Your Safety Comes First

Safety Protocols

Psilocybin is a powerful substance that demands respect, preparation, and awareness. These protocols represent our best understanding of evidence-based harm reduction.

Set & Setting Screening Dosing During After Emergency
Hard Stops — Do Not Proceed If:

You have a personal or family history of psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar I disorder. You are currently taking MAOIs or lithium. You are pregnant or breastfeeding. You are under 21. Any of these conditions require medical consultation before any psilocybin use.

Set & Setting

The two most important variables in any psilocybin experience.

Mindset (Set)

  • Write a clear intention the night before. Keep it simple and genuine.
  • Avoid scheduling a session during periods of acute stress, grief, or major life upheaval.
  • If you are feeling resistant or anxious, that is information — consider postponing.
  • The medicine works with your actual mental state, not the one you wish you had.

Environment (Setting)

  • Choose a space you know well and feel completely safe in.
  • Clean and arrange it the day before. Cluttered spaces amplify discomfort.
  • Have blankets, water, light snacks, and a curated playlist ready.
  • Do not lock yourself in a space with no exit. Keep a phone accessible.
  • Block out 24 hours with no obligations. The afterglow period matters too.

Health Screening

Understanding your baseline before you go in.

Medication Interactions

  • MAOIs (hard stop): Severe risk of serotonin syndrome. Do not combine under any circumstances.
  • Lithium (hard stop): Risk of cardiac arrhythmia and seizures. Do not combine.
  • SSRIs/SNRIs: May significantly reduce effects. Discuss with prescribing physician before making any medication changes.
  • Stimulants: Increased cardiovascular load. Avoid combining.
  • Cannabis: Can significantly amplify and prolong effects, especially anxiety. Use with caution or avoid entirely.

Mental Health Considerations

  • Psychosis history (hard stop): Psilocybin can trigger or exacerbate psychotic episodes.
  • Bipolar disorder: Risk of triggering manic episodes. Medical consultation required.
  • PTSD: Can be therapeutic with proper support, but trauma may surface intensely. Experienced sitter essential.
  • Anxiety disorders: Start with a lower dose than you think you need. Preparation is everything.

Dosing Guidelines

Start lower than you think you need. You can always go deeper next time.

Microdose
0.05 – 0.3g
Sub-perceptual. Used for mood, focus, and creativity. No visual effects. Safe to maintain daily responsibilities.
Threshold/Mild
0.5 – 1.0g
Subtle perceptual shifts. Mood lift, gentle introspection. Good starting point for first-timers.
Moderate
1.0 – 2.0g
Clear psychedelic effects. Visual enhancement, emotional openness, deep introspection. Most therapeutic work happens here.
High/Strong
2.0 – 3.5g
Significant reality alteration. Requires experienced set, setting, and sitter. Not recommended for first or second experiences.
Heroic
3.5g+
Complete ego dissolution possible. Experienced users only with trusted sitter present. Prepare for the full spectrum.

Fast 4–6 hours before your session. An empty stomach leads to faster onset, more predictable effects, and significantly less nausea. Ginger tea can help during onset.

During the Experience

What to do when it gets difficult — and it may.

If You Feel Overwhelmed

  • Change your environment — move to a different room, go outside, lie down.
  • Change your music — a calm, structured playlist can anchor you significantly.
  • Use breathwork — 4-7-8 breathing or box breathing reduces acute anxiety.
  • "Surrender, don't resist" — fighting the experience amplifies distress. Trust the process.
  • Call Fireside Project if you need real-time support: 62-FIRESIDE (623-473-7433).

Physical Safety

  • Stay hydrated — sip water regularly, especially during peak effects.
  • Do not drive or operate any machinery under any circumstances.
  • Do not mix with alcohol — it increases confusion and reduces safety awareness.
  • If someone loses consciousness, has a seizure, or shows signs of cardiac distress — call 911 immediately.
  • Colorado has medical amnesty provisions — your safety matters more than legal concern.

Integration

The work after the experience determines how much of it you keep.

The Afterglow Window

The 24–72 hours after a significant experience carry heightened neuroplasticity and emotional openness. This is your highest-leverage window for installing new patterns.

  • Journal within 24 hours — capture images and feelings before they fade.
  • Sleep well, eat well, spend time in nature.
  • Reduce alcohol and cannabis during this window.

Difficult Integration Signs

Reach out to a professional if you experience any of the following after 1–2 weeks:

  • Prolonged depersonalisation or derealisation
  • Intrusive imagery or hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD)
  • Significant worsening of anxiety or baseline mood
  • Inability to return to normal daily functioning

Emergency Resources

Save these before your journey.

Fireside Project
62-FIRESIDE (623-473-7433)
Free psychedelic crisis support. Call or text during or after a difficult experience. Confidential.
988 Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
24/7 mental health crisis support. Available for any emergency.
SAMHSA Helpline
1-800-662-4357
Free, confidential treatment referral. 24/7, 365 days a year.
Emergency Services
911
For genuine physical emergencies: seizure, cardiac events, loss of consciousness.

Ready to Begin?

Our consultation assessment takes about 5 minutes and generates a personalised safety and dosing report.

Start Your Consultation