Scientifically Proven Benefits of Psychedelic Therapy

• Reduces Depression Symptoms – shown to significantly alleviate treatment-resistant depression.

• Alleviates PTSD –  highly effective in reducing PTSD symptoms, even long-term.

• Reduces Anxiety, Especially End-of-Life Anxiety –  helps terminally ill patients find peace and meaning.

• Helps Overcome Addiction –  linked to reduced dependence on alcohol, nicotine, and opioids.

• Enhances Emotional Processing – Facilitates deep emotional healing by allowing people to process suppressed trauma.

• Increases Neuroplasticity & Brain Connectivity – Promotes brain rewiring and cognitive flexibility, beneficial for mental health.

• Boosts Mindfulness & Personal Growth – Increases self-awareness, emotional openness, and a sense of interconnectedness.

• Reduces Cluster Headaches –  reported to alleviate chronic, treatment-resistant cluster headaches.

• Promotes Long-Term Well-Being – Many users report lasting improvements in mood, life satisfaction, and a sense of purpose.

• Facilitates Spiritual & Mystical Experiences – 60-80% of participants in psilocybin studies describe their experience as one of the most meaningful in their lives.

Questions from Guides:

What's your home situation like? Will you be returning to a safe, supportive home? Do you have someone you can trust to talk to about this experience; someone who will not to judge you or hold anything against you? Tip: ONLY share your experience with trusted relationships. Need-to-know-basis.

Do you have a therapist? If so, are they psychedelic friendly (Can you talk to them openly about this experience?)

Are you prepared for your world to be flipped upside down? These are often life-changing experiences (that's why we do it!) so if you're not prepared for your life to move in a different direction, or to adopt new beliefs and behaviors, this is probably not a good time for you to journey just yet. Note: Most guides require an agreement not to make any major life decisions within 1-2 weeks of journeying. 

Do you have any known history of trauma? This is something guides will ask so they know how best to support you. This is about healing so it is important to be honest about our wounds. 

 Are you on any medications?

It is extremely important to be open and honest about any medications and supplements you are on, and/or treatments you've recently had. (Popular diet pills affect the potency of the journey!!) Your guide will likely be knowledgable about interactions to look out for, but there are also a few trusted professional, such as Three Little Birds, MD, who specialize in this if you have real concerns about your specific medical situation. 

Expect to wean off of substances (including various foods and caffeine at least a week before you journey). The cleaner you can make your mind and body before you experience the medicine, the smoother your journey will be. 

FAQs from Journeyers:

How to Deal with Fear:

It is 100% normal to feel anxious approaching a journey, whether it's your first of 50th time. It shows reverence for the sacredness of the medicine. Think of this journey as quality time with your Soul. Who wouldn't be a little nervous for that date?!

Here are some ways to feel more at ease going in:

• In the week leading up, consider an honoring ritual. Place your medicine on an alter and/or offer a sacrifice such as refraining from something. This demonstrates your respect and builds good rapport. 
• Choose a guide and setting that you feel fully safe and supported by. 
• Arrange a ride to/from with a trusted, understanding (ideally quite) driver. *This is not the time to catch up on life.

• Have a practiced breathwork technique to help move deep emotions/energy. You may also want to have an essential oil spray or some other sensory item to soothe feelings that will arise. 
• Psilocybin mushrooms are very cooperative. You can communicate with the medicine in the journey. If they are showing you something you're not feeling up for, you can tell them and they will accommodate. 
• Remember, this is your psyche. It may feel foreign, but it is You. All the answers you seek are already inside. Prepare your mind, body and heart as much as possible and let the medicine show you.
• Many traditions recommend wearing white when entering psychic terrain.

Note: Psychedelic therapy is typically done with an eye mask and headphones with tailored music. The experience of focusing fully within is very different than a dosed walk in the woods. Both are wondrous, but consider what you are seeking and where to find it.

What is the Integration/ Follow Up Support like?

Okay, this is not a FAQ, but it should be! Advocate for yourself by gently asking potential guides:
🌀 What does integration look like in your container?
🌀 How do you support the weaving of insights into daily life?

Most guides are focused on the ceremony and will simply make a follow up phone call after your journey. They may have referrals for integration ready, if requested. Ultimately, deep integration is not typically included in the journey cost. Asking this ahead of time allows you to make preparations for the support and depth you need for your healing to take root.

Integration happens after your journey- It is the weaving of the medicine's messages into daily life and it is what I am very passionate about!

Here is a free integration resource from MAPS.

If you're interested, I facilitate "Mystery Schools"- book-centered, small group integration programs with optional 1-1 reclamation & integration support. These quests and sessions focus on exploring journey stories, symbols and somatics (felt senses), and applying the wisdom, wonder and wellness of plant medicine to our everyday life.