My story
After the sudden loss of my husband, Dan, in June 2023, I unexpectedly returned to the U.S. and embarked on a healing journey that led me to explore the transformative potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy. My struggles with alcohol intensified after Dan's passing, but with the support of my family, I found healing through a 30-day inpatient program at a holistic healing and recovery center, where I was introduced to the power of psychedelics in a group ceremonial setting.
This experience sparked my deep interest in plant medicines, guiding me to train further at Center for Medicinal Mindfulness in Boulder, Colorado. My journey has involved mindfulness-based trauma work, plant medicine, and a commitment to sobriety. I believe in each person's ability to find freedom from alcohol, with community and plant medicine as powerful allies in this transformative process. I approach grief with strength, grace, and love and am honored to support others as they navigate their unique paths.
Beyond grief and sobriety, I believe exploring consciousness shouldn’t be reserved for times of crisis. We all have parts that need healing, and psychedelics offer a unique opportunity for growth. I’m here to support others in accessing these transformative states for personal and spiritual development.
With love and gratitude,
Avery Collura
Psychedelic Guide/Sitter
Qualifications & Involvement
My work is informed by a combination of professional training, community involvement, and a deep commitment to creating safe, transformative spaces for healing and growth.
Certifications & Training
Psychedelic Guide—Advanced Guiding Practices—Center for Medicinal Mindfulness
Psychedelic First Aid—Psychedelic Focused Mental Health Crisis Intervention, Wilderness First Aid & CPR Certification—Center for Medicinal Mindfulness
Yoga Teacher (currently in-training)—My Vinyasa Practice
Reiki I & II Attuned—William Lee Rand lineage, with over 10 years of energy healing experience evolving into intuitive practices
Professional Affiliations
Program Manager —Colorado Psychedelic Practitioners Cohort
Community Engagement and Growth Strategist —Colorado Psychedelic Society
Member—Psychedelic Club of Denver
Community Member—NOWAK Society
Yoga Teacher (currently in-training)—My Vinyasa Practice
Professional Expertise
Prior to my work in psychedelic healing, I spent over a decade as a software development project manager in the healthcare technology space. I thrived at leading complex, multi-disciplinary teams, orchestrating large-scale projects, and navigating the intricacies of change management. My role required precision, adaptability, and the ability to hold space for diverse perspectives while driving innovative solutions forward.
These same skills now enrich my work in the healing space. Leading a project is not unlike guiding a healing journey: both require collaboration, trust, and a clear vision of desired outcomes. My experience managing change equips me to support clients as they navigate the complexities of personal transformation. The adaptability I honed in the corporate world enables me to meet each individual where they are, tailoring the process to their unique needs. At its core, my work—whether managing a team or facilitating a psychedelic journey—has always been about creating environments where growth and healing can thrive.
The Jellyfish
I was not on medicine that night.
But the ceremony was just as real. The breathwork. The music. The silence between the notes. The way the room held everything—grief, fear, anticipation, surrender.
And me, lying there, inside it all.
In this moment, all I could feel was resistance.
My body knew tension better than it knew release. I felt it then, in the weight pressing down on my chest. The air caught in my throat. The panic rising—what if this feeling never passes?
What if I am stuck here?
And then—she arrived.
A jellyfish.
Floating in from the left, just between my ribs and my forearm. Slow, deliberate, unbothered by the currents around her. She moved without force. Without fight. Without resistance. And somehow, I started moving too.
My breath followed her rhythm.
My body softened.
I was no longer stagnant.
And I understood.
Healing is not about pushing through. It is not about force. It is about trust. Letting the current take you where you need to go. Letting the grief be there without needing to fix it. Letting yourself be carried when you are too tired to swim.
The jellyfish became my guide, my symbol, my permission to surrender.
She still shows up.
When I think I cannot keep going.
When it feels like too much.
When I forget that I have already survived the impossible.
She is my reminder—
I can do this.
I can do anything.
At Jellyfish Journeywork, this is what we do. We do not force healing. We move with it. We let it unfold, in its own time, in its own way. And when it feels like too much, we remember—
We are not alone.
