Whether you’re a prospective psychedelic first-timer or an experienced psychonaut, the idea of set and setting probably isn’t new to you. But if it is, a quick summary: The conditions in which you use psychedelics seriously influence the kind of experience you have. (For more depth here, check out this conversation we had with Charles Grob, MD, about his research on psychedelic therapies.) It’s not that every element must be perfectly arranged, but there are a number of factors you don’t want to leave up to chance. Because while psychedelics and the ceremonies surrounding their use are a powerful tool for healing, they also leave you vulnerable and have the potential for serious (and in rare cases, fatal) harm. If you’re going to partake, you’ll want to be in good hands.
What’s important about trying psychedelics as part of a retreat structure (or seeing a specialist for psychedelic-assisted therapy) is that you’re working under controlled conditions: Someone has taken the time to arrange a peaceful and safe setting, put together a plan to get you in the right mind-set for a positive psychedelic experience, and made sure that whatever you’ll be taking is exactly what you think it is. A good program involves a medical screening and an application process to check you out for contraindications—meaning they make sure it’s medically safe for you to take the medicine they’re providing—as well as a strong setup for emotional and psychological integration work.
The following is a list of centers and specialists recommended by the researchers, doctors, and thinkers who know this field best.
A note of caution: As with any alternative healing experience, you should consult your own medical team and understand the risks before proceeding. Psychedelics are illegal in many countries and unregulated in others. We’ve confirmed that at the time of publishing, the treatments described below are legal at the centers listed, but you should independently verify the legal status of any center (whether you’ve found it here or elsewhere) before undergoing treatment.
AYAHUASCA
Rooted in emotional, energetic, and spiritual healing, Soltara’s retreats offer ceremonies with the sacred plant medicine ayahuasca. Over the course of a session—which lasts between five days and three weeks—guests prepare for medicine work with one-on-one consultations with Shipibo master healers (there’s a translator present), receive individual support from healers and facilitators during each sitting, and integrate their experiences with yoga, breathwork, journaling, creative expression, floral baths, nature immersion, and community events. The center hosts no more than twenty guests at a time. Trauma expert Gabor Mate and psychedelic research pioneer Dennis McKenna sit on the board. Plus, the Soltara grounds are something else: twenty-one acres of Costa Rican rain forest, in spitting distance of ocean waves.
Niwe Rao Xobo Pucallpa, Peru
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MDMA AND LSD
Right now, MDMA and LSD are illegal in most countries and have no accepted medical uses. However, there is ongoing research on MDMA’s value in psychotherapy for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder as well as exploratory research on other potential uses. LSD is currently being investigated for its effects on anxiety as part of LSD-assisted psychotherapy. To see what studies and clinical trials are currently recruiting participants, check the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies’ website.