If you are under 30 years of age, live in California, have difficulty affording necessary resources for your mental health and self-discovery, and have a thirst for self-improvement and growth, then you likely qualify!

Yes, we require all applicants to have US Citizenship, and we will assist you with providing a passport for your international travels as needed.

We require a minimum of a High School diploma or equivalent. Preferably, you are interested in higher education (e.g. Tech School, Community College, University, or equivalent).

For the most part, yes. The core components of our program — including therapy, life coaching, financial coaching, language and culture sessions, self-defense classes, health and wellness support, and other educational resources — are all provided to participants at no cost.

There are, however, a few potential expenses participants may still be responsible for:

1. Transportation and gas costs to local meet-up locations, wellness activities, and the airport.

2. A portion of the international travel experience, depending on financial need. Travel Through Trauma uses a sliding scale model based on household income and financial circumstances. For participants who are considered low-income or experiencing financial hardship, we may subsidize most or all of the trip costs.

The maximum possible out-of-pocket contribution is $3,000. These funds are not paid to us as profit — they are placed directly into your personal travel budget (“travel piggy bank”) to support your experience abroad. Approximately $1,800 of that amount is returned to you via a travel debit card to use for expenses during your trip, such as food, transportation, activities, and other travel-related costs.

Additional details about our sliding scale assessment can be found elsewhere in the FAQ section.

For more information about the sliding scale matrix assessment, see the FAQ.

1. Financial Assessment

As part of the application process, you’ll complete a brief questionnaire that helps us better understand your financial situation and level of need.

2. Tier Placement

Based on your responses, you may qualify for one of the following support tiers:

• Tier 1 (0% subsidized) – Participant contribution: $3,000

• Tier 2 (25% subsidized) – Participant contribution: $2,250

• Tier 3 (50% subsidized) – Participant contribution: $1,500

• Tier 4 (75% subsidized) – Participant contribution: $750

• Tier 5 (100% subsidized) – Participant contribution: $0

3. Final Confirmation

If accepted into the program, we’ll confirm your support tier and finalize program logistics with you before any payments are due.

What to Expect

• The $3,000 amount represents the maximum possible participant contribution toward the international travel experience.

• Much of these funds are allocated directly toward your personal travel expenses abroad, including a travel debit card provided for use during the trip.

• If your financial circumstances change (such as job loss or unexpected hardship), we can reassess your support level on a case-by-case basis.

Our goal is to create a fair, compassionate, and transparent system that allows those with the greatest financial need to receive the highest level of support.

Estimated Program Value ($14,000+)

While participants may only contribute a fraction of the overall cost depending on their support tier, the true value of the Travel Through Trauma program exceeds $14,000 per participant through a combination of professional services, wellness resources, mentorship, and international travel experiences.

Included Program Components per Client:

• 12 Therapy Sessions (licensed mental health professionals) — ~$2,700

• 8 Health & Fitness Coaching Sessions — ~$1,200

• 4 Self-Defense Training Sessions — ~$500

• 6 Financial Coaching & Education Sessions — ~$1,800

• 3 Life Coaching & Integration Sessions — ~$750

• 4 Language & Cultural Learning Sessions — ~$240

• 2-Week International Solo Travel Experience — ~$3,000 (flights, lodging support, transportation, excursions, travel resources, and spending funds)

• 3 Months of BetterHelp Therapy Access After Graduation — ~$1,200

• 3 Months of Moodfit Premium Access After Graduation — ~$60

• Clinical Oversight & Case Management Support — ~$2,000

• Travel Coordination & Solo Travel Planning Support — ~$800

• Program Materials, Assessments, Journaling Resources & Administrative Support — ~$200

• Community Support, Mentorship & Ongoing Guidance — invaluable

Exceeding $14,000, this cost reflects the true market value of these services if accessed separately. However, thanks to our subsidization model and donor support, many participants pay only a fraction of this cost—or nothing at all.

More Than Just Services

Travel Through Trauma is not simply a collection of classes or appointments. It is a structured healing and empowerment journey designed to help underserved young adults build confidence, emotional resilience, independence, life skills, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Our mission is to make transformational support accessible to individuals who may otherwise never have access to these types of resources and experiences.

Finding and coordinating high-quality therapy, coaching, language classes, fitness programs, and travel planning on your own can be overwhelming, time-consuming, and expensive. Travel Through Trauma provides all these services in a structured, fully-integrated program, designed specifically for young adults overcoming trauma.

By joining us, you’ll receive: ✅ Seamless Coordination – No need to juggle multiple providers; we handle everything for you. ✅ Expert Guidance – Every resource has been handpicked and tailored for holistic recovery. ✅ Community Support – You won’t be going through this journey alone; you'll have peer support, mentorship, and structured guidance. ✅ Financial Accessibility – Through our sliding scale model, we make this program as affordable as possible, sometimes covering the full cost based on need.

Trying to put together the same level of support on your own could cost more than double what we provide—and you'd have to navigate everything by yourself

The Travel Through Trauma program is designed to be completed over approximately 17 weeks (about 4 months). Participants follow a structured weekly schedule that includes therapy, wellness support, coaching, educational sessions, travel preparation, and a two-week solo international travel experience.

All program services are provided virtually, allowing participants to engage from the comfort of their own home while maintaining consistency and accessibility throughout the program.

Because the program is intentionally structured and cohort-based, participants are expected to follow the established weekly timeline and attend scheduled sessions consistently. This structure helps ensure accountability, continuity of care, and the strongest possible outcomes for each participant.

For a more detailed breakdown of the weekly curriculum, expectations, and program phases, please refer to the Participant Booklet linked on our website.

The Travel Through Trauma program is conducted entirely virtually, allowing participants to access services and support from the comfort of their own home throughout the 17-week program.

This includes therapy, health & fitness coaching, financial coaching, life coaching, self-defense training, language and cultural learning sessions, travel preparation, and other educational resources.

The only in-person portion of the program is the participant’s two-week solo international travel experience, which takes place at the end of the program as the culmination of their healing and empowerment journey.

There will be approximately 3-4 hours of commitment required virtually per week. Our services are all virtual but you must be located in California while the sessions are occurring. We will work with your needs to best accommodate your availability, and ensure that you can complete this program effectively. You will also need to coordinate with your job or school to leave for the 2-week solo trip towards the tail-end of the program.

We expect participants to approach the program with openness, honesty, accountability, and a genuine commitment to their personal growth and healing journey. Consistent attendance, active participation, timely communication, and respectful engagement throughout the 17-week program are essential to creating meaningful progress and positive outcomes.

While our team is here to provide guidance, support, resources, and encouragement every step of the way, the effectiveness of the program ultimately depends on the participant’s willingness to actively engage in the process and show up consistently for themselves.

Yes. Because Travel Through Trauma is a highly structured and resource-intensive program, participants are expected to consistently uphold program expectations, communication standards, and behavioral guidelines throughout the 17-week experience.

Grounds for removal or disqualification from the program may include, but are not limited to:

• Two unexcused absences or failure to attend scheduled sessions

• Ongoing lack of communication or responsiveness

• Dishonesty during the application or program process

• Disrespectful, inappropriate, threatening, or unsafe behavior toward staff, volunteers, partners, or other participants

• Failure to follow program policies, travel requirements, or safety expectations

• Substance misuse or behavior that compromises participant safety during the program or travel experience

• Demonstrated unwillingness to actively participate in the program process

Our team always strives to address concerns through communication, support, accountability conversations, and reasonable opportunities for improvement whenever appropriate. However, Travel Through Trauma reserves the right to remove a participant from the program at any time if we determine that continued participation is no longer appropriate, safe, or aligned with the mission and structure of the program.

Because program spots, travel planning, professional services, and operational resources are reserved and allocated specifically for each participant, any participant who voluntarily withdraws, is removed, or is disqualified from the program will not be eligible for a refund of any program-related payments or contributions already made.

The solo international travel experience takes place at the tail end of the program and is scheduled in advance so you have plenty of time to plan. You are responsible for coordinating time off with your employer or school — whether that's requesting PTO, a leave of absence, or arranging coverage. We will do our best to accommodate timing needs and work with you on scheduling. We recommend being upfront with your employer or school early in the program so there are no surprises when travel time comes.

No, we are partnering with various organizations to ensure a fully funded travel experience. The country selected at this time is Costa Rica.

Your dedication and participation in this program will determine your growth and healing process and how it helps heal your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. We can guarantee that this program has the potential for life-changing transformation and to kickstart a powerful healing journey.