Hi, I’m Stefana
My path has been guided by a deep longing to be of service to life, and a continuous inquiry as to how to go about that.
Initially this led me to focus on socio-economic and political issues. I obtained degrees in political sciences from the University of Oxford, Sciences Po, and Columbia University, and spent my teenage years and early adult life working with underprivileged children in India, Brazil, Peru and England, followed by campaigning on deforestation and human rights issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Papua New Guinea.
At the same time, the backdrop of my 20s were the illness and death of my mother, as well as the discovery of psychedelic medicines, psychotherapy and spirituality. I became increasingly interested in the inner dimensions of healing, and have spent the last decade+ training in a wide range of transformational modalities spanning the depth and breadth of exploring what it means to be a human on this earth at this time. You can find more details on my trainings and qualifications below.
In 2016 I co-founded and directed the first European psilocybin-retreat programme of its kind (The UK Psychedelic Society’s Experience Retreats), which eventually transformed into ALALAHO in 2020.
In 2023, after 7 amazing, wild, challenging and immensely beautiful rollercoaster years of building a team, a pioneering organisation and facilitating life-changing psychedelic retreats for hundreds of people, my soul beckoned me to new frontiers.
I spent the following two years resting and digesting the previous cycle, letting my old identity die, becoming a student again and, as so often happens as we move toward our longing and potential, meeting that which gets in the way of expansion. Having journeyed with many of the ways that fear and resistance disguised themselves in my life, I am now finally ready to emerge from my transformational cocoon and share the gems I have collected along the way. A little bit older, and, hopefully, at least a tiny bit wiser.
It is my greatest passion and honour to contribute to the creation of a culture where we open to the wisdom at the core of our being, become empowered to take responsibility for our lives and feel free to express our unique gifts.
Qualifications
Academic
Dual MA in International Affairs from Columbia University New York and Sciences Po Paris, 2011 - 2013
BA Philosophy, Politics & Economics from the University of Oxford, 2006 - 2010
Trainings (participated or assisted)
Sounds Of Light - Elemental Sound Healing Year Long Facilitator Training, 2024 - 2025
Somatic Shadow Work - HeartIQ Advanced Facilitator Training, August 2024
Embodied Intimacy Summer Camp - Assistant, July 2024
Soma Mystica Trauma-Informed Facilitation Training, April – December 2023
The Field Facilitator Training, April – December 2023
Highden Mystery School 6-week Temple Training, Feb - April 2020
Deepening The Lataif - Advanced Module at The School for Essential Counselling, 2017
Relationship Counselling Skills - Advanced Module at The School for Essential Counselling, 2016
Holistic Counselling - Foundation Year at The School for Essential Counselling, rooted in Almaas’ Diamond Approach, 2015 - 2016
Forrest Yoga Teacher Training 200+ hours, August 2014
Personal experiences
Shamanism (Predominantly in the Shipibo and Lakota tradition - vision quests, sweat lodges, ayahuasca and San Pedro ceremonies, several dietas spanning between 10 days and 3 months)
Meditation (Vipassana, Osho, and several Dzogchen meditation retreats in the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition with Namkha Gyatso Rinpoche of the Rigdzin Community)
Sensuality and sexuality (Sensual Mastery with Kalindi Jordan; ISTA Level 1 facilitated by Elaine Yonge; Authentic Love - Slow Sex retreat with Hanna Milling & Bernhard Glasenapp, one time as participant, one time as assistant)
Other psycho-spiritual seminars (The Path of Love, participant and twice assistant - with Rafia Morgan & Turiya Hanover; Possibility Management trainings (Expand the Box + Possibility Lab 1); HeartIQ with Christian Pankhurst; Tamera Love School in Chorin; “Opening the heart for death - Preparing for the big journey” with Basilissa Jessberger ; “Embodied Voice Flow” with Alessio Castellacci)