Synaptic Scholarship & Care Access Fund

Making Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Accessible Through Community Support

 

Our Mission

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At Synaptic Institute, our mission is simple: To provide transformative, accessible health services by integrating psychedelic therapy, community-rooted healing, and holistic clinical practices. Our work is centered on mental health, research, and the cultivation of clinicians.

 

We believe compassionate, integrative mental health care should be accessible to everyone who needs it. Many of the treatments that create the deepest healing; ketamine therapy, acupuncture, functional medicine, nervous system work, and psychotherapy are still financially out of reach for countless people in our community.

 

The Synaptic Scholarship & Care Access Fund exists to change that. This program allows us to provide free or reduced-cost services to individuals facing financial hardship, ensuring that no one is turned away because they cannot afford care. Thanks to this support, we’ve been able to offer a low-income ketamine group series, expand our integrative services, and grow our clinical team to meet the rising demand for accessible mental health care.

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Our Vision

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Our vision is a world where all people have access to transformative, holistic care rooted in community and equity.

 

The Synaptic Care Access and Scholarship Fund reflects our mission and vision. Through community generosity and shared responsibility, we aim to reduce financial barriers so that individuals who may benefit from Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) have equitable access to care.

 

About the Scholarship Fund

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The Care Access and Scholarship Fund allows Synaptic Institute to offer reduced-cost Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy to clients with financial need. The fund is supported completely by community donations from individuals and organizations who believe that healing should be accessible to everyone.

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Support our fund here:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/care-access-fund

 

What the Scholarship Provides

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Scholarships may subsidize the following components of the KAP protocol:

• Preparation sessions

• IM ketamine assisted psychotherapy sessions

• Integration psychotherapy sessions
   

Awards may be structured as a percentage discount on KAP services, or as a defined number of subsidized visits. Awards can be applied to group or individual ketamine assisted psychotherapy sessions.

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All ketamine medicine sessions at Synaptic Institute are administered intramuscularly (IM) by licensed clinicians trained in ketamine-assisted therapy.

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Scholarships do not cover unrelated medical services, long-term therapy outside the KAP protocol, or additional medications and laboratory testing.

 

Availability of Funds and Waitlist Information

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Scholarship awards are granted based on the current availability of funds in our Care Access Fund. 

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If we receive more applications than we are able to support, applicants who qualify for assistance may be placed on a waitlist. Applicants on the waitlist will be notified as soon as additional funding becomes available and we resume accepting new scholarship recipients.

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We strive to review applications consistently and communicate transparently regarding award availability.

 

Who the Scholarship Supports

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Scholarships are available to new and established clients. We aim to expand access for clients who:

• Demonstrate financial need

• Are uninsured or underinsured,

• Belong to communities that have historically faced barriers to mental health care, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized groups,

• Are clinically appropriate candidates for KAP,

• Can participate reliably in all parts of the KAP protocol.

 

Eligibility Requirements

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Applicants must:
 

1. Complete the scholarship application and financial assessment
    

2. Participate in all required clinical and medical evaluations
    

3. Attend IM ketamine sessions at our Portland clinic
    

4. Demonstrate reliable attendance and consistent communication
    

5. Engage in preparation and psychotherapy integration sessions as part of the therapeutic process
    

 

How to Apply

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Our application process is designed to be simple, equitable, and accessible.
 

Step 1: Submit Your Application
 

Applicants complete our scholarship form, which includes questions about financial need, care goals, and logistical considerations.
 

Step 2: Administrative Review
 

Applications are evaluated monthly. Those with the highest level of medical necessity as well as financial and systemic barriers are prioritized.
 

Step 3: Clinical Screening
 

Eligible applicants meet with our clinical team to ensure that KAP is safe and appropriate.
 

Step 4: Award or Waitlist Notification
 

Applicants receive notice of one of the following outcomes:
 

• A scholarship award with defined support, or

• Placement on the waitlist until additional funds become available
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