“The depth of gratitude I feel for this team is beyond anything I could ever fully put into words, but it is something I will carry with me forever.”
The hearts & minds behind Casa-Well
Our team & collective
Casa-Well is an intimate collective of experienced practitioners. Each person plays a defined role — medical direction and cardiac monitoring, somatic preparation, psychotherapeutic integration, and complementary wellness support — so you always know who holds each dimension of your journey.
Not every collective member is on site, medically licensed, or available for every retreat. Credentials, professional registrations, and experience metrics are confirmed before final publication.
Founder & Clinical Director
Holding the space
Kristie Jacobsen
Founder
Kristie has been immersed in the world of healing and holistic health for the past 30 years both as a seeker of truth and as a coordinator of therapies and retreats pointing towards the spiritual path. Her work is focused on sharing the Ibogaine experience as an opportunity for deep Self-Inquiry, as well as harmonizing body, mind, and spirit.
Kristie brings a feminine quality of nurturing, trust, intimacy, and safety into the space, accompanying participants through the worlds of shamanism, Gestalt Therapy, family constellations, astrology, energy healing, bodywork, and connecting with the beauty of nature.
Additional Experience & Training
- 3-year Therapist Training program in Gestalt Therapy at Escuela Gestalt Viva, Atlixco, Mexico
- Personal journeys to Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Canada, Mexico, Spain, and Wirikuta to connect with traditional plant medicines and healers
- B.S. in Business Administration and International Studies from University of Wisconsin-Stout
- 1,000-hour Holistic Health Practitioner Certification from International Professional School of Bodywork in San Diego
Credentials and specific session counts pending confirmation before launch.
Medical oversight & cardiac safety
Clinical screening & continuous care
Dr. René Quiroz
Medical Director
Dr. René Quiroz oversees medical screening, clinical processes, and safety protocols for Casa-Well. With extensive experience in medically supervised plant medicine journeys, Dr. René brings a steady, gentle presence to the team.
Professional registrations, ACLS certification, and years of experience pending confirmation.
Raul Zubia
Cardiac Nurse & Exercise Physiologist
With a decade of clinical experience as a cardiology nurse, Raul specializes in cardiovascular health, continuous patient monitoring, and acute care. His expertise centers on disease prevention through structured lifestyle interventions and proactive health strategies.
Raul is certified as an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Provider and Instructor by the American Heart Association (AHA). In partnership with our team in Mexico, Raul applies his specialized background to ensure safe, medically supervised ibogaine experiences.
ACLS status and clinical credentials subject to final confirmation.
Preparation & integration
Somatic awareness, breathwork & peer integration
Ana Gabriela Vasavilbazo Guevara
Breathwork Facilitator & Somatic Psychotherapist
Ana Gabriela brings over 25 years of experience in somatic practices, conscious breathing, and movement meditation. For more than 15 years, she has guided therapeutic breathwork sessions, psychotherapeutic integration circles, and embodied mindfulness.
Her work focuses on somatic and emotional preparation for deep therapeutic experiences, as well as post-experience integration, helping participants translate profound experiences into grounded, lasting daily change.
Mario Rojas
Therapist · Trauma Integration & Somatics
Mario Rojas is a therapist based in Tijuana, Mexico, whose work focuses on trauma integration, nervous system regulation, and relational healing. His approach is grounded in Gestalt Therapy (Gestalt Viva), Somatic Experiencing, and polyvagal-informed perspectives.
Mario is an active collaborator in the SAT Transpersonal Program founded by Claudio Naranjo and facilitates Reparenting workshops inspired by the Hoffman Process. Within Casa-Well, Mario contributes through group facilitation and individual somatic support.
Amber Renee Cummings
Holistic Mental Health Coach
Amber Renee is a holistic mental health coach who navigated her own journey toward wholeness after 22 years on psychiatric medications. Her passion is helping individuals reclaim their inner freedom, emotional sovereignty, and vitality.
Amber supports participants in finding sustainable wellness through mindful inquiry, lifestyle integration, and compassionate self-advocacy.
Educational bio for context; Casa-Well does not advocate unguided medication cessation.
Dan Lavi
Veteran Support & Integration
Dan is a former soldier whose life was profoundly transformed by an ibogaine experience, inspiring him to become an advocate for thoughtful plant medicine exploration. Based in Los Angeles, California, Dan works with equine therapy, offering dedicated peer guidance and steadfast support to fellow military veterans and anyone navigating their own journey toward renewal.
Complementary support & research
Biofeedback, naturopathy & intuitive inquiry
Valora Barlow
Naturopathic Support & Biofeedback
Valora Barlow coaches Casa-Well participants through a holistic approach to wellness, tapping into the body's innate wisdom. Remote biofeedback is used to identify nutritional and energetic patterns, offering personalized support such as targeted lifestyle, hydration, and nutritional planning.
Complementary care does not replace medical diagnostics or clinical screening.
Tamara Ciriza
The Akashic Records & Intuitive Guidance
Tamara shares her intuitive gifts connecting with the Akashic field to support participants in answering deep life questions, reconnecting to life purpose, and gaining clarity on their life journey. She has created an international community and school teaching conscious connection with the Akashic field.
Spiritual and intuitive support offered as an optional complementary exploration.
Noah Lara
Integration & Safety Research
Noah is a co-founder of Root & Ritual and contributes to developing safety infrastructure within the ibogaine space, including advancing cardiac monitoring systems. Based in Mexico City, Noah has a background in fitness and nutrition and researches natural, full-spectrum peptide formulations as part of a broader interest in preventative and regenerative wellness.
Any Root & Ritual microdosing continuation requires separate written clinical authorization.
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”
— Frank Lloyd Wright
Connect with the Casa-Well team
Submit an inquiry to speak with our team about upcoming retreat dates, screening, and whether Casa-Well is the right setting for your self-inquiry journey.