1. Oregon and Colorado legalized psilocybin-assisted therapy
Oregon and Colorado haven’t legalized psilocybin-assisted therapy specifically. What has been approved is adult use in specific facilities. While no therapy component is included in state regulations, adults in Oregon and Colorado who participate in the adult use of lab-tested psilocybin in a controlled setting are encouraged to take advantage of the therapeutic opportunities that are available to them. Working with a trained psychedelic-assisted therapist to prepare for your psilocybin facilitated session and then again after to unpack the experience can add tremendous value to your psychedelic journey and to your overall mental well-being.
2. Psychedelic-assisted therapy is the same for all psychedelics
Not true at all! Psychedelic-assisted therapy engagement can vary depending on the specific psychedelic substance used. Different psychedelics have unique effects on the brain and can produce varying levels of intensity, duration, and subjective experiences.
Each therapeutic approach and setting can also vary based on the substance and an individual’s needs. Some psychedelics are more effective for treating certain mental health conditions than others, and the dosage and duration of the therapy also vary.
Read about psilocybin-assisted therapy or check out a recording of our recent information session on MDMA-assisted therapy.
3. A facilitator can deliver psychedelic therapy
A facilitator sits with a client during a medicine session (4-6 hours generally), offering no professional counselling or psychotherapy. A mental healthcare professional is trained to provide pre- and post-medicine psychotherapy, helping clients to understand their experience and to integrate it into their lives.
Facilitators are licensed personnel who can administer psilocybin in a controlled setting. Engaging a client in therapy during the medicine journey is prohibited according to the facilitator’s scope of practice. Psychotherapy does not occur during the facilitated experience of psilocybin, nor is it allowed. Rather than participating in therapy during the psychedelic experience, the therapeutic integration takes place afterward with a therapist outside of the facilitation service center.
This allows for psilocybin facilitation but no therapy component is offered. In order to provide this treatment in a therapy context, psilocybin must first be designated by the FDA as a legal therapy drug. As a result, the medicine journey is separate from the therapy. Read more: Psychedelic Facilitators vs Psychedelic Therapists4. State legalization means its federally accepted
State legalization is subject only to the individual state and not at a federal level. Legalization in one state does not imply legalization in other states. See our State Regulations for Psychedelics page for further details on local regulations.
5. Doctors can prescribe psilocybin
No, doctors can not prescribe psilocybin. Psilocybin can only be administered by a licensed facilitator in a licensed facility.
6. Any licensed therapists can provide psilocybin to clients
No, only a licensed facilitator can provide psilocybin. Facilitators are different from therapists.
7. It is legal to sell and purchase psilocybin to consume
Only licensed facilitators can administer psilocybin and it must be done so in a controlled setting, inside a licensed facility. Outside of this scope, it is illegal to sell and purchase psilocybin. With that said, it is legal to possess, share and use psychedelic mushrooms that contain psilocybin.
8. Therapists cannot provide psilocybin-assisted therapy without taking the facilitator training course
To provide a safe environment for the journey, facilitators must have training to become a licensed facilitator.
A facilitator is different than a therapist. Therapists do not need to take the facilitator training course but should have completed an advanced psychedelic-assisted therapy program to ensure they are prepared and supported to provide effective therapy. A therapist can practice psychedelic-assisted therapy pre- and post-medicine, but is not present for the facilitation.
9. Therapists have no roles to play in Oregon unless they have taken facilitator training
Therapists who wish to integrate Oregon’s legal psilocybin services into their practice without having to take an Oregon-approved psilocybin facilitation training program can take ATMA’s Advanced Psychedelic Training program for therapists.
10. You must live in Oregon to get psilocybin services or psilocybin-assisted therapy
You need to be in Oregon to do the experience, but you can receive the therapy part by a trained psychedelic therapist in your own state.
11. Therapists must practice in Oregon or Colorado to provide psilocybin-assisted therapy
Clients need to be in Oregon or Colorado to do the experience, but therapists may provide supporting psychedelic psychotherapy of preparation and integration for clients from wherever you practice.
