The Role of Set and Setting in Psychedelic Therapy
Taking psychedelics can be a transformative experience. The quality of those experiences depends on several factors, some of which occur long before you ingest the substance and begin your journey.
In psychedelic therapy, set and setting refer to the crucial groundwork laid before you ingest anything. It’s not optional; it’s what sets you up for a safe, illuminating trip. Let’s talk about set and setting’s role in psychedelics, take a look at what the science has to say, and explain how Beckley Retreats’ world-renowned programs use set and setting to make sure you have the most rewarding experience possible.
What Are Set and Setting?
Set and setting practices date back decades. Before the war on drugs in the United States hamstrung research into psychedelics, scholars like Timothy Leary conducted experiments that highlighted the immense importance of nailing set and setting.
- Set refers to mindset, character, intention, and expectation; it’s your headspace going into the experience and what you want to get out of it.
- Setting refers to the physical, social, and cultural environment you’re in during and after your trip.
In his work, Leary, a psychologist at Harvard University, characterized set and setting as a flight plan – an assortment of practices which help you chart your route, stay in touch with ground control while in the air, and land safely.
Why Timothy Leary’s Concept Still Matters Today
Leary was a controversial figure. In the 1960s, he conducted experiments in which DMT was administered to willing participants; a drug which had, at the time, a curdling and unpleasant reputation.
The “set-setting hypothesis,” Leary called it, helped participants enjoy better trips. “Set, setting, suggestibility, and temperament are filters for the ecstatic experience,” he noted.
Leary set a crucial precedent that clinicians and facilitators alike now regard as essential. “Creating positive set and setting conditions for drug experiences is one of the first actions which can be undertaken to reduce drug harms,” remarked researcher Ido Hartogsohn in 2017 in a scientific paper on the practice.
The Science: Why Context Shapes Your Experience
There’s no doubt set and setting are strongly influential on psychedelic experiences. When adhered to properly, set and setting protocols ensure safety and security while elevating the quality of the trip.
If neglected, you’re more likely to have a bad trip characterized by anxiety and paranoia, or walk away feeling like you didn’t accomplish much in the first place. This isn’t solely anecdotal, either – studies on set and setting have highlighted three key areas in which the protocol shapes the experience of using psychedelics:
- Trust-building and expectation management
- Navigating the experience itself
- The need for more comprehensive treatment
Researchers have also touched on how rapport between you and your facilitator – the person guiding you through the experience – can improve outcomes: “It is imperative to invest in building trust…involving patients in the therapeutic process can help improve therapeutic outcomes.”
All of which is standard operating procedure at Beckley. Our team of facilitators has decades of experience in guidance and stewardship during psychedelic experiences, following a framework that aligns with the scientific consensus.
Preparing Your Mind: What Good Set Looks Like
Let’s get specific. Set and setting dictate that your preparation for a psychedelic experience begin well before ingesting any drug or substance. Remember that set broadly refers to your mindset and perspective. Your aims in establishing proper set should include:
- Psychological compatibility screening with a facilitator
- Acknowledging your motivations for seeking psychedelic therapy
- Establishing both short and long-term goals
These may sound like fluff, but you mustn’t underestimate the power of having a congruent and directed mindset before using psychedelics. Problematic motivations, some research shows, are predictive of greater psychopathology. Put plainly, you’re more likely to experience adverse effects like anxiety or panic if you aren’t in the right headspace before embarking on a psychedelic experience.
Creating the Container: What Good Setting Looks Like
When using psychedelics, comfort is crucial. But this doesn’t necessarily mean setting up shop in your living room. An ideal setting for psychedelic therapy should be:
- Physically safe
- Predictable and familiar
- Low-stimuli
- Pleasant on a sensory level
Sure, the privacy of your own home ticks most of these boxes. However, you probably also have plenty of distractions – the siren song of dirty dishes in the kitchen sink, laundry begging to be folded and put away, or the periodically torturous thump, thump, thump of your upstairs neighbors.
That’s why the optimal setting for a psychedelic experience is serene, soothing, and private, away from the white noise of daily life. Beckley Retreats are just that; secluded in the California redwoods, our retreat settings are curated to limit distraction and help you attune to the experience.
How Set and Setting Differ Across Contexts
Set and setting isn’t a ruleset; it’s a conceptual framework meant to help you actualize your goals. As such, how you prepare for a psychedelic trip can and should be unique, suited to your individual context. What does this look like?
In a clinical setting, a subject taking psychedelics would undergo extensive medical examination in a tightly regulated environment to reduce unpredictability as much as possible. In this context, you’d also likely take a more active role in providing feedback about the effects you’re feeling.
For spiritual or ceremonial users, set and setting practices are often more opaque. Here, prior to ingestion, you’re likely to partake in rites or rituals, often in communal settings. Spirituality takes center stage here.
What to Look for in a Provider’s Approach
The best set and setting practices incorporate both ends of the spectrum. Blending clinical and conceptual preparation lies at the heart of Beckley Retreats’ set and setting protocol, which includes plenty of preventative screening as well as holistic guidance.
No matter who you’re trusting on your psychedelic journey, there are certain things to watch out for. A reliable, competent provider or facilitator should have:
- Legal and professional accreditation
- Extensive history in the field of psychedelic therapy
- A practical, evidence-based approach
- Transparency in policies, processes, and costs
As with any service, be wary of those who over-promise or offer tall tales of psychedelics being a one-stop shop for enlightenment. For those seeking legal, science-backed experiences with thoughtful attention to set and setting, upcoming psilocybin retreats in the Netherlands and Jamaica offer comprehensive support.
How Beckley Retreats Optimizes Set and Setting
Set and setting is the nucleus of Beckley’s operations, from the location of our retreats to the preparation processes that begin well prior to your arrival. Our world-class team of facilitators begin with compatibility screening and goal-setting sessions, both 1-on-1 and in group contexts to build rapport and help you settle in.
On the setting front, we capitalize on the gorgeous natural environment surrounding our retreats by limiting distractions and encouraging you to immerse yourself in nature as much as possible. Sessions maintain a relaxing ambiance, including pleasant music and aromas. Our facilitators shepherd you every step of the way, keeping you on track as you navigate your trip from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between set and setting?
In psychedelic therapy, set refers to your mindset and emotional state before taking any psychoactive substance, while setting describes your physical environment.
What is the importance of set and setting for psychedelics?
Set and setting provide a framework for ensuring your psychedelic experience is safe, stimulating, and rewarding. This is achieved by undergoing context-specific protocols like compatibility screening, an overview of your medical history, as well as goal setting and expectation management.
Do psychedelics permanently change your brain?
Not necessarily. However, some users report that the lingering changes from undergoing a psychedelic experience last for months at a time. Set and setting can influence the duration of these effects as well.
Sources
- Leary, T. (1966). “Programmed Communication During Experiences With DMT”. The Psychedelic Review. 1 (8): 83–95. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017.
- Hartogsohn I. Constructing drug effects: A history of set and setting. Drug Science, Policy and Law. 2017;3. doi:10.1177/2050324516683325
- Breeksema JJ, Niemeijer A, Krediet E, Karsten T, Kamphuis J, Vermetten E, van den Brink W, Schoevers R. Patient perspectives and experiences with psilocybin treatment for treatment-resistant depression: a qualitative study. Sci Rep. 2024 Feb 5;14(1):2929. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-53188-9. PMID: 38316896; PMCID: PMC10844281.
- Borkel LF, Rojas-Hernández J, Henríquez-Hernández LA, Santana Del Pino Á, Quintana-Hernández DJ. Set and setting predict psychopathology, wellbeing and meaningfulness of psychedelic experiences: a correlational study. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2024 Jan-Jun;17(2):165-176. doi: 10.1080/17512433.2023.2295997. Epub 2024 Jan 29. PMID: 38108102.
