Preparation

No. Preparation begins after the initial screening process is completed, first.

Colorado’s psilocybin therapy program is designed to maximize safety and promote mental health, which is why the first step in the process is a safety screening.

Potential therapy participants must provide complete and accurate health information, including any mental health history and current medications, to identify possible contraindications.

This screening will also help pair participants with an appropriately trained facilitator.

In some cases, potential participants may be ruled out from services until a particular health issue is resolved.

Preparation sessions occur between a participant and facilitator(s) to discuss a participant’s intentions for natural medicine therapy.

Many people may be attracted to psilocybin assisted therapy to address psychological conditions (e.g., trauma, OCD, depression, anxiety, etc.) and existential concerns; yet, many people want to experience psychological and spiritual development and enhance their creative pursuits in life. Still others may desire a therapeutic journey with psilocybin to cultivate psychological flexibility and explore their consciousness.

Preparation sessions aim to recognize what your intentions are for this therapeutic work and your facilitators will then help you build the right tools and techniques you may want or need on your journey day.

Facilitators will use the session to address the ‘set’ portion of the classic ‘set and setting’ approach to psychedelic therapy: assessing the mindset of the participant and helping them achieve clarity on the issues they wish to address.

Preparation sessions also introduce you to your facilitators, our space, our neighborhood, and other important contextual variables that all play in concert for you during your journey.

Preparation sessions establish proper set and setting, help clarify therapeutic intentions, build the essential therapeutic relationship, and familiarize you with our space and process.

This foundation is crucial for optimal therapeutic outcomes - some say adequate preparation is the cornerstone of effective psilocybin therapy.

Preparation sessions are also required by Colorado law, as these meetings tend to be used for following up on health history screening results, discussing informed consent, discussion of risks, meeting your facilitator(s), etc.

Your dedicated licensed facilitator(s) will guide you through personalized preparation, building the trust and rapport essential for your therapeutic journey.

As for location, for preparation sessions you can choose between in-person sessions at our Boulder location or conveniently through telehealth (video) session(s) that allow you to prepare from your preferred environment.

The preparation sessions are very important for this work. We do not want to rush this time together because this creates our “safe container” for your journey day. The safer you feel with us and our space, the deeper you are likely to go in your journey.

Most individuals benefit from 4-6 hours of preparation, typically spread across 2-3 sessions to allow for processing and integration of preparatory work between meetings.

That being stated, we want to customize your therapeutic journey to best address your needs and preferences. Depending on your background, you may need preliminary sessions focusing on trauma processing, mindfulness skillset development, or practice specific therapeutic skill-building to optimize your readiness.

Preparation sessions tend to involve a variety of techniques to help acquaint you with psilocybin, and what you would like from the mushrooms on your journey day. Exercises are designed to foster deep self-reflection, guided exercises that help with therapeutic rapport, meditation practices, and collaborative planning.

We also do some practical preparation, too, such as following up on your intake forms, discussion of dosage and how you plan to get home safely the evening of your journey day, etc.

We hope you'll leave feeling informed, prepared, and excited about your upcoming therapeutic journey!

Couples preparation focuses on creating shared intentions while honoring individual goals, establishing communication protocols, and preparing both partners for a synchronized therapeutic experience that can deepen your relationship.

Preparing for psilocybin journeys as a couple is important for many reasons - these meetings entail open and honest conversations that supports and clarifies individual and shared intentions, prepares for potential relationship material emerging, and creates safety agreements for your shared journey.

The process is very similar to individual journey preparations. You'll still work with licensed psilocybin facilitators who are also trained in couples therapy who understand the unique dynamics of shared psychedelic experiences and relationship healing.

Choose between intimate in-person preparation sessions at The Clearing or telehealth (video) sessions from your home environment where you can practice techniques together.

Couples also typically need about 6-8 hours of preparation time, often structured as longer sessions (2-3 hours each) to allow for both individual and dyadic exploration.

For all of our couples journeys, you can expect to have two licensed facilitators present, each of whom will also be involved with preparation sessions.

Group preparation sessions aim to create a cohesive, supportive community while honoring individual therapeutic goals, establishing group agreements, and preparing all members for a shared transformative experience.

These sessions are designed to create a supportive group “safe container,” focusing on building trust, establishing communication protocols, and preparing for the unique healing potential of group psychedelic experiences.

Your group will work with licensed facilitators experienced in group dynamics and psychedelic therapy, with additional support staff available for larger groups to ensure everyone feels seen and supported.

Ideally, group preparation typically takes place at The Clearing to allow the group to connect with the space where they'll journey together; however, telehealth options are also available for preliminary individual sessions.

It is not uncommon to have intensive group experiences. For example, let’s say a group meets on a Tuesday, for a whole day of preparation; then on Wednesday, the entire group journeys together; and finally, on that Thursday, the group stays together to begin their integration process.

During small group preparation sessions/days, you can expect rich group dialogue, shared ritual creation, practice with group support techniques, community building activities, and the co-creation of your group's unique therapeutic culture and agreements.

Creating an authentically safe container is absolutely vital for this work, and we take this part of the therapeutic work seriously. That being stated, we also highly value flexibility, freedom, space, levity and humor with this process!