The Dangers of Facilitator Training for Administering Psychedelics

Psychedelics like ayahuasca and other plant medicines have seen a surge in global popularity, drawing professionals and enthusiasts to explore their transformative potential. Many individuals experience profound breakthroughs during ceremonies, leading to a newfound sense of purpose and the desire to serve as shamans or facilitators. However, the path to becoming a competent guide for these powerful medicines is fraught with complexity and responsibility. This blog explores the risks associated with unregulated facilitator trainings, contrasting them with legitimate training avenues, and highlights the implications for both practitioners and clients.

Legitimate Routes to Psychedelic Training

For licensed medical professionals, several reputable programs offer structured training in psychedelic-assisted therapy. These programs ensure rigorous education, clinical oversight, and adherence to ethical standards. The EmbodyWise Psychedelic Therapist Training integrates therapeutic and clinical skills with spiritual practices. Participants engage in deep psychological and emotional work while learning evidence-based interventions, preparing them to handle the complexities of psychedelic-assisted therapy sessions.

The Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research (CIIS) offers a comprehensive certificate program that combines theoretical knowledge with experiential learning. Participants delve into the history, neuroscience, and clinical application of psychedelics under the guidance of experts like Stanislav Grof. The curriculum includes holotropic breathwork, ethical considerations, and frameworks for integration therapy. One hallmark of this program is its emphasis on cultural humility and understanding the diverse traditions behind psychedelic practices. Trainees complete a capstone project to demonstrate their competency in blending psychedelic therapy with their professional disciplines.

The Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI) Year-Long Training focuses on cutting-edge neuroscience, psychopharmacology, and therapeutic techniques tailored for psychedelic-assisted therapy. The program includes practical modules on harm reduction, risk management, and trauma-informed care, equipping participants to address the multifaceted challenges of serving plant medicine.

These programs instill values of confidentiality, ethical consultation, and long-term professional development, ensuring trainees are prepared to navigate challenging psychological terrain.

Indigenous Apprenticeships: A Deeper Commitment

For those pursuing a non-clinical path, Indigenous apprenticeships offer an immersive and deeply transformative experience. Legitimate apprenticeships with Huachumeros or Ayahuasqueros require living within the community for 5-10 years, much like medical residencies in their intensity and duration. Apprentices learn through observation, mentorship, and direct participation in ceremonies. They must understand the cultural, spiritual, and ecological contexts of the medicines, often taking on additional responsibilities such as harvesting and preparing plants, assisting elders during ceremonies, and integrating traditional songs (icaros) into the healing process.

A hallmark of these apprenticeships is their emphasis on humility and service. Trainees are taught to prioritize the well-being of participants over personal gain. This extensive training ensures practitioners are prepared to hold space for the profound and often challenging experiences that arise during plant medicine ceremonies. Studies, such as those by Winkelman (2010), highlight how this cultural immersion fosters not only technical competence but also the ethical and spiritual grounding necessary for safe practice.

The Rise of Unregulated Facilitator Trainings

A troubling trend is the emergence of “facilitator” trainings that promise quick certification for serving psychedelics. These programs often bypass the time-intensive and immersive learning required for ethical practice. For example, a facilitator in Tulum, Mexico, offers a 15-day training for $7,000, claiming to prepare participants to serve ayahuasca, Bufo Alvarius, Huachuma, Kambo, and other medicines. This individual self-identifies with multiple unverified titles, including shaman, medical medium, ceremonialist, teacher, international facilitator, and therapist, among others. They charge over $2,000 for three-day “retreats”, heavily marketing these events with tactics like limited-time discounts for early registration. In these “retreats”, the facilitator combines six different medicines within three days, a dangerous practice that can overwhelm participants physically and emotionally. The also administer Bufo Alvarius in front of the entire group when research from prominent doctors in the field like Dr Martin Ball emphasize the importance of the client having a one-on-one experience with this medicine for the safest outcomes. This particular facilitator is now traveling to Southern California at a property near Pala Casino.

Mixing multiple medicines in such a short time can result in anesthesia awareness, a condition where individuals remain conscious but paralyzed during a ceremony, unable to communicate their distress. Additionally, each medicine is believed to carry its own spirit or energy, and treating these sacred tools as interchangeable drugs may lead to spiritual disrespect. Such practices risk attachment phenomena or other adverse psychological consequences, undermining the integrity and safety of the healing process. Unlike traditional medicine men, who rely on their reputation and the strength of their practice, these facilitators employ aggressive business strategies to attract clients, prioritizing profit over participant safety and genuine healing.

Inherent Risks of Shortcut Trainings:

Lack of Psychological Screening

One of the primary dangers of such trainings is the absence of psychological screening. Anyone—regardless of mental health status—can participate and later serve medicines. This poses significant risks, as individuals with untreated psychosis or other severe conditions may exacerbate harm rather than facilitate healing.

Privacy and Safety Concerns

Facilitator-led ceremonies often neglect participant confidentiality. Clients are placed in WhatsApp groups with strangers, exposing their personal information and increasing the risk of harassment or exploitation. Without proper understanding of privacy laws, facilitators inadvertently compromise participant safety.

Neglect of Complex Cases

Untrained facilitators may prioritize attendees deemed “low-maintenance” to enhance their reputation, ignoring those requiring greater care. This can lead to disastrous outcomes, especially for participants experiencing psychotic breaks or other crises during ceremonies.

Ethical Failures in Commercialized Settings

Commercial facilitators often collaborate with affluent individuals seeking social validation through plant medicine. Such settings foster elitism and disregard for genuine participant well-being. Individuals experiencing difficulties may be ostracized, further exacerbating their trauma.

Empirical Evidence on Psychedelic Risks

Research underscores the dangers of inadequately trained facilitators. Johnson, Richards, and Griffiths (2008) conducted a landmark study on the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in a controlled setting. The researchers emphasized the importance of “set and setting,” thorough psychological screening, and post-session integration to mitigate risks such as anxiety and emotional distress. Their findings highlight how poorly trained facilitators, who fail to provide these safeguards, risk causing significant harm.

Similarly, Carhart-Harris et al. (2018) explored the mechanisms of psychedelic therapy, stressing the importance of professional training to handle profound emotional and psychological experiences. Participants guided by skilled clinicians reported improved outcomes, while those lacking professional support were more likely to experience adverse effects.

Fletcher and Wallace (2021) analyzed the role of training in mitigating risks in psychedelic therapy. Their study found that practitioners who underwent accredited programs were better equipped to manage challenging sessions, demonstrating enhanced skills in risk assessment and crisis intervention compared to those without formal training.

Conclusion

The allure of quick facilitator certifications may tempt aspiring guides, but the consequences of inadequate training are far-reaching. Shortcut programs compromise participant safety, ethical integrity, and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. The worst-case outcomes have happened—people have died because incompetent drug dealers posed as medicine men, and some of these facilitators have gone to jail for causing deaths—all for the allure of quick money. Prospective guides must prioritize legitimate pathways—through Indigenous apprenticeships or accredited clinical programs—to ensure the highest standards of care.

For individuals seeking plant medicine experiences, due diligence is paramount. Verify the credentials of facilitators, prioritize small, well-screened groups, and seek integration support from licensed professionals. Psychedelics hold immense healing potential, but their power demands responsibility, competence, and respect.

Mike Bribeaux, LMFT, PhD Candidate in Integral Health, Founder, Warrior Child Healing

References

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Bolstridge, M., Rucker, J., Day, C. M., Erritzoe, D., Kaelen, M., … & Nutt, D. J. (2018). Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up. Psychopharmacology, 235(2), 399-408. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4771-x

Fletcher, J., & Wallace, B. (2021). Professional training in psychedelic therapy: A critical evaluation. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 31(4), 367-382. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000231

Johnson, M. W., Richards, W. A., & Griffiths, R. R. (2008). Human hallucinogen research: Guidelines for safety. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 22(6), 603-620. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881108093587

Winkelman, M. (2010). Shamanism: A biopsychosocial paradigm of consciousness and healing. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 42(4), 373-382. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2010.10400700