Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about psychedelic-assisted care and psilocybin services? Find answers about safety, eligibility, expectations, and what to know before beginning your journey with The Center Origin.
How do you prevent bad trips?
We have learned from experience that the likelihood of "bad trips" is significantly reduced and practically non-existent when set/setting are properly addressed in the preparation phase. Bad trips occur when one experiences terrifying challenges that cannot be integrated into meaning/purpose or learning. This is why working with a licensed facilitator is so important because addressing set/setting properly in preparation allows for the difficult experiences to be useful to the client where growth can occur. -Daniel S. Schoenwald, PhD, NMCF
“Will my psilocybin experience be similar to what I’ve heard or read about from others?”
It’s natural to hear about someone’s psychedelic experience on a podcast, YouTube, or in a book and wonder, “Will that happen for me?” But when we enter a psilocybin session hoping for a particular experience, those expectations can get in the way of what is actually unfolding. Many clients come in expecting something very specific, yet one of the things we hear over and over at the end of a journey is, “I got exactly what I needed.” And very often, what they needed was quite different from what they thought they were looking for when they began. There is no one experience that is better, deeper, or more meaningful than another. One way to think about it is a little like a self-driving car: instead of gripping the wheel and trying to steer where you think it should go, you practice letting go and trusting the process as it unfolds. Psilocybin experiences are deeply individual; they meet you where you are and what emerges is exactly what you need to feel, understand or work on in your life. -Jewel Lauer, NMF
What should I expect throughout the admin session?
This can be looked at through a couple of different lenses: the facilitator's and the client's. The facilitator's role is to ensure you have a safe and supportive environment that allows you to trust the experience, go inwards, and explore. At the most basic level, we will help you with biological needs, such as making sure you get to the bathroom safely, grabbing an extra blanket, and getting you water if you need it. But we are also there to help ground you, provide reassurance, stay attuned, and be a supportive presence as you navigate challenging moments if they come up. The medicine works best when it's allowed to interact with your own inner wisdom and innate capacity for healing. We are there to make you feel safe and comfortable enough to experience all that the medicine wants to show you. We may also take notes for you, provide the playlist, remind you that you're safe, hold your hand, or place a comforting hand on your shoulder (with consent) if that feels supportive for you. We are there to hold space for you and provide you with what you need. From the client's perspective...expect the unexpected! But that's part of how this medicine works. There is an element of mystery to it, which is why it can access deeper levels that our logical minds and traditional therapies can't. From a logistical standpoint, the sessions begin in the morning, usually around 9am. Your facilitator may provide some sort of grounding or intention-setting practice before you have the medicine. Then you have the option of lying down or sitting in a zero gravity chair. You may choose to wear an eye mask and headphones, which helps many people "go inward." The journey lasts about 4-6 hours and follows an arc, with an onset, peak, and "landing" phase. Colorado regulations state that you must stay at the healing center for a minimum of 5 hours, and while most clients are ready to leave by then, there is no time limit and you can stay as long as feels good to you and together with your facilitator you get to decide when it's time to go. At The Center Origin, we offer nourishing soup, fresh fruit, tea, and snacks when you're landing to help ground you before you leave. -Anna Desmarais, BSN, RN, HWNC-BC, NMF, LMH
“How much time should I set aside after my session to rest, ground, and ease back into everyday life?”
Whenever possible, it’s helpful to create some spaciousness not only for the remainder of your session day, but for the days that follow as well. A psilocybin experience can continue to unfold long after the session itself. New perspectives can continue to emerge over the following days. Ideally, give yourself a gentler week afterward if your life allows for it. That doesn’t mean you need to clear your entire schedule, but it can be helpful to avoid overloading yourself with demanding work, intense social commitments, major decisions, or an unusually busy calendar. Leave some room for rest, time in nature, journaling, quiet reflection, supportive conversation, and simply noticing what continues to unfold. Not everyone has the flexibility to create this much space, and that’s okay. Even small choices to reduce unnecessary demands can help. When you do have the ability to plan ahead, protecting this time can make it easier to stay connected to your experience and begin integrating it into your life without immediately being pulled back into the usual pace and pressures. -Jewel Lauer, NMF
Is Psilocybin for everyone?
No, psilocybin is not for everyone. Individuals who have experienced mania in the context of Bipolar Disorder or psychosis (hallucinations or delusions) in any form are not recommended to have a psychedelic journey because the risk for a manic or psychotic episode is greatly increased after psilocybin. Furthermore, if you have a first degree relative who has experienced mania or psychosis you are also at increased risk for these episodes after psilocybin. Please disclose your psychiatric and family psychiatric history to the intake coordinator or facilitator. Additionally, one should have achieved a degree of emotional regulation, learned coping skills, and have adequate social support before embarking on a psilocybin journey. -Daniel S. Schoenwald, PhD, NMCF
"How do you help me if I'm struggling?"
Will psilocybin help my mental difficulties?
Research with psilocybin in structured settings has shown it can reduce symptoms experienced from depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance misuse in most indiviudals, although the degree of symptom relief varies by client, and there are no guarantees. Other mental difficulties such as identifying purpose/meaning in life or processing grief can also be addressed with a psilocybin journey. -Daniel S. Schoenwald, PhD, NMCF
How many sessions will I need?
Most people get what they came for with only one session. Some clients choose to do two sessions back-to-back (or with a day or two in between) because they want to explore a low or moderate dose journey followed by a high dose. Some decide they're ready for another journey in a few months, but others may never have another session again. I think it's important to rely on your own intuition when deciding if and when you have another journey. In my own personal experience and from what I've observed in clients, you "just know" when it's time for another one. -Anna Desmarais, BSN, RN, HWNC-BC, NMF, LMH
Why should I peruse psilocybin apposed to other avenues?
Pursuing psilocybin treatment over other options is a personal choice. Typically, clients choose psilocybin treatment when traditional methods (therapy and/or psychiatric medication) have failed or not yielded satisfying results. Other clients choose psilocybin journeys because they do not want to take a daily medication for their symptoms and are looking for more long-term relief. Others decide they want to supplement their existing treatments with a psilocybin journey. There is no "correct" answer and a facilitator can help you decide what is best for you. -Daniel S. Schoenwald, PhD, NMCF
What is the difference between ketamine and psilocybin?
Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic and part of the tryptamine family whereas Ketamine is a dissociative analgesic that can create psychedelic effects at certain doses and administrations. A psilocybin journey tends to be longer (about 4 to 6 hours) and typically involves more preparation, support, and integration than Ketamine treatments, which last about 1 hour. Furthermore, Ketamine treatment protocols usually require multiple administrations whereas some individuals only need one psilocybin journey to meet their needs. -Daniel S. Schoenwald, PhD, NMCF
How much mushrooms do I take?
At this point in psilocybin practice, we recommend dosing by mg of psilocybin. Different strains of mushrooms have different potencies so the required amount of mushrooms depends on the specific strain. The standard research dose is 25mg of psilocybin or 25mg/70kg. However, some clients choose to dose at lower or higher levels based on their experience and goals. -Daniel S. Schoenwald, PhD, NMCF
Is this experience a one and done deal?
Since clients have different needs and goals, the number of journeys desired or needed can vary. Some individuals meet their goals after one journey, while others choose to journey 1x/year or more frequently. It is possible that individuals with more significant or long-standing symptoms may benefit from multiple journeys within a period of several months. -Daniel S. Schoenwald, PhD, NMCF