NEED-BASED & DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
We initiated our need-based and diversity scholarship program in 2019 to increase the accessibility and inclusivity of our psychedelic services and training program. Since that time have provided over $400,000 in scholarships to our students. These scholarships provide a 10% to 40% discount on any program tuition or group participation fee. Scholarships for individual sessions are also regularly available and are based on an hourly flat fee discount.
We would like to reaffirm our organization’s commitment to racial equality and social justice. We are fully committed to ensuring that everyone in our community is treated fairly, and with dignity and respect.
We would also like to ensure that the communities who need psychedelic healing services the most actually have access to them. There is something very personal about healing and self-actualization, and it is often important to recipients of a psychedelic session that they have a shared identity with their guide. The Center for Medicinal Mindfulness would like to do whatever we can to support access to transformational experiences for all people.
We believe that everyone deserves access to the healing that we offer and we work hard to make these programs financially accessible. Our scholarship program is not based on any sort of donation limitations. If you need a scholarship, and you qualify for our services or training program, you’ll get one for the duration of your time with us.
We acknowledged that marginalized communities have too often been left out of receiving access to essential psychedelic services. This scholarship is designed to give access to people who are marginalized and who experience systemic oppression. The scholarship is also available to help people who financially need it and would not be able to participate otherwise.
We specifically aim to lift up those most marginalized and therefore prioritize people who hold multiple identities in this application process, especially if you have limited financial means, are a student, a veteran, retired, or disabled. Our hope with this scholarship is to create space for those who have been most often denied access to this type of transformational experience and training by a lack of accessibility or discrimination.
The full Scholarship Application can be found in the Student Handbook. We base our decision of scholarship amount based on the following criteria:
- 10% – Veteran, Student, Need-Based, International, Works with Underserved Populations, Retired
- 20% – BIPOC, LGBTQ, Minority Religious Tradition, Couples Attending Program (Need-Based)
- 30% – Combinations of above, multiple underrepresented identities
- 40% – Extreme financial need and/or multiple underrepresented identities
The scholarship is for the duration of your time with us, and includes all tuition costs and group session fees. We also offer a scholarship rate for individual psychedelic therapy services.
What the scholarship does not yet provide a discount on is travel, lodging and meals during our training retreats or visits to our center. We have a partnership with the hotel next door to reduce lodging costs. We have also created online training and psychedelic therapy options.
The application to receive a scholarship is simple and takes less than ten minutes. It is part of the general application process for our training program.
Demographic information requested is optional but is part of the general application (whether you are applying for a scholarship or not) so we can track our progress on diversity and inclusion. Please complete the demographics section if you are comfortable doing so.
Student & Community Safety
We take the safety of our students and our community very seriously and skilled cultural awareness is a dimension of that safety. Due to the profound effects of psychedelic medicines, and our primary mission to train professional psychedelic guides, anyone is invited to apply to and participate in the Medicinal Mindfulness Academy training program, regardless of their professional identity, if:
- They agree to and comply with our safe community guidelines, informed consent agreements and other waivers, which include a non-discrimination and anti-harassment policy
- They are physically, spiritually, psychologically and cognitively well enough to use psychedelics safely and to practice as a professional psychedelic guide safely, ethically and skillfully within a community that supports personal growth, accountability and oversight
- Optional Medical Consultations: $250 – See the initial screening questions before applying if you plan on taking psilocybin mushrooms as part of your practicum experience. If you have questions about specific physical, pharmaceutical or mental health contraindications you can request an optional medical review to determine if these concerns would affect your ability to safely participate in the practicums.
Initial Screening Questions – Before You Apply
Students are invited to complete the didactic trainings and modules of the NMHA with an approved application. Practicums require participating in psychedelic medicine experiences, specifically with psilocybin mushrooms. If you have questions or concerns around the following, speak to us before applying, and we may recommend an optional medical review after completing our general medical screening intake.
- Certain Pharmaceuticals & Supplements – If you are taking any pharmaceuticals, we need to know about it to ensure your safety. Certain medications are contraindicated and others may affect the quality of your experience. Lithium is contraindicated for use with psilocybin. Visit psychedelicinteraction.com for more information.
- Significant Mental Health Concerns – Our Psychedelic Safety Questionnaire is designed to support you in your decision in taking psychedelic medicines, however certain severe mental health issues would negatively affect your ability to take psilocybin in group settings for training.
- General Physical Health – Besides general wellness and ability to safely exercise, we are primarily concerned about blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, we require that it is safely and appropriately managed.
- Suicidal Ideation – While psychedelic medicines can help significant mental health concerns, including suicidal ideation, a psilocybin training program may not be the best container to hold the support required. Visit the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness to learn more about our psychedelic services as a step towards future training.