Facilitators
Alvaro de Ferranti
Co Founder of Tabula Rasa Retreat™ and Faith Retreats™
Álvaro has a keen interest in the therapeutic benefits of Iboga, and other Entheogens. Especially, the part they play with arresting addiction to harmful substances and behaviours. More importantly, his focus is on holistic, consistent, and compassionate aftercare. Having experienced multiple plant medicine journeys, his most profound experiences were a result of partaking in sacred mushroom therapies, leading to long-lasting and positive changes in his life.
It is clear to him that psilocybin alleviated his occasional feelings of depression, helped him feel more connected to the world around him and enhanced his self-acceptance.
Furthermore, these experiences enabled him to reframe the way he viewed himself and his life. He further noticed that pre-care, integration, and aftercare were the keystones of this prescription.
Álvaro is co-owner of the visionary, and ambitious Tabula Rasa Retreat project in Portugal. It is a natural progression to amalgamate his experience from running the world’s premier ibogaine treatment centre, Tabula Rasa Retreat, to further good use, in the is case, his new brand of wellness events – Faith Retreats – held a Quinta da Fé, the home of Tabula Rasa.
He now joins forces with retreat leader, and ceremony guide Jessica Grotfeldt, who is a renowned expert in the field of sacred mushroom therapy.
Are you ready to RE: Connect?
Axis Mundis
Shaman
Axis is a young shaman healer that has been working for 12 years with master plants and natural medicines, such as Ayahuasca, Iboga, Kambo, Bufo alvarius, temazcales, dietas and many others.
The experience he gained with his shaman maestro, his travels to Mexico, Colombia, Peru and other countries, as well as his degree in Psychology, helped him to create a completely new and original way of doing therapy, called Natural Psychology.
This is giving outstanding results freeing people not only from strong drug slavery, but also from any kind of mental suffering.
For him, working with master plants is the most natural way of living, and they together will truly naturalize everything in your being, helping you to be authentic, free and full of life.
Chiara
Shaman and Artist
Chiara started her journey with master plants in 2019 and since then she has been working with Axis as partners. She supports him during the ceremonies, in order to bring balance to the masculine and femenine energy which is very important. With Axis she guided ceremonies and organized retreats in different countries in Europe, Mexico and Africa. She also got iniciated in the Bwiti religion in Cameroon in 2022. She studied Fine Art in London and her focus is now on the therapeutical power of creative practices, she runned art therapy workshops and always tries to combine art and nature. She has also been working in an holistic center in Spain where she does massages, energeric healings and beauty facial treatments. She will help you see the natural beauty within and around you.
Neal Clayton
Head Nurse
Neal Clayton is a registered nurse who trained and worked for many years in the UK’s National Health Service. He holds an English Nursing Board specialty in cardiothoracic intensive care and was a valued member of the team in the world famous Royal Brompton National Heart and Lung Hospital in London. His breadth of experience includes working in several other countries as well as volunteering in humanitarian heart clinics and surgeries in Fiji.
Having experienced family addiction, Neal is highly motivated to help those who come to Tabula Rasa to change their lives. His experience, knowledge and calm manner assure the safety of everyone.
Gemma Gaquit
Nurse
Gemma is a valued member of our nursing team at Tabula Rasa Retreat. Graduated in 1995, she has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is a Philippine Registered Nurse. She has experience in many different fields of Nursing. Gemma started working as a volunteer nurse in the community hospital of her hometown, giving health teachings and promoting well-being and health. Eventually, she moved to the city and managed an Out Patient Medical Specialist Clinic; organised appointments and follow up check’s for the clients and liaised with the MD’s. In 2002, she was chosen by the Philippine government to work for King Fahad Medical City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the Paediatric Surgical unit where she was strictly monitoring vital signs.
A great opportunity arose when she was offered a position to work as a private nurse in Luanda, Angola in 2011. The prestigious family brought Gemma to Portugal and she has been living here ever since. Gem’s mission is to offer quality nursing care to clients and we are delighted to have her on our team.
Nena Polinar
Nurse
Nena Mae Polinar is a registered nurse and has been in the health care industry for six years. She had her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Holy Name University in the Philippines. She has a work experience in hospital, clinic nurse and home care nurse. Her job includes monitoring a patient's treatment , devising care plan and providing medical care during emergencies. She want's to be a nurse because she has this insatiable need to care for others and wants to use her strength and skills to make the most positive difference in the world, especially in the lives of some of the most vulnerable members of the society. It was clear to her that she found her calling and she believes that every single life matters, so she ensures that every day she handle her job with great careful attention. When you're a nurse you know every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours
Ruben Antunes
Support
Originally from Lisbon, Ruben found his purpose once he moved to the Alentejo. Graduated in the social services sector, he worked at a specialised institution for young people with severe emotional disorders and addiction issues. From a early age, Ruben believed that there can be long lasting change in people, that it is possible to repair trauma and live a happier life. His life path later led him to specialise in the area of addictions, in particular, working directly with people who struggle with substance misuse. Ruben has worked at Quinta da Fé (the home of Tabula Rasa Retreat) since 2019.
Ruben provides compassionate, discrete, attentive and empathetic customer support and is the main connection between our guests and the whole support team. His beliefs grew out of the therapeutic love he too received. He believes without a doubt that believingc listening and "accessing" to the inner child is the key to achieving a recovery and a happy life, with absolute control in the ability to decide the course he takes .
Rafaela Salvador
Client Manager
Graduated with a degree in Sociology from the University of Evora, Rafaela has had extensive experience working in the rehab and addiction sector.
Rafaela was a support worker and administrative assistant at the Monte Wellness Centre (Portugal), also worked for Seasons Portugal Wellness Centre in client services, and trained at Western Counselling Residential Treatment for Addictions in the United Kingdom.
Alongside Alvaro, Rafaela is the first point of contact for all enquiries. She provides support to prospective clients and also is the conduit between the client and our extensive referral network.
Rafaela is our lifeline.
