Safety, risks, and contraindications of psychedelics

Psychedelics require careful attention

Psychedelics can open up profound, valuable, and sometimes even life-changing experiences. At the same time, they are powerful substances that act as a magnifying lens for deep psychological and emotional processes. Like any powerful tool, psychedelics also come with risks and require careful preparation and attention to context.

In today’s world, where psychedelics are receiving increasing media attention, I sometimes see a one-sided narrative emerging: as if psychedelics are a quick fix for personal growth, or a standalone solution for deep psychological suffering.

That’s not how I view psychedelics, nor how I approach my work

Psychedelics Are Not a Quick Fix

About my approach

Psychedelics can offer valuable insights and shifts in perspective, but they are not a quick or standalone solution for psychological, emotional, or existential challenges.

The quality of an experience is strongly shaped by preparation, context, and integration. Without this supportive framework, an experience can become confusing or overwhelming, or it may feel meaningful in the moment but lead to little lasting change in daily life. That framework is exactly where my focus lies.

I always work within a carefully structured process that, depending on the person, can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

This means that in my practice:

  • I always start with an introductory meeting and screening to assess suitability
  • I exclusively work with (legal in the Netherlands) psilocybin truffles
  • I do not offer single truffle sessions, only guided processes or trajectories
  • I place strong emphasis on preparation before the truffle session
  • I am transparent about what I can and cannot offer as a guide
  • I never present my services as therapy
  • I pay close attention to emotional safety during the experience
  • I always conclude the process with an integration session
  • I work in a trauma-sensitive and culturally aware way, with a strong focus on safety, context, and each person’s unique background

How safe are psilocybin truffles?

Physical safety

In healthy individuals without relevant medical or psychological contraindications, psilocybin truffles are generally considered to carry a low physical risk. The substance is non-addictive and differs significantly from stimulants or depressants.

Stress response

Psychedelics can temporarily have an intense effect on subjective experience and the stress response. In some cases, this may involve an increased heart rate or physical tension, particularly when anxiety or overwhelm arises.

For this reason, I do not work with individuals who have severe or unstable cardiovascular conditions, or a history of epileptic seizures.

Psychological vulnerability

The main risks of psychedelics are not primarily physical, but psychological in nature.

Therefore, I cannot offer guidance in cases of severe or complex psychological conditions, such as PTSD or early childhood trauma, severe mood or anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, psychotic vulnerability, or a previous psychotic episode (or a strong family history of psychosis). In such cases, the internal load can become too intense, or existing symptoms may be exacerbated.

The period following a psychedelic experience often requires careful integration. When there are more complex underlying issues, this process can call for more intensive or specialised support that falls outside the scope of my work. For this reason, I do not work with individuals with complex mental health conditions.

Although truffles are small, they can be remarkably powerful in their effects!

Contraindications for the use of truffles

and for independent use of the online Toolkit

In my work, safety is always central. This means I carefully assess what is and is not appropriate for each person, including through an intake and screening process.

In some cases, this also means that I advise people not to work with psychedelics (yet), and I am not able to guide them on a journey.

This is not a rejection of the person, but a conscious responsibility-based choice — both for the safety of the individual, and for safeguarding the integrity of the psychedelic field. The fact that we can work with psychedelics in a guided context in the Netherlands is something unique and valuable, but also something that requires care and responsibility.

During intake and screening, I assess whether participation is appropriate and safe. When one or more of the following factors are present, this may mean that in these cases, I cannot offer guidance, and I do not recommend independent use of the Toolkit.

  • Use of psychiatric medication (such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilisers)
  • A personal or family history of psychosis, schizophrenia, or other severe psychiatric or dissociative disorders
  • A history of epileptic seizures
  • Severe or untreated anxiety or mood disorders
  • High blood pressure / hypertension
  • A history of cardiovascular disease
  • Severe liver or kidney conditions
  • Neurological conditions affecting sensory or cognitive processing
  • Periods of acute stress, grief, or emotional instability
  • An unstable or unsafe living environment
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding

If you are using any form of medication, for any reason, it is important to consult a medical professional in advance about potential risks and interactions with psychedelics.

Age & physical resilience

In psychedelic experiences, both physical and mental resilience play an important role. Psychedelics can temporarily increase sensitivity to bodily sensations and intensify emotional experience and stress responses. This may affect, among other things, heart rate, blood pressure, emotional intensity, and overall physiological load.

For participants aged 65 and over, I therefore always require a medical statement from a physician confirming that there are no contraindications to participation and that physical resilience is sufficient for an experience of this intensity. It is not necessary to go into detail about the nature of the session; the assessment focuses on overall health and suitability for a temporary, intensive psycho-physical experience.

This is not a judgment about age, but a precautionary measure to ensure that the body is able to safely handle this type of psycho-physical stress.

This page is intended to provide clarity about what safe and appropriate work with psychedelics means in my practice.

If you are unsure whether a 1-on-1 session is right for you, I am happy to explore that together during a non-committal introductory call.