Completely new to this
Start with vocabulary and honest expectations, then work out whether a session is safe for you.
Learn
Start here. No hype, no mysticism.
A short, ordered set of guides that takes you from “I know nothing” to being able to evaluate a provider and prepare well.
New here · 1 min
Psychedelics 101: the honest starting point
What these substances are, what they actually do, and the vocabulary you'll see everywhere else on this site.
Read the basics
Pick your path
Three short reading orders, depending on where you are right now.
Considering a session
Everything you need to evaluate a provider, prepare properly, and protect yourself.
After an experience
Make the insight stick, and understand what actually happened.
All guides
Basics 1 min
Psychedelics 101: the honest starting point
What these substances are, what they actually do, and the vocabulary you'll see everywhere else on this site.
Safety 1 min
Is this right for me? A screening primer
The health history, medications, and life circumstances that make psychedelic sessions unsafe or ill-timed.
Science 1 min
Psilocybin and the default mode network
What brain-imaging studies suggest about psilocybin and the default mode network, and why the mechanism remains unsettled.
Substances 1 min
MDMA-assisted therapy: research and legal status
MDMA is being studied as an aid to therapy for PTSD. The FDA declined to approve it in 2024, and it remains illegal under US federal law outside approved research.
Substances 1 min
Ibogaine: what it is, the risks, and the law
Ibogaine is a long-acting psychedelic from the iboga shrub, studied for opioid use disorder and traumatic brain injury. It carries real heart risks and is illegal under US federal law.
Guides 2 min
How to choose a facilitator
Credentials to verify, questions to ask, and the red flags that should end a consultation.
Substances 1 min
Ketamine treatment: what's approved and what isn't
Ketamine is legal to prescribe in the US. A nasal form, esketamine (Spravato), is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression; IV ketamine for depression is legal but off-label.
Substances 1 min
Ayahuasca and DMT: what to know
What ayahuasca and DMT are, what research shows, the risks, and where they stand legally in the US and abroad.
Practice 1 min
The art of integration
Practical ways to reflect on an experience and consider what, if anything, to carry into daily life.
Substances 2 min
5-MeO-DMT: what to know
What 5-MeO-DMT is, what early research shows, and its legal status in the US.
Safety 1 min
Set, setting, and safety basics
The foundations of harm reduction: mindset, environment, screening, and who should not participate.
Common questions
Can I legally take psilocybin in the United States?+
Oregon and Colorado have state-regulated access programs with different rules. Colorado also has limited state personal-use protections. Research participation depends on study authorization; it is not general permission to possess or use psilocybin. Federal restrictions still apply, and local deprioritization is not legalization. Check the current rules for your location.
Is a facilitator the same as a therapist?+
No. A licensed facilitator is trained and regulated to supervise a session safely. A therapist holds a clinical license to provide psychotherapy. Some people are both; most are not.
How much does a legal psilocybin session cost?+
Prices vary by provider, location and included services. See the provider-reported starting prices on our costs page, then confirm current pricing, preparation, supervision, integration and any financial assistance directly with the provider.
What if I have a bad experience?+
Difficult passages are common and usually resolve with support. Free peer support is available from the Fireside Project during and after an experience. If there is any medical emergency, call 911.