A Psilocybin Facilitator serves as a compassionate guide, trained to administer and facilitate therapeutic psilocybin experiences. Often referred to as “Psychedelic Assisted Therapy” or “Psilocybin Assisted Therapy (PAT) Facilitation,” this practice combines ancient wisdom, plant medicine, and research with modern therapeutic techniques.
A licensed or certified facilitator is equipped with the knowledge and skills to safely support participants through their psychedelic journey. Their role goes beyond administering the substance; they create a safe, supportive, trauma-informed environment that allows for profound personal and spiritual exploration to unfold, leading to lasting transformation.
For thousands of years, psilocybin has been considered a healing plant medicine, included in rituals and ceremonies in almost every ancient culture. For over half a century, research has highlighted the promise of psilocybin therapy in alleviating depression, including treatment-resistant depression, addiction, increasing a sense of well-being, improving mental and emotional health, befriending trauma, and finding a sense of purpose and belonging.
Despite this extensive body of research, psilocybin therapy is only now emerging as an available option for participants. At this time, it is only legally available in Oregon. This marks a significant step forward in making this transformative therapy accessible to those in need and serves as an inspiration for other states in various stages of implementing Psychedelic Assisted Therapy programs, such as Colorado, Massachusetts, Washington, and California. There is also potential for its “Schedule 1” status to change, which could make it available across the United States. This evolving legal landscape underscores the need for trained facilitators to ensure psilocybin therapy can be a safe, local option as soon as it becomes legally accessible.
With its growing recognition and acceptance, there is a great need for individuals who are trained to provide ethical, competent, and compassionate psilocybin therapy, honoring its profound potential to heal and transform.
What is Psilocybin Assisted Therapy?
Psilocybin Assisted Therapy involves working with a Licensed Psilocybin Facilitator to experience the healing benefits of psilocybin. The process begins with a consultation to determine if you are a good candidate and to ensure you feel safe and heard with your facilitator.
Once you choose your facilitator, you can expect three preparatory visits: an intake session and two preparation sessions. This is followed by the psilocybin experience itself and 1-2 integration sessions. The facilitator uses a non-directive approach that honors the inner healing wisdom of the participant and the plant medicine, creating an ideal setting for an inward experience.
Who Can Be a Facilitator?
Anyone 21 years or older with a high school diploma or equivalent can become a licensed psilocybin facilitator. Our training program welcomes students from diverse work and cultural backgrounds. Ultimately, this profession is for people who are interested in helping to improve the mental and emotional health of people and the planet.
How to Become a Licensed Psilocybin Facilitator
To become a licensed psilocybin facilitator, you need to complete specialized training, which includes a minimum of 120 hours of coursework plus a 40-hour practicum. Our psilocybin facilitator certification program covers core competencies and domains of Psilocybin Assisted Therapy through 10 modules.
Live training sessions (in-person and/or Zoom) allows for conversations and connecting with other students on this psychedelic pathway, creating a tightly woven community of support. We cover topics such as psilocybin’s effects, therapeutic techniques, legal frameworks, and safety protocols. You also gain hands-on experience through an opportunity to experience and observe supervised sessions with your fellow students.
Why Become a Licensed or Certified Psilocybin Facilitator?
Becoming a licensed or certified Psilocybin Facilitator offers numerous benefits:
- Meet Professional Standards: Achieving licensure or certification demonstrates that you have met rigorous standards of training and competence.
- Ensure Safety for Participants: Participants can trust that you have been thoroughly trained and adhere to professional guidelines, which is crucial in therapeutic settings.
- Support Personal and Spiritual Growth: Facilitating psilocybin experiences allows you to play a vital role in helping others tap into their inner healing intelligence and achieve lasting transformation.
- Contribute to a Growing Field: Psilocybin therapy is an emerging and evolving field with a strong foundation of research supporting its benefits.
- Expand Professional Opportunities: With psilocybin therapy on the verge of becoming a regulated profession in multiple states and potentially changing its “Schedule 1” status, becoming licensed or certified now positions you to take advantage of future opportunities.
- Honor Ancient Traditions: Psilocybin has been used in rituals and ceremonies by ancient cultures worldwide. As a facilitator, you help continue this tradition, integrating ancient wisdom with modern therapeutic practices.
What’s the Psilocybin Facilitator Salary?
Salary for a Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Guide can vary based on factors like location, experience, and demand. As this field is still emerging, specific salary data is limited. However, here are some general insights for Licensed Psilocybin Facilitators in Oregon:
- Entry-Level: Entry-level facilitators might expect to earn between $30,000 and $70,000 per year, depending on various factors.
- Experienced: More experienced guides, especially those with advanced training or credentials, might earn between $70,000 and $150,000 or more annually.
- Freelance/Private Practice: Those operating in private practice or offering freelance services earn more than those who work for service centers.
Job Outlook for Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
The job outlook for Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Guides is promising, given the growing interest, acceptance, and need for psychedelic therapies and adequately trained facilitators.
A study published in 2022 in the Economics of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies by the Boston Consulting Group estimated that “22,000-40,000 practitioners will be needed to treat 400,000 PTSD patients by 2031, expecting to treat 1 million patients annually by 2031.” This number necessitates 55,000-100,000 newly trained therapists over the next ten years.
Key factors influencing this outlook include:
- Regulatory Changes: States like Oregon have already legalized psilocybin therapy, with other states considering similar measures.
- Research and Clinical Trials: Ongoing research and positive outcomes from clinical trials continue to support the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics.
- Public Awareness and Acceptance: Increasing public awareness and acceptance of psychedelic therapy contribute to a growing client base.
- Integration into Mental Health Practices: As psychedelic therapies become more integrated into mainstream mental health practices, the need for trained guides and facilitators will rise.
Overall, the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy is on the cusp of significant growth, offering a promising career path for those interested in becoming guides or facilitators.
Conclusion
If you are interested in helping to improve the mental health of people and the planet, the field of psilocybin-assisted therapy offers exciting opportunities. To become a licensed psilocybin facilitator, you can sign up for our weekly live Q&A or apply for a place in our Psilocybin Facilitator Training Program.
