Intent, Philosophy, and Vision
for a Transformational Ethics Infrastructure
[Company Name]’s Intent and Vision for a Transformational Ethics Infrastructure
Introduction:
[Company Name] is committed to excellence in care and training We recognize the profound responsibility we hold in providing education and facilitating transformative experiences with psychedelics that honor the dignity, safety, and well-being of all individuals we serve We believe those in the most vulnerable positions within this field – those receiving care with these dynamic and powerful healing modalities – deserve nothing less. With our hearts and actions devoted to this end, we have developed an ethics infrastructure with the help of independent, outside support from several professional sources This infrastructure is one that is evolving, inspires us, and holds us accountable to our vision, mission, and values [(see appendix)].
Here, we wish to give a high-level introduction to the Ethics Infrastructure that has been developed, how it is overseen and applied, and give a deeper view of [Company Name]’s vision, philosophical approach, and intention for this Ethics Infrastructure
We would also like to introduce the Ethics Committee and share how it was formed Additionally, we share our approach to making our work as open source as possible while maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the infrastructure to benefit and protect client welfare.
Introduction to the Ethics Infrastructure:
[Company Name]’s Ethics Infrastructure is described by a series of cornerstone documents that represent our commitment to practicing ethical excellence in psychedelic-assisted services Its actual value is realized through being put into practice - through the actions of our certified guides, the content of our programs, the approach we model, the decisions we make, and the collaborative efforts of our team and ethics committee. The value and effectiveness of this infrastructure will be learned by measuring the effectiveness of our codes of conduct, policies, and accountability processes and by receiving and integrating the feedback of those we serve Its development has been informed by insights from various professional codes of ethics, detailed recommendations from a team of ethicists and consultants, [Company Name]’s Board, leadership, and staff, and our community's feedback and collective wisdom
This infrastructure is designed to support, rather than police, creating a space where everyone involved can grow and thrive with respect, dignity, and purpose. It has been forged from our current values, our future visions, and our history, reflecting our specific challenges and opportunities
[Brief paragraph on company’s background, vision, mission ]
Overview of Infrastructure Design
This Ethics Infrastructure is designed as follows. Each element has a detailed document associated and the whole infrastructure is overseen by an Ethics Committee and Independent Oversight Body
1) A Code of Ethics which outlines our ethical values, commitments, and principles This document is intended to guide the behavior and decision-making of all members within the organization, supporting an alignment of values and principles in their actions and the broader objectives of promoting healing and understanding It serves as a blueprint for guiding us in navigating complex ethical landscapes with wisdom, compassion, and accountability
2) The Codes of Conduct for Guides makes the ethical principles and commitments described in the Code of Ethics concrete. The code of conduct outlines specific policies for ethical conduct by [Company Name] employed and certified guides focused on the ethical responsibilities of guides to their clients which prioritizing client safety, recognizing the profound nature of psychedelic experiences, maintaining ethical standards and boundaries, and fostering a robust guiding container Additionally the Code of Conduct provides policies about the ethical responsibilities of guides to their peers and the profession and the ethical responsibilities of guides to themselves
3) The Code of Conduct for [Company Name] Stakeholders applies to Program Staff, Employees, Board of Directors, Ethics Committee, and others in [Company Name] community that can affect the wellbeing of those we serve These individuals are responsible for promoting safety and adhering to high ethical standards to protect the welfare of program participants, apprentices and those they will serve, [Company Name] as an organization, as well as being considerate of the welfare of the field of psychedelics services as a whole. This code will require a signature by stakeholders. Failure to adhere to this Code may result in a termination of the contractual arrangement with [Company Name]
4) Our Grievance and Transformative Justice Policy and Protocol outlines our protocol for handling reports of ethical breaches, investigation protocols, and details for a Transformative Justice process designed to address conflicts and harms that occur under [Company Name]’s purview through a holistic and transformative approach, emphasizing healing, accountability, reconciliation where desired, and also to address the conditions that give rise to harms It operates on the Transformative Justice principle that every person in a system where there is conflict or harm, is able to transform and heal
5) The Ethical Principles into Organizational Practice Matrix is a tool that supports the [Company Name] to plan and report its activities so that its proclaimed ethical principles are represented by actual practice at the organization level These activities include what it spends its time and efforts on, how it makes decisions, and how it cares for its staff and stakeholders, all in service to its mission
6) The Guide Certification and Supervision Requirements Overview outlines the requirements by which a [Company Name] apprentice may become a certified [Company
Name] guide Additionally, it outlines supervision, continuing education requirements and other requirements for maintaining their certification ongoing via a renewal process. By having these requirements in place guides are supported in, and kept accountable to, the ongoing development of their craft and in navigating ethical tensions or challenges they may encounter with skill and integrity.
7) A Public Certified Guide Database will be a database of all [Company Name] certified guides that will be maintained in a timely manner. This database will include information about a guide's practice, jurisdictions in which they function and related licensure, current certification status and ethical standing If a guide has had their certification removed due to an ethical breach of [Company Name]’s Code of Conduct the database will note this and give a brief explanation of the nature of the breach and reason for removal of the guides certification
Ethics Committee and Governance Documents:
The Ethics Committee guides the [Company Name] in its mission to maintain ethical excellence in all its endeavors Its primary objectives include advising on ethical practices, reviewing policies, fostering ethical culture, handling ethical queries and conflicts, and engaging with stakeholders to ensure transparency and trust The Committee helps to ensure that [Company Name]'s operations and activities adhere to the rigorous ethical principles of the organization and foster an environment where ethical decision-making is at the core of organizational practices A detailed Ethics Committee Charter [add link] outlines the structure, responsibilities, and operating procedures of [Company Name]'s Ethics Committee It details the committee's composition and policies for maintaining independence, its roles in policy and program review, advisory functions, ethical oversight, and the processes for ethical deliberation and decision-making. It outlines its interaction with the [Company Name] board, leadership, staff, and stakeholders and how it is independently overseen by an Independent Oversight Committee This charter serves as a foundational framework, ensuring that the Ethics Committee operates effectively to uphold and advance the organization's ethical standards.
Independent Oversight Body: This body’s purpose is to serve as the outermost layer of governance and accountability in our Ethics Infrastructure. It will serve as a bridge and balance between [Company Name]’s Board of Directors and the Ethics Committee, providing a framework for oversight of the Ethics Committee for its effectiveness and accountability to its values and charter, while remaining independent from influence by the [Company Name] Board of Directors and leadership The independent oversight body will be formed within the first [timeframe for implementation] of the ethics committee's inaugural term and be formed following parameters preset by [Company Name] and the consulting experts and advisors on the infrastructure, including the oversight body’s role, member responsibilities and policies and member exclusion criteria for maintaining independence and effectiveness.
Introducing the Inaugural Ethics Committee
We are pleased to introduce the inaugural [Company Name] Ethics Committee! We are inspired by this committee's wisdom and dedication to ethical care as a guiding force for the [Company Name]
In its total composition the committee represents expertise in:
● Psychedelic Guiding with a deep understanding of the psychedelic experience, ability to navigate complex emotional and psychological terrains, and the ethical tensions that arise in direct care contexts
● Bioethicists and Ethics Scholars with advanced degrees in ethics, bioethics, and philosophy, expertise in ethical reasoning, familiarity with ethical frameworks and theories, and the ability to analyze complex moral dilemmas and guide ethics in healthcare.
● Transformative Justice and Legal Policy Change professionals and advocates who can design and facilitate accountability processes, provide guidance on preventing and mitigating harm, and foster a culture in alignment with transformative justice principles.
● Non-Western Healing Advocates with a deep understanding of non-Western approaches to healing and the ethical principles and cultural contexts associated with them, and an ability to translate and bridge frameworks of a non-Western approach and ethic to other professionals with a predominantly Western academic background
● Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Advocates with expertise in promoting diversity, equity, and accessibility in healthcare or healing contexts and implementing change systematically to promote culturally sensitive ethical practices using an anti-oppressive lens.
● Education and Program Operations Experts with significant experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs, with a focus on ethics and professional development and with familiarity of the unique challenges and opportunities of psychedelic training programs
The committee members are:
[Committee Member 1]
[Committee Member 2]
[Committee Member 3]
[Committee Member 4]
[Committee Member 5]
[Committee Member 6]
To learn more about the committee members, please visit the [website page] on [Company Name]’s site and navigate to the [page name]
Selection for this committee started with an open call in [Month] A recruiting team proceeded to screen, evaluate written prompts posed to the candidates, and conduct interviews to provide well-informed recommendations on candidates' role qualifications and expertise. Final
selections were informed by independent evaluation and recommendations from the [Oversight Partner]. All recommendations were presented to the [Company Name] board for final committee selection Throughout the process conflict of interest was assessed for, both between candidates and between candidates and [Company Name].
[Company Name]’s Intention, Philosophy, and Vision for the Ethics Infrastructure
Ethics, as we see it, is a living, evolving, dynamic practice that emerges from the way we interact with one another and the world Ethical conduct is rooted in one's worldview and principles and is fostered through introspection, seeking guidance, engaging in meaningful discussions and following best practices.
We understand that the healing journey facilitated by psychedelics is deeply personal and profoundly transformative. Thus, we feel our approach to ethics in psychedelic care must go beyond establishing rules and boundaries It must involve nurturing a dynamic and supportive network of care, ethics, accountability, and growth
Our vision for ethics in psychedelic care asks us at [Company Name] to dig deep into our moral frames and values and asks us to consider: What is a transformational ethic of care? How can one's engagement with an ethics framework or infrastructure be a transformational vehicle for all involved?
We hope that this Ethics Infrastructure and these cornerstone documents are used not simply as a static set of directives, but rather as a supportive system for a practiced commitment to ethical care The ethical codes of conducts, principles, and policies we have developed are intended to provide a foundation and a structure.
At the heart of our ethical approach is a belief that there is fundamental goodness in all people, that all people deserve respect, dignity and opportunities to be made whole - in ways specific to their needs and in acknowledgment that there is not equitable access to such opportunities due to the sociocultural systems we are all nested within Before making change or attempting growth we believe we must acknowledge where we are. We recognize it is difficult for healthcare systems, as we know them, to embrace and respond to the depth and complexity of the human experience We believe that ethical practice in psychedelic care must do its utmost to strive to understand, affirm and respond to a vast range of human experience, and to an individual's unique experiences and beliefs We are not all the same, we have not all had the same experiences, and this world is not equally made for everyone Many people experience prevalent structural misattunement to their identity, culture and health needs and this may raise feelings of disappointment, grief, rage, and so forth It’s the reality we face as we look towards change.
Our ethics infrastructure is not perfect, it is not a final answer to some ultimate state of ethical care, but a step, a bridge, a reach toward something, an evolution. It represents a commitment to meeting each person whatever their role is: guide, client, apprentice, staff, community member, where they are, to protect those in vulnerable positions, and support each person in the best way we can on their unique journey towards growth and transformation. Our goal is not to determine what is fundamentally right or wrong for any one person’s experience, but to create frameworks that acknowledge and orient around what is true for them about the ways they experience pain, how they may or may not feel seen, and how they may or may not experience support
It’s our belief that the majority of those drawn to becoming involved in providing psychedelic care are motivated by a deep-seated desire to be of service to individual and collective healing and have a courageous willingness to engage with the unknowns within the developing field of psychedelic services While there may be exceptions, we believe most people arrive here with genuine intentions to help others Nonetheless, genuine intentions and actual impact don’t always align. Therefore, it is crucial to establish clear boundaries, protect the vulnerable, and ensure that those who may inflict harm - whether intentionally or from unconscious places within themselves - take responsibility for their impact and are provided avenues for learning and growth. We believe that boundaries and policies for ethical conduct are not antithetical to freedom; rather, such guardrails are integral to any relationship of professional care and acknowledge no one is immune to negatively impacting the very people they are called to serve and help
When we consider the codes of conduct, policies, and accountability processes we have put forth, we see them as elements forming a supportive framework for the various kinds of relationships in the [Company Name] system, a web of ethical care and commitment upheld by real people that are dedicated to being present and supportive of everyone's welfare. The cornerstone documents within the infrastructure point to the places where those in supportive roles will engage with you when you encounter difficult moments within yourself, or for those in positions of power - moments where you might not recognize the impact of your actions on others When such challenges arise, our ethics infrastructure aims to support both guides and those they serve, meeting individuals at their points of need and helping them navigate their journey to self-awareness and healing. We are saying- we will meet you in the shadow, in the lesser known places - the places of shame, fear, isolation We will utilize our knowledge, skill and care to do what is in our power to support you
While this infrastructure is meant to prioritize the guide-client relationship, and ultimately the well being of the client, other [Company Name] stakeholders are also guided by this infrastructure in their particular roles in contributing to ethical psychedelic education and care. With this infrastructure we not only support guides in learning, establishing and maintaining an ethical practice, we aim to support the quality of care for those that they work with
We are acutely aware of the incredible courage it requires for those that are suffering to ask for help in a world that doesn’t teach us to ask for help. This act of reaching out is rooted in hopethe belief that their own lives can be improved, that healing is possible, that a different world is
possible That hope is precious and must be protected Such hope deserves to be met by guides who are committed to treating that preciousness with the utmost care. In all likelihood that precious place of hope is something the guide knows in themselves, it may be what sparked desire to be of service to others in the first place. This ethics infrastructure is meant to provide a container, a shelter for this incredibly nuanced and important exchange to occur - for the spark of hope and healing to be nurtured and grown
As [Company Name] continues to grow, we are committed to bridging our ideals with our practices while prioritizing safety and wellbeing for those we serve and work with We recognize the immense capacity and dedication required for [Company Name] to provide and uphold ethical principles, policies, and procedures with which to educate psychedelic guides and support the direct care they will in turn provide their clients We are on a journey towards creating an environment where the ethics of care we dream are possible are not just ideals but lived and embodied realities Our commitment to growth as an organization includes ongoing education and engagement with our own ethical principles and policies. It means working with external experts, visionaries and stakeholders to support the evolution of this infrastructure so it remains vibrant, relevant, and grounded in integrity We recognize that our approaches and ethics policies will continue to evolve, and that this infrastructure may look different in the future. In fact, we hope it does We hope to see a day when an ethic of care in psychedelics is so deeply and widely embedded into the fibers of our beings, relationships and institutions that the necessity for this sort of infrastructure is only a distant echo of what's needed now. Until that time, we commit fully to supporting the implementation and evolution of this ethics infrastructure, with the help of the community Our hope is that it remains a living testament to our dedication to deep, transformative healing within individuals and for the healing of our culture.
Appendix: [Company Name]s Vision, Mission, Values
[Company Name]'s ethical framework is intrinsically linked to our overarching vision, mission, and core values These foundational elements guide our actions and decisions in educating about and providing psychedelic care
Vision
We envision a thriving, equitable world in which psychedelic care is accessible, respected, and practiced for personal healing and collective transformation.
Mission
Our mission is to support individuals' healing and participate in a shift in collective consciousness by training and supporting psychedelic practitioners in the [Company Name] approach.
Guides trained and certified by [Company Name] will have cultivated the skills, empathy, and attunement to skillfully and ethically serve others, fostering environments where clients feel safe, respected and empowered to explore their inner worlds
Values
1 Integrity: We commit to high ethical standards, helping ensure that our practices are transparent, accountable, and respectful of all individuals' dignity
2. Compassion: Our work is centered on a deep empathy for the complexity of the human experience, which guides our approach to care and interaction within our community
3. Excellence: We strive for the highest quality in everything we do, from training our practitioners to providing direct care. We ensure that our services are as efficacious and evidence-based as possible, and continuously evolving
4. Experience affirming: We recognize individuals' diverse paths and backgrounds and foster an environment where all voices are heard, respected, and integrated
5 Transformation: We embrace the potential of psychedelic services to transform lives and the collective and we commit to advancing the field through research, education, and thoughtful practice
[Company Name] is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization focused on education and advancing the safe, ethical, and legal practices of psychedelic-assisted services .