My mother and grandfather are both medical doctors, a lineage I continue forward with the blessing of my grandfather in my own unique way. After deviating from my initial plan of attending medical school due to being too creative of a thinker to handle the hard sciences, I instead earned my Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy + Comparative Religious Studies and immediately ventured into the world to find my own medicine. The week after graduation, I was on a plane to Peru.

At the time, I was stricken with a debilitating chronic illness that very nearly killed me. No doctor, acupuncturist, nutritionist, or other kind of specialist was able to offer me any respite or diagnosis. Out of desperation, I decided to journey to the Amazon jungle to work with Ayahuasca, a traditional psychedelic brew known by hundreds of indigenous tribes for generations to bring forth knowledge and power in those who drink it. Maybe here I would find my cure.

My time in the jungle catalyzed a potent healing journey that would take me down roads I never imagined, but ultimately needed to travel in order to find the cure to my illness. I met my life-long mentor Sanchi Reta Lawler and began informally learning from her through simple visits and an ongoing exchange of care. I trained for two and a half years in Classical Chinese Medicine. I studied and practiced yoga, meditation, astrology, and breathwork with incredible guides in intimate contexts.

I gained experience working as a Trauma Resolution Specialist and Somatic Practitioner with clients full-time for over four years, which I still do to this day. Most recently, I began my pursuit of my Master's Degree in Social Work with the hopes to someday expand my scope of practice to include those we term in this culture to have “mental illness” diagnoses. Throughout my studies and work experiences, I have continued to journey back regularly for the past decade to the Amazon to work with Ayahuasca and deepen my studies of Shipibo curanderismo–the Spanish word used to describe traditional healing practices in this part of the world.

Through my ongoing relationship with these potent medicines in combination with all of the tools I had gained, I was able to fully cure my condition and heal myself of the debilitating pain that used to paralyze me for many hours a day. Now, I am 100% pain free and a living testament that real change is possible.

My illness served as a painful and life threatening eight-year initiation into the work I offer to you now: guided journeys with sacred mushrooms. This offering is the culmination of so many streams of wisdom coming together into one beautiful whole. Along with being a mother, it is my deepest calling in life.

A guided journey with me taps all of my knowledge through vocal toning, song, hands-on energy work, somatic trauma resolution coaching, and visionary spiritual expansion. My gift is being able to see you clearly in your totality so that you can see yourself more clearly. We all have incredibly unique gifts to offer, and one of mine is to coax your gifts out of you.

I have been guiding ceremonial mushroom journeys for individuals and small groups for the last two years. I am honored to have facilitated close to 60 journeys during this time. Being with me in person feels both deep and lighthearted. My favorite thing to do is sing.

Please note that I am not a licensed therapist or licensed facilitator yet pursuant to Article 170 of Title 12 CRS and currently offer my services with the sole intention of harm reduction, support, and ceremonial guidance. I am actively pursuing a license and will be amongst the first wave of fully licensed facilitators by early 2025. I adhere to the Natural Medicine Facilitator Code of Ethics. The work I do is fully legal in the state of Colorado.

about Dara del Rio