Devora (Debbie) Elise Sostman
Hi! My name is Debbie, and I’m an integrative plant medicine facilitator and somatic practitioner based in San Diego, California. As a graduate student at Bastyr University, I am currently on track to earn my master's degree in counseling psychotherapy by 2026.
My professional exploration of healing and altered states of consciousness began at Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research Center, where I gained significant clinical experience by contributing to studies that looked at the effects of psilocybin on Major Depressive Disorder and Anorexia Nervosa.
I am currently working as a practicum student at Inner-Tribal Treatment, a holistic rehab center in San Diego county. Led by respected Native elders such as Robert Aguilar of the Pauma Band of Mission Indians and Robert Anderson who is Navajo, The center supports Native Americans in overcoming substance dependency by integrating modern psychology with ancient healing traditions and cultural wisdom.
After receiving a strong scientific and ethical foundation in the field of psychedelic medicine, I began facilitating high-dose psilocybin journeys at Mycomeditations Psilocybin Retreat. Working with highly trained therapists, intentional group therapy, and a number of diverse guests, I was exposed to the multi-dimensional states of trauma, healing, and collective patterns within the human condition.
As a professional space holder, guide, and somatic integration coach, I partner with Psychedelic Passage, the first legal psychedelic facilitation network in the nation. Through the privilege of helping hundreds of individuals cultivate highly intentional and personalized healing journeys across the United States, I have gained thousands of hours in hands-on experience in creating highly safe, conscious, and trauma-informed spaces.
I actively lead women-focused immersive medicine retreats in Mexico and Peru, using various plant medicines, somatic interventions, and the power of relational, group therapy.
My training involves many diverse, yet compatible modalities such as somatic trauma therapy, intergenerational trauma healing, internal family systems, somatic EMDR therapy, poly-vagal stimulation, somatic experiencing, nutritional healing, kundalini + ashtanga yoga, mindfulness meditation, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, psilocybin-assisted group therapy, and several others skills that cannot be documented in any training or certification.
I am a devoted ally to the sacred medicine of psilocybin and, more recently, a sister exploring the holy sacraments of Acacia and Syrian Rue. Deeply connected to renewal Judaic communities, I am part of a growing movement actively exploring ancestral wisdom in relation to trauma healing and the peacebuilding needed for the future.
Outside of my work with plant medicine, I am both a student and teacher of Ashtanga-vinyasa yoga, an avid kundalini and breath work practitioner, a multi-instrumental musician, and having traveled to over 45 countries across 6 continents, I am also an impassioned world traveler. I love practicing the Spanish and Hebrew language, rock climbing, cold-plunging, cooking plant-based meals, and most of all, laughing with my friends.
Professional Background
Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research Center - Research Aide under Dr. Roland Griffiths
Mycomeditations Psilocybin Retreat – Retreat Facilitator with Justin Townsend, CEO
Psychedelic Passage – Guide and Integration Coach
Inner-Tribal Treatment – Practicum Student
Fireside Project – Coaching Manager with Mary Cosimano, LCSW & Dr. Jacob Ham
Fireside Project – Virtual Psychedelic Peer Supporter
Expanding Credentials
Certifications & Training
Somatic Experiencing Professional Training Level 1 - Somatic Experiencing International
Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy with Dr. Peter Levine, Dr. Pat Ogden, Dr. Arielle Schwartz, and many others – Embody Lab
Intergenerational Trauma Healing – Mark Wolynn
Somatic EMDR Therapy Program - Embody Lab with Dr. Arielle Schwartz, Dr. Scott Lyons
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy – Polaris Insight Center
Healing with MDMA: Facilitator Training with Jonathan Robinson, M.A., M.F.T. - Psychedelic Society
Psychedelic and Psycho-Spiritual Integration Coach – Being True To You
Meditation Teacher Training – Ananda School of Yoga and Meditation
200-hour Yoga Teacher Training – Yoga Alliance
Healing Intergenerational Trauma with Dr. Peter Levine & Efu Nyaki
50-hour Devī Yoga Study, Kundalini Tantra and Devotional Asana with Rose Baudin - Creature Yoga
Non-Violent Communication Training with Robert Gonzalez – The Center for NVC
Authentic Relating Training Level 1 - ART International
Deb Dana’s Polyvagal Informed Therapy Master Class with Stephen Porges, PhD - PolyVagal Institute
Antidepressant Tapering for Psychedelic Therapies – Spirit Pharmacist
Thai Yoga Therapy - Massage Certification Program
Transforming Emotional Suffering with RAIN with Tara Brach – Radical Compassion Institute
Related Experience
Thousands of hours of experience facilitating hundreds of individual and group therapeutic experiences with plant medicine
Deep personal exploration and work with 10+ entheogenic and medicinal plants
Facilitation of plant medicine retreats under the traditional lineage of Shipibo-Conibo
Practice with the ceremonial use of psilocybin under Zapotec shamanistic tradition
Retreat leader on medicine + mindfulness retreats (México)
Zendo Project Burning Man - Psychedelic Peer Support Volunteer
Extensive experience traveling to more than 40 countries over 6 continents
Bilingual in Spanish and English