When Your Guide Loses Their Way

Q: I recently had a psilocybin ceremony that left me feeling deeply unsettled because of how my guide handled things. I’m not sure if what happened was a violation or if I’m the one out of line. How do I know if my experience with a guide was actually problematic? And if it is, what do I do?

A: First, thank you for reaching out about this important topic. In ceremony, you are in one of the most vulnerable states a human being can occupy, and what you felt in that space deserves to be taken seriously. The fact that you are questioning this rather than pushing it aside tells me your inner compass is doing its job; that is a great place to begin.

There is a real distinction worth making. Psychedelic work is uncomfortable by nature, and can sometimes feel scary, triggering, or disorienting. That kind of discomfort is not only normal, it is often where the deepest transformation starts. What we are looking for is the difference between the discomfort of the journey and the discomfort of feeling unsafe with another person.

Some things worth sitting with: Did your guide remain emotionally grounded when you were not? Were your boundaries respected? Did any interactions feel confusing or unwanted, or like something you did not explicitly agree to beforehand? Did you feel seen as an individual, or managed through someone else’s agenda? Were you left alone for long stretches? Did anything feel coercive? If any of that resonates, you have a legitimate complaint.

Sorting Through What Happened

Give yourself a little time. Ceremony experiences continue to unfold after the medicine clears. Journaling, time outside, and honest conversation with someone you trust can bring clarity. Take notes. Working with a therapist or integration coach who understands psychedelic experiences can help you sort out what happened.

If You Want to Talk to Your Guide Directly

Sometimes the most important conversation is the hardest one. If you feel called to speak with your guide directly, go into the conversation grounded and prepared.

Write out your experience and feelings first. Get clear with yourself about what you remembered happened, how it affected you, and what you are asking for. Are you looking for acknowledgment, an apology, a better understanding of their reasoning, or something more? Knowing what you need before you walk in changes everything. If an in-person conversation feels like too much, you could write a letter or email. It lets you say exactly what you mean without being interrupted or talked out of your own experience, and it creates a record.

Consider having a third-party present. Their presence can steady the space if emotions run high and provide a witness to what is said. Pay close attention to how your guide receives what you share. A person of genuine integrity can hear difficult feedback without becoming defensive or dismissive. And, pay close attention to your body’s signals and messages.

Accountability Resources

If you know who trained your facilitator, consider reaching out to their mentor or teacher. Lineages in this work carry real responsibility, and an ethical teacher will want to know someone they trained has caused harm and help hold them responsible. If your ceremony involved more than one facilitator or your guide works within an organization, reaching out to discuss or explore their formal complaint process is a reasonable next step.

If your facilitator holds a license in another field such as a therapist, nurse, or teacher, their licensing board is also an avenue available to you. You do not have to mention the medicine at all. If you are in Oregon and the incident occurred under the state-licensed psilocybin program, you can make a report through Oregon Health Authority. If it was outside of a regulated space, organizations like the Chacruna Institute’s Council for the Protection of Sacred Plant Medicines, the Psychedelic Safety Institute, and Fireside Project are designed to listen and connect you to next steps for support.

When Law Enforcement Becomes Necessary

There are situations where community accountability is not enough. Sexual assault, physical harm, theft, and predatory behavior are matters for law enforcement regardless of the context in which they occurred.

Not every difficult experience points to wrongdoing, and not every unsettled feeling resolves cleanly. What matters is that you take your own experience seriously enough to look at it honestly. That is already an act of courage, and it is exactly the right place to start.

Have questions about navigating psychedelics? Send them to Mary@Myco.Vision for future columns.

This article appears in the Source July 23, 2026.