Only 30 minutes northwest of Denver, Boulder is nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains and makes a beautiful getaway for the whole family. With a perfect balance of urban and outdoor activities, Boulder holds something for everyone.
From winter to summer, there’s always something to do in this city. With two major ski resorts and miles of hiking trails for all skill levels, you’ll find an endless array of outdoor activities for both your recreational hiker and your serious outdoorsman.
If outdoor activities are not your speed, Boulder still has plenty to offer. With its historic Pearl Street, the city offers a stellar food scene, a handful of breweries, and a bustling historic downtown. Boulder has something for everyone, even those looking for a spiritual retreat.
With the passing of Colorado’s Proposition 122, which legalizes psychedelic mushrooms throughout the state, Boulder, Colorado is sure to draw in even more tourists. Who wouldn’t want to take a psychedelic journey in some of the most stunning natural scenes our country has to offer?
From snow-peaked mountains to endless hiking opportunities, this will surely be top of the list for any outdoorsy psychonaut. Plus, with Proposition 122, licensed facilities and facilitators can source the psychedelic medicine for you, making it that much easier to embark on your journey.
A word of caution. Despite all the well-founded buzz about psychedelics treating depression, anxiety, and PTSD, no one should take up a journey of this size without careful consideration. It is essential to rest on the gravity of the journey you are about to take.
Before you begin working with a therapist or guide, explore if psychedelics are right for you? Psychedelics are extremely powerful tools and may not be suitable for those with a history of particular mental health challenges.
So, where is a good place to start? There is a lot of great information out there, but our list of service areas may be particularly useful in getting connected with our pre-vetted network of psychedelic facilitators.
When looking into psychedelic therapy, you might notice that several titles are used across different sites: Therapist, guide, and facilitator. What’s the difference, and do you really need them to embark on a psychedelic journey?
What Qualifies a Psychedelic Therapist?
Though we have a great article discussing the qualities you should look for in a psychedelic therapist, it’s important that we briefly touch on a few. But first, let’s take a moment to clarify the difference between a psychedelic therapist, a facilitator, or a guide.
Therapist. Guide. Facilitator. There are a lot of titles that seem to be interchangeable, from the outside. It is no wonder that many may feel overwhelmed while navigating the psychedelic therapy process. Let’s take a moment and pick these apart.
Let’s start with a psychedelic therapist. What sets them apart from a guide or a facilitator is that they are licensed mental health professionals. A psychedelic therapist will likely be a psychologist, counselor, or therapist who specializes in a traditional talk therapy model.
The terms ‘facilitator’ and ‘guide’ are virtually interchangeable. They should both offer preparation, integration, and in-person ceremonial support. They don’t always hold a mental health license, but their extensive experience using psychedelics and facilitating journeys, makes them more highly qualified than many novice psychedelic therapists.
When you are entering into a therapeutic relationship, it is vital for you to feel safe and comfortable with your chosen service provider. Here are a few things to consider:
- Find out what the therapy sessions will entail.
- Get a feel for the therapist/facilitator and their views on healing. Make sure they align with your intentions and goals for the session.
- Psychedelics have a way of bringing repressed emotions to the surface. Thus, you must feel comfortable with them and in the chosen environment for your session. Is this someone you can trust to open up to?
This is the beginning of a very intimate relationship between you and the psychedelic medicine. Remember, you can always move on to another psychedelic facilitator. Even if there is nothing inherently wrong with the therapist or guide, you should always feel free to explore your other options. Sometimes we just don’t click with someone, which is entirely okay.
What is The Role of a Psychedelic Guide?
The term psychedelic ‘guide’ is a bit of a misnomer and almost counterintuitive. It often gives the impression that a guide will intentionally steer and set the trajectory of your psychedelic experience, and this is not the case at all.
So what is the point of a psychedelic guide if they don’t lead your journey? What purpose do they serve? A qualified guide will allow you the autonomy to walk your own path. Only if you are under severe distress or in physical danger should the facilitator interject or manipulate your journey
The guide or facilitator’s primary duty during your psychedelic journey is to help keep you in the present. It is often the case that deep-seated traumas or repressed fears flood in during a psychedelic ceremony.
This can be scary, but know that it’s common for someone to have some anxieties arise. Psychedelics have a way of bringing things to the surface. Suffering and challenge is the earmark of true change.
Although they will be there for support and guidance, it is of utmost importance that they allow you the autonomy to control your journey, letting you lead the session. After all, this is your journey through healing.
You will work closely with your psychedelic guide during your psychedelic-assisted therapy sessions. Usually, a therapist or facilitator wouldn’t not be able to provide the psychedelic drug, but luckily in Colorado, this is not the case.
The service provider is now able to source and share psychedelic mushrooms due to Prop. 122. Once you have your psychedelics in hand, they will be there to guide you through preparation, the psychedelic experience, and they’ll help you with integration afterward.
Psychedelic therapy is a process of self-actualization, personal growth, and self-improvement. Not only will they be there to help ground you into your journey, but during integration, they will be instrumental in helping you apply the journey’s lessons into your everyday life.
Is it Really Necessary to Hire a Psychedelic Guide?
Is it a must to hire a psychedelic guide? In short, no, it’s not. Again, this is your personal experience and you should go about it in a way that makes you most comfortable. However, a psychedelic guide will contribute massively to your overall experience.
As we mentioned earlier, psychedelics have a way of uncovering repressed fears and traumas, and will sometimes even amplify them. Working with a guide may be even more advantageous if your goal is to work through issues such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD, as these carry heavy emotional baggage.
Without a guide present, it can be easy to get lost in negative thought loops without gaining anything further from your experience. Once you are stuck in this rut, getting out alone can be exceedingly difficult. A guide is there to ensure your safety and help you work through some of the difficult feelings that may arise. They will also be instrumental in helping you with the integration process.
In the days and weeks after the experience, the guide’s primary duty will be to help you discern and implement lessons from your experience. This is often done through a mix of discussion, meditation, and journaling.
Like all parts of the experience, the guide will draw on their knowledge, using everything they have learned throughout their own and others’ psychedelic travels to help personalize every aspect of your journey. It can be very difficult to mirror this level of expert support with peer tripsitters or family members.
Where To Find Legal Psychedelic Experiences Near Boulder, Colorado
Since the passage of Proposition 122, it’s been easier than ever to find a psychedelic guide that fits your needs. From ketamine clinics to guided psychedelic journeys with Psychedelic Passage, there is something for everyone.
1. Ketamine Clinics
Ketamine clinics specialize in treating PTSD, depression, and chronic pain using a dissociative anesthetic, ketamine. At first glance, this may sound quite extreme, but rest assured, this is done under the direct supervision of a medical professional.
There are two main advantages to this type of therapy. First, it is done within the current medicalized system that most westerners have grown up with, and for certain people, this is a comfortable way to dip their toes in the proverbial psychedelic pond.
Second, many clients say that their experience with ketamine allowed them to detach themselves from their issues. As we all know, we are often our own worst critics, and by putting some emotional distance between them and the matter, it allows for a more self-loving perspective.
The one major pitfall of ketamine therapy is that many report only experiencing temporary relief due to improper therapeutic support. If you are interested in learning more, we have an article on the pros and cons of ketamine therapy and one that can help you pick the right clinic for you.
2. Guided Psychedelic Experiences with Psychedelic Passage
At Psychedelic Passage, we allow you the freedom to direct your journey. Our guides and facilitators will never put you in a box—every experience is designed with you, the client, in mind. Our 5-week program is completely customized to each client and designed for transformation.
Our facilitators are located around the country, allowing us to facilitate your psychedelic experience from the comfort of your own home. We work with a wide range of psychedelics and know that this is a personal journey of self-realization and growth, thus we will meet you exactly where you are at.
Whether that is helping financially with our sliding payment scale, or by connecting you with the perfect pre-vetted facilitator. We give you access to our network of pre-vetted and experienced psychedelic facilitators to ensure you have the most authentic and tailored psychedelic experience possible.
Find Your Next Psychedelic Journey in Any Major Boulder Area
- Mapleton Hill
- Table Mesa
- Wonderland Hills
- Whittier
- Chautauqua
- Gunbarrel
- East Pearl
- North Iris
- Central Boulder
- South Boulder
Getting Started on Your Healing Journey
Navigating the world of psychedelics and psychedelic therapy can seem daunting. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone. If we’ve caught your interest and you’re looking for new ways to improve your life, we invite you to book a consultation and speak to one of our psychedelic concierges.
When used thoughtfully and with careful intention, psychedelics have proven time and time again to promote healing and personal growth. If you have a question that wasn’t answered in this article, take a moment to visit our resources page.
