Spiritual Direction Conference

Friday June 14th - Sunday June 16th at the Richmond Hill Urban Retreat Center

Join us for an immersive three-day conference that includes lodging, meals, breathwork sessions, discussion groups, and a chance to engage with leading psychedelic researcher and author, Bill Richards

Richmond Hill Urban Retreat Center, Richmond, VA

Friday, June 14th 1:30pm – Sunday, June 16th

Bill Richards

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

William A. Richards (Bill), now Chief Therapist for Sunstone Therapies, has been a psychologist in the Psychiatry Department of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Bayview Medical Center, since 1999 when he and Roland Griffiths launched the rebirth of psilocybin research after a 22 year period of dormancy in the United States. He also is a consultant/trainer at sites of psychedelic research internationally and teaches in the Program of Psychedelic Therapy and Research at the California Institute of Integral Studies. His graduate degrees include M.Div. from Yale Divinity School, S.T.M. in the psychology of religion from Andover-Newton Theological School and Ph.D. from Catholic University, as well as studies with Abraham Maslow at Brandeis University and with Hanscarl Leuner at Georg-August University in Göttingen, Germany, where his involvement with psilocybin research originated in 1963.

Panelists and Faclitators

Hunt Priest

LIGARE FOUNDER
In early 2016, I was a fortunate participant in a psilocybin study involving religious professionals.
Through Ligare, I want the healing power of these sacred plants to be in the toolkits of all who are healers of bodies, minds, and souls. Part of this entails actively collaborating to bridge the knowledge gap between psychedelic research and religious and spiritual communities. The other part is providing a network and community of like-minded people who have had such positive experiences and wish to have continued fellowship together.
Melissa Terese McLaughlin

BREATHWORK FACILITATOR
Melissa Terese McLaughlin is a Breathwork Facilitator, Teacher, Shamanic Practitioner, and Modern-Day Medicine Carrier whose unique approach to healing has supported countless people around the world. She is the founder of Breathwork Worldwide and Circle of Sacred Breath, two organizations dedicated to supporting people to heal and transform. In addition to offering facilitator training in Ceremonial Breathwork, Melissa has created training for the use of the Shamanic Energy tools of the Q'ero Peruvian Medicine Wheel. Offering private sessions, group circles, and workshops worldwide, Melissa is passionate about sharing her breathwork knowledge. Her mission is to introduce ancient practices alongside traditional Western medicine to those seeking a different therapeutic approach.
Kerra Becker English

GROUP FACILITATOR
Following the path of spiritual curiosity, Kerra participated as a research subject in the Johns Hopkins psilocybin study for religious professionals in 2019. Having an intense psychedelic experience has increased her interest in spiritual awakening in her writing and her preaching and teaching. Kerra is a spiritual director, who both learned from and has taught in the RUAH School for Spiritual Guidance at Richmond Hill. She is also an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church, USA. Kerra loves being a companion on the spiritual journey whether she is accompanying others as a pastor, spiritual director, retreat leader, or clergy coach.

The Reverend Dr. María R. Barrera

PANELIST
Dr. Barrera is a Native American traditional practitioner, Firestarter of Circles using the Medicine Wheel and the 12 Steps Way of recovery, a Sundancer, member of the Oklevueha Native American Church, and an ordained interfaith minister from All Faiths Seminary International. Dr. Barrera has served as a minister for With-In With-Out the Circle, Inc. (WIWO) in Washington. She provides spiritual direction/companionship grounded in Ignatius Spirituality to laypeople, people in the diocesan discernment, seminarians, clergy, and chaplains. She was Spiritual Directors International’s first-ever Ambassador.
Joy Celeste Crawford, MACE ThM

FACILITATOR, MODERATOR
Joy is founder of the Spiritual Life Center of Virginia, LLC, co-founder of Church of the Wild River, and Kindred Project - a weekly international contemplative prayer gathering. She holds Masters Degrees in Theology and Christian Education, and Certificates in Spiritual Guidance from the Shalem Institute, Eco-Ministry from Seminary of the Wild, and Ethical Psychedelic Care from the Synthesis Institute. Joy currently serves as a spiritual director with the Christian Psychedelic Society, Ligare. She also provides individual and group spiritual guidance, monthly Wild Church services, retreats, foraging classes, and women's groups.
Allyssa Jomei

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION COORDINATOR
As a certified Interfaith Spiritual Director, Allyssa is devoted to accompanying others on their journey of awakening and restoring their sense of wholeness. Her expertise lies in trauma-informed care, interfaith dialogue, and psychedelic support, where she thrives at the vibrant crossroads of spirituality, psychology, somatic work, and psychedelic soul care.
Allyssa has been deeply committed to her work with Ligare, collaborating with a dynamic group of spiritual directors to explore the intersection of psychedelic care and spiritual guidance.