The Harsh Truth About Being a Psychedelic Facilitator

August 14, 2025

Why So Many Psychedelic Guides Struggle: Burnout, Hustle & the Reality Check of Psychedelic Space Holding

**Possible trigger warning (or at least an “I may upset you” warning)**

There’s nothing like a burnt-out psychedelic facilitator.

Personally, I’d be devastated to pay $1000–$3000 for a psychedelic therapy session with someone who’s fried, checked out, or just going through the motions. Same if I showed up to a $250–$500 ceremony with a space holder who’s beaten down or half present to hold the container.

It’s been interesting to see how many underground psychedelic facilitators have joined the new cohort of my Group Mastermind Program to grow their business beyond just holding psychedelic space.

And it’s also been interesting to see how many more filled out my Exploratory Call application, answered all the questions, got on a call, shared their heart… and then didn’t get support… mostly because of their finances. (And, my coaching programs are very accessible compared to most other experienced business coaches who actually know what they’re doing).

Struggling does not serve the facilitator. And it definitely does NOT serve the participants.

As I’ve been saying for years, “trip sitting is not a good business”. I even recorded this podcast episode called “Why ‘Trip Sitting’ Isn’t a Good Business” many years ago.

This isn’t coming from someone who’s anti-psychedelics. Clearly I’m FAR from it. Psychedelics have had a profound impact on me for over 30 years, and entheogenic plant medicines literally saved my life. Of course I’m a fan of the medicines, the movement, and the people doing this necessary and important work.

And yes… for some people, being a psychedelic guide IS their true soul’s calling. They’re meant for it.

For others… maybe not. Only you can know your own soul’s path, right?

I get the draw to psychedelic facilitation. It’s exciting. You’re helping people. You love psychedelics. And to some, it looks like “easy money” at $1000–$4000 for a session. Yes, that’s the going rate for private psychedelic therapy above or underground, but I’ve seen it as low as $400 and as high as $40,000.

So you start guiding. You make a difference in people’s lives. You feel good being of service.

Until… you don’t.

Maybe you’re burned out.

Maybe you’ve hit the feast-or-famine cycle.

Maybe your network of potential clients is tapped out.

Maybe the demand for you has dropped now that the supply of facilitators has exploded.

Maybe you realize you have no idea how to consistently get clients and you can’t really “market” your underground business without taking risks.

(Although, yes, I’ve gotten Facebook event invites to Bufo ceremonies and ayahuasca retreats that are not yet legal in the US… WTH!)

So then comes the hustle.

Let’s be real: all entrepreneurs hustle at some point. Even psychedelic space holders. I’ve seen people cold-offer their services or plant medicine retreats to folks who didn’t even ask. (Have you seen this too?)

And, yes, I’m a coach, and I don’t hide the fact that I put my offers out there for people to join or buy. That’s traditionally called marketing.

Recently I saw a Facebook post from someone in the psychedelic space complaining about “all the coaches” and “all their offers” overwhelming their nervous system.

The irony? This same person sells microdosing programs, psychedelic facilitation, and her medicine retreats.

(Ummm, someone selling psychedelic sessions IS THE SAME THING as me selling coaching!)

Here’s the thing: if what you see online overwhelms you, that’s your nervous system telling you something. Regulate it. Turn off social media for a bit.

Reality check: every single business on earth “sells” and “markets.” Even psychedelic guides and retreat centers.

And right now, there are more psychedelic guides than ever out there… and there will only be more.

That’s beautiful and needed in this world full of trauma, grief, disconnection, isolation, and lack of connection to Earth, Source, inner knowing, ancestors, spirit guides, teachers, and beings from beyond.

AND… let’s not pretend it’s not the wild west out there in the psychedelic space.

I’m not here to judge what’s right or wrong. You’re a sovereign human. You get to choose.

I’m just pointing out what I’ve noticed, after years of coaching in the transformational and psychedelic space:

If you want to truly serve through this work, you need a sustainable business. One that supports you financially, energetically, and spiritually.

And sometimes… that means trip sitting alone isn’t the business model that will get you there.

Here are some Medicine For These Times podcast episodes with experts in the psychedelic space whom I know and trust…we discuss about the challenges, rewards and realities of psychedelic therapy, facilitation and space holding:

Tricia Eastman: Seeding Consciousness: Plant Medicine, Ancestral Wisdom & Psychedelic Initiation and Psychedelic Facilitation and Initiation