Frequently Asked Questions

Short: We vet Guides through a multi-step process including documentation review, multi-session interviews, in-person verification, references, criminal background checks, and ongoing quality review.

Our vetting includes documentation review and 2–4 Zoom sessions where we examine training, clinical or facilitation experience, emergency procedures, scope of practice, safety protocols, ethics, and preferred client types or conditions. We also conduct an in-person 2–3 hour visit to the Guide’s practice or setting, and we run criminal background checks. Guides must provide client and mentor references, demonstrate ongoing training, show trauma competency, and meet minimum experience thresholds. We perform annual reviews and collect match feedback to maintain quality.

Specific minimums & requirements (what we require and verify):

• Guide has an ongoing deep personal journey work practice of their own.

• Guide can demonstrate the ways in which they make safety & harm reduction a priority.

• Guide has guided at least 50 one-on-one guided journeys.

• Guide has worked with or under a mentor/experienced Guide with a review period for at least 3 years and provide at least 2 mentor references.

• Guide is experienced and accredited in additional modality training(s) that accompany journey work.

• Guide has trauma training accreditation.

• Guide offers at least 1 preparation and 2 integration sessions as an integral part of their journey work.

• Guide agrees not to work with anyone they don’t feel is ready or a proper fit.

• Guide has ethical standards that align with JourneyŌM (we are a pledge signatory to the North Star Ethics Pledge).
  We also run criminal background checks, verify insurance where appropriate, and require Guides to include emergency & escalation procedures and clear informed consent processes. We audit Guides annually and collect client feedback after matches.

Short: Personalized matchmaking and support, with optional logistics help when requested.

Concierge means we handle intake and readiness assessment, curate matches, introduce you to Guides we think fit your needs, provide guidance about next steps, and follow up post-match to ensure quality. The Guide and seeker decide program specifics (medicine, pricing, prep, integration) directly and privately.

Short: Our service is therapeutic in intent when clients request it, but a Guide is not always a licensed therapist unless they explicitly hold that credential.

Many Guides use therapeutic frameworks, and some are licensed clinicians. If you want care delivered by a licensed mental-health professional, tell us during intake so we can match you to clinicians who operate under HIPAA and local regulatory standards. For many clients we recommend a collaborative model where a licensed therapist handles clinical care and a Guide provides in-session environment and guidance.

Short: A typical journey pathway includes screening and preparation, the journey day with Guide-led support, and post-journey integration work.

Preparation usually involves a Guide’s medical and medication review plus 1–3 prep conversations – usually over zoom – to build rapport and set intention. The journey day is Guide-led in a safe prepared setting, with comfort and safety measures. After the journey, integration sessions help translate insight into change. Important distinction: Guides are accredited and many are licensed clinicians; they actively guide beyond tripsitting.

Short: We perform a basic eligibility screen to confirm you are appropriate for referral; the selected Guide performs the in-depth medical and medication review.

Our intake captures enough medical and psychiatric information to assess basic eligibility and readiness, and to flag obvious contraindications. If there are potential risks, we flag them for the Guide and, when needed, recommend specialist review. The selected Guide completes the detailed medication review and any required clinical clearance (ECG, labs, liaison with prescriber).

Short: Some conditions commonly preclude participation, including active psychosis, schizophrenia, and certain severe cardiac disorders.

Absolute exclusions commonly include current psychotic disorders and a personal history of schizophrenia. Unstable bipolar I disorder and severe uncontrolled cardiovascular disease typically preclude Guide work unless a specialized supervised clinical pathway is arranged. JourneyŌM will not refer a seeker if clear contraindications are present.

Short: Challenging experiences can occur; accredited Guides are trained in containment, grounding, and escalation, and integration reduces long-term distress.

Guides provide grounding, somatic and therapeutic containment, and escalation plans if medical or psychiatric intervention is needed. Guides may use nonpharmacologic strategies first and, if necessary, arrange for medication or emergency care per clinical protocols. Integration work is key to turning difficult material into growth.

Short: Disclose all medications. Pay special attention to MAO inhibitors, lithium, serotonergic antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and QT-prolonging drugs.

Below are typical categories and examples so seekers recognize common names. Guides will do a full clinical review and coordinate with prescribers when necessary.

Short: JourneyŌM’s concierge and matchmaking services are legal. The legality of specific substances depends on local, state, and federal law. Ketamine is legally available through licensed medical channels in all 50 states.

Laws vary by state, city, and country. Decriminalization reduces enforcement risk in some jurisdictions but does not change federal status. JourneyŌM provides guidance about local risk and prioritizes referrals that reduce legal risk (licensed clinical programs) when requested.  You can check our full Legal Disclaimer here.

Short: We take client privacy seriously, and we match you with HIPAA-compliant providers when clinical-level protections are needed.

JourneyŌM uses secure communications for intake, limits staff access to necessary records, and documents consent. When clinical therapy is part of the program, we match you to practitioners who operate under HIPAA.  Check our HIPAA Practices here and our Privacy rules here.

Short: We have a formal reporting, investigation, remediation process, and serious violations lead to removal from the network.

Reports are investigated; outcomes may include remediation, retraining, suspension, or permanent removal. We will assist affected seekers with clinical and legal resources.

Short: Start with the optional assessment or a free 15-minute call, then a 60-minute discovery call; we then recommend at least two Guides and introduce you to the Guides so you can schedule directly with one.

After you complete your paperwork (including Contract, HIPAA and Intake forms) and Concierge consultation, we introduce to two recommended Guides and after meeting them, you choose who to engage. Guides and seekers finalize program details, logistics, and travel. Typical lead times for macrodose journeys: 2–8 weeks; microdosing/coaching often schedule faster.

Short: Our $129 fee is for the JourneyŌM matchmaking service only. All other costs are arranged between seeker and Guide.

The $129 nonrefundable fee covers intake, readiness assessment, and match curation. Guide fees for prep, journey, integration, travel/lodging/testing are negotiated directly and commonly range $1,000–$4,000 (averages often $1,500–$2,500).

Short: Some Guides offer payment options; tell us during intake if payment flexibility is needed.

Financing availability varies by Guide; we’ll match you with Guides who offer sliding scales or payment plans if requested.

Short: Cancellation and refund policies vary by Guide and program; they are decided between seeker and Guide.

Guides typically have cancellation windows; JourneyŌM does not set Guide-level refund policies and will not include Guide policy details during the match introduction.

Short: No. Guides in our network require preparation and integration as standard practice.

JourneyŌM does not accept Guides who do not take prep and integration seriously. Prep reduces on-the-day risk; integration helps translate insights into lasting change.

Short: Follow the Guide’s preparation checklist: medication review, sleep & diet stabilization, substance reduction, and intention work.

Typical prep includes prescriber medication review, stabilizing sleep/hydration, avoiding recreational substances per Guide guidance, journaling, or therapy.

Short: Integration sessions help you process insights and create practical steps to apply learning.

Integration may include therapeutic conversation, somatic work, journaling prompts, referrals to clinicians, or coaching. It may occur with the same Guide or a licensed therapist.

Short: Sometimes. Couple or partner journeys require careful assessment and an experienced Guide.

Guides assess whether joint participation supports both individuals and whether relational dynamics could pose risks. We often recommend adding a licensed couples therapist for complex cases.

Short: Yes — on request we match seekers with licensed mental-health professionals for clinical oversight and integration.

We prioritize clinicians with relevant credentials and experience and make their scope of practice clear.

Short: We welcome therapists and coach referrals. JourneyŌM coordinates with clinicians when consent is provided.

If you would like to refer a client to us, please contact us by visiting our Contact form; we coordinate shared-care arrangements with client consent.

Short: No. Outcomes vary by seeker, Guide fit, preparation, and integration.

The evidence base shows meaningful effects for some conditions in controlled clinical settings, but real-world outcomes vary. We share peer-reviewed studies when requested during intake to inform seekers.

Short: There is a growing clinical literature supporting psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine in certain contexts.

Here is a curated reading list of notable resources:

• Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research
  Authoritative hub for clinical trials and reviews of psilocybin and other psychedelic treatments, led by a major academic medical center. Link

• MAPS — MDMA Research & Clinical Trials (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies)
  Primary source for MDMA-assisted therapy research, Phase 3 results, and regulatory updates (FDA breakthroughs / approval pathway). MAPS MDMA Research  | MAPS Research

• Imperial College London, Centre for Psychedelic Research
  Longstanding academic research center focused on mechanistic and clinical studies of psilocybin and other compounds. Link

• Key peer-reviewed trials / landmark papers 
  • Griffiths et al., randomized psilocybin trials (cancer-related distress) — PubMed entry.
  • Ross et al., psilocybin anxiety/depression in serious illness — PubMed entry.
  • Suggested general PubMed search URL

• Regulatory / Practical Guidance — FDA & professional statements
  For readers wanting the regulatory / safety angle: FDA pages on breakthrough therapy designations and statements from national psychiatry bodies (useful when discussing legality, safety, and prescriber coordination). Link (search “MDMA breakthrough therapy” or “psychedelics breakthrough therapy”).

Short: Follow your guide’s advice but generally comfortable clothing, required meds, water, and emergency contact/prescriber info.

In addition, guides often request blankets, eye masks, comfort items, and written emergency contacts. Do not bring unauthorized substances.

Short: Minimum ages vary; many Guides restrict to adults 18 or 21+. Pregnancy & breastfeeding are typically excluded.

Older adults may need cardiac screening. Special populations require clinical clearance in many cases.

Short: You can travel; you do not need to carry substances with you. JourneyŌM encourages traveling to the Guide you are best matched with; some Guides can travel to you.

Travel reduces logistics friction; legal risk varies by jurisdiction. Seek legal advice if concerned. JourneyŌM never advises illegal transport of substances.

Short: Use the report link on this page or contact support; we investigate and act as appropriate.

We document and investigate reports, apply remediation, and may remove Guides. We help affected seekers access clinical and legal resources.