Your team.
A physician-led, multidisciplinary team with deep expertise in psilocybin-assisted therapy, palliative care, and the human dimensions of serious illness.
Founder & Medical Director
Dr. Neal Kraus, MD EMBA
Dr. Neal Kraus is a board-certified physician and the founder of Cedars and Spores. He holds both a Doctor of Medicine degree and an Executive Master of Business Administration, bringing a rare combination of clinical rigor and operational expertise to the practice of psilocybin-assisted therapy.
Dr. Kraus founded Cedars and Spores out of a conviction that psilocybin-assisted therapy, delivered within a robust medical framework, represents one of the most promising developments in the care of individuals facing serious illness, existential distress, and treatment-resistant depression. He recognized that the emerging research demanded a clinical setting that matched its significance: physician-supervised, evidence-based, and uncompromising in its commitment to safety.
As Medical Director, Dr. Kraus oversees all clinical protocols, medical screening, and safety procedures. He is present during retreat experiences and is directly involved in the care of every client.
The care team.
Every retreat is supported by a carefully assembled team of licensed and experienced professionals. The composition of your team is determined during your consultation and tailored to your specific needs. For palliative and end-of-life clients, additional team members may be engaged based on your clinical situation.
Licensed Psychologist
A doctoral-level, licensed clinical psychologist with specialized training in psilocybin-assisted therapy protocols. Your psychologist leads the preparation session, is present throughout the psilocybin experience, and guides the integration process. They work within established therapeutic frameworks -- including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, meaning-centered psychotherapy, and psilocybin-specific models developed at Johns Hopkins and NYU -- while tailoring the approach to your individual needs and history.
End-of-Life Doula
For clients navigating serious illness, terminal diagnosis, or end-of-life distress, our end-of-life doula provides an additional layer of compassionate, specialized support. Trained in death preparation, vigil planning, legacy work, and family support, the doula works alongside the clinical team to address the dimensions of your experience that extend beyond traditional therapy.
Yoga and Meditation Therapist
A certified yoga therapist and meditation practitioner who designs and leads gentle, accessible sessions during your retreat. Morning yoga and meditation are offered as part of the preparation and integration process -- not as performance, but as grounding practices that support your body and mind before and after the psilocybin experience. Sessions are adapted for all levels of mobility and physical capacity.
Private Chef
A professional chef prepares all meals during your retreat, from Friday evening through your departure. Menus are designed around your dietary needs, preferences, and the specific timing considerations of your retreat schedule. For clients managing nausea, appetite changes, or dietary restrictions related to their medical treatment, the chef works closely with the clinical team to ensure meals are both nourishing and appropriate.
Clinical Philosophy
What guides our clinical work.
Psilocybin-assisted therapy sits at the intersection of pharmacology, psychotherapy, and something harder to name -- the deeply personal encounter with meaning, mortality, and the self. Our clinical model honors all three dimensions.
Our therapeutic approach draws from the protocols that produced the strongest outcomes in published research: a supportive, non-directive model in which the therapist creates safety without steering the experience. We integrate established psychotherapeutic frameworks including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and meaning-centered psychotherapy, adapted for the unique context of psilocybin-assisted work.
For our palliative and end-of-life clients, we bring additional expertise in the specific concerns of serious illness: fear of death, loss of identity, unfinished emotional business, spiritual distress, and the need for dignity and agency in the face of declining autonomy. This is the work we were built for.
How we work.
Medical First
Every decision at Cedars and Spores begins with a medical question: Is this safe? Is this appropriate? Is this supported by evidence? We do not offer psilocybin experiences to individuals for whom the risks outweigh the potential benefits. Our screening process is thorough and our contraindication criteria are strict. We will decline to work with clients when the clinical picture does not support proceeding.
Research-Informed, Not Research-Constrained
We follow the published protocols that have demonstrated safety and efficacy in clinical trials at Johns Hopkins, NYU, and Imperial College London. We also recognize that each person's experience is unique, and we adapt our approach within the boundaries of evidence-based practice. Our protocols are living documents, updated as the evidence base grows.
Collaborative Care
With your consent, we communicate with your existing medical team -- your oncologist, palliative care physician, psychiatrist, or primary care provider. We review current medications, treatment plans, and relevant history before your retreat. We do not operate in isolation. Your care with us is intended to complement, not replace, your existing medical relationships.
Outcome Measurement
We are committed to systematically measuring outcomes using validated clinical instruments before, during, and at multiple intervals after your retreat. We do this because it is good clinical practice, because it contributes to the evidence base, and because you deserve to know whether this experience had a meaningful effect on your well-being.
Our Commitments
What we promise.
We will tell you the truth.
About what the research does and does not show. About what we can and cannot promise. About whether we believe this work is appropriate for you. Psilocybin-assisted therapy is not for everyone, and we will not pretend otherwise to fill a retreat.
We will protect your privacy.
We maintain HIPAA-compliant systems and processes for all client health information. Your participation, your health data, and your experience are treated with the highest standard of confidentiality. No information is shared without your explicit written consent.
We will operate within the law.
Cedars and Spores operates in compliance with the Colorado Natural Medicine Health Act and monitors the evolving regulatory framework established by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. We are transparent about the legal landscape, including the tension between state and federal law.
We will report honestly.
Including when outcomes are neutral or unfavorable. The responsible growth of this field depends on honest reporting, not marketing. We contribute to the evidence base because we believe in it, not because it is convenient.
This begins with a conversation.
Our application process is straightforward, confidential, and without obligation.