Why We Are Not a Non-Profit: Investing in Your "Mental Wealth"

In the Addiction as Dissociation Model (ADM), we recognize that financial systems—specifically insurance and the “non-profit industrial complex”—are often addicted to power, control, and maintaining the status quo of sickness. Therefore, WHI operates as a for-profit S-Corp not out of greed, but out of a Moral-Ethical imperative to remain independent, sustainable, and beholden only to the truth of the lived experience, rather than grant committees or political agendas.

If you are reading this, you likely know that the industrialized systems of healthcare and law are broken. They operate on a model of scarcity, dependence, and “symptom management.” They treat you like a diagnosis code, not a human being.

At WHI, we do things differently.

We are not a non-profit. Why? Because we refuse to be addicted to the power dynamics of grant funding, government shortcomings, and the requirement to plead poverty to exist. We believe that Healing is Value, and that true independence requires financial sovereignty. We function as a Mental Wealth Gym and Spa—a place where you train your nervous system, not just fix it when it breaks.

To support this mission, we are introducing three new ways to engage with the Institute, designed to honor your agency and our collective growth.

1. The Healer’s Retainer (Priority Access and Retreat-Style)

What it is: A prepaid block of services that puts WHI “on retainer” for you.
What you get: Priority scheduling, consulting, and advocacy strategy. Think of it as retaining a lawyer, but for your soul and prevention of insanity.

2. The “Mental Wealth” Membership (Monthly Installments)

Healing is a practice, not an event. Just as you pay a monthly fee to access a physical gym, we offer monthly access to our Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) Gym.

Classes Included:
- The Gym: Neurofeedback and Biofeedback training to regulate the physical unconscious.
- Study Hall: Access to our archives, The Addiction as Dissociation lectures, and research library.
- Psychology & Art: Expressive arts integration and advanced psychological theory.
- Field Trips: Exclusive invites to our “Chiron’s Vision,” nature immersions, and community retreats.
The Moral-Ethical Pricing: We offer a sliding scale based on the “Fair Trade Agreement.” You pay what you can sustain, ensuring the community supports itself.

3. Patronage & Research Contribution

For those who believe in the mission, you can become a Patron of the Sciences.

Not Charity, But Investment: Your contributions fund independent, qualitative research into psychedelics and dissociation—research the government refuses to fund. You are getting the satisfaction of funding the revolution of mental health and psychedelic research.

The physical body is the psychological unconscious. It keeps the score. It knows the value of truth. By investing in WHI, you are investing in a system that refuses to pathologize your humanity. Here is the financial architecture for the Institute.

4. WHI Apprentice Program for the Recovery Healer and Advocate Professional

See more details HERE

PAYMENT OPTIONS

1. The “Healer’s Retainer” (Advocacy & Priority Access)

Concept: Just as one retains a lawyer for legal defense, a client retains WHI for Moral-Ethical Defense and Psycho-Spiritual Advocacy. This establishes a committed container for deep work, bypassing the transactional “fee-for-service” model that often interrupts the healing process.
Structure Options:
- The Container: A prepaid block of hours (e.g., 10, 20, or 40 hours) or a monthly flat fee, based on individual needs.
- Scope: Covers educational and relational coaching, systems level healing, advocacy (to courts/employers regarding “unjust laws”), priority scheduling for retreat-style, and research consultation.
- The Logic (1+1=3): The retainer (1) + The Client’s Need (1) = A Relationship of Safety and Priority (3). It eliminates the administrative dissociation of paying per session, allowing the work to flow uninterrupted.

2. The “Moral-Ethical Contribution” (Advocacy)

Philosophical Stance: WHI is not a non-profit because non-profits are often “addicted to the altruism they serve” and can suffer from ambition and dependence on enabling systems (grants/government). Therefore, contributions are not “charity”; they are Patronage and Research Sponsorship. If you agree with our blogs, then consider contributing this way.
Payment Structure:
- “The Research Patron”: Contributions help fund the Wounded Healers Institute Journal and independent research into psychedelics, addiction, and dissociation.
- “Advocacy Support”: Contributions subsidize the “Fair Trade/Sliding Scale” spots for those who cannot afford full educational costs.
- “Fair Trade Agreement”: A contractual understanding where those with means pay more to support the ecosystem.

3. The “Mental Wealth” Installment Plan (Fees & Membership)

A subscription model for the Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) Gym & Spa.

Concept: Healing is maintenance, not a one-time fix. Therefore, we price it like a gym, not a hospital.
Structure: A recurring monthly payment (Subscription) that grants access to the “campus” of services.
Tiers:
- The “Study Hall” (Basic): Access to the library, async classes, and the Healing America podcast.
- The “Gym” (Intermediate): Includes the above + Neurofeedback sessions, Breathwork classes, and somatic conditioning.
- The “Field Trip” (Premium): Includes the above + “The Rabbit Hole” (advanced research groups), Chiron’s Vision (legal psychedelic experiences), and seasonal retreats.

For Professional Membership or Donation-based Education and Training

Our education is free to the general public through our online class portal. HERE

Our financial structure is designed to separate “Industrialized” compliance from “Healer” education (which we support via fair trade). Here is the breakdown of our professional services, re-education trainings, and guild membership pathways.

Professional Services & Costs

Our professional services are strictly distinguish between Clinical Services (Licensed) and Educational/Coaching Services (Institute) to avoid “Corporate Practice of Medicine” violations.

A. Clinical & Coaching Services (The “Healer’s Retainer”)

MASA Interview (Required Entry): The Meeting Area Screening and Assessment (MASA) is our prerequisite for deep work. It establishes “Unconscious Informed Consent” (UIC).
- Cost: $500.00 for interview.
- Note: This fee is waived for those holding valid professional licenses entering the PWH track.
Individual Healing/Consultation/Coaching:
- Model: Fee-for-service or “Fair Trade Agreement” (sliding scale for those with equal or lesser education).

2. Education & Training: The Path of the Wounded Healer (PWH)

Our curriculum is a re-education program designed to move professionals from “Technician” to “Healer.” It is a phase-based model aligning with the Consensus Model of Trauma Care.

Application

Application Fee: $200.00 (Non-refundable). Waived for EMDR/BSP professionals and trainings.

Core Curriculum Costs

PWH-1: Regulation & Stabilization: $1,500 ($1,300 Early Bird). Focuses on MASA, neuro-regulation, and mindful dissociation.
PWH-2: Memory Resolution: $1,500 ($1,300 Early Bird). Focuses on resolving addiction memories and ego state interventions.
PWH-3: Maintenance & Post-Traumatic Growth: $1,500. Advanced work involving psychedelic care and “The Rabbit Hole” (requires pre-approval).
PWH-4: Professional Transformation: $2,000. Capstone phase for those becoming trainers/consultants.

3. The Guild: Wounded Healers Association Memberships

We are establishing the Wounded Healers Association as a professional guild to protect Healers from the “Industrialized” overreach of the APA/AMA and boards of education. We offer a structured progression of professional identity.

Guild Designation	Requirements	Maintenance Fee
PWH Trained	Complete PWH 1 & 2 + 13 hours consultation.	$250/year (Includes PTG Membership)
PWH Certified	Complete PWH 1-3 + 26 hours consult + 200 client hours + Capstone Project.	$200/year (Active PTG Membership)
Consultant-in-Training (CIT)	Complete PWH 4 + 16 hours consult + 100 client hours + Interview.	$200/year (Active Rabbit Hole Membership)
Approved Consultant (AC)	Complete CIT path + Board Approval.	$200/year [Source 3805]
Faculty / Trainer	Invitation Only. Must shadow full training cycle.	$200/year

4. The “Mental Wealth” Gym & Spa (Professional Memberships)

For the general public and professionals seeking maintenance, we offer the Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) Gym & Spa. This moves mental health from “acute treatment” to “lifestyle maintenance”.

Premiere Path (Online/Local): Includes weekly Neurofeedback (Local), BEMER therapy, Coaching Classes, Gym access, and Podcasts.
- Designed for: Intensive restructuring.
Prime Path: Includes 2x/month Neurofeedback (Local), Coaching, and Gym access.
- Designed for: Active growth.
Maintenance Path: Monthly Coaching, Gym access, and Podcasts.
- Designed for: Sustainability.

For more on our work and cause, consider following or signing up for newsletter or our work at woundedhealersinstitute.org or donating to our cause: HERE.

References

O’Brien, A. (2023a). Addiction as Trauma-Related Dissociation: A Phenomenological Investigation of the Addictive State. International University of Graduate Studies. (Dissertation). Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/courses/addiction-as-dissociation-model-course/

O’Brien, A. (2023b). Memory Reconsolidation in Psychedelics Therapy. In Path of the Wounded Healer: A Dissociative-Focused Phase Model for Normative and Pathological States of Consciousness: Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/courses/addiction-as-dissociation-model-course/

O’Brien, A. (2023c). Path of the Wounded Healer: A Dissociative-Focused Phase Model for Normative and Pathological States of Consciousness: Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/

O’Brien, A. (2024a). Healer and Healing: The re-education of the healer and healing professions as an advocation. Re-educational and Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/

O’Brien, A. (2024e). Path of the Wounded Healers for Thrivers: Perfectionism, Altruism, and Ambition Addictions; Re-education and training manual for Abusers, Activists, Batterers, Bullies, Enablers, Killers, Narcissists, Offenders, Parents, Perpetrators, and Warriors. Re-Education and Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/

O’Brien, A. (2025). American Made Addiction Recovery: a healer’s journey through professional recovery. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/

*This is for informational and educational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.