Receive the care you seek.
Tanja Duke
Transpersonal Therapist, Psychedelic Specialist, Yoga & Meditation teacher
I was born and raised in Austria, but have been calling California my home for the past 10 years, currently living and practicing in Los Angeles. My passion for supporting others in their healing has always been fueled by an infinite curiosity for people’s life stories and the myriad ways of transforming difficult experiences into personal growth.
One of the biggest challenges in my life was being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at age 19. My survival chances were about 13%. Confronting my own mortality at such a young age, made my whole world collapse, but also ignited a keen wish to live. I went through several years of treatment and survived. Ever since then I go through life with an awareness that every moment is precious and a sense of gratefulness for whatever comes, because the hardest of situations can bring forth so much positive transformation when we fully embrace them.
Education
I hold a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and completed a four-year Yoga and meditation teacher training, which laid the foundation for my work. My approach is rooted in the Himalayan tradition and Tibetan Buddhism, reflecting years of dedicated study and practice. These contemplative teachings have shaped my understanding of mindfulness, compassion, and the nature of consciousness, becoming an integral part of how I approach healing.
I have completed the Level 1 training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and a course in compassionate care for individuals experiencing psychosis with the Windhorse Society Vienna. Additionally, I am a certified herbalist with a deep passion for plant medicines and have graduated from an extensive Psychedelic Therapy Program with the Awe Foundation, which was focused on the indigenous use of psychedelics and a transpersonal approach to healing. When guiding individuals through psychedelic consultations, I draw from 25 years of personal experience and direct learning from tribal elders worldwide. My experiences include participating in Ayahuasca ceremonies in the Ecuadorian jungle, a Peyote pilgrimage in Mexico’s Wirikuta desert, San Pedro rituals in the Sacred Valley of Peru, and an Iboga initiation in Gabon, Africa. I consider plant medicines my allies and have the deepest respect for their gifts of transformation, insight and release.
Approach
In my therapy practice, I integrate a variety of foundational healing traditions - Eastern mindfulness, somatic techniques, classical psychotherapy, and shamanic practices. A core modality I use is Internal Family Systems (IFS), which weaves these approaches together. I specialize in women’s mental health, trauma recovery, and support for LGBTQIA+ and sex-positive communities. Additionally, I am informed by Somatic Experiencing (SE), a powerful toolset that addresses trauma at a deeper level than traditional talk therapy. While I primarily work in one-on-one settings, I also facilitate retreats and group integration circles.
