24: Elevating Safety in Your Psychedelic Practice w/Erica Siegal

Erica Siegal discusses the challenges and opportunities in the psychedelic space, focusing on harm reduction, support for survivors, and the need for infrastructure and standards. She emphasizes the importance of slowing down the growth of the industry to ensure safety and ethical practice. Erica also highlights the blind spots of facilitators and the need for comprehensive training and community support. The conversation delves into the challenges of giving and receiving feedback in the psychedelic facilitation space, the importance of accountability and ethical guidelines, and the need for transparency and financial stewardship in retreat centers. It also explores the nuances of pricing, the significance of intentionality and care in creating a nurturing space, and the future of the psychedelic space with a focus on compassion, grace, and connection.

This podcast is primarily for psychedelic coaches, facilitators, retreats, and clinic teams wanting to elevate their standards of care.

** KEY TAKEAWAYS **

• The need for infrastructure and standards in the psychedelic space to ensure safety and ethical practice
• The importance of slowing down the growth of the industry to prevent harm and ensure comprehensive training and community support
• The blind spots of facilitators and the need for comprehensive training and community support Effective feedback and repair in the psychedelic facilitation space is challenging but essential for growth and community repair.
• The need for accountability measures, ethical guidelines, and transparency in retreat centers to ensure safety and trust within the psychedelic space.
• The significance of intentionality, care, and attention to detail in creating a nurturing and supportive space for psychedelic experiences.
• The future of the psychedelic space should be guided by compassion, grace, understanding, flexibility, creativity, and connection.
• The importance of financial stewardship, pricing models, and community-based review systems in the psychedelic facilitation and retreat center space.

** CHAPTERS **
0:00  Intro
1:15  Erica's background in harm reduction
5:20  Challenges in the current psychedelic space
10:45  Why Erica created Shine Support for psychedelic survivors 
15:30  Common challenges faced by facilitators 
21:45  Blindspots and power dynamics facilitators should be aware of
28:15  Importance of giving/receiving feedback as a facilitator
34:30  Considering your decision matrix as a facilitator
39:40  Finding mentorship and continuing education 
46:20  Realistic caseloads and scheduling for facilitators
51:10  Importance of hospitality and attention to detail at retreats
57:45  Financial transparency and ethical pricing models 
1:02:00  Future accountability measures and credentialing

** KEY LINKS **
Shine Support
Nest Harm Reduction