The Impact of Our Work
110Veterans have completed our program and are improving their lives
$12,000Raised in community support since our founding
PHQ-9 · GAD-7 · EEGWe support Veterans while capturing real outcome data
Veterans participating in The Aya Mission's program have shown measurable improvement in mental health outcomes. Pre-ceremony assessments showed 50% of participants scoring at moderate or greater levels of depression (PHQ-9) and 64% at moderate or greater levels of anxiety (GAD-7). By the 3-month post-ceremony follow-up, moderate-or-greater depression dropped to 22%, and moderate-or-greater anxiety symptoms were eliminated entirely — 0% of participants scored in the moderate-or-greater range.
In a preliminary case, a Veteran with a 100% PTSD rating showed a measurable neurological shift following ceremony. Beta wave activity (hypervigilance) dropped from 44% to 13%. Theta activity (emotional processing) rose from 20% to 45%. Delta stabilized near 30%, and Alpha increased — a pattern consistent with a shift from a trauma-locked state toward a more regulated, recovery-oriented brain state. This is a single case, not a controlled study, but points to a promising direction for further research.
The Aya Mission's research is conducted through MindOps Zenith — a research institute and IRB-aligned lab built to hold our work to the standard of formal human-subjects research. Every study runs as a structured protocol with ethics review, safety monitoring, and privacy-aware data practices, so the outcomes we report are ones we can stand behind.
A prospective cohort study (RI-2025-01, IRB-approved) follows veterans for a full year with validated symptom and functioning scales, quality-of-life measures, and continuous safety monitoring.
An active safety and adverse-event registry plus longitudinal follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months measure whether improvements actually last — durability, not just snapshots.
Building on our early EEG findings, MindOps maintains a growing EEG atlas and neurocognitive research program exploring how healing shows up in the brain itself.
View Active Studies Visit MindOps Zenith
MindOps Zenith does not provide medical or clinical services. Research participation is always optional for veterans in our program.
"...The Aya Mission opened doors for me so that I could unpack all the trauma from combat."
— SGT Michael Telles
"...I felt the weight of the world leaving my shoulders. Although the pain still lingers, I am hopeful for the future."
— SSG Ulises Lopez
"...I feel that I can love my family more deeply. I feel like a new man."
— SGT Andrew "Doc" Lunsford
Veteran Nathan Henderson shares his transformative journey with Ayahuasca and plant medicines — his struggles with post-military mental health, divorce, and healing through nature and community. Prior therapy is essential for plant medicine experiences, and healing is an ongoing journey offering hope to other veterans.
Listen on SpotifyUlises Lopez's transformative path from a challenging childhood to decorated U.S. Army combat veteran, through post-service struggles with addiction and mental health, ultimately led to his healing through plant medicine and inspired him to co-found The Aya Mission.
Listen on SpotifyVeteran Andrew Lunsford shares his profound healing journey from PTSD and substance abuse through plant medicines, highlighting how support systems, personal growth, and alternative therapies have transformed his life and empowered his recovery from trauma.
Listen on SpotifyMore stories, photos, and episodes on our Veteran Stories page.
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