Report an Ethical Concern
If you would like to reach out about a concern
about someone or something at Gather Well please fill out the below form.
We have an independent Ethics Committee which will be responsible for addressing ethics concerns about our current staff, students, employees, board and certified graduates.
Submissions go directly to the independent Ethics Committee for review via an email inbox to which only the Ethics Committee has access. If the ethics report presents an HR or legal compliance issue, the ethics committee will notify the Gather Well board and appropriate leadership members and provide the relevant information.
Review of reports will be conducted within a reasonable period of time and an investigation may be opened on the matter at the ethics committee’s discretion. An outside ethicist will be consulted on an as needed case-by-case basis. Results of ethics report reviews and investigations are shared with the board on a quarterly basis, respecting confidentiality. In cases requiring immediate action, the board is informed in a timely manner and action taken. If a concern is about a board member, other board members will be engaged to address necessary action.
Before submitting, we ask that you review the Scope of the Ethics Committee outlined below to better understand what the committee can formally address. If, after reviewing the scope, you are unsure whether your concern applies, we still encourage you to submit a report.
In the form below, we invite you to share as much context as you feel comfortable providing at this time. You may submit as much or as little detail as feels accessible right now. If you submit anonymously, we will not be able to follow up on actions taken. Your grievance will still be processed as described below as much as is possible without a known reporter.
To submit an anonymous concern, leave the name and email fields blank.
What to expect after submitting:
Within a few days of submitting the form you will receive a direct email from a committee member confirming it has been received and is undergoing initial review to assure it is in the committee’s scope and determine the appropriate next step based on the information provided in the form submission.
The first month involves a fact finding period where further information is gathered from parties involved in a trauma-informed manner. Timelines are subject to change based on the responsiveness of parties involved. In cases presenting immediate severe risk, relevant members of Gather Well’s leadership and/or board are informed in order to take immediate action.
After the first month of investigation, the committee develops clear, actionable recommendations for addressing the issue, which may include corrective actions, engagement in the Gather Well Transformative Justice protocol, organizational policy revisions, or other measures to address the issue and prevent future occurrences. The committee monitors the implementation of decided actions with relevant departments or individuals.
If a Transformative Justice process is relevant, recommended by the committee, and consented to by involved parties:
A dedicated Transformative Justice (TJ) team is formed who will do further assessment of feasibility of a TJ process, alignment of all parties with TJ philosophy, and a trauma informed assessment of the capacity to engage a rigorous process. A customized process is drafted and presented for revision and consent by the person reporting harm.
If consented to, the process is carried out allowing all parties/groups to express their experiences, perspectives, and feelings. The dialogue aims to uncover the underlying causes of harm, promote understanding, and identify steps for accountability and healing. A mutually agreed-upon action plan is developed, outlining steps for accountability, reparations, and future harm prevention on the part of the person/group/or organization responsible for the ethical breach.
Transformative Justice processes can vary widely in the amount of time required based on the unique circumstances and needs of the situation.
Scope of the Ethics Committee
It is important to Gather Well that when we commit to upholding ethical standards, we make every attempt to do so with care and integrity. For this reason, we aim to be clear and realistic about the scope of what the Ethics Committee can formally address.
The codes of conduct and accountability processes outlined by Gather Well apply only to individuals and situations where Gather Well has an active relationship, as we consider ethical conduct as a condition for that relationship.
The grievance, investigation, and Transformative Justice protocol applies to:
- Gather Well employees
- Program staff and contractors who come into contact with students
- Gather Well Certified guides (none until 2027)
- Board members
- Students, in their interactions with one another and with staff
It is outside of Gather Well’s scope and purview to conduct an investigation or Transformative Justice Protocol for reports of ethical breaches made about the following:
- Reports concerning a current student’s private practice. In such cases, the Ethics Committee may review the circumstances and, in alignment with Gather Well policies, determine whether they affect enrollment, continuation in the program, or future certification.
- Reports concerning former employees, contractors, board members, or students who did not become Gather Well certified guides. These reports will be documented and retained for consideration should their future re-engagement with Gather Well occur.
If a concern falls outside Gather Well’s scope, the Ethical Distress and Resources page on this website may offer helpful support. If you are unsure whether a concern is in scope, we still encourage you to submit a report so the Ethics Committee can help assess next steps.
Learn more about our Ethics Infrastructure and the Ethics Commitee
Other sources of support are available on our Ethics Resources page.
Though we have no authority to address concerns about people outside Gather Wells current staff, board, students and certified guides, we do wish to be a place of support for those that have experienced harms, hurts, or concerns. We have compiled a list of resources we hope will be of support. As we grow as an organization we aspire to be able to offer additional support mechanisms for the psychedelics community.
We wish anyone who has experienced harm meaningful healing and support.