Psychedelic Guide & Facilitator Green Flags
What good stuff looks like.
Last month, I put together a list of psychedelic guide and facilitator red flags, largely sourced from our community of drug users, psychedelic workers, and friends. But amongst all the negative talk of bad actors and pseudo-shamans to watch out for, I thought there was some space for more positive talk, especially for newcomers. Sure, it’s extremely helpful to have a list of things to avoid. But it can also be helpful to have a list of things to look for, especially if you don’t exactly know what that is.
So I turned to LinkedIn again and asked for psychedelic guide and facilitator green flags, things that seekers should want to see with and from the person who is going to guide them on their consciousness-expanding journey. In addition, and just like the last piece, I added some of my own green flags and some popular ones from around the internet to help you make an informed and educated decision on the person you’re about to trust with not only possibly your money, but your mind.
Now remember: Someone can show off almost all of these green flags and still be dangerous. You also may not be looking for some of these green flags, and may not identify with all of them. It’s important to use your best personal judgement when looking for someone to work with. This list of green flags is just a guide.
Psychedelic Guide & Facilitator Green Flags
Having a set Code of Ethics or something similar they operate by and within. A guide should have rules, or at least a defined set of guiding principles or beliefs.
Having actually done their own deep work with psychedelics and who has extensive, real-life experience with the substances they’re working with. Not just big intense trips or group retreats, but intense, powerful one-on-one medicine sessions with a guide, exactly the type of service that they are offering themselves.
Lack of ego around the experience — A guide is there for YOU and your journey, not to project their own expertise, stories, or opinjons.
Has some formal training in therapy in some way, shape, or form. While not necessary and certainly not the mark of a safe or ethical guide, any type of traditional therapy training can be seen as a bonus and an added qualification by some people, although, again, this is up to the individual seeker.
Following on training, even if it’s not important to you that they have some formal certificate, it’s important in any case to know about their training in any capacity — is this someone who went to one retreat and now feels “called” to serve ayahuasca? Or is this someone who has committed to the medicine path and has lineage and somewhere to be held accountable to? Have they spent many years learning about the drugs and their workings? Do they have a teacher they worked with? Have they lived in the Amazon or have they studied under a healer? Can they name their mentors?
Someone who doesn't seek out the title of guide, facilitator, or teacher, but is appointed, asked to do so, or naturally finds themselves in that position. I am reminded of this quote from the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast — if you have to call yourself a shaman, you probably aren’t one.
Feminist and queer-friendly, with an understanding of intersectionality, different races and cultures and forms of existence and lived experiences. Writer Daphne Gordon puts it best: “When you consciously do things to make a psychedelic experience safe for women and queer people, you are actually making it safer for everyone to express themselves more authentically.”
Someone who is willing to come to you. Personally, for me, this is huge — I really enjoy the comfort of my own home and am much more attracted to a guide who can come over. That said, please don’t let this be the only thing you look for — even the most problematic guide could be willing to travel, so this really isn’t a be all, end all.
If the person doesn’t come to you, they should prove their commitment and devotion to the work by having a dedicated space to work or practice in — you don’t want to show up to somebody’s house for your psychedelic session and be relegated to a dusty old corner in their garage. That doesn’t exactly scream “care” or “effort.
The guide is patient and willing to answer all the questions that you have and carefully address your worries and concerns, and, most importantly, doesn’t belittle or speak condescendingly to you.
Transparency. Similarly to the above, your guide should be able and willing to answer as many of your questions as possible, including questions around sourcing of the medicine, dosage, and so on.
Goes over expectations and boundaries before the experience. This is especially important when it comes to issues of touching and consent. When you’re in a state of psychedelic journeying, you cannot consent to things, so it’s important to discuss these things with your guide ahead of time. They should clearly know and agree when they can/can’t touch you, where, what type of interaction is appropriate and needed
Does not create grand expectations around the experience, and, in that same vein, does not guarantee outcomes, “transformations,” or “miracles.” They are realistic about what could happen, and go over all risks and potential dangers with you, leaving the power in your court to make an informed decision about moving forward with the medicine.
They understand that they are part of your healing journey, and are not there to magically “fix” you.
Does a thorough intake screening before even agreeing to work with you, covering your past medical history, family history, your reasons for the journey, and so on. Piggybacking on this, they also have sessions with you before psychedelics are taken.
Even before you have the trip, they guide you through a preparation process and help you get ready for what is about to happen.
Has an integration offering, plan, and procedure, even if that means referring you to someone else for integration.
Has word-of-mouth recommendations. Like in our last article on red flags, this one is a bit tricky — many guides work in the underground, and so you may not be able to find a lot of website information about them or people willing to talk about them. However, if you find a friend who suggests someone, this might be helpful along your journey.
They respect and revere the plant or medicine.
The way they advertise and the way they share information is culturally sensitive and aware.
The vibe is right. You feel safe, comfortable, and seen with them. Intuition is key in these types of things — somebody might cross off all the realistic and “proper” boxes, but if the vibe is wrong, they’re not for you. Learn to identify and follow your gut feelings.
Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments.
Further Reading
Sofie Mikhaylova is a psychedelics, pop culture, and travel writer, among other things. Her writing has appeared in Vice, leafie, Psychedelic Spotlight, The Washington Post, Fodor's Travel, Double Dot Magazine, and more. Find her on Instagram, her newsletter Sofieland, her podcast Sofieland, and her website.