The Nitty Gritty

Unfortunately, we can’t just belly up to the front desk at our local service center and request a walk-in mushroom trip. In fact, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) actually mandates each client undergo a minimum of one preparation session and one integration session in addition to the psilocybin experience itself. It’s important to note that most facilitators (myself included) often go beyond the OHA minimum when curating a psychedelic journey, and every facilitator has their own aesthetic when it comes to these stages. I’ll outline what you can expect from me below.

The 3 Stages of Psilocybin Therapy: Preparation

Once we decide to work together (after an initial screening call) the beautiful and difficult work begins. I’ll promptly send you a comprehensive intake form that not only asks about your intentions and psychedelic history but aims to surface relevant information about your physical and mental health, in addition to past trauma and relationship dynamics. It’s a lot, but it’s also very helpful to start bubbling this up to the surface as we prepare for the session.

Once you return the form, we will meet for 1.5 - 2 hours to discuss your answers and start focusing your intentions for the session. At this time–about 6-10 days from your journey date–I’ll also remind you that ritual and self-care is very important during this preparatory period.

We’ll meet again 48 hours before your session to review the arc of the administration day, and make sure you’re well equipped to navigate your upcoming experience. 

The 3 Stages of Psilocybin Therapy: Administration

On the morning of the journey, I will greet you at the facilitation center. You’ll have the chance to acclimate to the space, and we’ll check-in one last time to make sure you’re ready. You’ll be introduced to the service center representative and after a few requisite forms, the representative will serve you the mushrooms. We will be well prepared for this moment and enact some ceremonial ritual too. Once you ingest, you’ll get comfortable in your room and prepare to drop into the journey. Throughout this process, I will be by your side, helping you navigate the phases of the journey. The session generally lasts for about 4 - 6 hours. At the end of the session, we’ll have a snack, and once I’m confident you’re ready to leave, I’ll contact your ride to pick you up. 

The 3 Stages of Psilocybin Therapy: Integration

Before the journey commences, we will have already solidified a plan for an integration session 48 - 72 hours after your psilocybin experience. We’ll meet to decompress, discuss the insights from the journey and begin connecting the dots between your intentions and the pivotal discoveries of the trip. We’ll brainstorm ways to integrate those lessons into your daily routine and meet once more in 3 weeks. During that meeting, we’ll talk about the success of your initial integration and surface some of our original insights and craft a plan for the beautiful road ahead.