How To Choose The Right Psychedelic Retreat

Going on a psychedelic retreat can be an excellent way to experience psychedelics for newcomers and experienced explorers alike. Good retreats provide support from experienced staff, a structured environment, and built-in preparation and integration. These factors all help to set the stage for a meaningful and transformative experience.

However, not all retreats are created equal. Some have questionable practices, inexperienced facilitators, or lack key safety features. These can all have a negative impact on your experience and its outcomes. So if you are looking to go on a psychedelic retreat, it is important to choose wisely.

But how to choose a psychedelic retreat? What makes a good one? And what should you be looking out for? 

A crucial first step when considering psychedelic retreat options is clarifying your intentions. 

Different retreats will have also different approaches, philosophies and facilitators which will cater to different intentions. Some will be focused on the spiritual side of things. Others may be more focused on therapeutic outcomes. Others may incorporate a shamanic approach. Many will not be exclusive to one and may have a mix. 

What makes a retreat suitable may depend on your personal preferences, desires, and needs.

Before beginning your search for a psychedelic retreat, it will be useful to reflect on your personal reasons for wanting to attend one.

Whatever your intentions, it would be wise to align your choice of retreat with your personal reasons and preferences. These will help you to choose a retreat that is good for you.

Once you have a clearer idea of your intentions and preferences you can start to look at the other factors that make up a retreat. These will include the length of the retreat, group size, cost, ratio of facilitators to retreat participants, number of ceremonies or sessions, the geographical location, the doses and how they are determined, the psychedelic substance used, the setting and music.

The quality, expertise and experience of facilitators and the retreat team play a huge role in what makes up a psychedelic retreat. You want to take into account their credentials and experience, approach and philosophy, and how comfortable you feel with them.

Credentials and Experience

Depending on your intentions, you may wish to attend a retreat led by individuals with formal training in relevant fields such as psychology, psychotherapy, or traditional shamanic practices.

Facilitators should have experience not only with psychedelics but also in guiding others through transformative experiences.

Questions for Consideration

• What are the facilitators' backgrounds and qualifications?
• How many years of experience do they have in facilitating experiences and/or running psychedelic retreats?
• Do they have formal training or certifications in therapy, counselling, or psychedelic facilitation?

Facilitator Philosophy and Approach

Some may adopt a more clinical, therapeutic approach whilst others will emphasise spiritual growth and shamanic traditions.

Take time to read about the retreat's methodologies and see if they resonate with you. A good retreat will have facilitators who are skilled, transparent about their methods, and willing to discuss their approach in detail.

Questions for Consideration

• What is the underlying philosophy or approach?
• Do they focus on therapy, spirituality, personal growth, or a combination of these?
• How do they integrate different traditions and practices into the retreat experience?

Comfort and Connection With Facilitators

With this in mind, it is important to look beyond someone's credentials and experience. It is all very well if facilitators are technically highly qualified, but if you do not feel comfortable with them, have no rapport, or just feel uneasy for whatever reason, it is unlikely to be a good fit.

It is crucial that you feel safe and comfortable as this will help you to relax and open into the experience. If that is not the case, then it is probably wise to look elsewhere.

My experience was different. Although none of his behaviour was physically dangerous, the way he handled the group was not the most supportive or beneficial. He came across as brash, insensitive, and impatient. Personally, I would have benefited from a more gentle approach. I had inclinations about his character from our email exchanges before the retreat, but against my better judgement, I dismissed it and thought he must be good since he had so much experience. For me this was a lesson in looking beyond someone’s credentials, and looking at their character and how I feel around them.

In retrospect, I could have had a better sense of how I felt about him if I had requested a call beforehand. That would have helped me to make a more informed choice and in this case, find a more suitable retreat.

Speaking with Staff or Facilitators Beforehand

The call will give you a chance to get to know them and ask any questions you may have. You can enquire about things like their approach, how they handle certain situations, safety protocols, and their experience.

Another thing to look out for is the ratio of facilitators to retreat participants. Generally speaking, a higher number means a higher level of support and I would be cautious of a retreat offering high doses with less than one for every four participants. 

That said, more facilitators does not necessarily equal a better retreat. Other factors may have been taken into account, such as the background of the participants and anticipated level of support needed. If the ratio seems low, I would enquire about their approach and ask whether they have encountered any issues with this ratio. Overall, you will want to strike a balance between sufficient support and a group that feels too big or a room that feels overcrowded.

A measure of a reputable retreat is their safety and support measures. A retreat doing their due diligence will have a screening process as part of their intake for safety and some type of follow up or support option for integration.

Safety Through Screening and Intake

Integration Support

The level of post-retreat support will vary. Some will offer follow-ups, check-ins, and coaching sessions over a time span of months, whilst others may offer a single call. Whilst some follow-up is important, there may be various reasons for the level of support offered. For example, some retreats may only take on people who are relatively healthy and will likely require less support. In this case, limiting the level of post-retreat support will help them keep the costs down and make a retreat package more affordable.

However, all good retreats will offer some kind of follow-up to check in with participants. This is important to check up on participants in case of any adverse effects, and a single call a week or two afterwards may be sufficient.

Checking reviews and testimonials from previous participants can be a useful way to gauge a retreat’s reputation. If you can find reviews on independent websites and directories, these can be informative.

It can also be useful to engage in online forums, discussion boards and communities to ask about various retreats or speak with people who have had experience with them. This might bring some recommendations and can help to bring additional information to help inform your decision.

Now you have an idea of what to look for when choosing your retreat, I would like to finish by summarising important red and green flags to keep an eye out for.

Red Flags

Lack of Transparency

Unqualified Facilitators or Reports of Misconduct

Hyping the Benefits and Questionable Sales Tactics

Poor Safety Protocols

Green Flags 

Transparency and Communication

Clear communication and detailed information from organisers help create a successful retreat. They help set expectations, address concerns, and empower participants. Information included should include an overview of the retreat's purpose, schedule, activities, and logistics. Clear channels for ongoing dialogue are also a good sign, as they enable attendees to voice needs and address issues.

Qualified and Compassionate Staff

Integration Support

A well-chosen psychedelic retreat can offer deep insights, positive transformation, and lasting benefits.

Choosing the right retreat for you is a personal choice and a key step in maximising your potential for a safe, transformative, and meaningful experience. By considering the various factors touched upon here—your intentions, the type of retreat, the facilitators, safety protocols, and participant feedback—you can make an informed decision that aligns with your personal goals and values.

Keep an eye out for those red and green flags, do your due diligence in research, and choose wisely.

Safe travels on your journey to healing and transformation.

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