BEND, OR -- A local psilocybin wellness program says it’s the first in the state to begin treating clients, with sessions planned for this weekend.

Bendable Therapy’s Amanda Gow tells KBND News the response from potential clients has been overwhelming, after the non-profit received its service center license from the Oregon Health Authority last month. “It immediately filled up. We had to shut down our application process because we had so much interest. Right now, we are still accepting folks to our waitlist but we’re now saying the waitlist is about six months long.” She says growth will be gradual, “We are slowly on-ramping our program to ensure safety at every step. So, we are not seeing a lot of clients every month but we are trying to get people into the program."

Gow says they've been preparing patients for the psilocybin therapy, "Per Oregon State law, preparatory sessions are required before dosing sessions, so I’ve been intaking clients, and going through the paperwork with folks, and getting people ready for the psilocybin session.”

The program comes with a $2,300 price tag, which covers about 12 hours with a licensed facilitator. Gow says 60% of people on the waitlist cite cost as their biggest barrier to treatment access, “We have a scholarship program that is accessible to anyone who requires it. But those scholarship dollars are available based on community donations, so we are looking to our community to help support those scholarships.”

The first psiolocybin therapy sessions are scheduled for Saturday.