This five-part video series offers a clear and accessible introduction to psychedelics. Whether you are preparing for a retreat, curious about how psychedelics work, or seeking guidance on preparation or integration, these videos provide a structured foundation.
Across the series, we explore what psychedelics are, how they affect the mind and brain, and why they are such meaningful tools for transformation. We also look at how to prepare for a psychedelic journey, how to integrate an experience afterwards, how to understand challenging moments, and how psychedelics interact with trauma and emotional material. Each video blends psychological insight, scientific context, and practical guidance.
If you are considering joining one of our retreats, preparing for one, or simply want to expand your understanding about psychedelics, this series will help you step into the process with more confidence, openness, and emotional readiness.
1.
What are Psychedelics?
The Big Picture
This introductory video explores what psychedelics are, how they work, and why they have become meaningful tools in personal growth and therapeutic research. It provides an overview of the different kinds of psychedelics, and of how these substances affect the brain – particularly the default mode network and broader patterns of connectivity – and why these changes can open emotional insight, soften rigid patterns, or reveal deeper layers of the self.
We also explore their historical and cultural context, from their use by Indigenous Peoples to modern Euro-American scientific research. The video emphasises that psychedelics are powerful but not magical. They are tools that require preparation, safety, and respect. This is an essential starting point for anyone seeking a clear, grounded understanding before watching the rest of the series.
2.
Psychedelic Preparation:
How to Prepare Safely and Reduce Risk
This video offers a practical, supportive guide to preparing for a psychedelic journey. Preparation is not about controlling the experience; it’s about creating the inner and outer conditions that help you meet whatever arises in a safe and grounded way. We explore set and setting – your mindset, emotions, expectations, environment, and the people supporting you – and why these factors shape the experience as much as the substance itself.
The video also explains the difference between intentions and expectations, how to prepare emotionally, and how to reduce overstimulation before the journey. It includes guidance on creating a safe physical space, recognising when not to take psychedelics, and preparing for challenging experiences in a more grounded way.
3.
Integrating a Psychedelic Experience:
Turning Insight into Change
This video explores the essential process of psychedelic integration: how to take the insights, emotions, and experiences from a psychedelic journey and bring them into daily life. Integration is where the transformation takes root. The video explains why integration is crucial, drawing on psychological research and neuroscience to show how a psychedelic experience only becomes transformative when one works on how to integrate it into everyday life in a grounded and embodied way.
We look at practical ways to integrate your experience, including journaling, creative expression, community sharing, and therapeutic support. We also discuss the importance of slowing down, avoiding big decisions too quickly, and giving emotional material the space it needs.
4.
Challenging Psychedelic Experiences:
Understanding and Navigating Difficult Moments
Challenging psychedelic experiences are not signs of failure. Instead, they are often signs that something meaningful is emerging. This video explains why difficult moments arise, how to distinguish a genuinely unsafe experience from a challenging but healthy process, and how to navigate intensity with grounding and support.
We explore themes such as shadow work, surfacing emotions, ego resistance, and the role of set and setting. We’ll also look at practical strategies for stabilising yourself during difficult moments and how integration transforms discomfort into long-term growth.
5.
Psychedelics and Trauma Healing:
How Deep Healing Unfolds Safely
Psychedelics can support profound trauma healing, but only when approached with safety, grounding, and proper support. This video explains how psychedelics amplify emotions and sensations, why old trauma patterns may surface, and what is needed to navigate the process without overwhelm.
We explore the difference between emotional release and true resolution, the importance of pacing, and how trauma healing often requires a relational container. You’ll also learn how integration transforms the psychedelic experience into long-term growth and why sometimes it’s best to wait until you are internally in a stable place before working with psychedelics.
Psilocybin Retreat in the Netherlands
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Legal Note
Taking psychedelic truffles in our retreats is subject to a registration process. Please consult the FAQs for a list of contraindications. Conscious Growth does not offer therapy or treatment for physical or mental health conditions during the retreats.
In accordance with Dutch law, we use exclusively psilocybin truffles that are legal across the country. You can read more about the legal aspect here.
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