A limiting factor when providing treatment to communities in need is the fee for clinical services.  The Karunava Project addresses this challenge by setting up an altogether different system, based on mutually beneficial volunteerism. 

Experienced practitioners are matched with therapists, multi-faith chaplains, and other care providers for residencies working with one patient.  This model allows people to volunteer periodically while maintaining a separate primary job, and creates opportunities for cross-generational teaching.  Clinical sites receive free aid from trained volunteers, allowing them to expand access to a wider range of patients.  All participants get to experience a uniquely protected form of practice, free from obstacles to open hearted service.   

Steps of application

  1. Patient or patient’s provider/referring clinic applies for aid from the Karunava Project.  Criteria for participation include the inability to afford services or other barriers to accessing treatment. Patients will be screened to ensure that psychedelic-assisted therapy is the appropriate next step in their care.

  2. Coordination of therapist team, which may include: the referring provider with a trained psychedelic therapist, or a mentor/trainee pair from the Karunava Project team of volunteers.

  3. Site selection: if the referring provider cannot host services at their primary office, we will coordinate access to donated space at an FDA-approved clinical site.  

Overview of treatment 

Psychedelic-assisted therapy is best practiced in a three-step model of preparation, medicine session, and integration.  Through Karunava, this includes:

  1. Preparation session for the therapist team, followed by preparation session(s) with the patient and therapist team.  

  2. Psychedelic-enhanced session with patient and co-therapists.

  3. Integration session with patient and co-therapists, followed by ongoing sessions with primary referring therapist and/or donation-based community integration circles.

All aspects of care will be in alignment with FDA-approved protocols and best practice methods.