Fractal Soul's Guide to FAQ & Fears

We define a "bad trip" as an overwhelming fear or paranoia that has no therapeutic value. This is different from a challenging experience that is still productive. In a legal, regulated environment, 'bad trips' are extremely rare because the three reasons 'bad trips' happen in recreational settings are eliminated: clients receive precise dosing without the presence of other substances or adulterants, clients are in a calm setting that feels safe and nurturing, and clients are prepared and coached with clear intention & readiness. Some clients do have emotionally difficult journeys that ultimately prove therapeutic and healing. These clients often report afterward that they received exactly what they needed for their growth.

Psilocybin is not addictive because it works on the serotonin system rather than dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter primarily associated with addiction. Serotonin receptors have a built-in safety mechanism - they desensitize ("down regulate") when they sense excess serotonin. This means if someone tries to take psilocybin daily or multiple times per day as they would an addictive substance, they will feel little to no effect from psilocybin. In this sense, it has built-in anti-addictive properties. Finally, people typically seek out substances for addiction to escape pain or their problems. Psilocybin is an anti-dissociative, strongly urging users to actively cope with problems. Those seeking a numbing or escapism experience are unlikely to find it with psilocybin.

Underwhelming experiences are usually due to medication interference, recent substance use, or insufficient dosing. Your facilitator can help identify factors that may have reduced effectiveness and adjust approaches for future sessions if needed. Some clients are so chronically sleep deprived they fall asleep during their session. Facilitators can be given permission to wake clients, but keep in mind the neuroplastic effects in the brain are still happening in the weeks following a session even if a client falls asleep for a portion of it.

Yes, follow-up sessions can be scheduled after evaluating what factors may have contributed to disappointing results. Often, adjusting medication timing, increasing doses, or addressing preparation issues can significantly improve outcomes in subsequent sessions. Ethical providers will strongly encourage clients to let their nervous systems rest in between administration sessions and fully implement any insights received before seeking another session. Clients are warned against quick-succession psilocybin experiences due to the risk of escapism or perfectionism to achieve the 'perfect' trip. Sometimes when the nervous system is not ready for another big experience it can rebel, leading to an unproductive follow up session - this is why timing is crucial when considering follow-up sessions and client emotional readiness.

The main factors that reduce effectiveness are multiple serotonin-affecting medications, heavy alcohol or cannabis use within days of the session, resistance to the therapeutic process, inadequate preparation, and unrealistic expectations about what psilocybin can accomplish without ongoing personal effort.

Psilocybin has several unique characteristics that make it particularly well-suited for therapeutic work. Though both psilocybin and LSD are serotonergic psychedelics, psilocybin has a shorter duration (4-6 hours) compared to LSD (8-12 hours), making it more manageable for therapeutic sessions. Additionally, LSD tends to have a more stimulating effect that can be less useful for therapeutic reflection and more suited to creativity. Several providers in our industry have noted that psilocybin seems to have a strong affinity for trauma processing work, whereas others do not as much.

Ayahuasca is a very bitter plant that often involves intense physical purging of both vomiting and diarrhea. Ceremonial traditions equate this to cleansing, but from a medical standpoint it is a symptom of toxicity and highly dose-dependent. Ayahuasca can also be dangerous when combined with certain medications, making it riskier to take, in particular in international settings without regulations that require proper screening.

Psilocybin is far gentler physically while still providing profound psychological insights. Psilocybin is also far easier and more accurate to dose, and it has the most robust clinical research supporting its therapeutic applications for mental health conditions. Oregon chose psilocybin specifically because of its safety profile, research backing, and suitability for regulated use.

No, Oregon has no residency requirement. Adults 21+ from anywhere in the world can access Oregon's legal psilocybin therapy program. Many clients travel from other states and countries for treatment. Most people need 3-4 days in Portland including travel days - arriving the day before their session and leaving 1-2 days afterward.

You must be at least 21 years old - this is a strict legal requirement with no exceptions. There's no upper age limit, though older adults may require additional medical screening to ensure cardiovascular safety and review potential medication interactions. We've successfully worked with clients ranging from 21 to 78 years old.

No referral, medical diagnosis, or prescription is required. You can directly contact licensed facilitators to begin the screening process. You don't need to be in traditional therapy, though many clients find it complementary to their psilocybin work. Oregon's program is available for any intention you feel would be helpful - from addressing specific mental health challenges to general wellness and personal development.

Good candidates include people with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, prior trauma & adverse life events, or substance use challenges, as well as individuals seeking personal growth, spiritual exploration, or life transitions support. The most important factors are emotional readiness, realistic expectations, current life stability, and commitment to the full process including integration work. Adults who can engage with their inner world, display traits of honesty and courage, and are willing to surrender to the experience tend to have the best outcomes.

Beyond the safety contraindications outlined elsewhere on this site, poor candidates include people who don't take the therapeutic process seriously or aren't committed to preparation and integration work. Those expecting psilocybin to be a miracle cure that fixes every area of their life or achieves "perfection" often experience disappointment. Similarly, individuals chasing ego experiences, bragging rights about high doses, or treating it as entertainment rather than therapy rarely achieve meaningful results.

People who are completely disconnected from their emotional world and resist self-reflection tend to struggle with psilocybin's introspective nature. Those who've never engaged in any inner work, therapy, or self-examination may find the experience overwhelming or unproductive. Additionally, individuals who believe their facilitator is responsible for fixing or healing them, rather than understanding their own active role in the process, often have poor outcomes. Psilocybin therapy requires willingness to be vulnerable, face difficult emotions, and take personal responsibility for growth and change.

No, taking SSRI or SNRI antidepressants does not disqualify you from psilocybin therapy. It is estimated at least least 50% of Oregon's clients are on these medications and most have excellent results. You may need a higher psilocybin dose (typically 1.3x to 2x normal amount) to achieve therapeutic effects, but this is easily manageable. Your facilitator will review your specific medications and recommend an adjusted psilocybin dose accordingly.

We encourage clients not to approach booking a psilocybin therapy session like they would a massage, with little thought given to preparation or readiness. Most clients book about 3 to 5 weeks out. Low-risk clients can be accommodated within 1 week if absolutely necessary, and clients are also welcome to book out as far as six months if they have specific life or work situations to plan around (or are traveling with better weather etc). Be aware that preparation with a facilitator generally needs to happen within 90 days to ensure information discussed remains fresh and relevant. Clients are still welcome to place deposits for administration session dates further out.

It is important to recognize that you do not need to be in Portland for the duration of an entire program including preparation and integration. Those are typically handled virtually via video conferencing. Usually, clients will arrive in Oregon the day before their administration session, allowing for time to settle in and have a nice dinner. Then they will leave either late afternoon the next day, or sometime the 2nd day after their administration session. For example, flying Thursday and Sunday for a Friday administration session.

Though it is technically feasible to return to work the day after a session, we recommend taking 1-2 days for rest, relaxation, reflection and self-care. Avoid stress and heavy to-do lists during this time! Be aware the full neuro-plastic window is about 3 weeks. This is the amount of time it takes the brain to re-organize itself after a positively disruptive psilocybin session.

There is no waiting list - most Oregon psilocybin therapy providers are taking new clients and in fact up to 98% of a provider's client base are new clients, simply because psilocybin therapy works so well. It is not the same as talk therapy where a therapist may have an ongoing 'client base'. Our industry relies on new clients, which is a good thing. Even in severe cases, it is rare for a client to need more than three sessions.

Psilocybin therapy sometimes has a perception of being 'expensive' for a few different reasons, but when taken into consideration hours involved and outcomes from a single session, it is actually less expensive than many other options.

Some people compare professional psilocybin therapy to simply growing mushrooms or buying them from illegal sources. It is true that mushrooms themselves are not expensive. However, the cost of psilocybin therapy is almost entirely an investment in professional services, not for mushroom product. It is the cost of professional time and skill, licensing, compliance, safety protocols, physical space to conduct the journey, support staff, etc. Thus comparing the service of psilocybin therapy to buying mushrooms and hosting a DIY journey at home is really comparing apples to oranges. Many 'underground' facilitators charge comparable rates to legal, licensed facilitators - this is a service charge, not a product charge.

One reason it can be viewed as costly is due to the different service structure. Unlike talk therapy, psilocybin therapy must be paid as a bundle of hours, given its nature. In terms of cost, a psilocybin therapy program is roughly equivalent to pre-paying for a bundle of 10 to 12, one-hour therapy appointments with a licensed counselor. In terms of cost effectiveness, however, the majority of psilocybin therapy clients make statements such as 'I feel like one afternoon was equivalent to five years of talk therapy'. Psilocybin therapy is highly effective with proper commitment and participation by clients.

Not all providers in Oregon accept monthly payment plans, but some do, including Fractal Health. Some providers also offer sliding scale limited discounts for low-income individuals. Please inquire with your preferred provider for their financial and payment policies. HSA and FSA funds are typically accepted for these services as well.