Evolute Institute

Evolute Institute runs EvoSHIFT, a psilocybin truffle retreat programme in the Netherlands built around personal and leadership development. The four-day retreat itself takes place at Centrum Athanor in Lochem, Gelderland. Private retreats, integration coaching and EvoDARK, a darkness retreat without substances held in the Black Forest, are also offered.

Approach

The founders are Dmitrij Achelrod, who holds a PhD in health economics, and Christopher Kabakis, an affiliate professor at ESCP Europe. Three weeks of online preparation come before the retreat and two months of integration after it, with six two-hour group calls and at least four one-to-one sessions in all. On site, the ceremony sits within a curriculum of developmental psychology, systems theory, breathwork and movement. Participants buy their own truffles from a licensed Dutch shop for around €50; the institute notes that truffles are legal in the Netherlands, while mushrooms have been banned since 2007.

Who it is for

EvoSHIFT is aimed at founders, executives and others in leadership roles, and the minimum age is 25. The institute calls it educational and developmental, not a substitute for clinical therapy. The founders choose each cohort of six to ten for fit and readiness.

Practical details

The group programme runs in English; one-to-one sessions are also possible in Dutch, German, French, Spanish, Italian or Russian. The personal rate is €3,980, the business rate €5,490 and a 12-month premium version €6,980, with limited scholarship places at €2,490. Rooms are private with their own bathroom, a chef cooks the meals, and travel is extra.

Care and safety

A licensed psychiatrist reviews each health questionnaire, holds an interview of about 40 minutes and makes the final call on eligibility. A medical doctor is on site throughout the ceremony, with four or five facilitators keeping a ratio of at least one to two. The truffles are tested on site so each dose can be set in milligrams.