Who this work is for, and who it is not for
Most of what makes psilocybin assisted therapy safe happens long before anyone takes anything. It happens in screening, in honest conversation, and in a willingness to say no. This page explains exactly how that works here, including the reasons I may tell you this is not the right time.
This is not right for everyone
Psilocybin is a powerful medicine, and for some people the risk clearly outweighs the potential benefit. The list below is not exhaustive, and none of it is a diagnosis — every situation is reviewed individually and, where appropriate, with your own medical and mental health providers.
Generally not appropriate
- Personal or close family history of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders
- Bipolar I disorder, or a history of mania
- A current suicidal crisis, or recent psychiatric hospitalization
- Significant cardiovascular disease, or uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Anyone under the age of 21 — Colorado law does not permit it
Reasons to wait
- You are in the acute middle of a crisis and need stability before depth
- You have no one in your life to talk to in the weeks afterward
- You are looking for a guarantee, or for something to be done to you
- You are being pushed toward this by someone else rather than choosing it
- A major life event — a move, a birth, a separation — is landing in the same window
If any of this describes you, that is worth knowing now rather than later. Waiting is a legitimate outcome of a consultation, and so is a referral somewhere else. I would rather you find the right thing than book with me.
Medications matter
Some medications are unsafe in combination with psilocybin. Others blunt the experience enough that the session may not be worth doing. Every medication you take — prescription, over the counter, and supplements — is reviewed during screening.
- Lithium and tramadol carry a documented seizure risk in combination and are hard contraindications.
- MAOIs and certain other psychiatric medications require prescriber involvement.
- SSRIs and SNRIs often reduce the effect. Whether, when, and how to taper is a decision for your prescriber — never something to attempt on your own, and never something I will advise you to do.
I am a Licensed Natural Medicine Facilitator, not a physician. Nothing here is medical advice, and no medication change should be made without your prescriber.
How screening actually works
1. A complimentary conversation
We talk. There is no fee, no obligation, and no pressure. Much of what I am listening for is whether this is the right work for you at all.
2. Health and history review
Medical history, mental health history, family history, and a full medication and supplement review.
3. Medical clearance where indicated
For cardiovascular concerns, psychiatric medication, or any open question, written clearance from your physician or prescriber is required before a medicine session is scheduled.
4. Preparation before anything else
Preparation sessions establish intention, expectations, agreements about touch and communication, and a plan for the days afterward. Nobody arrives at a medicine day unprepared.
What safety looks like on the day
Administration sessions take place at a Colorado-licensed healing center. You are never left alone. I am present for the entire session, which typically runs six to eight hours.
Difficult stretches are common, and they are not emergencies. Fear, grief, nausea, and disorientation all move through. The response is grounding, breath, quiet company, and time. Two decades of chaplaincy taught me that the most useful thing in a hard hour is almost never advice — it is someone steady who does not leave.
Written emergency protocols exist for the rare situations that need them, including vital sign monitoring where indicated and immediate access to medical care. You will know what those protocols are before your session, not during it.
You will not drive yourself home. Transportation and someone to be with you that evening are part of the plan we make in preparation.
The weeks afterward
Integration is not an add-on. It is where the value of this work actually lands, and it is the part most often skipped. Some people feel open and tender for weeks. Some feel worse before they feel better. Both are within the range of normal, and neither should be walked through alone.
Integration sessions are built into every program for exactly this reason, and I remain reachable between them.
If you are in crisis right now
This site cannot help with an emergency. In the United States, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911. Please reach for immediate support first. This work will still be here later.
Still unsure whether this is for you?
That is a good reason to talk, not a reason to wait. The initial consultation is complimentary, and deciding against this is a perfectly good outcome.