Psychedelic Therapy & Retreats: These Are The Most Asked Questions

Based on the questions that we have received before and during our Conscious Pharmacist psychedelic therapy services and our psilocybin retreats, below we have made a selection of the most raised questions and our answers to these questions.

Why should I choose Conscious Pharmacist over other psychedelic retreats?

At Conscious Pharmacist, we combine scientific expertise with a deeply personalized approach to psychedelic therapy. As a trained pharmacist and certified psychedelic coach, I have developed a structured, evidence-based protocol that ensures the highest standards of safety, efficacy, and integration support.

What sets us apart:

Scientifically Grounded Psilocybin Therapy: Our retreats are based on pharmacological knowledge and science, ensuring responsible dosing and safety throughout the experience.
Medical Supervision & Controlled Quality: Dr. Sara Ahmadi personally oversees the cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms, maintaining full control over purity and growing conditions.
Comprehensive Support & Integration: We provide one-on-one coaching and small-group integration sessions during and up to six months after the retreat, helping participants translate insights into real-life transformation.
Exclusive & Small-Scale Setting: Unlike larger retreats, we prioritize quality over quantity, with an intimate group size and a low facilitator-to-guest ratio for maximum support.
Tailored for Personal Growth & Leadership: While many retreats focus on mental health treatment, Conscious Pharmacist specializes in guiding high-achieving professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders in unlocking their full potential.
Luxurious Facilities: Our retreat facilities for group retreats and individual retreats are luxurious, including double bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, lounge areas, dinner area, terraces, landscaped gardens with stunning views, massage room, games room, swimming pool, jacuzzi, hamman (steam bath), fitness room and various additional facilities to make your stay more complete and comfortable.

By combining scientific knowledge, safe protocols, and deep integration support, Conscious Pharmacist offers a uniquely holistic and transformative psychedelic experience that goes beyond just the ceremony.

I have a health condition, how do I know it’s safe for me to attend your retreats?

Before we accept your application to attend one of our retreats, we will assess your health through a questionnaire, which we will review together to discuss any potential risks. As pharmacist and certified medical professionals we don’t just look at your current health condition and history, but also at any medication you may be taking. The assessment is conducted by medical professionals, ensuring you are in safe hands with us.

Is it legal to take part in one of your psychedelic retreats or therapy programs?

Yes, it is. Portugal is one of the few countries in the world where psilocybin is not illegal when used in a controlled setting under professional supervision. This means that proper psilocybin therapy can be conducted legally in safe, regulated environments, such as provided by the Conscious Pharmacist team. Portugal allows trained and certified professionals – such as Conscious Pharmacist – to administer psilocybin in its pure form, ensuring a consistent, evidence-based therapeutic experience.

Is there a difference between psilocybin truffels and the psilocybin mushrooms being used at Conscious Pharmacist?

Yes, there is. While psilocybin truffles do contain some of the same active compounds as psilocybin mushrooms, they do not provide the same consistency, potency, or transformative depth that true psilocybin therapy offers. Hence, why we only use psilocybin mushroom compound, that we harvest from the magic mushrooms that we grow ourselves under controled circumstances, controlled by Dr. Sara Ahmadi (Pharmacist and certified psychedelic coach).

What will you do if I have a bad trip?

We don’t believe in the concept of a “bad trip,” but you may experience a challenging mushroom journey. With the right dosage, a safe setting, and proper support, no mushroom journey has to be a bad trip. Our team is always there to guide and support you throughout your experience.

Are your psychedelic group retreats for women only?

No, it’s not. It’s an intimate mixed group of a maximum of 7 to 8 individuals. And up to 16 to 18 people for private groups. Together, we will co-create the transformative journey as a group—and that’s pure magic! Although we occasionally organize women only retreats. Please see our website for more details.

What kind of aftercare and integration support do you provide?

During the retreat, we facilitate integration workshops to help you process your insights and translate them into actionable changes in your daily life. Following the retreat, we offer three months (bi-weekly) of online integration sessions to guide and support you, ensuring a meaningful and lasting transformation.

Where can I find reviews and endorsements about Conscious Pharmacist?

You can find some of our endorsements and customer reviews on our home page, on Google and in this article: What is the Positive Impact of Conscious Pharmacist?

What is typically unique about your psychedelic retreats compared to other psilocybin or leadership retreats?

What sets our retreat apart is that we combine the power of psilocybin mushroom neuroplasticity with high-level mentorship to help you design your personal and/or business growth plan. The workshops during our retreat are focused on personal leadership, intuition, and business and career development.

When can you host a private retreat for teams or group of friends?

All year round! Because we can enjoy over 300 days of sunshine in the Algarve in Portugal and have pleasant temperatures all year round, it is always a good time to organize and host a private retreat for you and your team or group of friends or family. We have various luxurious retreat locations that are available for groups up to 20 people. And should it be too hot in mid-Summer than we can use our retreat center in the North of Portugal (east of Porto).

Can I join one of your retreats if I have never taken psychedelics before?

Absolutely! Many of our participants have never used psychedelics before, except perhaps experimenting once during their college years. For many, the healing potential of psilocybin mushrooms has only come to their attention in recent years through emerging scientific research. Our retreats are designed for everyday people just like you.

Why is your psychedelic retreat possibly more expensive than others I have looked at?

At Conscious Pharmacist, we are committed to providing a high-quality, science-backed, and deeply personalized retreat experience that extends far beyond the ceremony itself. Our retreat structure is designed to ensure safety, effectiveness, and long-term transformation.

What sets us apart is:

Extensive Medical & Health Screening: Every participant undergoes a thorough health and medication assessment to ensure safety.
Small-Scale & High Support Ratio: We maintain small group sizes with a high facilitator-to-guest ratio for personalized attention and safety.
Holistic & Leadership-Focused Approach: Our retreats integrate psilocybin therapy, mindfulness, and leadership coaching, making them ideal for high-performing individuals seeking real growth.
3-Month Integration & Coaching: Unlike most retreats, we provide three months (bi-weekly) of post-retreat integration and leadership coaching to help participants apply their insights to real life.
Luxury & Comfort: Hosted in high-end retreat locations, offering organic meals, wellness facilities, and a serene setting for deep transformation.

Ultimately, our pricing reflects our commitment to setting the gold standard for psilocybin retreats—prioritizing safety, scientific expertise, and long-term impact over a one-time experience.

How does a psychedelic experience with psilocybin looks like?

A psychedelic experience with Psilocybin, often referred to as a “journey,” can vary significantly from person to person, but it typically follows a general pattern that includes several key phases. Below is a brief overview of what you can expect:

Preparation: Before the ceremony begins, we ensure you are in a safe, comfortable environment. A pre-ceremony consultation helps you set intentions for your experience, which can guide the process. You’ll also be given time to relax and prepare mentally and physically.
Onset: Psilocybin takes about 20-40 minutes to start affecting the mind and body. During this time, you may start to feel a sense of calm, slight shifts in perception, and a deepening of introspective thoughts.
Peak Experience: As the psilocybin takes full effect, you may experience profound alterations in your thoughts, emotions, and senses. This phase can last 2-4 hours, and some common effects include:
- Enhanced sensory experiences (colors may appear more vivid, sounds richer)
- Feelings of interconnectedness with nature, others, or the universe
- Deep emotional release or insight into personal issues, traumas, or patterns
- A sense of unity or ego dissolution, where boundaries between “self” and “other” may dissolve
Reflection: Following the peak, you may enter a more introspective phase where emotions and insights continue to unfold. This can often feel like a time for clarity and personal understanding, as many participants report emotional healing and a sense of relief from mental burdens.
Come-down: As the effects begin to subside, you will gradually return to a more grounded state of awareness. While the intensity of the experience decreases, some lingering feelings of peace, clarity, and expanded awareness may remain. This phase often involves gentle integration of what was learned during the experience.
Post-Experience Integration: Integration is an essential part of the psychedelic journey. After the ceremony, you will have ongoing support to help make sense of the insights you gained. This is why we offer post-ceremony integration sessions to help you apply these insights to your everyday life, ensuring lasting positive change.

Psilocybin experiences are safe when guided by a professional, and we ensure that all participants are fully supported before, during, and after their journey. Keep in mind that every experience is unique, and the effects can vary depending on your mental state, environment, and personal intentions.

Which of the Conscious Pharmacist retreats are focused on enhancing leadership?

We have various retreats that are focused on combining the benefits of psychedelic macrodosing with accelerated personal development, boosting creativity and gaining new leadership insights. The most popular leadership retreats are:

We also organize and host custom-designed psychedelic leadership retreats for private groups or teams (up to 20 people). Most often for SME’s, corporates and NGO’s that would like to adopt and enhance their conscious leaderships skills, combined with increased positivity, accelerated personal development and kick-ass teambuilding.

What to wear to a Conscious Pharmacist psychedelic retreat?

Embarking on one of our psychedelic retreats is a profound and introspective journey that offers participants a chance to delve into the depths of their consciousness, fostering accelerated personal growth, boosted creativity and a deeper connection with the universe. As you prepare for this transformative experience, it’s crucial to consider not only your mental and emotional state but also the physical aspects, including what you choose to wear during your retreat. Thoughtfully selecting your attire can significantly enhance your comfort, intention, and overall engagement with the retreat.

During the psychedelic ceremony your body needs to breath while tripping. On top of that, you can often experience temperature fluctuations during a trip, so it is best to wear something that won’t make you be too hot or have you suffering from cold either. However, should you feel cold; we always have blankets at hand.

It is also important to wear loose clothing. Loose clothing is going to keep you comfortable and prevent you from feeling constricted. Wearing clothes that make you feel constricted can make a psychedelic experience uncomfortable, and when you are in our retreat, that’s the last thing you want to feel.

Final cloting advise is to avoid clothing that might distract you during your trip, such as wearing overly embellished pieces that may distract you due to the noise or touch. The same could be said about visually distracting pieces. It is best to not wear shirts or sweaters with imagery that may affect your psilocybin trip. For example, don’t wear a shirt with a scary face on it. The smallest things can become a distraction during a psychedelic trip, so it is important to prevent this from happening.

Can I wear jewellery during the psilocybin ceremony?

Many participants to our retreats prefer to wear some form of symbolic jewelry to their psilocybin experience, such as crystals, amulets, or meaningful items that carry personal significance. This can often help people feel grounded due to the positive energy they project upon the object. On the other hand, some people can feel distracted by wearing accessories. For those with sensory issues, wearing necklaces or bracelets can feel uncomfortable due to the way it feels on their skin or the way they sound. If you believe in the power of crystals or amulets, then please do bring them along on your trip, otherwise, they may distract you. You know yourself best.

What are other names for psilocybin?

Psilocybin is commonly referred to by several names, including:

Scientific names: Psilocin (the active metabolite), 4-PO-DMT (4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine)
Therapeutic names: Comp360 (a psilocybin formulation used in clinical trials), Synthetic Psilocybin (used in medical research)
Street names: Magic Mushrooms, Shrooms, Boomers, Caps, Fungus, Mushies
Slang terms: Golden Tops, Blue Meanies, Sacred Mushrooms, Philosopher’s Stones.

Does macrodosing psilocybin help you sleep?

During our psilocybin retreat you will experience one or various marcodoses of psilocybin that can have both positive and negative effects on sleep, depending on the individual and the circumstances surrounding their use. For some, the compound can induce deep, restful sleep, while for others, it may cause some insomnia or headache which can temporary disrupt normal sleep patterns. One of the ways that psilocybin can affect sleep is by altering the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep, among other functions. The effects of psilocybin can linger after the trip has ended, potentially affecting sleep patterns for various days.

What happens if you fall asleep on psilocybin?

Psilocybin can have sedative effects that will make it easier for most people to fall asleep. However, the effects can vary widely from person to person and can depend on factors such as:

The dose of psilocybin taken.
The individual’s tolerance to the substance.
The environment in which it’s consumed.

In general, low to moderate doses of psilocybin usually have relaxing and calming effects that promote sleep. When you fall asleep on psilocybin, your body goes into a different state, which can affect the way you perceive the effects of the substance. Additionally, sleep can alter the way memories of the experience are formed, which can impact the way you recall and interpret the experience later on.

This is why during every psilocybin ceremony at Conscious Pharmacist you will be in a safe and comfortable environment, and will have one of our certified therapists who can guide and help you if needed.