Discovery Call
Booked by appointment
A no-pressure conversation to explore your goals, answer questions, and see whether ketamine-assisted work is right for you.
Expanded Awareness Retreats · San Diego County
Come back to yourself.
Dr. Jeffrey W. Smith, LMFT, leads immersive ketamine-assisted therapy retreats in San Diego County through Strategic Counseling in Vista, California. With more than 30 years of clinical practice, each retreat helps you resolve trauma, depression, and anxiety at the root — safely guided from first breath to lasting change.
What is a ketamine-assisted therapy retreat?
A guided path to healing and self-discovery
A ketamine-assisted therapy retreat is an immersive, professionally supervised experience where legally prescribed ketamine is paired with psychotherapy to help resolve trauma, depression, and anxiety. At Strategic Counseling in San Diego County, every retreat is prepared, supported, and integrated by Dr. Jeffrey W. Smith so change lasts well beyond the session.
- Led by Dr. Jeffrey W. Smith, LMFT — over 30 years of full-time clinical practice.
- Held in San Diego County (Vista, California) in a calm, private setting with sweeping valley views.
- Ketamine is never used in isolation — it is integrated with EMDR, psychotherapy, and prescriptive music.
- Designed for trauma, treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and entrenched patterns.
0+Years in clinical practice
0Tier healing framework
1:1Personalized guidance
0Payment paths: Self-Pay, PPO, Tri-Care
Work with me
Wherever you are on your path, your journey is your own
I'm Dr. Jeffrey W. Smith, a licensed marriage and family therapist and the founder of Strategic Counseling in Vista, California. For more than thirty years I've sat with people in their hardest moments — and watched them find their way back to clarity, meaning, and life.
My work draws on neuroscience, trauma-informed psychotherapy, attachment theory, mindfulness, and creative expression, built on a five-tier model: nervous-system regulation, relational safety, trauma resolution, expanded awareness, and embodied self-care. Together we resolve what has kept you stuck — and open the door to more of reality than fear has allowed you to see.
Why work with Dr. Smith?
What you walk away with
This isn't about managing symptoms one more time. It's about getting to the root — and building a life that feels like yours again.
Feel like yourself again
We target the root of trauma and depression, not just the symptoms sitting on the surface.
Never do it alone
Every journey is held in a safe, supervised container — from preparation through the experience to integration.
Change that lasts
Structured integration turns a breakthrough into a durable shift in how you actually live day to day.
Real medicine, real science
Ketamine is an evidence-supported treatment for depression, anxiety, and trauma — used responsibly and legally.
30+ years of mastery
You're guided by a licensed therapist who has spent three decades helping people heal — not a rotating staff.
More than relief
Clients often discover more of reality than fear had allowed them to see — and carry that perspective forward.
See it for yourself
Ketamine therapy in San Diego
A short look at the approach and the setting where the work happens.
How does a retreat work?
Prepared, supported, and integrated
Every retreat follows a carefully structured arc so the experience is safe, coherent, and lasting. Ketamine temporarily softens rigid, fear-based circuitry — the therapeutic container turns that opening into durable change.
Intake & preparation
A thorough intake session clarifies your history and goals, and prepares your nervous system for the work ahead.
The guided journey
Legally prescribed ketamine is administered in a calm, supervised setting, paired with prescriptive music and therapeutic presence.
Integration
Post-session meaning-making — supported by psychotherapy and EMDR — turns new perspectives into lasting shifts in daily life.
Ongoing support
Follow-up sessions reinforce progress and help you sustain expanded awareness, agency, and vitality.
Inside the retreat
A calm, private space to do deep work
Sessions take place in a serene San Diego County setting — an open-air deck above the valley and a quiet, comfortable interior. Tap any photo to view it larger.
How is a retreat different?
Retreat intensive vs. standard weekly therapy
| Feature | Retreat intensive | Weekly therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Immersive, dedicated block of time | Recurring 50-minute sessions |
| Medicine | Ketamine-assisted, fully supervised | Talk-based, typically no medicine |
| Pace of change | Concentrated breakthroughs with integration | Gradual, incremental progress |
| Best for | Entrenched trauma, treatment-resistant depression | Ongoing support and maintenance |
Upcoming retreats & sessions
Ways to begin the work
New private and small-group offerings open throughout the year. Call (760) 207-6617 for the next available dates and to find the right fit.
1:1 Ketamine Retreat Day
Scheduled monthly
A full, private day of preparation, a guided ketamine session, and integration — one-on-one with Dr. Smith in the deck retreat space.
Preparation & Integration Circle
Forming now
A supportive small-group series to prepare for and integrate your experience, deepening the lasting benefit of the work.
Formats and timing are confirmed during your intake. Contact the office for current dates.
What clients say
Stories of transformation
"This work helped me realize my suffering was not the whole of reality. I left with tools, clarity, and a way forward I hadn't been able to see."
— Client, San Diego County
"Dr. Smith created a container that felt genuinely safe. The preparation and integration made the difference — this wasn't a one-off experience, it changed how I live."
— Client, Vista, California
"After years of feeling stuck, I finally felt movement. The setting is calm and beautiful, and I never once felt alone in the process."
— Client, North County San Diego
Individual results vary. Testimonials are illustrative and are not a guarantee of outcome.
Frequently asked questions
What is a ketamine-assisted therapy retreat?
It is an immersive, professionally supervised experience where legally prescribed ketamine is combined with psychotherapy to help resolve trauma, depression, and anxiety. At Strategic Counseling in San Diego County, each retreat is prepared, supported, and integrated by Dr. Jeffrey W. Smith, LMFT.
Where are the retreats held?
Retreats are held through Strategic Counseling in Vista, California — in San Diego County. Sessions take place in a calm, private setting with an open-air deck overlooking the valley and a comfortable interior space.
Who leads the retreats?
Dr. Jeffrey W. Smith is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with more than 30 years of full-time clinical practice. He integrates neuroscience, EMDR, attachment theory, mindfulness, and creative expression into every retreat.
Is ketamine used on its own?
No. Ketamine is never used in isolation. Each journey is prepared, supported, and integrated using psychotherapy, EMDR, and prescriptive music to ensure safety, coherence, and lasting benefit.
What conditions can it help with?
These retreats are designed for adults facing trauma and PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, chronic stress, and anxiety — particularly patterns that have not fully responded to traditional approaches alone.
How do I get started and what are the payment options?
Call (760) 207-6617 or request an intake session to begin. Strategic Counseling accepts Self-Pay, PPO, and Tri-Care. An intake session determines whether a retreat is the right fit for you.
Ready to begin?
Book a session with Dr. Smith
Tell us a little about what you're working through, and the Strategic Counseling office will help you schedule an intake session in San Diego County.