Red Flags and Responding to Abuse 

You have the right to safe, ethical care. Most guides and facilitators are caring,  well-intentioned professionals, but not all maintain the same standards. The  abuse of power that appears in psychedelic healing is not simply a matter of  a few bad actors. It is a pattern that shows up across the field, just as it does  in governance, religious institutions, education, and every professional arena. Wherever one person holds power over another’s vulnerability, the condi tions for misuse exist. Framing this as a problem of individuals lets the larger  systems off the hook. 

Part of ending the cycles of abuse is recognizing it for what it is, seeking  support, and speaking out when appropriate. Harmful behavior needs to be  confronted, and we need to take care of ourselves and one another when we  encounter it. 

You’ll encounter psychedelic guides with eccentric styles and unconventional approaches; some of the most gifted healers don’t fit conventional molds. The critical distinction is between practitioners who are simply  unorthodox and those whose behavior is unethical or abusive. In an emerging  field with few formal regulations, knowing this difference helps you trust your  instincts and make informed decisions about your safety and healing. 

This chapter is a reference guide to help you evaluate your guide’s behavior if you are concerned about an interaction. I’ve divided concerning behaviors into two categories: orange flags, which suggest the need for questions and  clarification, and red flags, which indicate serious violations that require immediate action. 

Orange Flags 

If your guide does any of the following, ask questions and seek clarity. They  may be undertrained, lack sufficient boundaries, or need more supervision. 

PUSHING AN AGENDA OR COERCION 

Overpromises results: There are limits to healing with psychedelics. If someone doesn’t acknowledge this and evangelizes miraculous  benefits, they’re either new to the work or trying hard to sell you  something. 

Pressures you to take more medicine: Sometimes it’s appropriate for your guide to offer a booster, but this should be discussed beforehand. Taking more should always be your choice. 

Pushes their personal agenda: A guide’s agenda about “where you  need to go” can rob you of discovering things in your own way. Some  people find an assertive style reassuring, but consider whether this  crosses into controlling behavior. 

Leads instead of follows: From your first meeting, observe how well  they follow your lead. They should listen intently, never putting words  in your mouth or talking over you. Watch for all-knowing statements like “You were definitely neglected as a child” as opposed to curious  questions like, “Do you think the way your father treated you may have  been neglectful?” 

Encourages you to cut off relationships: Unless they’re supporting  your own decision to end an unhealthy relationship, they shouldn’t be  directing your personal decisions.

Is not transparent and forthcoming: You should feel comfortable  asking about a guide’s training, methods, approach to touch, and any thing else that will affect your experience. If they’re vague or avoid ant, it’s an orange flag. An ethical practitioner explains their methods  clearly and acknowledges their limitations. 

UNPREPARED OR OVEREXTENDED 

Unprepared: They arrive for your journey without having read your  intake form, planned your dosage, or prepared a playlist. 

Overextended: Signs include disorganized scheduling, failing to take  notes, leading a large group ceremony without enough support (a commonly recommended ratio is one facilitator or assistant per three to  five participants), or neglecting preparation and integration support. 

Sloppy: The journey or ceremony space is dirty or poorly maintained.  Rustic is fine; unsanitary is not. 

Stressed or unwell: If a guide is ill, scattered, or preoccupied with family matters requiring their attention, they should clear their sched ule and prioritize self-care before facilitating. It’s not responsible to  accompany anyone into an expanded state without being internally  prepared. 

INATTENTIVE OR DISMISSIVE 

Distracted: They’re on an electronic device during your journey (except to change the music). Phones, tablets, and laptops should otherwise be left in another room. 

Negligent: They leave the room before you’re ready to be alone or  don’t offer you snacks and water at the end of a long journey. 

Unresponsive to your requests: They ignore your request to turn the  music down, respond dismissively, or show hostility. A good guide is  responsive and respectful.

Overshares: Many guides share some personal information to build  rapport, but when they share too much about their personal life and  relationships, it shifts the focus from you to them. 

Lack of humility: If your guide seems overconfident or arrogant, be  cautious. It’s possible to be an effective healer while maintaining humil ity. The best guides tend to be down-to-earth. 

POOR BOUNDARIES 

Money and gifts: A guide should be professional about the exchange of money, gifts, and time. When mistakes occur, they should discuss them openly and apologize when appropriate. 

Mixing roles: They shouldn’t pursue any relationship with you outside the facilitator-participant dynamic. If they invite you to join another group or to become an assistant, you’re moving toward a dual relationship that can muddy the therapeutic container. Any hint of romantic  interest should be taken seriously and addressed immediately. 

Inappropriate communication: Guides should not text or email about  therapeutic material outside of scheduled sessions. Brief integration check-ins by phone or video are normal, but discussing therapeutic content via text or email is an orange flag. 

Lack of supervision: Both licensed and underground practitioners encounter ethical dilemmas and should have a network of professional support. Someone working in complete isolation is cause for concern. 

Disregarding confidentiality: They should keep every detail of their  work with you private and should not share identifying details about  other clients with you. If they talk about other clients with you, they  are probably talking about you with them. 

Most of these orange flags reflect undertrained or unconscious guides, not  malicious ones. Many concerns can be resolved through direct conversation.  What follows is different.

Red Flags 

If your facilitator does any of the following during a session or at any other  time, demand that they stop immediately. You should seek support, report their  behavior to their supervisor, and when necessary, contact a lawyer or the police. 

TOUCH AND CONSENT VIOLATIONS 

Your guide should never: 

Touch your body without consent. They need both prior agreement  and permission in the moment. Exceptions include helping you to the  bathroom or keeping you safe. 

Pressure you to give consent for touch. Consent should be freely  given, never coerced. If you feel pressured at any point before or during  the session, that’s a violation. 

Coerce you into receiving bodywork or energy work. Any kind of  bodywork or energy work should be clearly described beforehand and  optional. If you ask them to stop, they should stop immediately. 

Flirt or express sexual energy. Any flirting or sexual energy from a  facilitator is inappropriate. This includes suggestive comments or any  behavior that feels sexualized. 

Introduce full-body contact. Cuddling or other full-body contact  is inappropriate unless they have specialized training in a bodywork  approach that includes this type of touch. Even then, you should have  had a prior conversation with explicit consent, and they must still ask  for your permission in the moment. 

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT 

Unless your facilitator has received specific training in a sexological modal ity and you have explicitly signed up for this service, your facilitator should  never: 

Encourage you to remove clothing or remove their own clothing.

Kiss you or touch your breasts or genitals. 

Engage in any sexual contact with you during the session, in integra tion sessions, or at any other time. 

What If You Experience Abuse? 

What can you do if your guide or facilitator has harmed you? First, get outside  support. Reach out to friends or community members who will listen without  judgment and validate your experience. Seek out a therapist or an organiza tion that supports survivors of abuse. 

HAVE A CONVERSATION IF YOU CAN 

In unregulated settings, there is no formal complaint process. That said, you  still have options. You can start by addressing your facilitator directly and  asking them why they did what they did. You have no obligation to be forgiv ing or understanding; your only job is to be honest about your experience.  There are genuine misunderstandings: a clumsy comment that landed badly,  or something you misheard in an altered state. A direct conversation can  sometimes clarify what happened. 

However, if your facilitator blames your “sensitivities” or “trauma history”  for your concerns rather than taking them seriously, that is a red flag. Trust  yourself. If something felt wrong, it deserves to be addressed, regardless of  whether it was intentional. Most unconscious behavior is unintentional. That  doesn’t make it okay. 

If they become defensive, minimize what happened, or turn it back on you, that tells you everything you need to know. 

A mature facilitator will approach reparative conversations with humility,  taking full accountability for their actions. If they are able to take responsibility for any missteps, that’s a good sign. However, it doesn’t obligate you to  continue working with them. Some violations irreparably damage trust, even with sincere apologies. You get to decide if repair is possible or desirable and  whether you want to continue the relationship. 

If a direct conversation doesn’t resolve the issue, consider seeking an  impartial mediator. If they aren’t willing or able to join a mediated conversation, don’t work with that person again. They don’t have the relational skills  necessary to offer this kind of work. 

IN A CLINICAL SETTING 

If you can point to negligent or unskillful behavior by a staff member in a regulated setting, you can start with a personal conversation or consider making  a formal complaint. Whether or not it gets taken seriously depends on the  clinic’s leadership. Before signing up for a session at a private or corporate-run  clinic, research the founders. Is the clinic run by experienced psychedelic  guides and trained therapists? Or is it run by enthusiastic entrepreneurs serv ing a board of investors? Do they have established ethical guidelines? 

GOING PUBLIC 

If your facilitator’s behavior is dangerous and they deny wrongdoing, you may  want to share your experience more widely. Sharing your story, whether pri vately or publicly, is not about revenge or destroying someone’s reputation.  It’s about protecting yourself and others and speaking your truth. If you want  to make your experience public, it can be helpful to first consult a lawyer about  potential risks and to work with a therapist or build a support circle as you  prepare to do so. Public disclosure carries risks, including possible retaliation  or legal threats, but it can also protect others. When no other accountability  processes exist, speaking publicly can spark necessary community conversations and be part of your own healing. 

If you’ve experienced abuse, be compassionate and treat yourself as you  would treat a dear friend in the same situation. Healing from violation takes  time, and there’s no set timeline. You may feel confused, ashamed, or angry, all  of which are normal responses. Take the space you need to process and heal.  It isn’t your fault.

What If You Witness Abuse? 

What if you see something troubling happen to another participant during a  ceremony? You have a responsibility to the person being harmed, even if they  don’t recognize the behavior as harm in the moment. If you are sober, able,  and can safely intervene without escalating the situation, do so. If the situation is dangerous, trust your instincts and get help from fellow participants or assistants. 

Document what you witnessed as soon as possible; write down details  while they’re fresh, including dates, times, and exactly what you saw. This documentation can be crucial if the person decides to report the incident later.  Remember that your perception is altered in a non-ordinary state of consciousness, which can make it hard to trust what you think you saw, heard, or  felt. That said, always err on the side of checking in rather than staying silent. 

Check in with them privately. Share what you observed and ask how  they’re doing. They may not be ready to name what happened as a violation,  and you shouldn’t push it. Just let them know you’re available if they want to  talk. Try to be a compassionate witness, offer support, and be willing to speak  up if asked. Sometimes survivors need time to think through what happened  before they’re ready to address it, and your willingness to validate their experience, whenever they’re ready, can make all the difference. 

We need to do more than expand our consciousness together. We need  to listen to one another’s stories, increase our self-awareness, and be sober,  awake allies for one another.

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