Frequently Asked Questions
Is joining the Mandala Community free?
We charge a membership of $9.99 monthly, or an annual membership of $99. The money you invest in us allows us to sustainably serve people. If circumstances make that challenging for you to pay, you can let us know during the Onboarding process by writing to us at team@mandalaforus.com and we will waive the fee. No questions asked.
What services does Mandala for Business include?
We partner with people & organizations to support their strategies around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. As it currently stands, that includes the following:
(i) Resilience Cohorts, whereby a group of eight people of color spend six weeks together talking about their inner lives in the presence of peer facilitators; at the end of their six weeks, members are invited to join a larger Community.
(ii) Community, whereby we host weekly events that are designed to provide a safe space for building emotional well-being. During community events, we offer a series of events ranging from guided meditations to journaling to therapist run AMA’s.
(iii) Ally-ship Training, whereby we partner with white managers and peers to help them understand the role that systemic racism plays in the well-being of people of color.
(iv) Inclusion & Well-Being Reports, whereby we help give organizations a glimpse into their culture, sharing anonymized feedback on how POCs experience the culture of an organization.
If you are interested in Mandala for Business, please reach out to us here.
Is Mandala a form of therapy?
No. Therapy tends to be 1:1, and therapists are generally licensed practitioners who are offer services to people in their their state. They have undergone supervision, training and are able to handle a range of acuities.
Mandala’s facilitators are all peers. We have been trained by therapists -- ranging from mental health counselors to psychiatrists. What we offer can supplement the services of a 1:1 therapy by giving people a community, and a vocabulary for their well-being to those interested in going to 1:1 therapy.
Can I become a facilitator?
Yes. Joining a cohort is the first step, and then you undergo three steps: (1) undergo training to facilitate, led by both an existing facilitator and a clinician; (2) host a community wide event and practice holding space; (3) co-facilitate a cohort, with the supervision of an existing facilitator.
What happens when a member needs more serious support?
During the orientation and the town-halls, we clarify that Mandala is largely a pre-clinical intervention, targeting well-being. We share during the cohort and the orientation how members can find longer term hep. In this case, that will also include connecting Audible employees to resources within that they can reach out and when they may benefit from those services.
Why focus on people of color, when everyone could benefit?
We believe there’s incredible value in solidarity, and tapping into shared experiences. Support groups in schools or workplaces are a testament to this. And more importantly focusing on the needs of one population will help us get more creative and imagine what sorts of services would help everyone.