Are your clients asking about psychedelics? Here's some context.

Our application process includes a suitability screening. Our screening team carefully reviews each application. This is not a diagnostic tool. It is designed to identify  certain conditions that may make participation inadvisable. We also use the screening to ensure the retreat is the right fit for the participant's presentation and objectives. For some individuals, we are simply unable to approve applications based on what the screening reveals.

Our programs are designed for individuals seeking personal change, deeper self-connection, improved relationships, or an exploration of consciousness and spirituality. We are unable to accept individuals with active substance addiction, those actively experiencing severe trauma response symptoms e.g. panic attacks, or those currently taking mood stabilizers or antipsychotic medications. We also cannot accept individuals with certain psychiatric conditions including bipolar disorder, a family history of bipolar disorder or predisposition to manic episodes, active or recent suicidal ideation, psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, personality disorders, dissociative disorders, or a family history of psychosis. On a case-by-case basis, we may accept individuals with clinical depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD. Specific physical conditions that prevent participation include epilepsy, brain tumors, history of stroke or aneurysm, uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart attack within one year, unstable heart failure, Long QT Syndrome, liver cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease stage 4 or end-stage renal disease, insulin-dependent diabetes, recent cancer diagnosis, or AIDS with a CD4 count below 200. We also cannot accept individuals who are pregnant or extremely physically ill.

We cannot admit individuals taking amiodarone, diltiazem, sotalol, quinidine, procainamide, dofetilide, ibutilide, the immunosuppressant mycophenolate, or those currently on chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications are also contraindicated. Regarding SSRIs and SNRIs: we generally require that participants, with the knowledge and support of their prescribing physician, be at least 3 months clear of all SSRIs/SNRIs and other mood-altering compounds prior to participation. We may consider individuals on very low doses on a case-by-case basis, but we cannot guarantee the experience will be comparable. Serotonin-based medications act on the same receptor system as psilocybin (5-HT2A), and concurrent use typically dulls the psychedelic effect. The transformative benefits are thought to be related to the intensity of the experience, so this interaction is clinically significant. We urge anyone considering tapering to do so only under the supervision of their prescribing physician. Additional medications and conditions that warrant caution (but do not necessarily prevent participation) include aromatase inhibitors and estrogen blockers, antiretroviral medications, triptans for severe migraines, estrogen-based oral contraceptives, and conditions like asthma or type 2 diabetes. We advise participants with any of these to consult their healthcare provider before attending.

Our program spans approximately 11 weeks across four phases:

- Preparation (4 weeks, digital): Group sessions by Zoom, a 1:1 preparation call, guided preparation in our app, intention-setting, psychoeducation, and optional supplementary 1:1 coaching.

- Immerse (4–5 days, on-site in Jamaica or the Netherlands): 2 guided psilocybin ceremonies, meditation, breathwork, mindful movement, group integration circles, and nature immersion, encouraging a digital detox. All gourmet meals are included, along with private airport transfers and access to yoga, meditation, and breathwork classes.

- Integration (4–6 weeks, digital): 4 facilitated group sessions, research-informed tools in our app, short daily practices, and optional 1:1 coaching.

- Grow (ongoing): Monthly alumni calls, community gatherings, facilitator-led circles, and live events.

There is a minimum of one facilitator for every three participants on all retreats. This ratio ensures direct, personalized support during and beyond the psilocybin ceremonies. Our retreat centers accommodate the group as the sole occupants of the property (or the retreat side of the property in the Netherlands), ensuring privacy and containment. As for guests, we accept up to 18 participants per retreat.

Every retreat is facilitated by experienced professionals. In Jamaica, an on-site nurse is present during the experience, and we have access to a locally-licensed, 24/7 on-call doctor as well as urgent care facilities and hospitals within a 30–60 minute drive. In the Netherlands, 24/7 emergency medical care and facilities are accessible within 45 minutes. Regarding psychotic episodes: our screening process is specifically designed to mitigate this risk. We do not accept individuals with psychotic disorders, a family history of psychosis, or a predisposition to psychosis. Psilocybin can cause changes in perception and thought content. For most individuals, these effects are temporary and predictable, but for individuals with certain psychiatric histories, psychoactive compounds can trigger prolonged psychotic or manic episodes. Our screening exists to prevent these individuals from entering the program. We also maintain comprehensive safety protocols and risk management procedures that are frequently updated and shared with all team members and site partners. All facilitators are experienced in working with people with a range of deep emotional processes.

Before each ceremony, the participant will have a 1:1 conversation with a facilitator. In this conversation, the facilitator acts as a thought guide to support the participant to decide their dose within the parameters Beckley is comfortable to offer in the experience. This encourages full transparency and ownership of the dosing experience. We also offer a booster within an hour of ingestion if the participant requires.

Doses may vary based on the strain of truffle, but in general:
- First Ceremony: Doses vary between 15-35 grams starting dose (equivalent to 1.5-3.5g).
- Second Ceremony: Doses vary between 35 - 60 grams starting dose (equivalent to 3.5 - 6g)

Help your client arrive with intention and gumption. We recommend exploring:

- Intentions and expectations. What does the client hope to gain from the experience? What concerns or fears are present?

- Current therapeutic themes. What themes are most at the surface as the retreat approaches?

- Emotional regulation. How does the client typically respond to intense affect? What supportive strategies and resources do they have for self-regulation?

- Relationship to control. Psilocybin frequently involves experiences of psychological surrender. How does the client relate to entering the unknown? How are they with the idea of surrendering control?

- Somatic awareness. The experience is strongly embodied. Clients with limited interoceptive awareness benefit from basic grounding practices beforehand e.g. body scans.

Preparation unfolds over four weeks before arrival. Participants attend group Zoom sessions, have a 1:1 preparation call with our team, and work through guided preparation content and resources in our app - including intention-setting exercises and psychoeducation about what to expect. Optional supplementary 1:1 coaching is available. We also encourage participants who are working with a therapist to explore specific themes in their sessions during this period.

The members of our team have undertaken myriad trainings to arrive at where they are today. These include trainings in medicine, trauma-informed psychotherapy, body psychotherapy, shamanic practices, coaching, family constellations, yoga, sound healing, body work/ massage and social work. For the purposes of their work at Beckley, every facilitator has extensive experience supporting individuals in deep emotional processes and holding space in settings involving psychedelic experiences. This combination of training and experience is what creates the container of psychological and emotional safety that allows our participants to let go and trust the process that is unfolding within themselves. 

The ceremonial use of psilocybin predates recorded history. Our team of facilitators honors a variety of traditions and lineages passed down from their own teachers. We use this container rather than a clinical one because the psilocybin experience is not only neurological - it is deeply embodied, emotional, and often spiritual. A ceremonial setting with music, nature, intentional group dynamics, and experienced facilitation creates conditions that support the full range of what can emerge. Our approach weaves the wisdom of these traditions with the understanding of western psychology and psychotherapy, alongside modern neuroscience. 

Our retreat centers are spacious and secure. In Jamaica, our group is the sole occupant of the property, and in the Netherlands, our group is the sole occupant of the retreat side of the property. We maintain a minimum ratio of one facilitator for every three participants, which ensures direct care during and beyond the psilocybin experiences with ample space for personal support throughout the retreat. Our safety protocols are designed to anticipate and respond to a range of potential safety issues, including physical safety on the property. We also note in our application materials that psilocybin can cause transient feelings of dissociation, impaired perception of time and space, and impaired attention. That's why we ensure that participants arrive safely at their rooms and no one is left unattended after the experience.

Psilocybin experiences are variable. They can include a range of physiological, emotional, visual, and mystical experiences. Physiologically, psilocybin is a generally safe compound with few side effects; nausea, vomiting, and headaches are possible. 

Our program assessments across 1,000+ participants since 2020 show that 88% describe the experience as one of the most meaningful of their lives, 76% report improved behaviors and personal practices, and 98% say they would recommend the program. Our Net Promoter Score is 91. From a neuroscience perspective, the mechanisms described above - DMN suppression, elevated neuroplasticity, and increased cross-network connectivity - suggest that psilocybin experiences can yield new emotional and somatic experiences. When combined with ongoing psychotherapy, the neuroplastic window following a retreat represents a period when therapeutic support can have an important role. Clinicians report that clients frequently return with shifted perspectives and a different relationship to patterns that had previously been resistant to change.

We do not make any medical or therapeutic claims about our retreats or programming.

You can help clients ground themselves and unpack the experience, how they understood it then and how they relate to it now, while staying attentive to insights that may surface gradually over time. As they return to everyday life, your role is to help them meet the challenges that arise, bring awareness to their patterns, and support them in making new choices about how to respond in a given situation. Encouraging creativity or movement practices can further support their wellbeing, and ongoing check-ins help maintain momentum and keep them on track with their goals.

Yes. Our integration program spans 4–6 weeks following the retreat and includes weekly facilitated group sessions, research-informed tools and practices in our app, short daily practices, and optional supplementary 1:1 coaching. The focus is on helping participants process their experience, consolidate insights, and translate them into practical changes in their daily lives. Beyond the formal integration period, our Grow phase provides ongoing support through monthly alumni calls, community gatherings, facilitator-led integration circles, and live events. We also strongly encourage participants to continue working with their therapist throughout and after the integration period. The therapeutic relationship is the most important container for long-term integration work.