# 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](https://www.psycle.clinic/) is one resource for finding reputable practitioners. [Psychedelic Passage](https://www.psychedelicpassage.com/) is another one for the US. [The Flying Sage](https://www.theflyingsage.ca/) 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](https://psychedelicstoday.com/2018/07/12/find-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.