TARA Mind is on a mission to combat our Nation’s mental health crisis by expanding safe and responsible access to psychedelics so that individuals in need have the resources and tools necessary to take control of their mental wellbeing. The TARA Mind community includes a network of vetted providers who are trained in psychedelic-assisted therapy...

There are 73 million Americans suffering from mental health conditions, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression; 46 million battling substance dependence; and only one in four Americans believes they have the access to the mental health care that they need. TARA Mind was created to address this escalating mental health crisis and to...

At TARA Mind, we help you explore comprehensive, safe, and research-backed treatment options. When you’re ready, we encourage you to book a free 15-minute consultation with a TARA Mind concierge who can guide you through TARA Mind’s resources and platform based on the needs you communicate and answer any questions that you might have. Following...

The TARA Mind Way™ represents a set of standards codified by TARA Mind for providers in its network to follow to assure the availability of wraparound services for clients. Developed in consultation with clinicians, this system comprises four components, known collectively as PTIM™: Preparation, Treatment, Integration, and ongoing digital Monitoring of clients to ensure safety,...

PTIM™ represents the four components of the TARA Mind Way™, a set of standards that practitioners on the TARA Mind provider network must follow. They have been established to ensure that individuals are receiving the types of wraparound services that our expert clinicians believe provide the most effective outcomes for those undergoing psychedelic-assisted therapy. PTIM™...

In Sanskrit, Buddhism, and Hinduism, Tara is the ancient goddess of compassion and savior of the suffering. Lore holds that she emerged from a blooming lotus – a symbol of spiritual enlightenment and resurrection – born of empathy for the suffering world. Personifying compassion and offering salvation, she is a guiding light for those who feel...

Each of our providers goes through a rigorous application process that vets and verifies their educational background, licensure and certification status, as well as confirms their good standing with their state’s respective licensing bodies. We conduct annual reviews of each provider to ensure they continually meet or exceed these requirements.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being” and plays a role in our thoughts, feelings, and actions, including how we handle stress and relate to others. Mental health is a part of overall well-being.

Some 73 million Americans are living with mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). An estimated 46 million are battling substance dependence. Additionally, data from the National Center for Health Statistics show that more than 100,000 overdose deaths occurred in 2021, a 15 percent increase over 2020 figures....

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation/CNN survey, 90 percent of adults in the United States believe the country is facing a mental health crisis, with half of people surveyed saying they always or often feel anxious and one-third of them reporting that they often or always feel depressed. In spite of this, more than 40...

The terms “behavioral health” and “mental health” are often used interchangeably, but they don’t always mean the same thing. Mental health concerns a person’s overall psychological and social wellbeing and affects people’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. Behavioral health, on the other hand, entails the emotions and behaviors that affect overall wellbeing. Mental health conditions include...

The CDC considers mental and physical health to be equally important components of overall health. For example, depression increases the risk for a variety of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. And the presence of those chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness.

No. People often make the mistake of using these two terms interchangeably, when, in fact, they are not the same. Mental illness refers to a diagnosable condition or “disorder.” A person can experience poor mental health and not be diagnosed with a mental illness. Conversely, a person diagnosed with a mental illness can experience periods...

Several types of traditional therapies exist for a variety of mental health conditions. They include individual, couples, family or group psychotherapy (talk therapy), or counseling; prescription medication such as antidepressants; and intensive outpatient, hospital or residential treatment programs, among others. While traditional medical and therapeutic methods have improved over the years with scientific advancements, they...

When clinically meaningful antidepressants entered the market in the mid-twentieth century, they represented a major evolution in the treatment of mood disorders. While effective for some, for a significant number of individuals, these treatments are not. In fact, treatment resistance – when an illness does not respond to an adequate course of treatment – affects...

Depression is a serious and persistent condition that can negatively impact a person’s everyday life. Also called “Major Depressive Disorder” or “clinical depression,” it affects how one thinks, feels, and handles day-to-day activities. Individuals are considered depressed if their symptoms persist for two weeks or longer and affect their previous level of functioning. (See What are...

Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include: Feelings of sadness, guilt, or worthlessness Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once found enjoyable Changes in appetite that could result in weight loss or gain Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) Low self-esteem Fatigue or loss of energy Difficulty with concentration or...

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a subset of Major Depressive Disorder that does not respond to standard and first-line antidepressants, such as antidepressants like serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). SSRIs work to increase serotonin levels in the brain by blocking their reabsorption (or reuptake) into the brain’s nerve terminals or neurons....

Everyone feels anxious from time to time. In fact, experts say, in most instances, feelings of anxiety are a normal response to stress. But for some 40 million adults in the United States living with anxiety disorders, the condition can escalate to intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear that may affect many aspects of...

Anxiety disorders can come with a number of signs and symptoms, which may include: Feeling nervous, irritable, restless, or tense Having an increased heart rate Expecting the worst, even though there doesn’t seem to be a reason for worry or concern Having a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom that’s disproportionate to the situation...

According to the American Psychiatric Association, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a condition where a person’s mental, physical, social, and/or spiritual wellbeing have been affected after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. (See What is trauma?)  To be diagnosed with PTSD, one must have symptoms lasting for more than a month and that cause significant...

Individuals who are living with PTSD can have intense, disturbing thoughts and emotions stemming from their traumatic experience. These feelings can last long after the traumatic events have occurred. Symptoms can include: Intrusive thoughts such as repeated, involuntary memories; distressing dreams; or flashbacks of the traumatic event that might be so vivid that people feel...

Trauma is an emotional response to a distressing event or circumstance. It can have a lasting impact on a person’s overall mental, physical, social and/or spiritual wellbeing.

Trauma can bring about feelings of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness or fear that life will come to an abrupt or early end. Other symptoms include: Unpredictable emotions Intensive intrusive recollections or flashbacks Strained relationships Physical symptoms like headaches or nausea Persistent fatigue Dissociation Problems with sleep Nightmares Avoidance of emotions, sensations, or activities linked to...

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) usually results from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body and causes damage to the brain – whether from impact, penetrating objects, blast waves, or rapid movement of the brain within the skull. Mild traumatic brain injury may affect your brain cells temporarily. More-serious traumatic brain injury can...

The severity of TBI ranges from mild to moderate and severe and can have short- and long-term consequences, including: Cognitive, behavioral or mental symptoms: loss of consciousness or balance, dizziness, feeling dazed, confused or disoriented, problems with memory or concentration, mood swings, depression or anxiety, problems with sleep Physical symptoms: headache, fatigue or drowsiness, problems...

Demoralization is a serious mental health concern which can lead to suicidal thoughts. Prevalent in individuals diagnosed with life-threatening diseases, such as cancer, it is characterized by a sense of failure, disheartenment, helplessness, hopelessness, loss of purpose, an inability to cope, and suicidal thinking.    It is differentiated from depression, which, in addition to feelings...

Grief is a strong, and at times overwhelming, emotion that can cause feelings of anguish, sadness, numbness, guilt, or anger in people who have experienced loss. For many, these emotions gradually subside over time. But for some, they can be debilitating. Complicated grief (also known as persistent complex bereavement disorder) occurs when painful emotions are...

People who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness often experience anxiety and depression, which can have a negative impact on quality of life as well as additional psychiatric and medical outcomes.Studies, however, have shown psychedelics – particularly psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and ketamine – can help people overcome their anxiety and depression. Psychedelics have also...

Approximately 46 million people struggle with substance use disorder (SUD). These individuals have an intense focus on using substances like alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs, to the point where their ability to function in everyday life is affected. Terms that fall under the larger grouping of SUD, include: Addiction – a psychological and/or physical dependence...

Psychedelics are substances that affect the mind by altering perception and mood and bringing about non-ordinary states of consciousness. In some cases, psychedelics can also induce hallucinations. Psychedelic plants and fungi have been used by indigenous communities for medicinal and ceremonial purposes for thousands of years. Today, psychedelics are the subject of numerous studies and over...

Psychedelic means “mind-manifesting.” They are psychoactive substances that alter normal consciousness.

To answer this question, we have to go back a few thousand years. Algerian cave drawings from 5000 BCE depicting shamans holding mushrooms are believed to be among the first recorded evidence of psychedelic use. And Peyote buttons dating back to 3700 BCE were discovered in the Shamula Caves area of present-day Texas where Native...

As of December 2022, only ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, is federally legal in the United States (See What is Ketamine?). However, every provider on the TARA Mind platform can legally practice and work with individuals undergoing psychedelic therapy in their specific region or country of operation. To find out more about the status of legalization...

While each substance can have unique effects depending on the individual, psychedelics have been shown in brain imaging studies to decrease brain activity in the default mode network, a set of interconnected regions of the brain involved in the manifestation of sense of self (such as self-reflection), judgment, tolerance, and reality testing. These brain regions...

Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), also known as psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, is a mental health treatment method where a trained therapist incorporates the use of psychedelics to treat certain mental health conditions.

A comprehensive PAT treatment plan involves three stages: Preparation – This typically involves the participant and provider meeting to discuss any concerns prior to the psychedelic experience. During this phase, the provider answers questions, discusses goals, and helps the participant to understand what to expect during the PAT. During this stage, the participant is building...

Psychedelics have the potential to unearth painful memories and emotions. Without preparation, these experiences can be overwhelming for many. Advance preparation can help to put individuals in a frame of mind that allows them to confront painful parts of their pasts, process their feelings, and gain insights that can inform their decisions during integration and...

Psychedelic integration is the process of drawing insights from a psychedelic-assisted therapy session and using them to create long-lasting and positive changes. Psychedelic treatment can sometimes unearth traumatic memories or experiences from the past. Integration professionals – who may include therapists, counselors, coaches, sitters, or loved ones – can help the individual undergoing treatment to...

A range of psychedelic treatments are being used by practitioners (psychiatrists, therapists, counselors, guides) in both clinical and non-clinical settings, including international retreats. Some of the most frequently used substances in psychedelic-assisted therapy are ketamine, psilocybin, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), ibogaine, ayahuasca, mescaline/peyote, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). In preliminary studies, these substances have been...

The use of psychedelics is considered to be safe for many (but not all) with proper supervision. It is important for individuals to be upfront with their providers about any medications they are currently taking and underlying conditions (e.g. heart, vascular, brain), as some psychedelics are known to elevate heart rate and blood pressure readings...

All providers on the TARA Mind platform are licensed mental health professionals and can help you explore the psychedelic treatment that may be best suited to you, from preparation to guidance, or post-treatment integration. The key differences between coaches and therapists is that coaches focus on personal growth and professional development. Therapists, on the other...

An integration coach helps guide an individual who has undergone a psychedelic session. The coach can assist the individual with extracting insights from their psychedelic experience. These insights can be used to help the person to make significant and lasting life changes.

Set refers to an individual’s mindset, including mood, perceptions, and expectations. Setting refers to the context or physical environment where the psychedelic session takes place. Setting also includes anything that is physically located in the space where the session takes place, like music, an eye mask, pillows, candles, etc. Set and setting are critically important...

To achieve the most from a psychedelic experience, preparation and integration carried out in collaboration with healthcare professionals are critically important. You should ensure that you are fully informed about a substance — including what to expect from it and the ways to lessen potential risks — before consenting to a psychedelic experience. Participants should...

While psychedelic-assisted therapy has shown great promise in providing significant relief of symptoms for certain individuals with conditions like PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), depression, major depressive disorder (MDD), including treatment-resistant depression (TRD), substance dependence, and anxiety, it is not a cure. Rather, it is considered a “reset” that allows people to correct negative self-talk,...

No, the effects of psychedelic-assisted therapy are not permanent and the duration of impact can vary by individual. Some studies have documented symptom relief lasting from a few weeks to years. Psychedelic integration can help individuals implement positive behavioral changes that may lead to lasting relief, but some may need or wish to repeat their...

First synthesized in 1962 by Calvin Stevens and patented in 1963, ketamine is a Schedule III substance approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as an anesthetic to prevent pain during medical procedures, including surgery. It is featured on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines and has been made available for “off-label”...

While ketamine is a powerful psychoactive substance, it is technically not a psychedelic. Instead, it is a dissociative anesthetic that can produce hallucinogenic effects.

Ketamine is a Schedule III substance approved for use as an anesthetic and may be legally prescribed off-label by licensed medical practitioners for a variety of indications that are not recognized or approved by the FDA. Read on for ketamine uses.

Beyond its primary application for anesthesia in humans and animals, ketamine is legally prescribed “off-label” to help relieve chronic pain and fibromyalgia as well as to treat such mental health conditions as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideations.

While we cannot guarantee results, research has shown that, at lower doses, ketamine has rapid antidepressant effects and therapeutic benefits. For example, a 2021 study by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis showed that ketamine infusions administered over a prolonged period resulted in “sustained remission of treatment-resistant depression” up to eight weeks....

The effects of ketamine depend on the dose and can range from slight perceptual disruptions and sedation to paralysis and full dissociation. Other effects include: Drowsiness Dissociative (body dissociates from the mind) Out-of-body experiences Changes in perception, cognition, and emotion Vivid images Visual hallucinations Ego dissolution Transcendence of space and time Mystical experiences Feelings of...

Ketamine is typically administered through IV infusions, lozenges or nasal spray (esketamine).

Esketamine is a fast-acting nasal spray marketed under the brand name Spravato®. It is FDA-approved to treat depression that does not respond to traditional therapeutics, commonly referred to as treatment-resistant depression. Esketamine is a more potent version of ketamine.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: A national 24/7 confidential mental health crisis service. Dial 988. Visit Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio for materials in Spanish. Alcoholics Anonymous: A 12-step program for individuals who want to achieve sobriety. Meetings are free and open to anyone battling a drinking problem.Visit to find out about meeting times and...

If you have insurance, the best way to understand your coverage is to call the number listed on the back of your insurance card. You can ask if behavioral health benefits are offered as part of your coverage. The majority of psychedelic-assisted therapy services are all cash-pay at this time. However, in some cases, you...

No, and please don’t ask. Allow us to explain why this is so important: many TARA Mind providers are licensed professionals in jurisdictions where it is unlawful to produce, distribute or possess psychedelics. Facilitating access to psychedelics could expose these providers to serious professional discipline, as well as potential criminal penalties. However, the TARA Mind...

TARA Mind’s provider community includes a wide range of practitioners such as medical psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, care counselors, and psychedelic coaches. While all have accumulated various degrees and/or certifications from reputable institutions, each provider offers a unique skillset which is detailed in their profile. Individuals seeking providers can speak with a TARA Mind concierge to...

Choosing the right psychedelic modality is a multi-layered decision that should be evaluated based on several factors, including why you are pursuing psychedelic sessions, what you hope to get out of it, and your health history. Once you’ve determined whether psychedelic-assisted therapy is right for you, feel free to book a free 15-minute consultation with...

While psychedelic-assisted therapy is not a miracle cure, it has the potential to to inspire meaningful and durable psychological and behavioral changes in people’s lives.

You will enjoy many benefits as a TARA Mind provider: New clients – our advanced search allows our pool of highly motivated  prospective clients to connect with providers based on location, condition, preferences, and goals. TARA Mind also educates these clients before they come to you, screening out clients for whom PAT is not a...

If you are a licensed clinician – such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) – we invite you to complete an application here. Once you apply, someone from our team will reach out to discuss your application. If you have any...

We understand that from time-to-time a relationship might not work. If you decline to offer further services to a client, we will work with that individual to help them find an alternative provider.

Yes! We partner with guest writers and speakers to create and publish content on a range of topics related to psychedelic-assisted therapy research and application, mental health and wellness, and much more. If you’re interested in developing content, publishing an article, joining a panel with TARA Mind, or have another idea, please contact us at...

Yes. Under the Controlled Substances Act, scientists may conduct research on Schedule I substances (the class of drugs under which psychedelics fall), provided they register with and gain approval from the US Drug Enforcement Administration. To register, researchers must identify the institution where the research will take place and provide information pertaining to their qualifications...

Clinical trials (also called interventional studies) are a type of medical research involving human volunteers. They seek to evaluate a medical, surgical, or behavioral intervention and help researchers to determine if a new treatment is safe, more effective, and/or has less harmful side effects than existing standard treatments. Clinical trials are regulated by the US...

Clinical trials consist of four phases to test a treatment: Phase 1: Focuses on the safety of a drug or other intervention. This phase usually involves 20 to 80 healthy participants and is used to determine the most frequent and serious adverse events, to find the correct dosing, and discern how a drug is broken...

Researchers often get psychedelics through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which maintains a catalog of drugs –including MDMA, ibogaine, psilocybin, and other hallucinogens – that researchers can request. Through its Drug Supply Program, the NIDA provides researchers with substances that are either unavailable, difficult to obtain, or very expensive to purchase.   To obtain...

In 1990, Rick Strassman, MD, a professor at the University of New Mexico, became the first scientist in 20 years to receive government approval to carry out psychedelic research. Since then, an increasing number of researchers throughout the United States have ventured into this area of study to determine the impact that these substances have...

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please go here for a list of resources offering immediate assistance. These FAQs are for educational purposes only and are based on information available as of their publication date. They do not constitute medical advice and should not be construed as a recommendation to take – or...