Funding Proposal
To Support the Creation of
A Groundbreaking Course for Psychedelic Guides
on Supporting People in Spiritual Emergency
To be offered through IMHU
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Who We Are
IMHU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit empowers safe spiritual emergence in the psychedelic era through expert-led training, clinical insight, and ceremonial wisdom. IMHU is currently developing a five-part online course to train psychedelic guides in recognizing and responding to spiritual emergencies—profound psychological and emotional experiences that can arise during or after altered states of consciousness. This course, led by Dr. Emma Bragdon, IMHU’s Executive Director, and supported by global experts, meets an urgent growing need in the field of psychedelic facilitation.
Why Now
With psychedelics entering mainstream use and therapeutic spaces, facilitators increasingly encounter clients facing destabilizing spiritual experiences. Yet most current training lacks depth in this area. Misdiagnosis and harm remain common without proper guidance.
Why IMHU
IMHU has over four decades of leadership in spiritual emergence education. Andy Johns, a highly skilled businessman is now Vice President. This course combines clinical insight, ceremonial tradition, and real-world case expertise to build confidence and ethical competence among facilitators.
Who Is It For
This course is designed for licensed healthcare providers and peer coaches seeking deeper training in spiritual and psychological crisis care. It can be delivered as a standalone online offering or integrated into existing facilitator programs, meeting urgent training needs as FDA guidelines evolve.
What Your Gift Supports
- Design and delivery of the full course
- Contributions from leading experts
- Creation of a safe, accessible digital platform for learning
- Scholarships and sliding scale options to ensure accessibility to disadvantaged groups
GIVING LEVELS
$500 – Seed Planter
$1,000 – Access Advocate
$2,500 – Insight Illuminator
$5,000 – Module Patron
$10,000 – Founding Circle Member
$25,000+ – Legacy Steward
Projected Impact
We aim to reach hundreds of guides in the first year and thousands within three—extending support to tens of thousands of clients navigating non-ordinary states of consciousness.
To Contribute or Inquire
Contact Dr. Emma Bragdon at [email protected]. We are grateful for every size contribution.
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Full Funding Proposal
Supporting the Creation of
A Groundbreaking Course
for Psychedelic Guides on
Supporting People in Spiritual Emergency
Who We Are
IMHU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, seeks funding to develop a vital five-part online course led by renowned expert Dr. Emma Bragdon. This course addresses a critical gap in training for guides, facilitators, and space holders working with expanded states of consciousness and psychedelics. As the psychedelic renaissance rapidly grows, there is an urgent need for structured education on safely navigating spiritual emergencies. This unique program will empower practitioners to positively support transformative experiences, reducing risks of disorientation, confusion, or lasting trauma. By integrating indigenous ceremonial wisdom and authentic lived experiences, participants will gain essential skills to uphold safety, integrity, and sacredness in their practice. The course will be marketed directly to individuals, and also offered to training organizations as a high-value addition to their existing curricula.
Why Now
In 2023, 8 million American adults[i] used psilocybin. Psychedelic use among youth (ages 16–22) has notably increased, fueled by shifting cultural attitudes and rising interest in alternative[ii] mental health treatments. Globally, the rapid expansion of psychedelic experiences has led to deeply varied outcomes, ranging from profoundly positive to severely distressing. A 2023 Canadian study found that among 2,045 users, 82% reported intense positive experiences, while 52% faced significant challenges[iii] .
Accurate data on psychedelic-induced spiritual crises remain scarce, partly due to stigma and legal status, causing underreporting and misdiagnosis. Practitioner reports indicate a significant minority, especially those without preparation or integration support, encounter severe distress. Notably, hallucinogen-related emergency room visits in California rose by 54% from 2016 to 2022 (from 2,260 to 3,476 visits[iv]).
What is Spiritual Emergency
[Spiritual Emergency is] “both a crisis and an opportunity of rising to a new level of awareness.” Christina & Stanislav Grof, MD[v]
David Lukoff, PhD, played a key role in introducing the category “Religious or Spiritual Problem” to the DSM-IV and V. In his early 20s, before becoming a clinical psychologist, he experienced an LSD-induced spiritual crisis in which he believed he was a reincarnation of Buddha and Jesus. Thanks to friends who offered non-judgmental support, he recovered within days—without medication. Spiritual emergencies often resemble psychosis and are frequently misdiagnosed, yet they differ in that they are not indicative of long-term mental illness. Lukoff credits this transformative episode as the catalyst for his career and now advocates for recognizing psychedelic-induced crises as meaningful, not pathological. He warns against dismissing them as “bad trips,” noting they can also stem from overwhelming positive experiences that push us beyond familiar limits.
At 16, Lauren Spiro witnessed her father’s death after he was shot in the face by a street gang. In the months that followed—torn between intense grief and the ecstasy of first love—she began experiencing vivid visions, including one where “the government will fund my work.” Labeled psychotic and possibly schizophrenic, she was hospitalized for months. No one asked what had happened in her life—until a compassionate nurse finally did. Recognizing her distress as a natural response to trauma, the nurse helped secure Lauren’s release. She returned to school, thrived, and went on to become a national leader in Emotional CPR, supporting others through trauma. Today, government grants have indeed funded her work, just as she once envisioned.
Spiritual emergencies are deeply personal but share a common thread: the ego’s usual functioning breaks down, and logic gives way to altered perception. Experiences may feel divinely inspired, leading to grandiose visions of purpose, or plunge into paranoia and isolation[vi]. Some feel detached from reality, seeing symbolic meaning in everything. Others may neglect basic needs or spiral into profound despair.
“Occasionally, the amount of unconscious material that emerges from deep levels of the psyche can be so enormous that the person involved can have difficulty functioning in everyday reality.”–Grof, S & Grof, C. [vii]
In his 20s, Jeremy (name changed) traveled to Costa Rica for an Ayahuasca ceremony, trusting the shaman based on positive reviews. When he became distressed mid-ceremony, no one could support him—the shaman didn’t speak English, and the facilitators lacked the skills to help. Facing ego-dissolution, he was terrified and disoriented. Back in the U.S., supportive friends helped him connect with IMHU. With guidance, Jeremy rebuilt a grounded sense of self rooted in his strengths and purpose. Today, he facilitates international groups inspired by Gregory Bateson’s work in social and behavioral sciences.
Why This Course is Urgently Needed
While most new guides aim to support positive outcomes, few are equipped to recognize or manage when a client’s psychedelic journey becomes destabilizing. Western training programs rarely address spiritual emergency in depth or teach practical intervention skills, and many have stripped psychedelics of their ceremonial and cultural context. (For course content, see detailed outline in Appendix A).
This course will empower guides to:
- Recognize the signs of spiritual emergency in altered states
- Skillfully support those in crisis during and/or after psychedelic journeys
- Understand and facilitate fuller integration as a sacred responsibility
- Hold culturally respectful, trauma-informed, soul-centered space
- Prevent harm and restore reverence in expanded states of consciousness
Who It Is For
Our primary audience includes licensed healthcare providers and peer coaches, many of whom have limited training in psychological and spiritual crisis care. The course can be integrated as a B2B offering within existing training programs or accessed independently via IMHU’s online platform. With the FDA[viii] still in the process of defining standards for psychedelic therapy training, now is a critical moment to introduce high-quality education on spiritual emergence and emergency.
Global Expert Lead: Emma Bragdon, PhD.
In modern Western culture, we have largely lost the frameworks and traditions that support profound psychospiritual experiences. Medical anthropologist Sara Lewis (2008) notes that this cultural gap heightens the risk of spiritual crisis for Westerners after ayahuasca ceremonies, due to a “lack of cultural support.[ix]”
The IMHU global expert who leads the design of the course, Emma Bragdon, PhD, has for over 40 years supported individuals through spiritual emergency and trained over 130 certified Spiritual Emergence Coaches®. As a pioneer and international expert in the field, she has lectured for Grof® Legacy Training, and her 1989 Sourcebook for Helping People in Spiritual Emergency is still used in graduate programs. Before MDMA was banned in 1985, she trained in its therapeutic use with consistently positive client outcomes. More recently, she co-facilitated ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, witnessing clients reconnect with their heart’s wisdom and release limiting patterns. With two decades of study under Native American shamans, she has also come to deeply understand the role of ceremony in creating safe containers for psycho-spiritual growth.
Key Expert Collaborators
Two key experts will also contribute interviews, insight, and co-teach modules on advanced care practices.
- Kyle Buller, MA, Licensed Counselor, Spiritual Emergence Coachâ, and Co-founder of Psychedelics Today, training guides to provide psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
- Dr. Kerri Husman, MD, Psychiatrist, specialist in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy; teacher/guide in shamanic studies; and President of the Board of the Association of Comprehensive Energy Psychology, ACEP.
Timeline
We plan to complete the design of the course by end of fall, 2025.
Timely Impact
“I was seeing a lot (of issues around spiritual experiences) show up within Ketamine- assisted psychotherapy. People were very confused and didn’t have the words and language [to understand or communicate about their experiences]. I realized there’s a lot missing in our Western way of helping people [with these concerns]. IMHU’s program filled in the gaps of what had been missing in previous trainings.” Lorna Busch, PhD, clinical psychologist
With decriminalization expanding in cities like Denver, Oakland, and Portland—and Oregon launching a legal psilocybin program—thousands of facilitators now offer services, from licensed therapists to underground guides. Organizations like Psychedelic Passage and MAPS report a surge in training programs, many producing hundreds of new facilitators each year. Tens of thousands of clients could benefit from specialized training in spiritual emergency. Boston Consulting Group estimates 22,000–40,000 MDMA-trained therapists will be needed to treat 400,000 PTSD patients by 2031. To serve one million psychedelic therapy patients annually, 55,000–100,000 new therapists—up to 17% of the U.S. mental health workforce—will be required. As psychedelic-assisted therapy scales rapidly, demand for safety-focused training will grow. We anticipate enrolling several hundred learners in year one, doubling in two years, and again in three—ultimately impacting tens of thousands of lives through better-prepared facilitators.
Projected Reach and Ripple Effect
| Year | Guides Trained | Estimated Clients Supported |
| 1 | 300 | 9,000 |
| 2 | 600 | 18,000 |
| 3 | 1,200 | 36,000 |
Funding Request
IMHU is seeking $40,000 to complete and deliver this course with excellence and impact.
Budget Overview
| Category | Estimated Cost |
| Course Design & Instruction (Dr. Bragdon) | $22,500 |
| Guest Expert Contributions | $8,000 |
| Media Production & Editing | $10,000 |
| Curriculum Design & Platform Upgrades | $3,500 |
| Outreach & Launch | $2,000 |
| Total | $40,000 |
This investment ensures professional-quality content, ethical guidance, and long-term accessibility for a global audience of guides and therapists.
Your Opportunity to Leave a Lasting Legacy
Accessibility is central to our mission. Scholarships and sliding scale options will ensure this course reaches those who need it most, regardless of financial means.
You’re receiving this because you’ve likely touched the sacred—you know what it means to open deeply, even painfully, and the need for wise, grounded support.
By funding this course, you are:
- Planting seeds of safety in the psychedelic field
- Preserving the soul of ceremony and healing
- Empowering those who guide others through awakening
Your tax-deductible gift—whether modest or major, public or anonymous—creates a lasting impact. With your permission, we’d love to recognize your support on our patron page and offer you early access to the course before public release.
Giving Levels
$500 – Seed Planter
Nurture the foundations of change. Your gift supports outreach, platform development, and accessibility for guides.
$1,000 – Access Advocate
Make inclusion real. Fund scholarships and sliding scale options to reach underrepresented practitioners and communities.
$2,500 – Insight Illuminator
Bring expert wisdom to life. Underwrite a high-impact interview that enriches the learning experience for all.
$5,000 – Module Patron
Power a core pillar. Sponsor the development of a full training module and, if desired, be named in the course materials as a supporter.
$10,000 – Founding Circle Member
Lead at the edge of transformation. Receive early access to the course, personal recognition, and a private virtual Q&A with Dr. Emma Bragdon and guest experts.
$25,000+ – Legacy Steward
Shape the future. Your gift anchors the long-term accessibility and ethical grounding of the course. With your blessing, your name or dedication will be featured as a visionary supporter across the platform and communications.
The need is urgent. The moment is ripe. Those on the emergence path are calling.
Contact
To contribute or inquire:
Please contact Dr. Emma Bragdon at [email protected]. Checks can be sent to our parent organization: Foundation for Energy Therapies, Inc, c/o Bragdon, 8 Clough Ave, Windsor, VT, 05089. All contributions are fully tax-deductible for US tax payers as FET is a 501(c)3 organization. We are grateful for any amount of contribution!
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End Notes
[i] https://www.coalitionforpsychedelicsafety.org/
[ii] https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/child-and-adolescent-psychiatry/articles/10.3389/frcha.2024.1364617/full
[iii] Lake, S and Lucas, P (2023)The Canadian Psychedelic Survey: Characteristics, Patterns of Use, and Access in a Large Sample of People Who Use Psychedelic Drugs. Psychedelic MedicineVol. 1, No. 2, https://doi.org/10.1089/psymed.2023.00
[iv] Garel, N, Tate, S, Nash, K and Lembke, A. (2024)“Trends in hallucinogen-associated emergency department visits and hospitalizations in California, USA, from 2016 to 2022”. Society for the Study of Addiction, Volume119, Issue5, 960-964. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16432
[v] Grof, S & Grof, C. (1989) Spiritual Emergency: When Personal Transformation Becomes a Crisis. Tarcher.
[vi] Virdi, J (2021) Understanding Spiritual Emergency in the Context of Psychedelics. Psychedelics Today online article. https://psychedelicstoday.com/2021/09/15/understanding-spiritual-emergency-in-the-context-of-psychedelics/
vii Grof, C.& Grof, S. (1999) The Stormy Search for the Self. Tarcher.
viii Feduccia,A (2025)How to Become a Psychedelic Therapist: The Scoop on Psychedelic Training Programs. https://psychedelic.support/resources/training-psychedelic-therapist/)
ix Lewis, S.E (2008)Ayahuasca and Spiritual Crisis: Liminality as Space for Personal Growth.Anthropology of Consciousness, Vol9, Issue 2, 109-133 .https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-3537.2008.00006.x
x Perez, E. (2024)“50+ Surprising Facts & Statistics About Psychedelic Therapy” PsychedelicPassage.com
xi Ibid.