4 Psychedelic Retreats That Offer Guided Therapies For Patients

Note: Veriheal does not support illegally consuming alternative therapeutic substances but acknowledges that it transpires because of the current illicit status, which we strive to change by advocating for research, legal access, and responsible consumption. Always consult a physician before attempting psychedelic therapy.

Now that we know more about the potential benefits of cannabis and its uses as a healing substance, it’s natural that attention should turn to other substances previously considered to be purely recreational. After all, if a little THC can help you manage your anxiety, but what might some psychedelics such as LSD or magic mushrooms have to offer on a therapeutic level? This is a question that’s only beginning to be studied, but it’s one that’s captured the imagination of researchers and physicians alike. Is psychedelic therapy a real option? And might it be preferable to the choices of pharmaceuticals we currently have, many of which—like opioids— that come with the risk of lasting and harmful effects? If psychedelic therapy is something worth pursuing, a huge part of making it effective is going to be creating the right setting, with the right stimuli. Just as we cannabis users try to manage intense highs and paranoia by controlling our environment, those partaking in psychedelics need a prepared environment where they know they’ll feel safe. That need is what gave rise to the psychedelic retreat. These spa-like retreats are currently emerging all over the world. Here are a few such places that are gaining a lot of attention.

Notable Psychedelic Retreats:

• Ember Health – New York

Ember Health is a retreat that uses ketamine therapy to help patients suffering from depression. The program consists of four hour-long ketamine infusions administered over a period of two weeks. Patients are supervised by doctors during their treatments and given tools to help them adapt once they leave and return to their normal lives. The cost is approximately $2000.

• Soltara Healing Center – Costa Rica

Soltara Healing Center works with ayahuasca, an Amazonian medicinal plant that contains a powerful psychoactive substance. You can choose a five-night, week-long, or 12-night retreat at their resort location, with prices ranging between $2,500 and $13,500. It’s a costly getaway, but it’s an absolutely beautiful location, and for those wishing to experience the benefits of ayahuasca, it might be a perfect fit.

• Clear Sky Recovery – Cancun

Clear Sky Recovery is a facility that uses psychedelic therapy to assist with drug detox with ibogaine, a psychoactive alkaloid that occurs naturally in the roots of certain African rainforest shrubs. The facility is a state-of-the-art, luxury environment that features swimming pools, high-speed internet, and a cook for the residents. They promise tailored treatments and long-term results. Their eight-day program includes the development of an aftercare plan.

• Synthesis – Amsterdam

Billed as a “truffle retreat center,” Synthesis provides a program in which professionals can partake of psilocybin in a safe and guided environment, with the intent of going on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. According to their website, this journey has numerous positive health effects, including reducing anxiety and increasing one’s general sense of well-being. Specifically, fear and stress among participants were reported to have decreased by an average of 13.8% following treatment. They offer a variety of different retreats, but the flagship experience carries a price tag of $3000.

Because of the unconventional nature of these medical treatments, it is highly unlikely they will be covered by your insurance. So for now, these opportunities are available only to the privileged few who can afford them. But as more and more people try these solutions, a preponderance of the evidence is bound to collect, just as it did with cannabis. If these psychedelic substances are truly valid as health care, eventually enough success stories will emerge that they’ll gain the research they need to be brought up in legal conversation. And it’s possible that, sometime in the future, we’ll see medical provisions for magic mushrooms, just as we’re beginning to see them for cannabis today.