By Benjamin Hawes, Director of Wellness Practices
One of the most common questions we hear is how much you really need to prepare for psilocybin sessions, and whether preparation matters at all. One misconception that participants sometimes carry into psilocybin therapy is that the journey is equivalent to a passive medical treatment that requires no conscious preparation or participation, such as an outpatient procedure, a therapy like dialysis, or even ketamine IV therapy (which tends to have at least a limited effect regardless of the subjective experience).
Though this is more common in clients who come for medical reasons such as chronic pain or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), others may have the impression, from all the positive media coverage of psychedelics, that this medicine is the equivalent of a miraculous brain pill: you just drink the mushrooms, get a mystical experience, and 4 to 6 hours later go home a changed person.
Psilocybin Is a Consciousness Medicine
But psilocybin is really a consciousness medicine. This means it works in a very individual way with your particular mind and all its idiosyncrasies, and it requires the full participation and permission of your conscious will, intention, and consent in order to “drop in” to the experience completely and get the maximum benefit.
Though the neuroplastic effects may not be dependent on the content of the journey (hence the research into non-hallucinatory neuroplastogens by the pharmaceutical industry), there will still most likely be physical, sensory, and psychological content to reckon with regardless. Some find the initial physical sensations, including increased heart rate and gut sensations, very challenging.
This is why preparation by a facilitator is so essential. We prepare each participant in techniques such as breathing, mindfulness, repeated phrases or mantras, and prepared intentions to return to. Really, we are like your coach, helping you stay focused and keep your head in the game.
How to Prepare for Psilocybin Sessions: Navigating the Rapids With Your Guide
Another way of thinking about psilocybin sessions is like taking a raft down a river. Sometimes you float along, relaxed. Sometimes you have to paddle hard to stay upright in the rapids.
We are there to give clients the skills and confidence beforehand to hold their own, and we are there during the journey to tell them when to paddle and when to rest, and to make sure they have everything they need so they do not end up jumping off the boat too early or swirling in eddies and missing the sights they came to explore.
A client who does not take preparation seriously, or who is hoping to just “get through” the psilocybin experience, is more likely to have a rougher go of it or miss out on the full benefit. So we work hard to educate our clients on what to realistically expect and on the well-trodden techniques that help make this one of the most singular experiences of their lives.
We believe this therapy is a choice. We want our participants to walk out of their journey empowered, with the knowledge that they, not merely the medicine, have the power to take control of and change their lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much preparation does one do?
Though the regulations in Colorado require one hour of preparation, at Numia we schedule two sessions of 60+ minutes each, plus resources such as our own preparation guide and videos, and “homework” such as mindfulness or breathwork and intention-setting. We want you to feel ready.
If you have done psychedelics before, do you still need to prepare?
Yes. No matter how many times you have done psilocybin or other classic psychedelics, each journey may bring new surprises, challenges, and opportunities. Preparation is also how you and your facilitator get to know each other and build trust. And finally, people have done psychedelics in many settings and styles, so we like to offer the fruits of our own training and experience in case there is something valuable you have not yet tried.
Ready to explore whether psilocybin-assisted therapy is right for you? Book a free consultation with the Numia team.
