Sitting in the High Eastern Sierra foothills, in the Truckee River valley, Reno is just about 22 miles north of Lake Tahoe. The city has gone through several boom and bust periods. During these periods, the local economy would grow massively, only to shrink a decade or two later.
The first of these rushes began when Gold was discovered in the vicinity of Virginia City in 1850, and a modest mining community developed, but it was the discovery of silver in 1859 that really kickstarted a period of immense growth.
During this time, thousands of immigrants left their homes, bound for the West, hoping to find a fortune. Although they still mine gold in Nevada, as it is still the third-largest gold producer in the world, after South Africa and Australia, this city, once known for mining, has transitioned into being known for its casino and tourism industry.
The real boom that would cement Reno as the “Biggest Little City” was when the state of Nevada legalized open gambling on March 19, 1931, which has served the city well as it is the main reason people are attracted to Reno to this day.
Although gambling may be the main draw, there are many reasons people would choose to to live in Reno. Whether the friendly tax structure or the proximity to Lake Tahoe, Reno has been billed as an adult playground.
One would think, or at least hope, that the laws surrounding psychedelics would reflect this free-spirited, guest-oriented culture The “Biggest Little City” is known for. Sadly at this time, this isn’t the case.
State law in Nevada lists psilocybin, the active ingredient in “Magic Mushrooms,” as a Schedule I controlled substance, but a change is afoot. Currently, a group called the Sierra Psychedelic Society is pushing for reforms.
With more and more places decriminalizing psychedelics and others looking towards legalization, it is only natural to be curious and ask yourself, “Where can I find psychedelic therapy near me?”.
In this article, we will answer that exact question and instill a good understanding of what psychedelic therapy is and some of the essential things to focus on to get the most out of your journey.
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy vs. Traditional Talk Therapy
Before you begin the journey of a lifetime and delve deep into yourself, it can be helpful to understand what psychedelic therapy is and what you can expect when you first start down the path of psychedelic healing.
To better understand psychedelic therapy, it is first helpful to understand traditional therapy, as some core methodologies remain the same. Approaches like talk therapy, journaling, and meditation will be almost identical. The major exception is the use of psychedelics to help shift your perspective.
During traditional psychotherapy, what most know as therapy, you will work with a trained mental health professional. Their main goal will be to help you work through any self-limiting thoughts and beliefs, overcome various problems, and give you tools and tricks to help you deal with the struggles of everyday life.
Although it may be uncomfortable or difficult initially, you and your mental health professional will spend a good chunk of time discussing challenging situations, especially those that could be the root of any maladaptive behaviors.
Despite psychedelic therapy and traditional therapy having the same end goals, the way those goals are reached is quite different. As you can imagine, Psychedelic-assisted therapy relies primarily on psychedelics to help aid with personal insight and to reach your therapeutic goals.
When embarking on your journey of psychedelic therapy and healing, the therapy will always happen in three basic stages. You will begin with preparation, then move to the actual psychedelic session/ ceremony. After the session/ceremony, you will work closely with your therapist or facilitator on integration.
During the preparation stage, you and your therapist will first ensure that psychedelic therapy is a viable option for you, as some medications and conditions could make the use of psychedelics risky, and set an intention for your journey.
The intention will set a goal to help you to stay focused. This intention will be based on what you ultimately want to achieve with your therapy. For example, if you are suffering from crippling anxiety, your intention might be similar too: “I want to be able to take a step back from my racing thoughts.”
On the day of your journey, you’ll ingest a psychedelic drug in the presence of your chosen professional. The goal is to explore the intention you set earlier mindfully. Often, psychedelics can allow you to gain a new perspective on fears, limiting beliefs, and any self-talk that is possibly holding you back.
Once you have your therapeutic session or ceremony, the therapist will spend time with you going through any issues and thoughts that came up during your experience. Usually, this will involve the facilitator or therapist asking you to journal, meditate, and reflect on the experience in the following weeks and days.
Your facilitator’s primary goal is to allow your journey to unfold naturally, letting you explore the dark corners of your mind. They are there to support you. A good therapist will never attempt to intervene unless your mental or physical safety is at risk.
Many people, both those new to psychedelics and veterans, will not realize that the facilitator or therapist can significantly influence the quality of your therapy. Because it plays an important role, we have a dedicated article discussing the qualities you should look for in a psychedelic therapist.
Finding the correct facilitator or therapist that offers a rigorous program of preparation and integration will ensure you get the most from the therapy.
The Role of Set and Setting in Psychedelic Therapy
One of the other significant differences you will notice from traditional therapy is the great importance that is placed on preparation. During the preparation process, you and your facilitator will go over a few things, but most importantly, they will ensure the Set and Setting are just right.
Both Set and Setting are essential because psychedelics open you up and connect you to your thoughts, bringing repressed fears and traumas to the surface. If not managed correctly, it can lead to a challenging experience.
Set refers to a few things, both your mindset and the process of setting an intention. It is vital for your facilitator to evaluate your current mental state because psychedelics are known to amplify thoughts and emotions.
If you are not in a stable enough mindset, say you went through something traumatizing recently, the risks of psychedelic therapy may outweigh the benefits. Many times though, once some time passes and you are not so reactive, you can then embark on your journey.
Once you and your facilitator have determined that your mindset is in the right place, the next step is to create a clear and concise goal you want to work towards. Usually, this entails looking over the challenges you have in your life and choosing what you’d like to work through.
The other half of preparation is Setting. This refers to the physical environment in which you’ll have your psychedelic experience. A good psychedelic facilitator will go to great lengths to make the setting as comfortable and inviting as possible.
Your facilitator will go to these great lengths to ease you into the experience and ensure everything is in order. This is all done to allow you to get the most from your experience.
Where To Find Legal Psychedelic Experiences in Reno 2023
Though psychedelics are illegal, a few options exist for those wanting to engage with psychedelic medicine in Reno. The two currently available are Ketamine clinics or guided psychedelic journeys with Psychedelic Passage.
1. Ketamine Clinics
While ketamine may not be considered a classical psychedelic, such as psilocybin, LSD, or DMT, it’s the only FDA-approved psychedelic-like drug readily available in the current medical climate.
The main benefit of ketamine is that it temporarily allows you to detach from your issues. Much like with classic psychedelics, this paradigm shift enables you to view issues from a different perspective. This is done in the hopes you gain new insight, leading to improvement of your symptoms.
Unfortunately, the benefits are often short-lived. Due to the fleeting nature of ketamine benefits you will usually require many repeat visits to maintain the benefits. Although ketamine is a great way to explore psychedelics, many who undergo treatment will eventually seek other forms of psychedelic therapy.
About 50% of Psychedelic Passage clients approach us after undergoing ketamine therapy elsewhere. To better understand, check out our article on the benefits and pitfalls of ketamine therapy and explore how you can find ketamine clinics in your local area.
2. Guided Psychedelic Experiences with Psychedelic Passage
At Psychedelic Passage, we put the power of healing into your hands. We’re here to help guide and support you through your journey and spread the message of psychedelic healing.
Everyone should be allowed to benefit from these medications. Because we are serious about allowing for easy access to psychedelics, we offer a sliding payment scale so that your income may determine costs.
Our facilitators can even travel to you, allowing your journey to unfold from the comfort of your home. Our program includes preparation, integration, and in-person ceremonial support.
Find Your Next Psychedelic Journey in Any Major Reno Area
- Sparks
- Sun Valley
- Truckee
- Carson City
- Fernley
- South Lake Tahoe
- Fallon
- Grass Valley
- Susanville
Explore How it Feels to be Connected
Psychedelics have been used for thousands of years for healing and insight, and we would like to give you the same opportunity. It has become blatantly apparent that psychedelic healing is on the cutting edge of mental health treatment. Just in time, too as we are facing a mental health crisis.
If you are interested or have questions, connect with one of our psychedelic concierges and book a consultation. They will get you pointed in the right direction and connected to our program, which is sure to be a life-changing experience for the better.
If you are still on the fence, check out our testimonials page to see how others have benefitted at the hands of our facilitators and guides. Have fun, enjoy the journey of self-discovery, and stay safe!
