Practitioners & Support Networks
One important and fairly common function that societies and psychedelic communities can serve is connecting members with experienced guides and practitioners. This is a critical function that comes with ethical and legal responsibilities. A society should consider the potential risks and liabilities when making recommendations or creating a referral system.
Ethical Considerations
If a member has a negative experience with a guide, how is the society implicated?
Everyone has different needs; recommending a guide should not be a one-size-fits-all approach. You should only consider implementing a referral system if you have a diverse selection of practitioners to refer to.
To mitigate risks, build a small vetted network of 2-3 trusted guides who have been reviewed by your society team.
Always provide multiple options and empower members to make their own decisions.
Building a Practitioner Network
Collaborate with local professionals: Some cities, like Baltimore, have therapist and guide collectives that meet regularly.
Encourage practitioners to attend your events and engage with the community before recommending them.
Start a Database: You don’t need a fancy website to get started… start with something simple like a Notion or Air Table database
Some organizations publicly connect members with guides, while others maintain behind-the-scenes referral networks.
Example: Psycle Clinic is one resource for finding reputable practitioners. Psychedelic Passage is another one for the US. The Flying Sage is another option for Canada.
Empowering Members to Choose Guides
Rather than directly recommending practitioners, societies can provide educational tools to help members make informed choices.
Share resources like How to Choose a Psychedelic Guide to guide members in asking the right questions.
By maintaining ethical referral practices and providing educational resources, psychedelic societies can support members in finding practitioners while minimizing liability.
Last updated
