According to Gael, one thing you might ask yourself before taking psychedelics is whether you are using them with the intent to “escape” a particular emotion or situation. “That is typically a good indication that you may want to focus on tending to your emotional and psychological health through therapy or other types of support…

Throughout its 10 years of incubation at MAPS, Zendo Project has cared for more than 6,500 individuals across four continents and served as a visionary model for compassionate psychedelic response. Zendo’s approach has inspired individuals and organizations all over the world to organize similar initiatives in their own communities.

Naropa University, the birthplace of the modern mindfulness movement and one of the nation’s only higher education institutions grounded in a contemplative teaching approach, today announced the separation and renaming of the Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies (NCPS) from the university. The newly independent venture, the Memoru Center for Visionary Healing Arts, is a collaboration…

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has partnered with the City and County of Denver to provide comprehensive training on psychedelic crisis assessment and intervention to the city’s first responders. The Psychedelic Crisis Assessment and Intervention training was commissioned by the Denver Psilocybin Mushroom Policy Review Panel (DPMPRP), a first-of-its-kind panel that was formed…

While Gael is unfamiliar with Enosis, she said its technology could hold promise if used in “client-centered” ways. This means avoiding overstimulation. VR has the potential to flood a person with stimuli like light, noise, color, and movement, which can undermine a patient’s natural ability to interpret the sensations of their trip. An over-the-top VR…

‘If you have underlying mental health concerns or are experiencing depression, anxiety, or any medical issues, talk to a psychedelic-friendly therapist or doctor before taking substances,’ advises Sara Gael, director of harm reduction at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) in the United States.

The Zendo Project’s approach to working with challenging psychedelic experiences is rooted in the philosophies and principles of harm reduction. We aim to invite honest conversations about drug use which facilitate understanding and change the way we respond to those in need of support. We advocate for a compassionate response informed by clinical research and…

But as festivals around the world attract more and more people, Sara Gael hopes that calls for broader social cohesion—and harm reduction—will prevail in the United States, too.