Spinoza

Spinoza's Next Chapter: Therapy As we step into 2025, I find myself reflecting on what the past year has brought — to you, to me, and to all of us in different ways.   For me, it was a year of challenges and growth. I encountered parts of myself that needed attention — learning to set boundaries, understanding my limits in carrying the sorrows of others, and creating more space to care for myself. It’s been a humbling journey, and as this new year begins, I truly feel myself coming closer to who I am and want to be. At Spinoza, this internal shift mirrored a broader change as well. Over the past two years, I’ve been deeply immersed in studying Jungian Psychology, which resonates so closely with the work we do. However, I recently decided to pause that path — to begin again with fresh eyes. While Jung’s ideas remain close to my heart, I want to broaden my understanding by exploring different perspectives in psychology to create a more holistic conversation about the role that psychedelics can play in the process of healing. That said, I can say that I’ve officially started my journey to becoming a psychologist at the Open University, with the same previous intention of eventually moving into psychoanalysis. This decision also reflects a shift in my role at Spinoza—from marketing and communications, my original background, to leading our new therapy-focused direction. At Spinoza, we deeply believe in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. But we also acknowledge that these substances aren’t for everyone. They aren’t a quick fix or a magic solution. Rather, they open people up to deeper emotional layers, and for these experiences to be truly beneficial, participants need to return to a supportive system that understands what they’ve gone through. By a “right system,” I mean a circle of friends and family who can hold space — but also, critically, access to professional therapeutic support to help integrate these profound experiences. Until now, we’ve done much of this screening ourselves. However, we believe there’s room to improve how we assess readiness and provide post-retreat support. We want to collaborate with healthcare professionals—psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists—to define who is ready to journey with us and ensure our participants have access to a network of professionals to work with afterwards. Here’s how this future could take shape:  • Pre-retreat screening by mental health professionals to determine readiness  • Access to a network of therapists for post-retreat integration support  • Ongoing collaboration with healthcare professionals to ensure safe, ethical practices I'd love to hear from you if you are a healthcare professional willing to explore how we can build this network together. Feel free to send me a message or book a call with me via the link in the comments:

Expert Interview: Niek Schreurs from Spinoza, a modern psychedelics brand This was a lot of fun, Jons! The interview will be released next week on May 21st. "Spinoza is a Dutch-based community and consumer brand, re-defining the way we imagine psychedelic experience. Niek, the CMO of the company, will share his experience on how Spinoza operates, what led to his professional success, and how the brand is set up to win the game of e-commerce."

Last week, I had the privilege of participating in one of our own psychedelic retreats once again. The reason why these experiences are so transformative is because they allow us to connect through disconnection. It enables them to fully let go of the everyday life that usually requires them to take on certain roles, such as being a parent, a brother, or a supportive friend during times of grief. These ceremonies provide a space to explore one's inner world and reflect on one's own inner questions and doubts without any distractions from the outside world. They allow for new perspectives to emerge, just as spring allows nature to renew itself every year. If you are curious, feel free to book a 30-minute exploration call with me. We can have a conversation about my experience, but also see if an experience like this would fit your own path. Book a free exploration call here: https://lnkd.in/eVFV9wmw