Contributor Standards
Every piece of content we publish is shaped by people who know their subject deeply. This page explains who those people are and how our contributor model supports the accuracy, integrity, and human depth our readers deserve.
We work at the intersection of science and culture, mental health and psychedelics, public opinions and personal transformation. That means our contributors span a wide range: licensed clinicians, researchers, practitioners, clinic and retreat owners, journalists, and writers — each bringing a different kind of expertise.
Our approach to collaboration
States of Mind publishes evidence-based, culturally aware, and human-centered content on mental health, psychedelic therapy, neuroscience, and personal transformation.
Our editorial process is collaborative by design: writers, editors, experts, and reviewers work together to ensure each piece is well-sourced and genuinely useful. However, we maintain distinctions between collaborators who create content and those who review it. This separation of roles is intentional — it protects the independence of both the writing and the review process.
All collaborators, regardless of role, are expected to uphold our commitment to originality, transparency, and ethical storytelling. We value real voices, informed perspectives, and accountability — especially in fields as sensitive as mental health and psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Our core principles are:
We don’t publish neutral summaries, we publish perspectives. A contributor’s specific vantage point, whether from clinical practice, lived experience, or years of field reporting, is what makes the work worth reading.
Every topic we cover touches real people in vulnerable or consequential moments. We hold our contributors to a standard of care that goes beyond factual accuracy: responsible framing, honest language, and genuine respect for the people behind the data or the headline.
Rigour without clarity is just gatekeeping. We translate what researchers, clinicians, and practitioners know into something readers can actually apply to their lives and their unique circumstances. Without simplifying the science.
Psychedelic therapy is promising — and it’s complicated. We are here not to advocate but to inform: that means covering limitations, side effects, risks, and blind spots with the same attitude we bring to breakthroughs. We believe you, our readers, deserve the full picture.
Who сreates our content
Experts
Medical professionals and experienced practitioners
Our experts are professionals whose knowledge is grounded in formal medical or clinical education, or in substantial hands-on experience in a relevant field. They contribute to States of Mind through interviews, expert commentary, co-authored pieces, and direct consultation. Their role is to ensure that the perspectives we share are rooted in real-world expertise. Every piece of content we produce is prepared with at least one expert.
Criteria:
- Medical, clinical, or academic credentials in a relevant field — psychiatry, neuroscience, pharmacology, clinical psychology.
- (or) Substantial hands-on experience as a psychedelic therapist, facilitator, integration specialist, or clinic owner.
- Active engagement with the field (current clinical practice, ongoing research, or regular work with clients)
- Transparency about credentials, affiliations, and areas of professional focus
Reviewers
Expert Board members — States of Mind’s medical reviewers
Our reviewers are qualified healthcare specialists with professional experience specifically in psychedelic-assisted therapy or closely adjacent clinical areas. Their role is to review authors’ drafts for scientific accuracy, clinical appropriateness, and responsible framing before publication. Reviewers also assist with editorial guidance on medical claims, helping the team navigate the nuances of an evolving evidence base. All articles containing medical or clinical information are reviewed by a member of our Expert Board before they go live.
Criteria:
- Active clinical, research, or therapeutic practice in mental health care or psychedelic-assisted care
- Professional expertise in psychedelic-assisted therapy, psychedelic research, psychedelic integration or harm reduction
- Commitment to evidence-based review and fact-check: flagging overreach, overclaiming, or unsupported generalizations
- Transparency about credentials and any potential conflicts of interest
Meet our reviewers
Authors
Journalists, writers, influencers, heroes of our Human Journeys
Our authors are experienced writers who cover mental health, wellness, psychedelics, neuroscience, psychology, and personal transformation. They may not have formal medical training or credentials, but they always bring deep expertise in their niche, built through years of reporting or engagement with the field. They are responsible for producing original, well-sourced, ethically framed content that reflects both the scientific framework and the human dimension of the topics.
Criteria:
- Experience writing about mental health, psychedelics, neuroscience, or related fields
- Strong track record of accurate, responsible reporting with quality publications
- Ability to interpret scientific findings without overclaiming or oversimplifying
- Commitment to original work — all submissions must be entirely the author’s own, with no plagiarism or AI-generated content
- Willingness to engage with the editorial and review process, including integrating expert feedback
- Full disclosure of any conflicts of interest, including professional affiliations or personal involvement with the subject matter
Meet our authors
Transparency and conflicts of interest
We strive for full transparency about our authors’ relationships with commercial and non-commercial institutions. That’s why all contributors must disclose any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could influence their perspective: including affiliations with clinics, retreat centers, pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, or advocacy organizations. You can always check an author’s, reviewer’s, or expert’s background on their profile page.
If a potential conflict of interest exists, we assess whether it needs to be disclosed, mitigated, or whether the assignment should be redirected. We do not accept paid editorial placements or ghostwritten clinical content.
Join the network
If you are a writer, clinician, researcher, or practitioner interested in contributing to States of Mind, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always looking for brave thinkers and experts experienced in the psychedelic field who share our commitment to accuracy and empathy.
For authors and experts: editorial@statesofmind.com
For reviewers: partners@statesofmind.com
