therapy service
Cacao ceremony in pasadena & online in California
An ADD-ON SERVICE FOR INDIVIDUAL Therapy
When vulnerability is too big an ask.
Need a little help opening your heart?
Ceremonial cacao (100% pure, raw cacao) is a non-psychedelic plant medicine and superfood traditionally used for ritual, ceremony, and healing in Indigenous communities of Central and South America. Cacao has long been revered as a heart medicine—a gentle plant ally for deep emotional connection, inner reflection, and relational healing. In modern-day ceremonial practice, cacao is not about replicating ancient rituals but about engaging with this plant in a way that is meaningful, intentional, and responsive to the present moment.
ancient wisdom meets modern healing
ceremonial cacao & Therapy: Where soul meets somatic
By incorporating Cacao into therapeutic work (Cacao-Assisted Therapy), we work with this sacred plant in a therapeutic setting to support heart-opening, emotional processing, and nervous system regulation. Cacao enhances self-awareness, softens emotional barriers, and invites deeper connection—to yourself, your relationships, and your inner wisdom. This offering blends somatic therapy, parts work, and guided meditation with the gentle yet profound medicine of Cacao.
Cacao enhances self-awareness, softens emotional barriers, and invites deeper connection—to yourself, your relationships, and your inner wisdom.
She is so much more than a plant—she’s a companion on the path of healing.
More than a delicious treat
What are the benefits of Ceremonial Cacao?
heart + spirit
Ceremonial cacao opens the heart and calms the mind, encouraging emotional softness, self-compassion, and deeper connection. It supports emotional processing by helping feelings move with greater ease, making space for clarity and self-awareness. Many people also find that it enhances creativity, intuition, and inner wisdom. Who doesn’t love that?!
mind + mood
Cacao gently supports nervous system regulation, promoting relaxation and reducing stress or overwhelm. It contains natural mood-elevating compounds that ease anxiety and bring a sense of emotional balance. Unlike caffeine, the theobromine in cacao offers a calm, sustained energy boost—without the crash. Yaaaas!
body + energy
Rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, ceremonial cacao nourishes the body while supporting brain and nervous system health. It increases blood flow and oxygenation, which can enhance vitality and cardiovascular function. This plant medicine truly nourishes on every level—mind, body, and spirit! Ugh, love her.
FAQs
you’ve got questions - I’ve got answers
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This offering is designed to be incorporated at the beginning of any individual or couples therapy session. Cacao-Assisted Therapy requires a 30-minute add-on, making sessions approximately 90 minutes in total.
Together, we’ll invite the spirit of Mama Cacao into our session, set an intention, and begin sipping. The first 5-10 minutes will be spent engaging in Somatic Experiencing sensation tracking, allowing us to slowly drop into the body. From there, we’ll move into the session as usual, with more intentional pauses to check in with the body, the heart space, and our communion with Cacao’s spirit.
Individual Rate: $265 | Couples Rate: $285
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The main difference is that for virtual Cacao-Assisted Therapy, you’ll need to purchase your own cacao (I recommend Ora) and set aside 10-20 minutes beforehand to prepare it.
For in-person sessions, I will provide and prepare the cacao for both of us (or all three of us for couples therapy).
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My inspiration for creating this offering comes from a deep desire to help my clients connect with the profound healing potential of plants. Cacao-Assisted Therapy is an invitation to meet Mama Cacao—to feel her gentle, heart-opening presence, and to begin a relationship with this sacred plant that can support you in self-regulation, inner exploration, and emotional healing. My goal as a therapist has always been to equip my clients with long-term tools they can use to support their own healing journey, and a relationship with Mama Cacao is another tool.
My hope is that through these sessions, you’ll come to know cacao not just as a plant, but as a loving guide—one that helps you soften, listen, and reconnect with yourself (or your partner) in a way that feels both grounding and expansive. Mama Cacao is especially sweet for those of us with wounding around the feminine.
This offering is rooted in deep respect for cacao’s Indigenous origins, honoring the wisdom keepers and sacred traditions that have carried this medicine forward, while also allowing space for you to experience how her spirit speaks uniquely to you and your journey.
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Cacao is a vasodilator, which means it increases blood flow and heart rate. Because of this, it may not be suitable if you are taking certain antidepressants (such as MAOIs or SSRIs), have a heart condition, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
We can discuss any questions or health concerns you might have and adjust your cacao dose accordingly to ensure a safe and supportive experience.
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The ceremonial cacao I utilize during these sessions is from Ora Cacao. It is 100% pure, organic, fair-trade cacao, sourced from small family farms across Belize, Colombia, Guatemala, Tanzania, and Uganda. Ora Cacao maintains direct, long-term relationships with these farmers, ensuring ethical and regenerative practices. Through their Farmer Climate Resiliency Fund, Ora Cacao supports sustainable farming methods that promote environmental health and community well-being.
If you’d like to order your own Cacao from Ora, feel free to use my discount code CLARA65175 to receive 10% off.
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The short answer is no, not in the way I conduct cacao ceremony.
Having spent time building a relationship with this plant through personal practice, ceremony, and education, the way I relate to cacao in ceremony isn’t about trying to recreate or emulate Indigenous Mayan rituals, but more about connecting with her in a way that feels authentic and alive in the here and now.
What I’ve found is that modern cacao ceremonies (when led in a non-appropriative way) are really rooted in a sincere desire to connect with, be guided by, and learn from the spirit of the plant. For me, it’s less about replicating tradition and more about relating with gratitude, intention, and reciprocity.
This offering is rooted in deep respect for cacao’s Indigenous origins, honoring the wisdom keepers and sacred traditions that have carried this medicine forward, while also allowing space for you to experience how her spirit speaks uniquely to you and your journey.
My goal as a therapist has always been to equip my clients with long-term tools they can use to support their own healing.
A relationship with Mama Cacao is another tool.
in-person
online
Cacao ceremony Near me?
Cacao-assisted therapy is available as an optional add-on to individual sessions. You can experience this heart-opening, grounding practice either in person at my Pasadena, CA office, or virtually if you're located anywhere in California.