In the third part of our four-part series, ‘Understanding the Attitudes, Experiences, and Needs of Women Who Attend Psychedelic Retreats’, we explore how the gender makeup of a retreat group influences women’s experiences. This is especially relevant for women attending a psilocybin retreat in Jamaica, where group settings are common. In this article, we examine how women’s experiences may differ in single-sex versus mixed-sex retreats, focusing on the social and emotional aspects of these experiences.

Why Women Prefer Single-Sex Retreats

Women’s Preferences After the Retreat

Our pilot survey, conducted with Beckley Retreats, found that women who had never attended a psilocybin retreat in Jamaica before changed their views after participating. One major finding was the growing importance of women-only retreat options. Survey responses showed that the question about attending a women-only retreat saw the largest increase in importance from before to after the retreat — a 36.33% rise. This indicates that women initially may not consider single-sex retreats necessary, but their experiences at the retreat show how valuable they are.

One participant said, “For me, I would ONLY attend an all-women’s retreat. Men being there at all is a dealbreaker for me.”

These insights suggest that women want retreat programs designed exclusively for them. Single-sex retreats often create a safe and supportive environment, which can help women fully engage with their psychedelic experiences.

Feeling Safe and Supported

In the second blog, we discussed safety as a major factor for women at retreats. Single-sex retreats can reduce concerns about privacy, vulnerability, and gender-specific risks, giving participants confidence to explore their experiences deeply. Retreat facilitators, like Mary Bonett, emphasize that women-only spaces allow for quicker emotional openness:

“The first sharing circle of a women-only retreat – the fact of landing and being in a shared space with other women – is medicine in and of itself.”

Feeling safe allows women to connect with themselves and others, which is an important part of the retreat experience.

The Social Side of Psychedelic Retreats

Experiencing Togetherness

Most research on psychedelic therapy focuses on individual sessions, but in retreats, psychedelics are usually taken in groups. This makes the social experience — or “communitas” — a key part of the process. Communitas refers to feelings of togetherness and shared humanity that arise during group experiences.

A study by Kettner et al. (2021) found that communitas during psychedelic ceremonies is linked to better psychological wellbeing and stronger social connections. However, female participants were less likely to feel this sense of togetherness compared to men. This shows that gender can affect how women experience connection and support in group retreats.

Sharing circles, where participants openly discuss personal experiences, can help extend these benefits. But, as Mary Bonett notes, women may feel uncomfortable sharing personal topics like menstrual cycles in mixed-sex groups, making women-only retreats more conducive to deep emotional work.

How Gender Shapes the Experience

Gender dynamics can influence how women feel during retreats. Research from Orozco and Harris (2022) shares the story of Naomi, a woman at a mixed-sex retreat in Jamaica. During her session, the men in the group were playful and loud, which frustrated her and made her feel disconnected. Later, she realized that these challenging interactions helped her release painful emotions from her past.

On the other hand, another participant, Annie, benefited from the mixed-sex setting in a different way. She felt supported by kind and respectful men, which helped her see herself differently and heal relational patterns with the opposite sex.

These examples highlight that while single-sex retreats provide safety and ease of emotional sharing, mixed-sex retreats may offer unique healing opportunities related to relationship dynamics.

Conclusion: Finding the Right Retreat for Women

Are women-only retreats the best option? The answer depends on each woman’s needs and goals. Single-sex retreats often provide safety, comfort, and faster emotional openness, while mixed-sex retreats can offer opportunities to explore relationships and interpersonal growth.

Early research shows that gender plays an important role in shaping the social and emotional experiences of women in psychedelic retreats. More studies are needed to understand these dynamics fully and to develop retreat programs that maximize benefits for all participants.

For women looking for safe and supportive options, Beckley Retreats offers programs tailored to women, including women-only retreats and a Sanctuary for Black Women. Their psilocybin retreat programs in Jamaica and the Netherlands include preparation, integration, and fully guided experiences. Women can explore these programs with confidence, knowing the retreat environment is designed to support their unique needs.