The steps
1. Connection call
Someone on our team takes the call. It is free. We talk about why now, what you are hoping for, and what support you have at home.
2. Application and medical intake
You fill out your application and a medical intake. It covers your health history, your mental health history, and every medication and supplement you take.
3. Nurse practitioner review
Our nurse practitioner reviews every medical intake. If something needs a conversation with your doctor or prescriber, we tell you what to ask.
4. Acceptance
If we are a fit for each other, you are accepted. If not, we tell you why, honestly.
5. Deposit
Your deposit holds your place. It comes after acceptance, never before.
What our nurse practitioner looks at
This is the physical side of screening. We ask about your heart and blood pressure, your liver, any history of seizures, pregnancy, and everything you take. Most of it is a conversation, not a test. Our nurse practitioner decides each case.
The mental health side
A history of anxiety, depression or trauma does not automatically rule you out. What matters is how you are doing now, and whether you have support. We ask about it plainly and we keep what you tell us private.
What we cannot hold is active psychosis, a recent manic episode, or an acute suicidal crisis. If that is where you are right now, we will help you find the right support first.
If we are not a fit right now
No shame. Not now does not mean not ever. We can point you to people who can help, and you can come back when things change.
- We tell you honestly why
- We tell you what would change the answer
- You are welcome to apply again later
What a screening conversation can clarify
Screening is a conversation about whether a particular setting can responsibly support you. Medical history, current symptoms, medications, prior experiences, and available support afterward can all affect that decision. A question that seems personal is an opportunity to give the team information needed to assess risk.
You can ask what happens to your information, who reviews it, and what the team does if there is uncertainty. If a retreat is not appropriate, that decision is not a judgment of your character or a prediction about your future. A clinician can help you consider other care and support.
NCCIH safety overview · Preparation guide · Integration guide