Resources · Safety & integrity
A guide to choosing a psychedelic facilitator or retreat, with questions to ask before you commit.
Choosing who will support you deserves time and care. Use this guide in an intake interview, video consultation, or email exchange to explore a facilitator’s experience, boundaries, and approach to safety.
Adapted from the Onaya Psychedelic Mentorship program with permission from Onaya Science.
Ask for clear answers, written policies, and references where appropriate. Take time to reflect afterwards; you do not need to decide during a consultation. Reassuring answers can inform your decision, but no checklist can guarantee safety or establish that an experience is suitable for you.
This resource is educational and does not replace individual medical advice, emergency support, or crisis care.
Before you commit
Seven areas to explore with a prospective facilitator or retreat organiser.
Ask: What formal training, clinical qualifications, or Indigenous lineages inform your work? How long have you been practising? Can you provide references?
Look for: A clear, verifiable explanation of training, experience, and the limits of their role. They should welcome questions and provide references without defensiveness. A title or claimed lineage alone is not evidence of competence.
Ask: Do you assess medical and psychological history, current medications, and other substance use before confirming participation? Who reviews this information, and what happens if there are concerns?
Look for: A thorough screening process (and access to appropriately qualified clinical advice). The team should explain how health concerns and possible medication interactions affect decisions about participation, including when to postpone or decline.
Discuss any proposed medication changes with your prescribing clinician. Do not stop or reduce prescribed medication to meet a retreat’s requirements without their advice. The NHS guidance on antidepressants advises speaking to your doctor before stopping and avoiding sudden discontinuation.
Ask: What experience do you have with this specific substance? What exactly will be offered, including any additional ingredients? Do you combine substances or offer several in a short period?
Look for: Relevant, substance-specific experience, transparency about ingredients, and an honest discussion of risks and limitations. Be cautious of a “cocktail” approach or pressure to try additional substances.
Ask: How many facilitators and participants will be present? Who leads the team? Who supports the rest of the group if one person needs sustained individual attention?
Look for: Clearly assigned roles, staffing that reflects participants’ needs, and a coordinated plan for emergencies. Ask how individual support will remain available throughout the session, rather than relying on a ratio alone.
Ask: What is your policy on touch? Will you discuss and document explicit consent beforehand? How can I decline or withdraw consent?
Look for: A proactive conversation before the session about whether touch is welcome, its purpose, and its limits. Boundaries should be clear and respected throughout. Prior agreement does not remove your right to say no or change your mind.
Ask: What (written) emergency procedures are in place? Are licensed medical professionals or paramedics on-site or accessible nearby? How would you respond to severe physical or psychological distress?
Look for: Documented procedures, clear responsibilities, and a practical plan for contacting local medical services and arranging transfer if needed. The team should be able to explain what happens when a situation exceeds their competence.
Ask: What preparation do you offer? What integration and aftercare support is available once the session ends? Is a follow-up scheduled, and what does it cost?
Look for: A clear preparation and aftercare plan, with scheduled follow-up or structured integration support. Know whom you can contact, what support they can provide, and how to access further professional help if needed.
Reasons to pause
Take these concerns seriously. You can step back or decline to participate if answers are unclear, boundaries are dismissed, or you feel pressured.
Alongside credentials and written policies, pay attention to how you feel in conversation. Trust, respect, and space for your own choices matter.
You do not need to override discomfort to please a facilitator. Equally, feeling comfortable does not replace checking qualifications, screening, and safety procedures. Give yourself time, seek another perspective, and remember that you can choose not to proceed.
A facilitator should maintain clear professional boundaries and respect your autonomy. They should not exploit the relationship for personal gain, financial entanglement, or romantic or sexual involvement.
Ask for a written code of conduct, transparent fees, and a clear route for raising concerns. You should be able to question a decision, refuse touch, or leave without manipulation or pressure.
Adapted from the Onaya Psychedelic Mentorship program with permission from Onaya Science. Wording has been edited for web readability and to clarify medication safety and consent.
Further support
Continue exploring practical guidance and support in the Karuna Communitas network.