Donate

Zendo SIT

Specialized Training in Psychedelic Care

Zendo SIT logo.
Learn how to sit with someone through a challenging psychedelic experience.

From $36/month • Live Online • 8 CE Credits

Enroll Now

“I highly recommend this course regardless of your path in life.”
—Andre H.

“The SIT course far exceeded my expectations.”
—Keyena M.

“Zendo SIT was a great mix of information, exercises, instructors’ experiences, and Q&A.”
—Rob A.

Upcoming Cohorts

October 2026

Dates: October 6th & 13th
Time: 2–6pm PT / 5–9pm ET

Full Price: $397
Early Bird I: $297 SOLD OUT
Early Bird II: $347
First 40 enrollments to use code EARLYBIRD50
Enroll Now
Apply for Subsidized Access
Flexible plans available.
No hidden fees.

What You’ll Learn

Zendo SIT is a training in compassionate psychedelic peer support, combining 8 hours of live online training with 1 hour of self-paced foundations.

You’ll learn how to create a safer, more supportive space, stay present without taking over, and support someone through difficult emotions and experiences without trying to suppress or fix them.

Grounded in more than a decade of Zendo Project’s experience providing psychedelic peer support, this training brings our Four Principles of Psychedelic Care to life through practical skills, video demonstrations, scenarios, and hands-on practice.

Principles of Psychedelic Harm Reduction

Understand the core principles that guide responsible and compassionate support.

Working With Difficult Experiences

Learn effective strategies for navigating challenging or extreme states with empathy and expertise.

Trauma-Informed Frameworks

Develop the sensitivity and integrity needed to support a wide range of clients safely.

Non-Directive Support

Train in the art of holding space, supporting the process without trying to fix or interfere.

Hear From Our Alumni

Join 10,000+ trained sitters making a difference worldwide.

Why Participants Choose Zendo SIT 

✓ Expert-Led Training — Learn from licensed clinicians with 20+ years of experience

✓ Proven Methods — Refined through 10+ years supporting thousands at global events

✓ Real-World Application — Immediately applicable skills for supporting challenging emotional states

Participants who complete the Zendo SIT Course receive an official Zendo Project Course Completion Award, signed by Veena Muthusamy-Flok, Director of Education.

Example Course Completion Award.

Continuing Education (CE Credit) info coming soon!

Meet Your Trainers

Learn from experienced clinicians with backgrounds in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), crisis intervention, and mental health care. They bring intersectional perspectives, trauma-informed wisdom, and decades of combined experience to their facilitation, helping students integrate both clinical and community-rooted care approaches.

Photo of Sara Gael.

Sara Gael, M.A., LPC

Sara Gael is a psychedelic therapist and facilitator with a Master’s degree in Transpersonal Psychology from Naropa University. She is the founder of Psychedelic Stewardship, an education platform supporting responsible engagement with psychedelics and lasting transformation. She spent 10 years at MAPS, where she served as Director of Harm Reduction and led the international expansion of the Zendo Project, providing...
Read More

Genesee Herzberg, PsyD

Bio coming soon....
Read More
Photo of Allison Rees.

Allison Rees (aka Allykat), M.A., AMFT

Allison, or Allykat (she/they) has been dedicated to Zendo Project since 2015. She holds a BS in Health Communication from San Diego State University (2015) and a master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute (2023). Since the Pulse team’s inception in 2023, Allykat’s focus has been on implementing models of support, empowering social systems, and curating networks of...
Read More

Testimonials

Photo of Rob A.

Rob A.

I was really impressed by the Zendo SIT course. The content is helpful and important for anyone encountering those working with psychedelics. Really sensitive issues were treated with both care and pragmatism. Having done a lot of trainings, I was also really impressed by how this one was structured and conducted. Some other trainings feel like they're just reciting information from a PowerPoint. In contrast, Zendo SIT was a great mix of information, exercises, instructors' experiences, and Q&A. It was always engaging and felt respectful of my time.
Photo of Kade R.

Kade R.

Zendo SIT training changed the way I think about psychedelics, holding space, and sharing experiences with others. I believe this training has prepared me to hold space for those under altered states of consciousness with care, compassion, and kindness. The principles of Zendo and the framework that outlined SIT training has been a powerful reminder of the healing powers of psychedelics, and the importance of compassionately holding space for those experiencing altered consciousness.
Photo of Joana C.

Joana C.

The Zendo cohort sessions were incredibly informative, offering a thoughtful and compassionate exploration of this nuanced topic. The facilitators approached the material with both cultural and trauma-informed perspectives, ensuring the education was not only insightful but also respectful and inclusive. The knowledge shared was deeply applicable to real-world situations, making the training both meaningful and impactful.
Photo of Kevin C.

Kevin C.

The Zendo SIT course felt as valuable to me for everyday life and relationships as for supporting psychedelic journeys. I loved the presentation of listening skills, non-judgement and non-projection, humility, equality, trust, empowerment, all beautifully named and role played by the teachers. It feels to me like there is nothing the world needs more now than for many human beings to develop such respect and kindness and intelligence in relating.
Photo of Kirkin A.

Kirkin A.

I’m a clinical social worker with a raver background and I recently completed the two-day SIT (sitting and integration training) training with Zendo Project, and I was truly impressed by the depth and quality of the course. The breakout groups provided meaningful opportunities to practice skills and connect with others, and the videos were both engaging and informative. This training has not only equipped me with tools to become a better therapist but has also enhanced my ability to support people in all areas of life. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to deepen their understanding of compassionate communication and psychedelic peer support!

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to your questions about the course schedule, online format, refund policy, CE credits, and more.

After enrolling, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on registering for our live calls. A few days before the first live session, you will receive an additional orientation email about accessing the Zendo SIT portal, recommended pre-class reading, and other important details to review before our first session.

This is a live virtual training. You are welcome to participate asynchronously, but there are some live elements, such as Q&A and breakout groups, that you would miss out on. You would still have access to the Zendo SIT portal, meeting recordings, and all relevant course materials until one month after the end of the course.

If you are a licensed professional seeking Continuing Education (CE) credit, please note that our partnership with the Spiritual Competency Academy does not allow for asynchronous completion of this course.

This course is for you if you are a:

Psychedelic Community Member — Whether you’re experienced or simply curious, deepen your understanding of harm reduction and peer support.

Mental Health Care Professional — Expand your expertise in psychedelic peer support and care.

KAP or Clinic Staff Member — You don’t have to be a clinician to take this course. A shared framework and language across your team leads to better patient outcomes, so everyone knows how to respond ethically and skillfully when it matters most.

Event Volunteer or Staff — Designed for those working festivals, concerts, and large gatherings. Build the skills to care for people moving through challenging moments in these spaces. Note: this training focuses on supporting individuals, not on the operational side of running a peer support space.

Medical Staff or First Responder — Strengthen your harm reduction skills. Ideal for EMTs, medics, security teams, and Black Rock Rangers.

Family Member, Partner, or Friend — Learn how to show up for the people you love during challenging or complex moments.

Previous Zendo Trainee — Deepen what you’ve learned and refresh your skills.

Upon successful completion of Zendo SIT, you will receive a Course Completion Award.

To complete this course, you must successfully complete the required knowledge checks
associated with:

  • The asynchronous prerequisite learning
  • Live Session 1
  • Live Session 2

The Course Completion Award recognizes successful completion of Zendo Project’s SIT Course. It does not constitute professional certification, clinical training, licensure, credentialing, endorsement, or authorization to provide psychedelic-assisted therapy, medical care, or crisis services.

Yes! You can enroll using a flexible payment plan through Klarna, with options to pay over 3, 4, 6, or 12 months. Simply add the Zendo SIT course to your cart and select “Klarna” at checkout.

Yes, refunds are available at a 90% rate until one week prior to the training. Refunds become unavailable in the 7 days prior to the training, but you are able to move your enrollment to the next available month long training(s). Please email us for details if you need to transfer dates.

While a non-direct approach is familiar to many mental health care professionals, this training focuses on how to apply those skills to people experiencing non-ordinary states of consciousness, or going through crises. We offer experiential opportunities to practice and refine skills, as well as useful reflection practices and resources that will support your clinical work.

All accepted volunteers are provided with (and required to attend) a comprehensive volunteer training. This training has three components:

  • Core Competency, a 4-hour virtual training covering key skills in psychedelic support and Zendo Project’s core principles.
  • Role-Specific Training, online training that focuses on preparing individuals for specific event-based volunteer roles. 
  • Interactive In-Person, the training that takes place at each event.

Upon successful completion of the Zendo SIT course, you will be exempted from the Core Competency component of the volunteer training, should you apply and be accepted as a volunteer. The exemption is good for two years from the time you received the SIT training. As a volunteer, you will still need to complete the role-specific and interactive in-person components of the training.

While Zendo SIT completion exempts volunteers from specific event training elements and may be taken into consideration when reviewing applications, we cannot guarantee placement at any specific event. Your application should reflect your interest in providing support and clearly demonstrate your aptitude for the role(s) you apply for.

Our Zendo SIT Course is distinct from our traditional Volunteer Training (Burning Man, Envision, Lightning in a Bottle, etc.).

Our Volunteer Training has three components:

  • Core Competency, a 4-hour virtual training covering key skills in psychedelic support and Zendo Project’s core principles.
  • Role-Specific Training, online training that focuses on preparing individuals for specific event-based volunteer roles. 
  • Interactive In-Person, the training that takes place at each event.

Compared to our volunteer training, the Zendo SIT course provides a more comprehensive and immersive exploration of the core principles of psychedelic care. Rather than focusing solely on event and festival settings, this course explores diverse settings where support may be essential. It’s a transformative online experience designed to equip participants with the skills needed to provide emotional care to anyone, in any setting – including volunteers providing psychedelic support in the Zendo.

You can contact us with any questions not answered in the FAQ.