Psychedelic therapy

In this article, I share twelve personal experiences of people who have undergone a psychedelic session with truffles (psilocybin), LSD or MDMA. These stories - taken from Trip Therapy reviews posted on the trip forum - show how diverse, but often profound and healing such sessions can be. From common effects like emotional release and new insights to extraordinary transformations for trauma or depression, each experience offers hope, recognition and inspiration for those considering psychedelic therapy. Allow yourself to be included in their journey....

1. Accepting chronic pain with psilocybin

Ellen decided, after much hesitation, a psilocybin truffle session to do to learn to manage her chronic pain symptoms. She immediately chose a high dose of truffles, determined to take a big step and go into the session well prepared. Under the guidance of trip sitter Marcel she felt safe and understood from the beginning - Marcel clearly had a lot of experience and knew what she wanted to achieve. That familiar atmosphere allowed Ellen to fully letting go and let the process do its work.

During the trip, she felt that her brain was like a big cleaning held. All the burdensome thoughts and patterns cleared up as she was willing to let go of them. In her own words, it felt "Like a curse was taken from me - and that curse was not the pain itself but the eternal thought of the pain."(Full review) Although the physical pain was not immediately gone, she noticed over the following days that her automatic negative reaction patterns seemed to disappear. She still remembered how she reacted to the pain before the session, but the emotional weight with it was gone. Ellen refers to her session as a big step toward radical acceptance of her condition. She can deal with the pain much better now: it doesn't necessarily have to go away, and that realization feels like liberation. Where countless other therapies had little effect, this one truffle experience helped her break the "curse" of constant brooding thoughts. Ellen concludes her review by thanking Marcel - visibly grateful that she has finally found some peace in her mind despite the lingering pain.

2. Emotional release and secure attachment (LSD).

A subsequent experience illustrates how psychedelics can touch and heal deep childhood traumas. This client was struggling with burnout-like symptoms and a sense of being stuck. She felt constantly tired, anxious and emotionally disconnected, especially toward her parents. Because previous truffle experiences did not get to the core of her blockage, this time she chose a LSD session with Marcel in the familiar surroundings of her childhood home.

At the beginning of the trip, she first noticed the distinctive visual effects - intense colors and moving figures - and even laughed at her own grinding thoughts. But soon something deep broke: a wave of deep sorrow came loose. Instead of running away from it, she felt it fully through - an emotion that had apparently been stuck for a long time. The grief turned out to revolve around a very early experience: as a baby in the incubator, she had missed her mother. Under the influence of LSD, she relived that moment and was finally able to face the unprocessed trauma. At exactly that moment, she decided to ask her real mother, who was nearby, to join her. She laid her head on her mother's hand and felt like a small child again, finally receiving the security it so longed for. She described being "Finally safety, security and a natural form of relaxation" felt(Full review) - something she could not recall ever having experienced so deeply. In the trip, she even visualized an energetic umbilical cord between her and her mother, as if the secure adhesion took place at the time.

After this emotional breakthrough, she literally felt a gap to be filled that she had carried all her life. A few more waves of sadness and anxiety came up (related to later hospital experiences), but each time she was able to feel through them and let them go. Eventually, the chronic tension symptoms she felt daily disappeared completely. "All in all, a super nice and healing trip," he said. she concluded with relief (Full review). Afterwards, she went for a walk in the fresh air with her mother, Marcel and the dog - everything looked brighter than ever. Moreover, she had gained insights: she wanted to take better care of her body and start dancing again (tango!). The day ended festively with a dinner with her parents. This LSD session was intensely emotional but brought her exactly what she had come for: processing old grief, recovering a loss and regaining a deep sense of safety.

3. Complex trauma: as reborn by MDMA therapy

Psychedelic sessions with MDMA (or MDMA analogues) are often used for PTSD and trauma, and Joanna's story shows how powerful this can be. This client (from Germany) was struggling with complex PTSD after years of traumatic experiences. For eight years, she spent virtually bedridden through; all her energy was drained away by trauma and severe depression. Traditional therapies and medications offered little progress. Out of sheer desperation, she decided to try MDMA therapy at therapist Ronald - and she herself calls the result a miracle.

In all, she went through three intensive MDMA sessions, each followed by extensive integration therapy. The trips themselves were not "fun" or euphoric: rather, MDMA confronted her with the deep-seated pain and unpleasant images of her traumas, often in symbolic form. That was tough and emotional, but Ronald was by her side every second, giving just the right words of support. Thanks to that safe presence, she dared to go through the difficult moments. In her review, Joanna writes: "3x MDMA trip and 3x Integration ... bin ich wie neugeborn. Also für mich ist es ein Wunder," which means as much as: "After three MDMA trips and three integration sessions, I am like reborn. For me, it's a miracle." (Full review) The hard work - because it wasn't easy - has paid off. Years of repressed trauma have finally been processed and integrated.

Joanna especially emphasizes in her story the importance of integration after the trip. According to her, 30% was the trip itself and 70% was the intensive post-processing with Ronald that brought the real healing. During the integration sessions, Ronald used various therapeutic methods (such as psychodrama, Voice Dialogue and IFS) to give a place to all the surfaced images and emotions. Each session after the MDMA trip helped her understand the meaning and anchor lasting changes. She also felt supported outside the sessions: Ronald was accessible in case of an emergency, something that helped her immensely safety gave during this process. The results are impressive: after years of being virtually given up by doctors, she now feels practically cured. She gets up out of bed again, goes outside for walks, dares to drive a car, meets people again and enjoy life again (Full review). "Yes, for me it is a miracle," she concludes gratefully. Her story shows that even after years of darkness, MDMA therapy combined with good counseling can bring a surprising light.

4. Powerful transformation after one MDMA session

Even a single psychedelic session can be life-changing. Collin shared his experience after a MDMA session with Ronald about a week and a half later. He had done the session to treat persistent PTSD symptoms. Beforehand, he was nervous - he felt there was "a lot of fear and pain inside wanting to be processed" - but Ronald's calm presence and professionalism quickly put him at ease. Despite only knowing each other for an hour, Collin felt safe enough to surrender to the process.

The first phase of the experience was very intense. He felt a wave of anxiety rising, but because Ronald was there and calmly coached him through that phase, he was able to get through it without becoming overwhelmed. Soon the MDMA opened up a new way in his mind: an insightful space in which he saw that healing and finding your indestructible true self is really possible. He describes it as "One of the most powerful experiences of my life.", remarkably, "And I've done ayahuasca 6 times, so that's saying something." (Full review) So in a single session, things shifted that had not been achieved in six ayahuasca ceremonies - a testament to how deep MDMA therapy can go when you are stuck in therapy.

After the session, Collin immediately noticed positive changes: he slept better, felt more attentive and calm, and could concentrate better. Of course, negative emotions and thoughts still surfaced (after all, that's normal in life), but now he had tools to deal with them. He continued to work on himself daily - meditating, observing his thoughts - and suddenly saw much more clearly that underneath his anger and brooding was actually fear was hiding. That awareness was "transformative" for him.

Collin describes the MDMA session as a breakthrough which gives him hope for the future. Something has "undoubtedly shifted" inside, he says, and he plans to continue working on his recovery. For example, he has already scheduled two additional MDMA sessions, followed by a so-called "hippie flip" (a combination of MDMA with a psychedelic, probably psilocybin). Between sessions, he does IFS therapy to stay further integrated. Finally, he emphasizes that everyone at Trip Therapy is very professional and involved. For people stuck in therapy - so he advises - psychedelics can help tremendously, especially in the hands of therapists who know what they are doing and care about your well-being. His experience was in a word "powerfully transformative", and that in just one afternoon.

5. Truffle ceremony without fear, full of gratitude

An American participant, Dean, shared how his second psilocybin session made a world of difference compared to his first experience elsewhere. On his first time, he had participated in a group ceremony through another organization. While that in itself was positive, the group environment felt too crowded and confusing for him, which made him a bit insecure. Therefore, this time he opted for a one-on-one truffle therapy with Sascha as a tripsitter - and that turned out to be a hit.

Dean describes the session with Sascha as a huge positive experience, without any fear or confusion. In the preliminary interview, he felt comfortable sharing very personal questions and concerns, something he might not have dared to do in a group. That openness allowed him to drink the truffle tea with confidence. The trip itself he remembers as a "intensely beautiful musical experience, full of gratitude, with periods of sadness that I really welcomed." He had set clear intentions for what he wanted to get out of the session, and he felt afterwards that those intentions were piece by piece answered. Indeed, the sad moments felt healing; he could welcome them because he knew they were part of the process. At the same time, there were deep moments of gratitude and beauty that touched him.

At the end of the ride, Dean came out of the experience feeling like inner peace and presence that he had not known for a long time. Where the group ceremony had left him somewhat uncertain, he now felt truly seen and at ease. Sascha's professional and empathetic guidance made the difference, according to him. "Sascha is such a professional and empathetic therapist. I would highly recommend her," he wrote - and although he did so in English, the gist is clear: he would recommend Sascha to anyone. For him, this private session was simply the best experience so far, and he is extremely happy to have taken the step to individual counseling.

6. Overwhelming first trip, two life insights richer

For many people, the very first full psychedelic trip is something difficult to put into words. So too for a client who had her first psilocybin experience at Sascha did. She described that it was barely describe was what she experienced-so special and intense-but one thing she could easily put into words was the tremendous support from Sascha during each stage of her journey.

From the very first moment - the preparation - to the end and aftercare, "she was there for me, supporting me and guiding me every step of the way," she said. said the client. Sascha created a safe space where all emotions were allowed to be and where the client could fully trust her. That trust played a big role: "I found that I trusted her completely early on in the session, and that allowed me to go deeper into the trip, letting go of control and surrendering completely to the wisdom of the medicine," she said. she writes gratefully. Of course, the trip also had difficult moments - after all, psychedelics can overwhelming are when the full load of meaning comes at you. This client sometimes touched during the experience lost in frustration or fear, but each time Sascha managed to lead her back.

For example, she says: "When I got frustrated, Sascha patiently explained that I could trust the process and let go of my doubts. When I was crying, she sat next to me and held my hand. When I was terrified, she helped me embrace my fears. And when I lost it for a moment, she managed to make me laugh." Thanks to this empathetic guidance, the client did not lose sight of her goals. Where she might have lingered in confusion without the guide, Sascha helped her keep the common thread.

At the end of the day, she left the session room (a finely appointed loft) with two great insights about what she needs and how she wants to continue living. Those life lessons were exactly the outcomes she had hoped for - and she gives Sascha credit for helping uncover them. "She helped me make meaning out of an overwhelming experience at a time when I couldn't do it myself," she said. she explains. That, combined with the deep trust she gradually gained in her tripsitter, allowed her to get everything out of the session. She says: "I couldn't have wished for a better trip sitter. I am eternally grateful to her." So this first trip was not only an impressive inner journey, but also an example of how important good guidance is. The result is a young lady who walked out the door with renewed trust, valuable insights, and a heart full of gratitude toward her supervisor.

7. An extraordinary experience: "a gift from the Universe"

The 53-year-old Christine mentioned her psilocybin experience with tripsitter Janneke "extraordinary". She had wanted to do a truffle session for two years, inspired by what she had read about it, but it had never come about. Finally, in May 2025, she took the plunge. And although for a moment afterwards she thought "if only I had done this sooner," she soon realized that the timing was just right: this experience felt like a rare treasure. "Honestly, I don't regret waiting. It was a true treasure for me, a gift from the Universe," she wrote in awe.

What makes Christine's story extra special is that she originally speaks hardly any Dutch or English - she is French-speaking. Still, Janneke managed to create a familiar atmosphere. With hands-and-feet and the help of a translation app on the phone, they were able to understand each other well. "We understood each other perfectly," he said. Christine says, which immediately reassured her despite the language barrier. This allowed her to fully focus on her inner journey without worrying about miscommunication.

The session itself took place under excellent conditions: from beginning to end, Christine felt supported in all areas. Janneke helped her through the difficult moments and was ready with advice and caring. Christine felt safe enough to turn deep within. She does not share all the substantive details of her trip in the review, but the outcome is clear: She has Made discoveries that make her stronger. "I hope that in the future I can rely on everything I have discovered and experienced so that I feel stronger and can finally move forward in life the way I want to," she says. This indicates that she has gained important insights that have positively changed her perspective on life.

She also appreciates the holistic approach of Trip Therapy. She mentioned that the organization puts a lot of emphasis on exploring underlying causes of depression and addiction - such as diet and lifestyle - and that this is naturally part of healing. That had impressed her; she felt taken seriously as a person as a whole. The entire counseling process, from the initial intake to aftercare, was pleasant and clear ("no shady practices in backrooms or party drug scenes," as she describes it herself in a nod to her healthy critical attitude).

After this extraordinary session, Christine finally feels empowered to move on with her life. "You can really count on Janneke to be extraordinary," he said. she concludes her story praisingly. For someone who hesitated for so long to take the step, it is wonderful to see how she has drawn so much hope and strength from it.

Source: https://tripforum.nl/review-janneke/een-buitengewone-ervaring/

8. First psilocybin session: laughter, crying and insight

Another person who's got his very first shares truffle experiences, emphasizing how exciting but ultimately wonderful such a first time can be. Hannah (that's what we'll call her) booked at Joanna an individual psilocybin session. "July 4 did the very first psilocybin session at Janneke's house," she said. she writes, "I was very nervous but Janneke reassured me." That reassurance at the beginning made a big difference: talking quietly at first, getting explanations, and slowly getting used to the idea of what was to come. When she was ready, she was handed the truffle tea - and thus began her inner journey.

What followed describes Hannah as "very special!" She felt all kinds of things: intense joy and also sadness. "I laughed and cried a lot. Fantastic to go on such an inner journey!!!" she says enthusiastically. During the trip, she experienced deep emotional discharges (crying relieved) interspersed with moments of pure joy and even giggles at insights that surfaced. Janneke stayed close to her the whole time, caring and reassuring, which gave her the confidence to let everything come as it came. Once again showing how valuable the presence of a good tripsitter is - "All this time Janneke was there for me," he said. she says, "Very nice to experience this."

Afterwards, Hannah felt like she had experienced something really big. She calls it a "beautiful inner journey" and guess it everyone to do such a session. The insights she received were so beautiful that she wants more of them: "Very soon I will go again," he said. she writes expectantly. Clearly, this first experience not only relieved her of her anxiety, but also hunger for more self-discovery has given. She thanks Janneke profusely and is already looking forward to next time. This story shows that a first psychedelic experience, despite nerves beforehand, often results in exactly what is needed: letting go, feeling, laughing, crying - and looking at yourself with new eyes.

9. First MDMA therapy: learning that I am allowed to be there

Erik shared his experience with a MDMA therapy session under the guidance of Gijs. It was his very first time with MDMA in a therapeutic setting, and he describes it simply as "phenomenal". That one session brought him noticeably further along his path of healing, he says, and he plans to do another session in a few months because it was so valuable.

So what made this experience so special to Erik? First, he praises the intake and preparation. Gijs took extensive time for an open and honest conversation beforehand, in which Erik felt safe to share his story and goals. That non-judgmental, warm attitude of Gijs ensured that a bond of trust was established even before any substance was involved at all. Immediately prior to the MDMA intake, Erik noticed that Gus was down-to-earth and reassuring was present. He calls him "kind, personable and trustworthy," someone with whom you are immediately at ease. This proved crucial: during the session itself, it allowed Erik to allow someone to be with him while he went through old pain worked around - something he might otherwise have found scary.

The MDMA session itself gave Erik exactly the insight he needed. He describes it as putting a "next step in my healing", and more specifically: it gave him a fundamental understanding that he was there may be. "It has given me a fundamental realization that I can be there, that I can exist," he said. he explains, something I didn't have before and questioned daily. That is a huge breakthrough moment for someone who may have always walked around with self-doubt or a sense of worthlessness. The realization "I may exist." sounds so basic, but can run deep when you haven't really felt it for years. Thanks to the MDMA and the safe setting, Erik could not only rationally understand that insight, but really feel it in his fibers.

Consequently, after the session, he felt relieved of a burden. He found it "very rewarding and helpful." Gijs' guidance during and after the trip helped him to get everything right integrate. The presence of a trusted therapist beside him as he worked through old pain made him not run away from it but through it. Erik therefore thanks Gijs for the support and looks forward to another time to grow even more. His story underscores that MDMA therapy can help people self-acceptance to be found at a level that talking alone sometimes does not reach.

10. Facing fears: not a quick fix, but a mirror

Robin already had a long history of anxiety symptoms and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). Fascinated by all the books and documentaries about psilocybin, he decided - not overnight - to experience it for himself. After much consideration, weighing and reading, he booked a individual truffle trip at Gijs, whose profile appealed to him. Right away it felt right: Gijs asked the right questions in the preparation and above all he listened a lot. During the session and afterwards he stayed in the background with the occasional question or remark that made Robin think. Robin clearly felt in capable hands - the guidance was knowledgeable and pleasant - but in the end, of course, he had to fight the inner battle himself.

And that battle came. He honestly admits that he may have wrong expectations had from his trip. Secretly he hoped that all his fears would dissolve like snow in the sun and then he would go through life free of fear. It wasn't that simple. Instead, during the trip he got all his fears at once visiting. Phobias, bad thoughts, panic feelings - everything presented itself, sometimes so intense that he found it very scary. But this time, under the influence of psilocybin, he could not run away from it as he normally always did. With background support, he learned something essential: stick with the fear. He looked at his fears one by one and just let them be there, no matter how grim it felt. And then something remarkable happened: these moments of deep fear alternated with very beautiful, warm feelings Of connection and oneness with the world around him. As if he received a wave of light after every wave of darkness. He aptly says that it cannot actually be put into words - such an experience of oneness - but that it was immensely comforting.

Afterwards, Robin had to admit that he had no "quick fix" had received for his anxiety disorder. But perhaps that was exactly the lesson. "I'm glad I took this step, even though it hasn't given me the quick fix I was hoping for," he said. he writes. "I also think a quick fix is not possible; it's about how you deal with thoughts and fears. And in that, I did go through a change." In the days following the trip, he noticed that the anxiety had not magically disappeared - in fact, he still felt a bit unsettled - but he did have a kind of endorsement experienced: the confirmation that he can simply let his fears and thoughts exist, without constantly fighting them or running away from them. He does not have to constantly correct, control or mute them. That insight alone is invaluable in dealing with anxiety: allowing rather than suppressing.

Robin ends his review with a thank you to Trip Therapy and Gus for the beautiful, special experience. And he adds a wise message for other people struggling with anxiety: "Don't shy away from your fears and thoughts, but don't make them bigger than they are either. A trip session is not a quick fix or panacea. It 'merely' holds up a mirror to you." With those mirror he means that the psychedelic experience confronts you with yourself - both the light and the dark - and that that gives you the opportunity to learn from it. As such, his story is an honest look into what psychedelics yes and no can do: they are not a magic solution, but they can give you insight and show you exactly what you can work on.

11. Private MDMA session: safe guidance and lasting insights

Kasia, an active member on the forum, shared her experience with a private MDMA session under the guidance of Reineke. For her, this was her third time using MDMA therapeutically - the first two times she had done it in a group setting. It is precisely this comparison between a group and an individual session that makes her story interesting. Indeed, she indicated that this private experience was exactly what she needed.

Beforehand, Reineke held a preparatory video call (Zoom call) with Kasia a week before the session to go over her intentions and discuss practical issues. That thorough preparation put Kasia very at ease. She was able to calmly explain what she hoped to achieve and ask all her questions. On the day itself, the session felt "intense (in a positive sense)" to her. MDMA can be quite intense emotionally and physically, but Kasia stressed that she felt felt safe, supported and well cared for at all times By Reineke. "I felt safe, supported and taken care of by Reineke at all times," he said. said Kasia - she just knew she had the right person beside her to guide her through this process.

During the trip itself, Kasia probably gained deep personal insights (she does not describe them all verbatim, but she does describe their effects). In the days after the session new insights and life lessons kept trickling in. She speaks of important, life-changing realizations that came to the surface - things that, according to her would never have been possible without these psychedelic experience and without Reineke's shared knowledge and wisdom. That combination was golden. Kasia discovered that a good tripsitter is not just there to keep you safe, "But about contributing to your journey and to what happens after." In other words, a facilitator adds something to your journey in the moment, but also in how you can move forward with what you've learned afterwards. "A good tripsitter not only ensures safety, but contributes to your trip as well as what happens after," as she beautifully puts it. In her case, Reineke was exactly the right person at the right time: knowledgeable, warm and compassionate.

Kasia concludes her story with: "To me Reineke was just the person I needed for this trip. Thank you 🙂 🌺 ❤️" The happiness and gratitude radiated from it. She was able to take a leap forward in her personal growth with this private MDMA therapy, thanks in part to the dedicated guidance. Her experience shows that individual attention during a psychedelic session really makes the difference for some - especially if you've tried a group before and found you needed more personal focus. Moreover, she highlights how insights still long after the session can unfold, something many people recognize: the trip is the seed, but in the days and weeks after it really blossoms in your consciousness. With the help of someone like Reineke, Kasia was able to take full advantage of that blossoming.

12. After years of depression: a breakthrough and renewed hope

Our last example is the story of K.M., a 53-year-old woman who had struggled with recurring depression for decades. In January 2025, she decided - after much deliberation - to have a individual psilocybin session to do with Reineke as a facilitator. She had been following the scientific developments on psilocybin for depression for years, but the step to experience it herself remained exciting. Eventually she overcame her hesitation and on Jan. 22 the session took place. She calls her experience with Trip Therapy "very good". Everything, from initial contact to follow-up afterward, went pleasant and clear. It was clearly not a floaty or uncontrolled state, but a professional setting she felt safe in (she jokes that there were no "shady backroom deals" or "party-drug scenes" involved - something she may have feared beforehand).

Because K.M. herself found it quite exciting to do so, she describes in detail how the support went. Both the preparation, guidance during the trip, as well as aftercare were excellent. The organization gave her many tips, and she stresses how important it is to prepare yourself well and have the right mindset -. "Don't underestimate the importance of your own good preparation and attitude," he said. she says wisely. For example, she herself had arranged to travel to the location the night before the session so that she did not have to be stressed in the morning rush hour. She also stayed overnight at the location the night after the session because she felt "completely mint" after the trip (completely empty and tired in a good way). This is the kind of practical advice she likes to pass on to others: take the time and space around it, so you're not rushed.

About the session itself and the effects afterwards, K.M. notes all kinds of special changes. Thus, her sense of time changed completely - moments sometimes seemed timeless. The night after the trip she slept "weirdly," a kind of dreamy waking and sleeping at the same time. She felt many physical sensations during the trip: hot, cold, sweating, heaviness in the body, no hunger or thirst in the first part of the session. (All normal phenomena under psilocybin, and she experienced them as part of the process.) Surprisingly, she found that the next day she was totally no hangover or down feeling, which she might have expected. She did feel woozy and not very sharp that day after - driving or operating appliances was not a good idea, she warns (tip: plan the day after your session off!). She also had a mild headache and a kind of tingling in her head throughout the day, as if something in her brain had been gently stimulated (she compares it to the feeling of a feather across your skin, but inside your head - an interesting detail). Furthermore, she noticed a change in her tastes and urges: for example, she had up to 10 days after the session no appetite for coffee (which she normally liked to drink) and still didn't want to eat too heavy or fatty foods. It seems like the psilocybin also gave her body some kind of reset in what it needed; even mushrooms as food suddenly tasted much stronger.

But most importantly: the conclusions and results of this truffle therapy were downright positive. "The trip therapy with psilocybin was a good move for me," he said. writes K.M. satisfied. "It was a beautiful and nice experience, I am very happy with it, it has done me a lot of good. Am a lot less gloomy." She does feel mentally "10 pounds lighter" - So much burden has been lifted from her. She has gained many insights and observations about herself. The effect is hard to put into words, she says, but it is still there on March 18, 2025 (i.e., almost two months later!). "In short: a hefty and substantial improvement," he said. she concludes, "I'm beginning to have hope again. And I haven't been this fit for so long in a row in years." That is perhaps the greatest outcome you can wish for: that someone who has been in the grip of depression for so long finally feels hope again and feels better for a long time than she has been in years.

K.M. is so pleased that she definitely plans to do this to repeat once again - possibly still this year, otherwise next year. Her story is a powerful conclusion to this series of examples. It shows that even after a long-standing depression one well-executed psychedelic session can be a breakthrough. Of course, it's not magic: she stresses that guidance and the process around it are crucial, and that it's important to give yourself the right conditions. But when everything falls into place, such an experience can literally help someone out of the darkness. In her case, the reward is clear: less gloom, more insight, and most importantly hope again To a future that feels lighter.

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Final thoughts: Together, these twelve stories provide a wonderful, nuanced picture of what psychedelic sessions can bring. Common themes stand out: almost everyone describes a feeling of safety and trust thanks to counseling, which enabled them to go deep. Many experienced a form of emotional release - whether tears of sadness or laughter of relief - allowing stuck emotions to finally flow. Also, the word "insight" pops up again and again: insights into themselves, into life, into traumas or patterns they didn't see or feel before. Sometimes they are small realizations ("I need to take better care of myself") and sometimes life-changing revelations ("I am allowed to be as I am"). And almost everyone is incredibly grateful to the guidance - whether it was Marcel, Ronald, Sascha, Janneke, Gijs or Reineke - for the personal attention, professionalism and warmth during the trip.

At the same time, it is clear that each experience is unique. Where some have ecstatic feelings of oneness, others go through fearful hallucinations; where some feel immediate relief from symptoms, others see it more as the beginning of a process going forward after the session (with integration, further therapy, etc.). What they have in common is that none of these people regret their move - on the contrary. Almost all of them speak of hope, of a positive turnaround or at least the feeling of finally moving forward after being stuck for a long time. Psychedelic therapy, of course, is not a quick fix or panacea, as Robin nicely said, but the holds up a mirror to you and opens doors that were previously closed. Through those doors these twelve people went, each in their own way, and they came back with stories that teach us something very valuable: namely, that there are always new opportunities for growth and healing, no matter how hopeless it may sometimes seem.

Are you yourself about to make a psychedelic session to consider? Hopefully these personal experiences will offer you some courage and insight. It is normal to be nervous or have doubts - some of them did. But as you've read, in the right setting, the outcome can be truly extraordinary. Be well informed, prepare mentally and physically, choose a counselor with whom you feel safe, and above all: open up for what comes, without too many expectations. Then chances are you, like these twelve people, will take home something that will positively redirect your life - whether it is the relief of a "curse," finally feeling security, or simply renewed hope. You are not alone; others went before you and are happy to share their light with you.