[Solved] What kind of psychedelic retreats?

At Triptherapie, we have a diverse range of psychedelic retreats in which there is variation regarding the following options:

1. Private or open groups: Join a group session with strangers or go for private individual, duo or self-constructed private group.
2. Location: A retreat or ceremony can be held at one of our locations, but you can also use your own home, holiday home, hotel or Airbnb (see working area).
3. Psychedelic: We can provide you with legal psychedelics, such as truffles, LSD analogues, psiloflora, psilohuasca, cocoa-truffle combination, blue lotus and the like. With illicit substances, there are options for counselling for harm-reduction, but we recommend legal options.
4. Length of retreat: We offer psychedelic day sessions, as well as two-day ceremonies (with overnight stay) and multi-day retreats including integration therapy. See a overview of psychedelic group ceremonies

Supplement: Which psychedelic retreat suits you best?

The best choice depends on what you are looking for in the experience. Some people especially want peace, privacy and one-on-one guidance. Others, on the other hand, find it valuable to share a ceremony with a partner, friend, family member or a small group of like-minded people. Therefore, at Triptherapie we look not only at the means or location, but also at your intention, experience, sensitivity, need for privacy and the degree of guidance that is appropriate.

A individual psychedelic session is usually the most personal form. The facilitator's attention goes entirely to one participant, leaving plenty of room to tune in to personal background, intention, dosage, setting and integration. This can be nice if you want to work with a specific theme, if you get easily overstimulated in groups or if you prefer to enter into the experience in complete privacy.

A duo session is suitable for two people who want to engage in an experience together, for example partners, friends, family members or two people who trust each other well. In doing so, there remains room for each person's own process, but the shared experience can also create more connection, openness and mutual understanding. In relationship-based sessions, it can sometimes be appropriate to focus more on the individual process first, and only then on the joint dynamics.

At a private psychedelic ceremony you compose the group yourself. This can suit friends, relatives, colleagues or acquaintances who want to do a ceremony together without unknown participants. The advantage of this is that the group feels familiar beforehand. At the same time, this form requires good coordination, as each participant brings their own background, intention and sensitivity. That is why all participants fill in the intake separately beforehand.

Open group or closed group?

An open group ceremony is one where you join other participants you usually don't know beforehand. This can be powerful precisely when you are open to recognition, group energy and the feeling that you are not alone in your process. In open groups, there is a set structure, a shared setting and guidance from multiple facilitators or therapists.

A private group gives more privacy and flexibility. You choose who you do the ceremony with, where the session takes place and what atmosphere suits the group. This form is especially suitable when mutual security is already in place, for example in a group of friends, family or small circle in which everyone consciously chooses the same ceremony.

See also: Choice aid private session or psychedelic group ceremony

The role of intake and preparation

For any psychedelic session, ceremony or retreat, the journey begins with the intake. With this, we look at medication use, physical and psychological vulnerabilities, previous experience with psychedelics, personal goals and possible contraindications, among other things. This is important because psychedelics are not appropriate for everyone or at all times.

After the intake, we can better assess which form, dosage, setting and counsellor fits best. We also use the intake to give personal preparation. Think of advice around rest, nutrition, intention, practical preparation and mental alignment. Good preparation does not make the session predictable, but it does give more bedding to enter the experience consciously and safely.

The session itself: setting, guidance and support

During the psychedelic session, it is not only about the drug, but mainly about the combination of set, setting and guidance. The inner attitude with which a person enters the session, the environment in which the ceremony takes place and the quality of the guidance together largely determine how a person can allow and process the experience.

At Triptherapie we work with a quiet setting, tuned music, presence of the facilitator and where appropriate complementary techniques such as breathing, body awareness, aromatherapy or reflection. Guidance is usually not directive, but supportive. The aim is for the participant to experience sufficient safety to turn inward, without unnecessarily interrupting the process.

Location: at home, own accommodation or Triptherapie location

Location has a lot of influence on the experience. Some people feel safest in their own home or in a quiet holiday home. Others prefer to choose a fixed location of Triptherapie, because the space there is already set up for psychedelic sessions and because accommodation, food and drinks are often included.

An on-site session can take place, for example, in a house, hotel, holiday home or private Airbnb, as long as the place is quiet, safe and private enough. Through the scope of work and price calculation you can see which attendant makes sense for your location. Those who prefer to come to a fixed location can look at our locations in the Netherlands.

One-day ceremony, two-day ceremony or multi-day retreat

A one-day session is often suitable when someone mainly wants a personal session with preparation and integration, but without an extensive group programme. This can be done privately, as a duo or with a small self-assembled group.

A two-day ceremony gives more peace around the experience. With group ceremonies, there is usually a programme with arrival, preparation, ceremony, meal, overnight stay and more time to land quietly the next morning. This avoids participants having to travel or return to the hustle and bustle of everyday life immediately after the experience.

A multi-day retreat is more extensive and puts more emphasis on integration. Besides the ceremony itself, there is then more space for preparation, group work, body-oriented exercises, reflection, integration therapy and follow-up. This particularly suits people who not only seek a special experience, but also want to explore how insights can filter through into their daily lives.

Integration after the psychedelic experience

Integration actually starts before the session, as intention and preparation determine what a person pays attention to. After the session, integration is about translating insights, feelings and symbolism into concrete choices in daily life. This could be about boundaries, relationships, lifestyle, meaning, self-care, work, creativity or spirituality.

In group sessions and retreats, integration is often part of the programme. In private sessions, integration can be tailored to the participant's needs. Sometimes one follow-up session is enough, sometimes additional support or a longer period of reflection is desirable. So the experience itself is not the end point, but rather the beginning of a process in which new insights slowly take shape.

Important about legality and resources

The legal status of psychedelics can vary from one drug to another and may change due to new legislation. Fresh psilocybin-containing truffles are legal in the Netherlands and this is different from banned magic mushrooms or banned substances such as LSD and MDMA. We therefore look at the current legal possibilities per request and preferably advise options that fit within Dutch legislation.

If you are unsure between a truffle ceremony, an LSD-related session, psiloflora or another form of guidance, it is best to discuss this after completing the intake. Based on your situation, experience, medication use, intention and preference, we can think along which direction is most appropriate practically and substantively.

In summary

At Triptherapie, you can choose from different forms of psychedelic counselling: individually, as a duo, with a private group or during an open group ceremony. The session can take place at your own location or at one of our locations. You can also choose between a shorter course, a two-day ceremony or a multi-day retreat with additional integration. Which form fits best depends on your need for privacy, guidance, group dynamics, location, preparation and integration.

Want to know which option makes the most sense for your situation? Then start with the intake or view the current overview of psychedelic group ceremonies and retreats.