Ethical Agreement for Grof Transpersonal Training® Facilitators of expanded states of consciousness and the method of Holotropic Breathwork
Preamble
As a GTT facilitator of the Holotropic Breathwork method, I recognize that I am entering sacred territory—holding space and providing support for individuals and groups as they explore expanded states of consciousness. This work is rooted in reverence for life, mystery, and the innate intelligence of the body-mind-spirit system.
I understand that facilitating such holotropic processes carries enhanced ethical, psychological, and energetic responsibilities requiring ongoing personal development and awareness.
This agreement outlines the ethical principles and practical guidelines I commit to embody in my role as a Grof Transpersonal Training® facilitator.
As a training organization, we offer this agreement as a shared ethical foundation for our international community of practitioners. We invite all facilitators to regularly return to this agreement as a living document. It is not a set of rigid rules, but a reflection of our shared responsibility to hold space with clarity, humility, integrity, and compassion.
Foundational Commitments
As a GTT facilitator of the method Holotropic Breathwork, I commit to:
1. Informed Consent & Transparency - I commit to
• Clearly communicate the nature, purpose, and potential effects of the work.
• Ensure informed consent is obtained verbally and in writing before any session or workshop.
• Provide clear pre-session information and integration information as well as support when appropriate.
2. Respect for Sovereignty & Agency - I commit to
• Honour each participant's autonomy, inner guidance, and capacity to selfregulate.
• Refrain from imposing interpretations, agendas, or interventions that override their process.
3. Creating and Maintaining Safe Containers - I commit to
• to the best of my ability, create a safe setting for participants according to the Holotropic Principles as outlined by Stanislav and Christina Grof o Establish clear agreements and boundaries within each group or individual container.
• prioritize the physical, mental and emotional safety of participants and use my vigilance and constant best efforts to ensure safety for all
• Stay grounded, present, and attuned throughout sessions.
• Attend to energetic, physical and psychological hygiene and be aware of projection, transference, or emotional enmeshment.
4. Awareness & Competency - I commit to
• represent myself and act only within the scope of my competence and experience.
• Recognize and respond to signs of dysregulation or overwhelm with skill, care, and appropriate referral when necessary.
5. Cultural Humility & Inclusivity - I commit to
• Honour the lineages, traditions, and cultural roots that inform this work. o Acknowledge the diversity of participant experiences, backgrounds, and identities and ensure cultural inclusion.
• Avoid appropriation or misrepresentation of shamanic, mystical, or Indigenous traditions.
• Be mindful of the possibility of blind spots or ignorance and engage in ongoing learning around inclusivity and equity.
6. Touch, Boundaries, and Physical Contact - I commit to
• Use physical contact and touch only in alignment with the method’s ethical guidelines and agreements; meaning to seek consent prior to physical contact with participants (except when physical contact is immediately necessary to ensure the safety of the participant or other members of the group).
• Never use touch to control, coerce, or bypass a participant's agency.
• Abstain from initiating or responding to any sexual, romantic, or exploitative dynamics with participants.
7. Confidentiality - I commit to
• Hold all participant information and experiences in strict confidence.
• Avoid sharing any identifying details without expressed permission.
• Encourage a culture of mutual confidentiality among participants within group settings.
8. Post-Care & Integration - I commit to
• Offer appropriate integration support following Holotropic experiences and/or provide referrals to participants who may require post-workshop support.
• Remain available to participants for reasonable follow-up and/or clearly communicate limits and boundaries of post-care availability.
9. Substance-Free Space - I commit to
• Ensure to the best of my abilities that all Holotropic Breathwork sessions and group spaces are conducted without the use of mind altering substances.
• Arrive sober, grounded, and resourced as a facilitator.
Communication & Professional Conduct
1. Boundaries of Role - I commit to
• Acknowledge the possibility of dual relationship and the responsibility that comes with being in the role of a GTT facilitator.
• Disclose any potential dual relationship with participants or apprentices to my colleagues (co-facilitators) prior to the beginning of the respective workshop
• Explicitly communicate, clarify and discuss with my clients and/or participants the existence of a dual-relationship and its potential consequences in regard to issues like availability, boundaries, communication, confidentiality, economic dimension etc.
• Avoid dual relationships that may create confusion, dependency, or ethical conflict or that may lead to exploitation.
2. Peer Relationships & Conflict Resolutions - I commit to
• Engage with fellow facilitators in a spirit of mutual respect, collaboration, and noncompetition.
• Abstain from gossip, triangulation, or undermining other practitioners.
• Give feedback to my peers and remain open to receive feedback with humility, clarity and compassion.
I acknowledge that feedback may be essential to ensure that we as facilitators remain aware of the scope or limits of our capacity to hold space and engage with participants safely at any given moment.
Acknowledging that the only person we ever truly work on is ourselves, I commit to
a) bring concerns, interpersonal tensions or ethical dilemmas to supervision
b) conduct a reality check with the people involved and ask for a mutual learning conversation
c) address all concerns pertaining to conflict resolution related to the training, its members or its content privately with the parties involved, following the agreed conflict resolution process such as direct conversation, external mediation or any other agreed upon conflict resolution mechanism.
d) not use social media platforms, public forums or online channels to discuss, criticize or escalate any conflicts, disputes or grievances. This is to protect confidentiality, maintain trust, and ensure that any issues are handled with integrity and mutual respect.
3. (Digital) Communication - I commit to
• Maintain professionalism, clarity, and presence in all communication channels (e.g., messenger services, email, phone, social media).
• Communicate clearly about what Holotropic Breathwork is and what it is not, avoiding misleading or exaggerated claims.
• Respect group agreements around messaging hours, tone, and boundaries.
• Be mindful around different roles people might be having in a group chat.
4. Apprentice training - I commit to
• Be aware of the responsibility in guiding apprentices and offering mentorship for the work in Holotropic states of consciousness and its ethical implications.
• Ensure that at least two certified facilitators are present in a workshop to support apprentices on their learning journey.
• Work within the scope of my competencies when offering supervision or mentorship, communicate my boundaries and offer referral when needed.
Legal and Professional Accountability
I commit to
• Establish and maintain clear and honest business practices.
• maintain clear communication with participants about fees and aspire to increase financial access to services.
• disclose fees and payment procedures before enrolling participants
• create opportunities for participants who are unable to afford the full cost up front to engage, by considering income-based fees, sliding scale, pro-bono work, scholarship, sponsorship, and donor-supported services.
• Work in alignment with the laws and regulations of the countries or regions in which I offer Holotropic services.
• Where applicable, uphold the ethical standards and licensing requirements of my professional bodies (e.g., psychotherapy boards, coaching associations).
• comply with all relevant tax, insurance, and professional reporting obligations.
Self-Responsibility & Ongoing Practice
I commit to
• Ongoing personal Holotropic Breathwork practice and self-inquiry to stay aligned and embodied following the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) program.
• Regular supervision, mentorship, and peer reflection.
• Continuing education and deepening of my knowledge in relevant areas such as trauma, ethics, somatics, psychology, and mystical traditions.
• Knowing and honoring the limits of my competence and referring out when appropriate.
• seek professional assistance and community support for my own emotional challenges or personal conflicts, especially when, in my view or in the view of colleagues, they affect my capacity to support participants.
• use Holotropic Breathwork only in ways that are faithful to the Holotropic principles as outlined by Stanislav and Christina Grof and the Grof Transpersonal Training® teachings of this method.
• Should I wish to teach, train or educate people on how to become a Holotropic Breathwork facilitator or to pass on any of the training’s contents in the future, I commit to first obtaining authorization from Grof Transpersonal Training® and to participate in the appropriate mentoring program.
Personal Pledge
"I recognize that my presence, intention, and integrity are setting the frame for any Holotropic journey and interaction with participants. I pledge to walk this path with humility, curiosity, and reverence. I understand that facilitation is not about fixing or leading, but about holding space and providing support with trust in the innate wisdom of each being."