Triptherapie at Spuiten en Slikken

In addition to previous collaborations with various media, we have now also collaborated with Spuiten en Slikken. This is an overview of the episode based on the transcript of the episode that can be seen here on YouTube:

Episode overview

Series and contextThe video is part 2 of the series Diva's Drug Therapy, in which presenter Diva Brons investigates whether psychedelics can help people with depression. She shares her own experience with long waiting lists in mental healthcare and the uncertainty surrounding conventional medication.

Visit to familyIn the beginning, Diva visits her grandmother. They talk about mental health issues, her grandmother's own experiences with depression and conventional medication, and the family's aversion to drugs. The grandmother emphasizes that young people are better off avoiding drugs and relies on medication prescribed by doctors.

Searching for solutionsBecause regular care is taking a long time to arrive, Diva decides to investigate whether psychedelics (such as microdosing with truffles or LSD analogues) could be an alternative.

Expert interviewDiva visits Professor Kim Kuipers, who conducts research into the influence of psychedelics on the brain. Kuipers explains how microdosing typically works (a small dose every other day). According to her, users often report improved mood, focus, and creativity, but no lasting effects have been demonstrated, and it remains a matter of self-experimentation. She warns that the risks increase when people determine their own dose.

Practical example of microdosingDiva speaks with Casey, who has ADHD and microdoses with a legal analogue alongside her regular medication. Casey demonstrates how she dissolves the LSD blotters in water for a precise dose. She emphasizes that microdosing improves her productivity and concentration, but that it is not a complete replacement for her medication. She also notes that too much microdosing can result in an unpleasant “between normal and tripping” feeling and that she has her substances tested.

Triptherapie: Diva visits a the ""Trip Master of Ceremonies Marcel"", according to Diva's choice of words. He explains that these sessions closely resemble a coaching approach with intake interviews and that no doctor is present. This is because psychedelic sessions still fall outside the scope of regular healthcare. Marcel states that he cannot officially treat people with depression, but that people are eager to try a guided session. Clients must rely on an honest answer to medical questions, as medical records may not be verified.

Risks and skepticismThe expert and the ceremony facilitator emphasize that psychedelics are not a miracle cure. There are risks, such as feelings of anxiety during a session or the worsening of mental health conditions. Furthermore, it is not always clear exactly what the substances contain.

Additional response from Triptherapie

Why we participated in Spuiten en Slikken

Following our participation in the episode of Injecting and Swallowing With Diva Brons, we have received many positive reactions, but also critical questions. We take those critical voices seriously. And that is precisely why we want to provide transparency here regarding our motivations, our working methods, and our vision on psychedelic guidance.

More and more people in the Netherlands come to us with a clear request for help: they want a guided psychedelic session. Not just for recreation, as was the case in the early days of Triptherapie (8 years ago), but for insight, processing, or to break free from stuck mental patterns. Often, they have already been through a long journey in the mental healthcare system, or are waiting for help. Many also tell us: “I don't want this through mental health services; I just want to move on my own way.”

For those people, we offer an intermediate phase. A place where you can undergo a psychedelic session in an accessible yet carefully guided manner, without the medical label, but with clear information about what it is and isn't.

We are very clear about that: What we do is not medical treatment. During the intake procedure, we explicitly inform every client of this. At the same time, we put extra effort into preventing complications by using a registration procedure. We screen for risks, set boundaries, and engage professionals if necessary. Behind the scenes, we have direct lines of communication with doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists who can offer advice when there is doubt about a client's suitability.

Harm reduction is central to our work. When people choose a psychedelic experience themselves, we consider it our duty to guide this as safely, consciously, and responsibly as possible. This prevents people from experimenting uncontrollably or without aftercare, something that in our view is undesirable and risky. Due to current legislation, our role as a guide is therefore solely that of a tripsitter, even if you choose a therapist from our team.

What many people do not know is that Triptherapie is also working behind the scenes on the future of psychedelic care in the Netherlands. We are closely following international developments regarding the medical recognition of substances such as psilocybin, and are preparing internally for a shift. We are hiring more and more people with the right academic background for future regulation. As soon as, for example psilocybin therapy As it becomes a recognized treatment method within mental healthcare, it is our ambition to (partially) expand into a medical branch with BIG-registered healthcare providers and reimbursements, within a future-oriented mental healthcare structure.

Until then, we will continue doing what we are doing now: carefully, people-centered, safely, and professionally guiding clients who choose a different path themselves. And we are transparent about that, as was also the case in the episode with Diva Brons.