Safe And Affordable Access To Psychedelics Therapy: Several Organizations Sharing That Goal

Meet TARA Mind, the platform providing access to psychedelic treatments, founded by military veteran and former Navy Seal Marcus Capone in partnership with Grant Verstandig, founder of one of the first tech startups acquired by United Healthcare and CEO of VC fund Red Cell Partners.

The collaboration seeks to bring psychedelic-assisted therapies mainstream and democratize access and workplace benefits through the new platform TARA Mind. 

With seed funding of $3 million from Red Cell, TARA Mind is set to assist the growing number of people currently underserved or untreated by available mental health treatments through its network of psychedelic-assisted therapy providers across the U.S. and abroad.

The new network uses novel digital measurement-based care tools designed to ensure safety and quality, optimize affordability and outcomes, and trigger early interventions when necessary.

To address issues of safety and efficacy, the company organized a set of standards to guarantee patients get preparation, treatment, integration and monitoring.

This was done in collaboration with a list of renowned medical advisors, including Dr. Sandhya Prashad (American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists and Practitioners), Dr. Jerry Rosenbaum (Harvard Medical School), Dr. Nolan Williams (Stanford University School of Medicine), and Dr. Rachel Yehuda (Icahn School of Medicine).

Further, TARA Mind is working toward offering supplemental employee benefits to existing health plans.

Ketamine-Assisted Wellness Takes The Form Of Retreats

California-based hospitality and wellness group Humboldt Social and Humboldt County’s ketamine and integrative mental health practice The Center for New Growth are launching an immersive ketamine-assisted therapy retreat. 

Hosted at Humboldt Social’s Scotia Lodge, the four-day experience will take the center’s profound model of psychedelic-assisted therapy into the boutique hotel setting, combining it with other bodily immersive experiences, to allow people to access accelerated benefits.

The retreats will include a medical clearance examination and a group session prior to arrival. an opening ceremony, two ketamine-assisted sessions, and a final day of reflection and closure.

City of Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel said: “We are so excited to introduce Humboldt County to the world as a medical tourism destination. Addressing trauma and depression through innovative treatments like ketamine-assisted therapy is critical in addressing the current mental health crisis,” adding that trauma therapist Dr. Carrie Griffin, founder and CEO of the Center, is “one of Eureka’s treasured medical professionals.”

For greater access to the therapy, the Center offers pro-bono treatments and sliding scale fees, and has become a contracted partner with California Humboldt County Veteran Affairs.

The 2023 retreat dates are scheduled for June 11-14, August 6-9, and November 2-5, and 2024’s are February 18-21.

Photo: Benzinga edit with photo by Pexels.