[Solved] Is it permissible to call psychedelic sessions therapy?

In the Netherlands, it is legally permitted to conduct guided psychedelic sessions. therapy to be called, as long as you do not make medical claims and do not give the impression that these are recognized medical treatments. This nuance is essential — and Triptherapie.nl handles this in a careful and responsible manner.

The term psychedelic therapy While it is not a protected title, there are clear boundaries. You may use the term if you work with legal substances such as truffles or psiloflora, and if you make it clear that it concerns alternative guidance. You may also psychedelic therapist call yourself, as long as you do not present yourself as a psychotherapist or a doctor without BIG registration.

What you must absolutely avoid is making medical claims. For example, you may not claim that psilocybin can treat depression or trauma. heals, even though scientific studies indicate that it can alleviate its symptoms. Triptherapie emphasizes this itself as well, and works strictly with legal substances such as magic truffles for a psilocybin session or truffle ceremony.

Practical experience at Triptherapie shows that many clients actually benefit from this form of non-medical psychedelic therapy. Practitioners focus on personal growth, awareness, and emotional processing. Their approach is holistic, where not only the psychedelic experience counts, but also lifestyle, nutrition, and integration coaching. This is also evident from the in-depth overview of their working methods, in which the emphasis is on safety, preparation, personal guidance, and aftercare.

In short, as long as you are transparent about what you offer — a form of alternative guidance using legal means — it is fully legitimate to do so. psychedelic therapy to mention. Triptherapie offers a clear, well-substantiated, and professional framework for this.

In the Netherlands, certain professional titles are legally protected under the BIG Act (Professions in Individual Healthcare). These include titles such as doctor, psychotherapist, healthcare psychologist, nurse, etc. – these titles may only be used by people who have been trained and registered for them. Misuse of such a protected title (for example, yourself psychotherapist mentioning someone without BIG registration) is a punishable offense and can lead to a fine.

‘'Therapist' is not a protected title. This means that the term psychedelic therapist or psychedelic therapy is not in itself laid down in the BIG Act and is not exclusively reserved for BIG-registered professionals. In principle, anyone may “therapist” mention or guidance “"therapy"” to call, as long as no confusion is created that this concerns an officially BIG-registered profession. In other words: you may not give the impression that you are a recognized psychotherapist or are a doctor if that is not the case. As long as you make it clear that you alternative guidance offers and does not practice a protected profession, you do not violate any law on this point. The statement in the question – that you yourself psychedelic therapist may call yourself as long as you do not present yourself as a psychotherapist or doctor – so it complies with the BIG Act.

Avoiding medical claims and recognition

A crucial boundary lies at medical claims and suggesting a recognized medical treatment. As a provider of psychedelic sessions, you may do not claim to cure diseases or offer official therapies. Such claims are reserved for treatments that are scientifically proven and recognized within conventional healthcare. In practice, this means, for example, that you not allowed to advertise that psilocybin “cures depression” or traumas remedies, even though there are scientific studies showing improvements in symptoms. Such statements could mislead consumers and could be considered unauthorized medical claims.

Both the wording of the research question and sources from the field emphasize this point. For instance, experts state that the use of psychedelics in a ceremonial setting is permitted, as long as organizers do not make medical claims regarding health benefits or healing. Triptherapie itself explicitly states their approach not to present it as medical treatment, but as guidance aimed at personal growth, awareness, and well-being. In doing so, they clearly remain outside the domain of conventional medicine.

Because psychedelic therapy (such as truffle sessions) not recognized is like regular healthcare, a provider will always have to communicate this if alternative or complementary help. So, there is transparency Expected: clients must understand that this falls outside the regular medical circuit and, for example, is not reimbursed by health insurers. As long as that honesty is maintained and no medical terminology or diagnoses are claimed, the use of the term is acceptable. therapy permitted in this context.

Use of legal substances (Opium Act)

In addition to the BIG Act, the Opium Act a role in guided psychedelic sessions. It is essential that only with legal means is being worked on. In the Netherlands, classic psychedelics such as LSD, MDMA, and magic mushrooms are prohibited substances (Opium Act List I). Psilocybin, the active substance in magic mushrooms, is therefore a prohibited substance in isolation. Magic truffles on the other hand (the underground sclerotia of certain mushrooms) are not Explicitly prohibited – the Supreme Court has ruled that unprocessed truffles do not fall under the preparation of the substance and are therefore legal. This creates a legal grey area in which truffles may be freely sold and used.

In concrete terms, this means that guided truffle sessions legal can be offered, as long as one adheres to the aforementioned conditions (no medical claims, no deception). Triptherapie.nl, for example, emphasizes that they work exclusively with legal psychedelics such as truffles (or a legal plant extract named psiloflora) for their sessions, and not with prohibited magic mushrooms or synthetic drugs. As long as the substance used is legal and the session takes place voluntarily under proper supervision, legally speaking there is no criminal drug use. (NB: If illegal substances were to be administered, one would be violating the Opium Act – that is clearly not permitted outside of an investigation.)

Conclusion

In summary, it is allowed to designate guided psychedelic sessions as “therapy” and to call yourself a “psychedelic therapist”, as long as you comply with the following legal conditions:

1. Do not use a protected title: Avoid any suggestion that you are a registered doctor, psychologist, or psychotherapist if that is not the case. Therefore, use not the legally protected title “psychotherapist” without BIG registration. The designation “psychedelic therapist” That is allowed, because this title in itself does not fall under the BIG Act.

2. Do not make medical claims: Do not make strong statements that your sessions are harmful. to deal with or cured. Profile the services as supportive of well-being and personal development rather than as recognized medical treatment.

3. Use only legal means: Limit yourself to legally available psychedelics (such as truffles or similar legal plants). Use no Prohibited substances such as DMT, LSD, or MDMA in a therapeutic context are prohibited, as this is punishable under the Opium Act. Legally offering truffle or psilocybin sessions is possible because magic truffles do not fall under the prohibited list.

When these conditions are met, there will be not acted in violation of the BIG Act or other relevant legislation. The term “psychedelic therapy” is then a descriptive term for alternative guidance and no protected or misleading title. Such a practice – like Triptherapie – thereby operates in the Netherlands within a legitimate and permitted framework, albeit outside the regular healthcare system. In this regard, the nuance in the text is essential: transparency and due diligence ensure that this offer is legally permissible and that clients remain protected.