An average of 1 in 5 adult Americans have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, ranging from postpartum depression to anxiety disorders like OCD (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023).
Psychedelics are undoubtedly one of the most promising therapeutic treatment methods revealed in modern scientific research, spanning even into physical health benefits like cardiovascular wellness. Maybe you aren’t interested in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. Maybe you are just curious about releasing existential fears or discovering deeper aspects of the self.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy offers not only a safe container for mind-altering medicines to work their magic, but also provides tools and support for an optimized experience.
What price tag would you put on a chance to be healthy and to feel clear, grounded, and excited to be alive? If you want to learn about pricing for psychedelic therapy to compare it with other avenues like psychedelic retreats and ketamine infusions, you are in the right place.
How Much Does Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Cost?
Though we do not offer “therapy”, our network of pre-vetted, local facilitators do offer guidance through all stages of a therapeutic psychedelic experience. While we offer more in depth information about cost under the programs & pricing section of our “about” tab, we wanted to note that income-related pricing tiers are a part of our model.
Aside from the pricing tiers available—which range from $1.5k to $4k—some facilitators in our network may provide financial assistance to qualifying applicants. Our pricing not only includes harm-reduction and in-person guidance during your actual journey, but also comprehensive support for pre-trip preparation and post-trip integration.
Journeyers are able to connect and choose from multiple facilitators in their local area, although facilitators can also travel to different states, if necessary. A large upside to this is that you are able to choose where you’d like to journey, from the comfort of your own home or in the ceremony space of a host facilitator.
We are one of the few available services for safe psychedelic journeys in the U.S., however, a couple states are beginning to introduce state-run programs thanks to Oregon’s Measure 109 and Colorado’s Proposition 122.
The Average Cost of International Psychedelic Retreats
Psychedelic retreats average between $2,000 and $7,000, but be sure to check on what accommodations are included in the advertised flat price. Sometimes an all-inclusive option is available, but most retreats require separate booking for flights and travel expenses or even lodging and food.
Be sure to consider not just the location, but also which psychoactive medicine will be served during your ceremony. You don’t want to get stuck taking a less desirable substance if you really were drawn to one in particular.
Later in this article, we cover key considerations and differences between these three psychedelic treatment options, so be sure to keep reading if you are struggling to decide on the right setting.
The Price of Ketamine Therapy Infusions
Ketamine-assisted therapy varies depending on which clinic you go to, how many sessions are needed, and the dosage needed—whether a higher dose for pain or a lower dose for depression.
Ketamine infusions typically cost between $400 and $800 per treatment session, ranging from 4 to 6 sessions. It is important to note that many of our clients express that their ketamine treatments failed to have lasting effects.
Even though ketamine is approved for off-label use, we want to make sure readers are informed that ketamine treatment can require additional, potentially life-long maintenance sessions. Certain psychedelics like magic mushrooms, on the other hand, are known for their deeply transformative impacts after a single dose.
While our goal is not to dissuade you from using the tool of ketamine therapy, we simply want to make sure you are informed of the pitfalls of the ketamine industry and make a decision that accomplishes your unique goals.
Key Differences: Ketamine, Psychedelic Therapy, International Retreats
In a past article, we discussed which is better—psychedelic retreats or psychedelic therapy—but we wanted to summarize some of those points here to highlight important considerations that are unique from pricing.
Journeying Solo or With a Group
Do you prefer to journey solo or in a group? This question may elicit a direct answer, because most journeyers know quickly which option most appeals to them. In international retreats, for instance, ceremonies typically occur in group settings, and while this may seem unappealing to a lot of people, there are certain benefits to the group model.
One 2021 study conducted on retreat goers at a psychedelic international retreat found that a feeling of community with peers and the ceremonial facilitator was associated with positive outcomes for the psychedelic trip (Kettner et al.).
While it may be hard to predict if positive rapport will be established, having a community of other journeyers may offer an additional feeling of support. If you are hoping to truly go inward with few distractions and triggers, retreats may be a more risky option, given that the actions of others can alter or impact your experience and outcome.
Psychedelic therapy and ketamine therapy, on the other hand, offer a more insular, individual experience in which external stimuli can be more easily mitigated. Obviously there are exceptions. Retreats that offer individual journeys with a guide do exist (although these likely cost extra dough), and, rarely, ketamine is offered in clinical group settings.
Curate Your Desired Setting
Do you want to decide what music you will listen to and where you will trip? If so, facilitated journeys and psychedelic-assisted therapy may be the better option. Journeyers at psychedelic retreats rarely have control over what music will set the tone, and are many times led by Icaros or ceremonial, indigenous singing.
Overall, when it comes to setting, consider if you want a ceremonial, cultural atmosphere, a clinical feel, or to be close to or at home for the medicine.
Choose Your Level of Support
Group settings such as during retreats typically involve one or two facilitators which reside over the whole group. Individualized attention, such as during therapy, is inaccessible.
If you need individualized care, consider taking a solo journey with a professional psychedelic facilitator, because that is going to give you the most one-on-one support. An additional consideration for support is preparation and integration and whether those services are provided in conjunction with the in-journey assistance.
Choose Your Substance
When it comes to deciding which substance for a psychedelic journey is best for you, ketamine therapy obviously narrows down your choices when choosing that route. “Special K” is a dissociative and will provide quite a different adventure to other more classical entheogens, like psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, or LSD.
While retreats do offer a wider variety than do ketamine infusions, it may be difficult to find an affordable retreat in a desirable location with access to your preferred substance. Facilitator-assisted psychedelic journeys present the greatest potential for choosing exactly the right substance.
Is The Cost of Psychedelic Therapy Worth It?
The Big Question—is it worth it? It’s actually a small question but with big implications. Will the price of psychedelic therapy really be worthy of the value it provides? Here are a few things to consider:
Make sure that included in the price are associated supportive services around preparation, intention setting, anxiety management, integration tools, and access to a guide during the time surrounding the journey, not just during the journey itself.
Ask yourself how you can get optimized benefits for the cost. Are you looking for direct and lasting results or would you rather meld the journey into a vacation? Either is ok, but getting clear on what you actually need is important.
Be sure to do adequate research on how to choose the right facilitator, considering carefully what you value most—whether it be qualifications, social rapport, history of personal use, etc.
Understanding the role that guides play during a psychedelic experience can help you better understand your highest values and priorities for choosing the best facilitator for your journey.
Notice the facilitator’s individual approach to crisis management, harm-reduction, and positive optimization tools. This is especially crucial for journeyers who struggle with mental health issues or need additional support.
Does the facilitator in question have unique skills which can help manage a crisis, move you toward calmness and ease, and encourage you to surrender to the experience?
Lastly, if you are considering a ketamine clinic or state-run program in Oregon or Colorado, be sure to ask adequate questions and never assume that the fact that it’s regulated means that it is high quality service.
Overall, the best way to know if it will be worth it is to take a look at (the auspicious) scientific research, testimonials, and tap in to if you feel called to psychedelic medicine and what context feels the most aligned for your journey.
Explore How It Feels To Be Connected
To recap, we (Psychedelic Passage) connect psychedelic seekers with our network of pre-vetted, professional facilitators who can guide your journey and share supportive tools for preparation, integration, and harm-reduction.
If you’re ready to dive into a facilitated psychedelic journey, we encourage you to book a consultation with our concierges and begin the process today.
We provide tips for microdosing as well as support and information on all things psychedelics! For more articles, check out our resources page which is full of medical research, tips and how-tos. As always—have a safe journey friends!
