Open to couples of every relationship structure: monogamous, queer, open, polyamorous, and everything in between.

The experience

Three days given entirely to your relationship.

An intensive, private stretch of time for preparation, guided therapeutic work, rest and integration, without work, kids or phones pulling at you. Your detailed itinerary will be sent to you after you book.

Sunday · March 21

Check-in

Check-in at 4:00 PM

Monday · March 22

Program day

Tuesday · March 23

Program day

Wednesday · March 24

Closing & check-out

Check-out at 10:00 AM

The setting

A private estate in the desert, held just for us.

Chateau Florencia is a gated private estate in Bermuda Dunes, in the Greater Palm Springs area. It offers more than 10,000 square feet of living space, quiet rooms to retreat to, generous outdoor areas, a pool and spa, and a wide desert sky.

For these days, the property belongs only to our group. It's there for what the work needs: slow mornings, room to walk and think, and somewhere comfortable to sit together afterward without the world interrupting.

Estate10,000+ sq ft private villa
PrivacyGated, exclusive use by our group
OutdoorsPool, spa, gardens, fire features
RoomsPrivate room & ensuite bath for every couple
Nearest airportPalm Springs Intl. (PSP) · about a 28-minute drive
AddressShared with enrolled couples only

15Couples, throuples
& moresomes

An intimate group

Small on purpose.

Keeping the group to fifteen couples keeps the experience focused and human. The people around you will be there for the same reason you are, and the clinical team can give the work the attention it deserves.

Most couples only set aside three uninterrupted days for their relationship when something is already on fire. There's something meaningful about doing it before that point: choosing to invest in what you're building while there's still so much to build on.

Your investment

$4,975

Per couple · March 21–24, 2027

This is a specialized, limited-capacity program: qualified clinicians, a private estate, and three days built around the two of you.

Pay in full or in installments. We'll go over payment options on your Zoom call.

Schedule your call

Included

Private room with ensuite bathroom for the two of you
All meals during the retreat
Guided sessions with Dr. Khalifian and Dr. Knopp
Pre- and post-retreat resources
Post-retreat integration with Enamory

Not included

Medical evaluations and consultations with your own prescriber
Prescription medication and pharmacy costs
Travel to and from Greater Palm Springs

How enrollment works

It starts with a conversation.

There's no "buy now" button. Every couple begins with a conversation with April and Scott, AYA Society's co-founders, so you can ask anything and we can make sure this retreat fits what you're looking for.

Zoom call with April & Scott

A required 45-minute call, and all partners must be on it. We'll talk about what you're hoping for and how the retreat works. Please don't share medical details on this call; that belongs in clinical screening.

Confidential screening

If it looks like a fit, each partner completes a confidential screening with AYA Society through a secure, separate process.

Medical evaluation

Each partner who is clinically eligible works independently with an appropriately licensed prescriber.

Enrollment confirmed

Once both partners are cleared, your place is confirmed and preparation begins.

Schedule your Zoom call

If any partner is found medically ineligible, your payment is refunded in full.

Prescriptions & medical eligibility

The fine print that actually matters.

Please read this section before applying. Ketamine is not right for everyone, and the ability to pay for the retreat does not establish medical eligibility.

Each partner is evaluated individually

Eligibility is decided by qualified clinicians based on each person's health history. It's possible for one partner to be eligible and the other not.

We don't prescribe or supply medication

Neither AYA Society nor Chateau Florencia prescribes, dispenses or supplies ketamine. Each participant who is clinically eligible must obtain their own valid prescription from an appropriately licensed clinician. Please don't expect medication to be provided by the retreat.

Getting a prescription

We'll go over everything about prescriptions on your Zoom call with April and Scott, including the options the Enamory team has outlined and what to do if you live outside California.

A relationship concern isn't a diagnosis

Whether a diagnosis or a prescription is appropriate is an independent medical decision between you and your clinician. We'll never suggest otherwise.

Don't change your medications on your own

Some medications and health conditions may affect whether ketamine is appropriate. Never stop, start or adjust any medication in order to attend without talking to your treating clinician first.

Health conditions and safety

Your prescribing doctor evaluates your health as part of the prescription process, including any conditions or medications that may make ketamine inappropriate. Dr. Khalifian and Dr. Knopp of Enamory will give you everything you need to know before, during and after the retreat.

Questions

Frequently asked.

Something not answered here? Email april@ayasociety.com.

Who is this retreat for?

Couples who already understand a lot about their relationship and want to work more deeply on the emotional patterns that keep getting in the way: jealousy, fear of loss, defensiveness, recurring conflict, or distance. Both partners need to want to be there, and both need to be clinically eligible. Participants must be 21 or older.

Is it only for non-monogamous couples?

No. The retreat was created with a real understanding of non-monogamy, because that's our community, but it's open to couples of every relationship structure, including monogamous and queer couples. It doesn't advocate for any particular level of openness.

What is ketamine-assisted couples therapy?

An emerging approach that pairs evidence-based couples therapy with guided ketamine sessions. Typically it includes assessment, preparation, the medicine session itself, and integration sessions where partners make sense of what came up together. Research specifically on couples is still preliminary.

Do we need prior experience with ketamine?

No. Prior experience with ketamine isn't required.

How is clinical suitability determined?

After your Zoom call with April and Scott, each partner completes a confidential screening with AYA Society, followed by an individual medical evaluation with a licensed prescriber. Whether ketamine is appropriate for you is always the prescriber's decision.

Is ketamine FDA-approved for this purpose?

No. Ketamine is not FDA-approved for psychiatric treatment or couples therapy. Its use for mental health is off-label. A related compound, esketamine, is FDA-approved only for specific depression indications.

What risks and side effects should we understand?

Ketamine has real risks and isn't appropriate for everyone. Your prescribing doctor will review risks and side effects with you during the prescription process, and Dr. Khalifian and Dr. Knopp will guide you on what to expect before, during and after the retreat.

How do prescriptions work?

Each eligible participant gets their own prescription from a licensed clinician. We'll cover all the details on your Zoom call.

Can we attend if we live outside California?

Yes, couples from anywhere are welcome to apply. If you live outside California, mention it on your Zoom call and we'll walk you through your prescription options before you reserve your spot.

What happens if one partner is medically ineligible?

Your payment is refunded in full.

What if our prescriptions can't be obtained in time?

Register early so there's plenty of time to complete the prescription process before March. If something changes, our cancellation policy applies.

What does the $4,975 price include?

Guided sessions with Dr. Khalifian and Dr. Knopp, a private room with an ensuite bathroom, all meals during the retreat, pre- and post-retreat resources, and post-retreat integration. Not included: medical evaluations, prescription medication and pharmacy costs, and travel to Greater Palm Springs.

Meals are prepared by our in-house chef, and any dietary restrictions or requirements will be taken care of. We\'ll collect those details before the retreat.

What is the cancellation policy?

Please see our cancellation policy. If any partner is found medically ineligible, your payment is refunded in full.

What should we expect from the three days?

Check-in is Sunday, March 21 at 4:00 PM and check-out is Wednesday, March 24 at 10:00 AM. Expect intentional, emotionally honest work in a calm, private setting, with time to rest between sessions. This is not a party, a lifestyle event or a vacation. Experiences vary a great deal between people, and there's no "right" way for it to go.

What happens after the retreat?

Post-retreat integration is provided by Enamory and included in your registration, to help you carry what you noticed into everyday life together.

How are privacy and confidentiality handled?

Your privacy matters to us. We never share participants' names, photos or personal details without consent, and no participant will appear in our marketing. See our privacy policy for how we handle your information.

"A relationship cannot flourish beyond the truth it can bear."Wild Love Theory

The relationship you want isn't built only by what you believe. It's shaped by how you show up when things get hard.

If you've been carrying the same conversation for years, this is an invitation to set it down somewhere quiet, with skilled people beside you, and look at it together.

Schedule your call with April & Scott

Untethered · March 21–24, 2027 · Greater Palm Springs · 15 couples

This page is for general information only and is not medical advice. Participation requires individual clinical screening and independent medical evaluation; acceptance is not guaranteed. Ketamine is not FDA-approved for psychiatric use or couples therapy, and individual results vary. AYA Society (NG Fitness & Adventure LLC) organizes Untethered and does not prescribe, dispense or administer medication. Clinical services are provided by Enamory (enamory.org). Chateau Florencia is the venue only. Participants must be 21 or older.