What is the fastest way to get psychedelic crisis support right now?

Call or text the Fireside Project at 62-FIRESIDE (623-473-7433) for immediate psychedelic-specific peer support. For a psychiatric or mental health emergency, call 988. For a medical emergency (physical symptoms: seizure, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulty), call 911. The Fireside Project is available during and after psychedelic experiences and does not involve law enforcement or mandatory reporting.

What is an integration therapist and how do I find one?

An integration therapist is a licensed mental health professional trained to help people process and apply insights from psychedelic experiences. They do not guide psychedelic sessions (which is typically illegal outside approved research) but provide before and after support. Directories for finding integration-informed therapists include Psychedelic.Support, the MAPS practitioner network, and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies clinician directory.

What is the Zendo Project?

The Zendo Project is a non-profit harm reduction organization (founded with MAPS support) that provides psychedelic peer support at festivals and events and trains volunteers in compassionate crisis support. Their four core principles — create a safe space, sit not guide, trust the process, and difficult is not the same as bad — have become widely adopted in the field. Zendo is present at events like Burning Man and Lightning in a Bottle.

Are there free support resources if I cannot afford therapy?

Yes. The Fireside Project is free. Community integration circles (often offered by harm reduction organizations and psychedelic societies) are typically free or sliding-scale. PsychonautWiki, Erowid, and TripSit offer extensive free harm reduction information. MAPS' community forums provide peer support. For mental health crises more broadly, 988 and the Crisis Text Line are free 24/7 services.

📋 Support Resources for Psychedelic Crisis

Q: What is an integration circle?

An integration circle is a group support meeting where people share and process their psychedelic experiences in a structured, facilitated format. They are distinct from therapy groups (not clinical) and from recreational discussion groups — the focus is on meaningful reflection, community support, and applying insights to life. Integration circles are offered by harm reduction organizations, psychedelic societies, and community groups in many cities and online.

A comprehensive directory of organizations, hotlines, communities, and professional resources for psychedelic crisis support and integration.

🚨 Medical emergency: Call 911. Psychological crisis: Fireside Project 1-623-473-7433 | 988 Crisis Lifeline.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational and harm reduction purposes only. Not medical or legal advice.

Professional Organizations

MAPS — Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

Website: maps.org | The leading nonprofit funding psychedelic research and developing medical, legal, and cultural contexts for psychedelics.

Zendo Project harm reduction program
MAPS-trained therapist referral network
Research participation opportunities
Integration support guidelines (free download)
Clinical trial information for MDMA-assisted therapy and psilocybin research

Fireside Project

Phone: 1-623-473-7433 | Website: firesideproject.org | Hours: 7 days/week, 3 PM–3 AM Pacific

The primary US peer support line dedicated to psychedelic experiences. Free, confidential, staffed by trained peer supporters with lived experience. Available by call or text.

Zendo Project

Website: zendoproject.org | MAPS-affiliated harm reduction program providing on-site support at festivals and events, plus training programs for harm reduction volunteers.

DanceSafe

Website: dancesafe.org | Harm reduction nonprofit focused on the festival and nightlife community. Offers drug testing kits, educational materials, and on-site event presence.

Psychedelic Support

Website: psychedelic.support | The largest directory of therapists, coaches, and guides specializing in psychedelic-assisted work and integration support. Searchable by location and specialty.

Crisis Hotlines with Hours

Fireside Project: 1-623-473-7433 — Daily 3 PM–3 AM Pacific
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 — 24/7
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 — 24/7
SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 — 24/7, treatment referrals
Veterans Crisis Line: 988 then press 1 — 24/7
Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth): 1-866-488-7386 — 24/7
Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860 — staffed by trans people

Online Communities for Harm Reduction

PsychonautWiki

Website: psychonautwiki.org | A comprehensive, community-maintained reference for psychoactive substances. Includes experience reports, pharmacology, dosage information, interaction data, and harm reduction guides. Useful for researching substances and understanding what to expect.

Erowid

Website: erowid.org | One of the oldest and most comprehensive drug information libraries. Contains thousands of experience reports, pharmacology data, legal information, and harm reduction guidance. A key reference for substance education.

TripSit

Website: tripsit.me | Real-time harm reduction chat, drug interaction checker, and substance factsheets. The online chat is available 24/7 and staffed by trained harm reduction volunteers. Useful during a difficult experience for real-time support and information.

Reddit Communities

r/PsychedelicTherapy — discussion of therapeutic use and integration
r/microdosing — harm reduction focused microdosing community
r/tripreports — experience reports for learning about what to expect

Finding Integration Therapists

An integration therapist helps you process and make meaning from psychedelic experiences. They are different from guided psychedelic therapists — integration therapists work with you before and after experiences, not during.

How to Search

Visit psychedelic.support and filter by location and specialty
Search Psychology Today (psychologytoday.com) for "psychedelic integration" in your area
Contact MAPS (maps.org) for referrals to MAPS-trained clinicians
Ask in integration-focused online communities for local recommendations

Questions to Ask a Potential Integration Therapist

What training do you have specific to psychedelic integration?
How many clients have you worked with for integration support?
What is your approach to difficult or traumatic experiences?
Are you familiar with [specific substance or experience type]?
Do you offer sliding scale fees?

Books and Self-Help Resources

How to Change Your Mind — Michael Pollan (accessible introduction to psychedelic research)
The Way of the Psychonaut — Stanislav Grof (comprehensive clinical and spiritual context)
Psychedelic Integration — Marc Aixala (practical integration guide)
Processing the Unthinkable — Various authors (trauma-informed integration perspectives)
MAPS free download: "Navigating the Coming Wave of Psychedelic Therapy" at maps.org

Peer Support Networks

Integration circles: Community group sessions for sharing and processing experiences — search "psychedelic integration circle [your city]"
MAPS-affiliated local groups: maps.org/community
Psychedelic Society chapters: psychedelicsociety.org.uk (primarily UK-based)
Church of Ambrosia, Synthesis Retreat, and similar legal retreat networks often have associated integration community groups

FAQ

What is the fastest way to get support during a psychedelic crisis right now?

Call the Fireside Project at 1-623-473-7433 (available daily 3 PM–3 AM Pacific Time) for psychedelic-specific peer support. Text HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line (24/7). Call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (24/7). For medical emergencies, call 911. For online chat support, tripsit.me chat is available 24/7.

How is Erowid different from PsychonautWiki?

Erowid (erowid.org) is one of the original psychedelic information archives, with decades of experience reports and carefully curated harm reduction information. PsychonautWiki (psychonautwiki.org) is a more recent, wiki-style reference with comprehensive pharmacological data, structured dosage information, and interaction charts. Both are valuable; Erowid is particularly rich in subjective experience reports while PsychonautWiki is strong on technical pharmacology.

Do integration therapists work remotely?

Yes. The majority of integration therapists now offer telehealth services, making them accessible regardless of location. The Psychedelic Support directory (psychedelic.support) allows filtering by telehealth availability. Remote integration therapy is generally as effective as in-person for processing experiences and is especially useful for people in areas without local psychedelic-informed therapists.

Are there free integration resources if I can't afford therapy?

Yes. Integration circles (often free or donation-based) provide community support. The Fireside Project offers follow-up calls at no cost. MAPS has free integration guidelines at maps.org. Reddit communities like r/PsychedelicTherapy offer peer perspectives. Journaling, body-based practices, and creative expression are free and can be highly effective. Many therapists also offer sliding scale fees based on income.

How do I know if an integration therapist is legitimate?

Look for licensed mental health professionals (LPC, LCSW, PhD, MD) with documented training in psychedelic integration. Ask about specific training programs they have completed (MAPS, CIIS, Psychedelic Support training). Read reviews and ask for references. Be cautious of practitioners who claim to offer "legal underground" sessions or who lack verifiable mental health credentials. The Psychedelic Support directory vets listed practitioners.

What is an integration circle and how do I find one?

An integration circle is a facilitated or peer-led group where people share and process their psychedelic experiences in a supportive community setting. They may be held in person or online. Search "psychedelic integration circle" plus your city or region. Platforms like Meetup.com sometimes list these groups. Local psychedelic societies, yoga studios with spiritual programming, and Buddhist centers sometimes host integration-oriented gatherings.

Is the Fireside Project available outside the US?

The Fireside Project (1-623-473-7433) is a US-based service. International callers may be able to reach them via international dialing but it may incur long-distance charges. International alternatives include TripSit online chat (tripsit.me, global), local crisis lines (Samaritans 116 123 in UK, Lifeline 13 11 14 in Australia), and the global directory findahelpline.com for country-specific resources.

Can I volunteer as a crisis support person for these organizations?

Yes. The Fireside Project, Zendo Project, and DanceSafe all accept trained volunteers. Requirements vary — Fireside Project has a formal application and training process; Zendo requires attending MAPS-affiliated training; DanceSafe has chapter-based volunteering. Volunteering in these roles generally requires completing their specific training program and ongoing supervision. These are meaningful ways to contribute to community harm reduction.

Are there resources specifically for difficult experiences related to spiritual emergencies?

Yes. Grof Transpersonal Training (holotropic.com) and the Spiritual Emergence Network both address what is sometimes called "spiritual emergency" — overwhelming spiritual or transcendent experiences that cause crisis. These frameworks emerged from decades of work with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and offer vocabulary and support structures for difficult transpersonal experiences.

What books would you recommend for understanding difficult psychedelic experiences?

For understanding difficult experiences specifically: "The Stormy Search for the Self" by Stanislav and Christina Grof addresses spiritual emergence crises. "Difficult Psychedelic Experiences" by Jules Evans and Tim Read (ed.) addresses challenging trips directly. "Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness" by David Treleaven — while not psychedelic-specific — provides a trauma-informed framework applicable to integration. Michael Pollan's "How to Change Your Mind" includes helpful clinical context.