Seraphaya is supported by a core team and a rotating group of facilitators, practitioners, and support staff. Each retreat is intentionally staffed based on the needs of the container, the work being held, and the focus of the gathering.
While not all team members choose to be publicly listed, every person who serves within Seraphaya is vetted, trauma-informed, and aligned with our mission, values, and devotional approach to the work.
If it feels important to know which facilitators and support staff will be holding the container during the week you’re interested in, we invite you to reach out for more information.
Our Team
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Lauren Pounds
Founder & Spiritual Director
Lauren Pounds is the founder of Seraphaya Spiritual Center, where she holds intentional, trauma-informed retreat spaces rooted in integration, daily devotion, and grounded spiritual practice.
With years of experience guiding individuals through somatic healing, integration work, yoga, breath, and devotional practices, Lauren’s work centers on helping people slow down, reconnect with their own rhythm, and live what they’ve learned — not just experience it.
Her approach is shaped by lived experience, disciplined personal practice, and a deep commitment to ethical, nervous-system-aware facilitation. Rather than intensity or escape, Lauren creates containers that emphasize safety, discernment, and integration as the foundation for real transformation.
At Seraphaya, Lauren serves as both guide and steward of the work, ensuring that each retreat is held with integrity, intention, and care for the whole human experience.
Susie Rokosch
Board Member & Lead Yoga Facilitator
Susie Rokosch is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 17 years of experience in trauma-informed care, clinical case management, and mental health counseling. Her therapeutic work is grounded in evidence-based modalities including mindfulness-based CBT, EMDR, and IFS.
She is also an E-RYT 500 yoga teacher with experience teaching in correctional facilities, treatment centers, domestic violence shelters, and community organizations. This background allows her to integrate mindfulness, breathwork, yoga, and somatic practices into body-centered, holistic support.
Susie’s personal healing journey with plant medicines—particularly Ayahuasca—has deeply informed her respect for ethical, culturally rooted approaches to healing. She is committed to bridging modern clinical practice with ancestral wisdom, supporting integration that is trauma-informed, grounded, and spiritually attuned.
Ben Heimann
Retreat Facilitator & Operational Support
Ben Heimann has been part of the Seraphaya journey since the very beginning and continues to serve as a steady presence within retreat spaces. A devoted father, Ben brings years of lived experience exploring the plant medicine path from multiple angles, grounded in deep reverence, humility, and respect for the work.
He supports both the logistical and relational aspects of retreats, helping create containers that feel safe, intentional, and well held. His approach is rooted in authenticity, service, and integrity, reflecting a long-term commitment to personal growth, family, and the path he walks.
Bliss Reimann
Retreat Support & Culinary Care
Bliss Reimann brings creativity, playfulness, and heart-centered care to the retreat environment. A playful, fun-loving adventurer, Bliss enjoys creating with her hands—whether through art, cooking, or hands-on projects—and finds joy in sharing what she makes with others.
At Seraphaya, Bliss supports the nourishment and day-to-day flow of retreat life, helping cultivate a warm, grounded, and welcoming atmosphere. Inspired by her grandmother’s longstanding role in her church’s kitchen, she sees caring for others through food and shared moments as a meaningful extension of devotion. Bliss’s presence adds lightness, creativity, and connection to the overall retreat experience.
Kandice Steitz
Certified Sound Practioner
Since 2020, Kandice Steitz has studied alongside Lauren while continuing to deepen her understanding of plant medicine, integration, and holistic wellness through both personal study and hands-on experience.
Her healing journey has included acupuncture, massage therapy, chakra work, sound, and herbalism, leading to a deep appreciation for how vibration influences the body, mind, and spirit. This path inspired her connection to sound as a supportive tool for grounding, nervous system regulation, emotional release, and post-ceremony integration.
As a Certified Sound Practitioner through the International Sound Therapy Association, Kandice serves on the Seraphaya St. Louis retreat team. Drawing from years of performing on stages throughout St. Louis, she combines evidence-informed sound practices with intuition, faith, and compassion to create a safe space for reflection, reconnection, and inner listening.
Daniel Freeman
Integration Coach & Retreat Support
Daniel Freeman is a certified integration coach who has been working closely with plant medicines since 2020. An Ayahuasca journey that year set him on a path of healing and service, integrating the lessons of his own experiences while supporting others on theirs.
Through years of volunteering at and attending ceremonies, Daniel has held space for people from many walks of life. He brings a grounded, attentive presence to retreat spaces and is honored to support participants as they navigate their own unique paths. Daniel also carries experience with a variety of other plant medicines in ceremonial and healing contexts.