We use and adhere to the Ethical Code of “The Conclave” an anonymous group of practitioners that share resources and guides for the benefit of practitioners and the community at large. The commitments are made from other guides and we have edited them to include some of our own ethical codes.
The Conclave Best Practices are what we stand for and our code of ethics in action.
The Conclave Ethical Commitments are how we approach our work and the qualities and virtues we strive to uphold in the process.
Preamble
Our ethical commitments begin with Love. We are bound to the very essence of what we have received.
We honor those that have held the torch in working with other non-ordinary states of consciousness and spiritual healing for decades and millennia before us.
We promote and foster self-inquiry, dedicated practice, and a willingness to learn while remaining open to feedback.
We recognize that as a community we grow and inspire each other to live up to our highest potential. We collaborate on this living document with our feet firmly grounded upon the Earth, our hearts open to all, our minds in sound judgment and with forethought and discernment, and our crowns open to the Infinite.
We acknowledge that the nature of this work brings with it unique and complex considerations when it comes to the duty of care of all the participants we serve.
This work can open participants to increased suggestibility, rapid and possibly destabilizing transformation, transference, and projection. Through this complexity, our integrity is what guides us. It informs every one of our choices and actions as practitioners and facilitators.
This is our guide to embodying the inspiration of why we do this work. We define and assess our integrity by knowing and striving to abide by the following ethical commitments:
Embodiment
We recognize that we are the instrument of our work and therefore we are committed to self-care that supports optimal physical, mental and emotional health, well-being, and balance. This entails regular self-reflection and skill development.
We practice a humble approach to personal self-mastery and remain aware of personal needs, beliefs, and limitations that may impact or cloud our better judgment.
• Integrity – We are vigilant to act in alignment with the following virtues: humility, authenticity, mindfulness, compassion, and a global perspective in our actions and dealings with others. We are consistent in embodying our virtues in all situations. We are honest and transparent in all aspects of our profession.
• Humility – We recognize our humanness and welcome constructive feedback to aid our growth personally and professionally through peer supervision and the peer-review process. We seek out supervision when we, or our colleagues, feel that our emotions or struggles impair our professional, ethical judgment. We readily admit when we have erred and not acted from our best selves.
• Authenticity – We live with our hearts open and undefended. We move and act in an integrated knowing of our being with our actions and words in alignment with our values, beliefs, and understanding.
• Mindfulness – We strive to be present in every moment and to consider the consequences of our actions. We allow ourselves time to integrate by taking a pause to allow our intuition to effectively guide us.
• Compassion – We act and speak with compassion. We listen with respect and empathy to serve to the best of our ability.
• Global Perspective – We respect the sovereignty of all beings. We reflect on the impact of our actions on all people, non-human beings, and the planet. We aim to practice doing no harm by continually educating ourselves and listening to the wisdom within.
Global Impact
As global practitioners working with participants in various geographic regions around the world, we recognize that our choices have the potential to impact surrounding communities and the environment.
• In Representing the Whole – We strive to conduct ourselves with our participants, peers, and communities with respect, humility, and integrity. We are aware of how our actions reflect on our profession and the entheogenic movement at large.
• As Stewards of the Earth – We source our medicines in a humane and low-impact manner, with respect for the plants, animals, people, and indigenous communities that share the land. We follow responsible collection techniques, as understood by the community, to minimize harm to all.
Competence and Safety
We foster trust through excellence. It is our goal and commitment to keep all participants safe and to be informed practitioners and facilitators, prepared for all possible situations that may occur. We build upon a set of co-created standards (as provided herein) that have come from an accumulation of personal and collective shared experience.
• Service to Each Participant – We are committed to offering a continuum of skilled preparation, facilitation, and integration support to each participant as they move through any spiritual emergence or emergency. Through an interview process, we endeavor to know our participants well enough to competently serve them in their
best interest. When the experience and work come to an end, we provide
informed options for ongoing support.
• No Harm – We follow the guidelines outlined in the Conclave Best Practices to optimize beneficial outcomes and minimize the risk of mental, spiritual, or bodily harm to our participants. We practice in a controlled and safe environment. Proactively taking precautions against possible emergencies, we are trained and equipped with such things as CPR & First Aid Certification, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and knowing the location of the nearest medical facilities. We gather emergency contact information prior to engaging in the work. We conduct thorough screening for contraindicated medications, health conditions, and participant and family mental health issues, and make our best determination in the highest interest of the individual. We stay up to date on amendments to the Conclave Best Practices.
• Scope of Practice – We are honest and transparent about our training and areas of expertise. We do not work out of the scope of our expertise. The use of therapeutic modalities is offered only when pre-consented to by the participant. We do not engage in any touching or sexual practices (Tantra) at any of our retreats. We provide pre-evaluation and post-integration to give a framework for the person’s experience. We provide timely, vetted referrals when we are unable to provide the care necessary.
Participant Relations
It is our goal to provide positive, safe, and transformative experiences for all participants trusted with our care.
• Informed Consent – We discuss potential risks, as understood by the community, in detail, to support the participant in making an informed decision for themselves without undue pressure. Possible benefits are presented in a balanced manner.
Informed consent is discussed when the participant is in an ordinary state of consciousness with ample time to digest what is discussed. We discuss the limits and boundaries of our relationship, including what support will and will not be provided and over what specific period of time.
• Touch – We detail the potential use of therapeutic touch, where on the body it might be, the nature of the touch, and the specific reasons it might be implemented. We gain prior consent for any kind of touch when the participant is in a sober awake state and has ample time to consider the pros and cons.
Any kind of sexual contact or conduct is not allowed by practitioners, assistants, volunteers, or other participants.
• Equality – We will consider equally all adult applicants, no matter the person’s age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, ability, language, or socio-economic status. We reserve the right to refuse service if we feel it is not in the best interest of the participant or out of our scope of expertise.
• Guidance – We guide people not to our perspective, but to their own internal compass. We recognize the inherent power differential within the practitioner/ participant relationship and take steps to minimize undue harm or exploitation.
• Relationships – We are clear about boundaries and expectations with our participants. In instances of disagreements or grievances, we use compassionate, non-violent techniques for conflict resolution and ask for supervision from other experienced practitioners, elders, colleagues, and mentors when needed. We make our best effort to resolve disagreements directly and forthrightly with individuals before involving a third party, but do not hesitate to ask for support with conflict mediation.
We commit to being versed in the psychotherapeutic concepts of transference and countertransference and how they may impact our work. When it comes to dual relationships, we are mindful of how this may impair our professional judgment.
We recognize that intimate relationships are uniquely contextual. We are careful not to engage in sexual or intimate relationships with participants, their partners, or family members.
Colleagues and Community Relationships
We aim to keep the community safe by handling any discordant issues internally to avoid external conflict and potential legal recourse whenever possible.
• Communication – With respect to our colleagues, we act in good faith, with respect, and do not speak poorly about other practitioners. We strive to “call in, not call out” in matters of dispute. We take action by being transparent with the information and beginning constructive conversations with the individuals involved, offering guidance when we recognize or hear of a practitioner or facilitator that may have fallen out of integrity in the community through either sexual misconduct, abuse of power, financial exploitation, etc..
In our own matters of dispute, we request an unbiased mediator and approach the dispute with the intention of upholding the integrity of the work as a whole for the greatest good of all those concerned.
• Recourse – Practitioners are committed to informing participants on how to take appropriate recourse in instances where they feel they (the participant) may have been abused or wronged by another practitioner.
Business Practices
• Participants/Clients – We will not exploit participants/clients or other providers/ practitioners to further our own self-interests. Nor do we unduly solicit or proselytize in any way in regard to this work.
• Solicitation – We will not actively solicit participants or clients working with other practitioners or facilitators.
• Honesty – We embrace the importance of transparency for all business
agreements, appointments, scheduling, and fees or contributions. Financial agreements and the scope of the work are clearly outlined and discussed prior to engagement.
• Scholarships – Practitioners may choose to offer the work at a discounted rate or provide full or partial scholarships at their sole discretion after fully outlining the details of such agreements to participants before commencing the work. We do not use scholarships to manipulate or coerce in any manner.
• Barter – Any agreements for trade or energy exchange shall be outlined concisely with a clear value of what is or will be exchanged for the work provided.
• Privacy and Confidentiality – We inform participants of our specific policies regarding privacy and confidentiality and we make a point to discover the wishes of our participants in this regard. We clearly define the limits to which we hold confidentiality when it comes to information about harm to others or harm to the participants themselves, and outline what steps may be taken if confidentiality may need to be broken. We are aware of the limitations and risks of all forms of electronic communication and take active steps to ensure the safety and privacy of
all parties involved. We request that participants keep the identities of
practitioners, other participants, and the specific locations of our work private and confidential for the safety of everyone involved.
Marketing & Promotion
• Qualifications – When publicizing or promoting skills, modalities, expertise, training, credentials, etc., we will only represent ourselves as possessing the skills that we have sufficient training, experience, and expertise in safely implementing.
• Testimonials – We will only use testimonials that have been freely given with the expressed consent by the provider of said testimonials and will not embellish such testimonials.
• Communication – Whenever possible the use of language naming the substance that we are working with will be avoided, especially in countries and jurisdictions where it may not be legal, unlawful, considered a controlled substance, or in locations where it may not be commonly accepted.
Redress
While we continually strive to act in accordance with these ethical commitments, we acknowledge our own humanness. When we have lapses in judgment or create inadvertent harm, we seek to make things right through humble listening, owning our contribution to wrongs, asking for council, and being receptive to correction and
redress of grievances.
Epilogue
We breathe and act from these ethical commitments and remember what we are in service to.
These ethical principles have been developed from, modified, and inspired by the following resources:
Council On Spiritual Practices – Code of Ethics For Spiritual Guides
https://csp.org/docs/code-of-ethics-for-spiritual-guides
NCBTMB National Association of Massage Therapists
https://namtassociation.com/code-of-ethics/
Manual for Psychedelic Guides – Mark Haden, Dr. Birgitta Woods
http://tripsitters.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Psychedelic-treatment-manual-jan-7-2019.pdf
American Psychological Society – Ethical Principals of Psychologists and Code of Conduct
https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/
MAPS MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Code of Ethics
https://maps.org/news/bulletin/articles/436-maps-bulletin-spring-2019-vol-29,-no-1/7710-mapsmdma-assisted-psychotherapy-code-of-ethics-spring-2019
The Conclave
https://theconclave.info/