High-Dose Psilocybin: Expanding the Research
Scientific studies increasingly support what many already intuitively feel: that a safely held, high-dose psilocybin journey can unlock deep healing, release, and reconnection.
We honour these experiences not as quick fixes, but as invitations, into a wider awareness of self, others, and the world.
Scientific Insights Meet Inner Experience
Recent clinical trials at institutions like Johns Hopkins, Imperial College London, and NYU Langone show promising results:
- Long-term reduction in treatment-resistant depression
- Breakthroughs in anxiety, trauma, and addiction
- Improvements in emotional connection and spiritual well-being
These studies suggest psilocybin quiets the brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN), creating space for new neural pathways — and new perspectives.
“I didn’t just revisit the past — I released it. It felt like a full-body exhale I hadn’t known I was holding.” - Participant, Guided High-Dose Experience
How It Works
Brain & Body
- Psilocybin binds to serotonin (5-HT2A) receptors, shifting brain connectivity
- The DMN (associated with ego, looping thoughts) quiets down
- This often results in a felt sense of clarity, peace, or even mystical union
- Emotional memory networks are more easily accessed — supporting release
Our Approach
- Always by application only
- Includes preparation, a guided ceremonial journey, and integration support
- Held by experienced facilitators in safe, trauma-informed environments
- Individual and retreat-based formats available
Curious about the potential of a guided inner journey?
We're here to offer clarity and grounded guidance.
Psilocybin Research Studies
Studies with Healthy Adults
- Psychedelics and Other Psychoplastogens for Treating Mental Illness doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00535. eCollection 2024
- Microdosing psychedelics: Demographics, practices, and psychiatric comorbidities
Daniel Rosenbaum, Cory Weissman, Thomas Anderson, doi.org/10.1177/0269881120908004
- Microdosing psychedelics: More questions than answers? An overview and suggestions for future research Kim PC Kuypers, Livia Ng, David Erritzoedoi.org/10.1177/0269881119857204
James Fadiman ,Sophia Korb Published online: 29 Mar 2019
doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2019.1593561
- A systematic study of microdosing psychedelics Published online 2019 Feb 6. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211023
- High dose psilocybin is associated with positive subjective effects in healthy volunteers. Nicholas, et al. Journal of Psychopharmacology. July 2018. 32(7): 770-778, doi: 10.1177/0269881118780713journals.sagepub.com/home/jop
- Pharmacokinetics of Escalating Doses of Oral Psilocybin in Healthy Adults. 2017. Brown RT, Nicholas CR, Cozzi NV, Gassman MC, Cooper KM, Muller D…Hutson PR. Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 1-12 doi:10.1007/s40262-017-0540-6
- Effects of serotonin 2A/1A receptor stimulation on social exclusion processing. 2016. Preller KH, Pokorny T, Hock A, Kraehenmann R, Stämpfli P, Seifritz E, Scheidegger M, Vollenweider FX. PNAS. 2016, 113 (18) 5119-5124; published ahead of print 18 April 2016, doi:10.1073/pnas.1524187113
- Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Demographics and phenomenology. 2010. Carbonaro TM, Barrett FS, Bradstreet MP, Johnson MW, MacLean KA, Jesse R, Griffiths RR. Drug & Alcohol Dependence. Oct 2010. Volume 146, e239 – e240, 2015
- Psilocybin Biases Facial Recognition, Goal-Directed Behavior, and Mood State Toward Positive Relative to Negative Emotions Through Different Serotonergic Subreceptors. 2012. Kometer M, Schmidt A, Bachmann R, Studerus E, Seifritz E, Vollenweider FX. Biological Psychiatry. Volume 72, Issue 11, 1 Dec 2012, Pages 898-906, ISSN 0006-3223.
- Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects. 2011. Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Richards, WA, Richards BD, McCann U, Jesse R. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2011 Dec, 218(4):649-65. Epub 15 Jun 2011
- Mystical experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin lead to increases in the personality domain of openness. 2011. MacLean KA, Johnson MW, Griffiths RR. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 25(11), 1453-1461
- Acute, subacute and long-term subjective effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a pooled analysis of experimental studies. 2011. Studerus E, Kometer M, Hasler F, Vollenweider FX. J Psychopharmacol. 25 Nov 2011: 1434-1452, first published on 20 September 2010 doi: 10.1177/0269881110382466
- Mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin mediate the attribution of personal meaning and spiritual significance 14 months later. 2008. Griffiths R, Richards W, Johnson M, McCann U, Jesse R. J Psychopharmacol. 22 Aug 2008, (6):621-32. Epub 1 Jul 2008.
Studies on Depression
- The therapeutic potential of microdosing psychedelics in depression Kim P.C. Kuypers
First Published August 27, 2020 Review Article https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125320950567
- Increased nature relatedness and decreased authoritarian political views after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression Taylor Lyons, Robin L Carhart-Harris
doi.org/10.1177/0269881117748902
- The experimental effects of psilocybin on symptoms of anxiety and depression: A meta-analysis. Goldberg, et al. 2020. Psychiatry Research, 284, 112749. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112749
- Efficacy of psychedelic treatments on depressive symptoms: A meta-analysis. Romeo, et al. 2020. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 026988112091995. doi: 10.1177/0269881120919957
- Therapeutic mechanisms of psilocybin: Changes in amygdala and prefrontal functional connectivity during emotional processing after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Mertens, et al. 2020. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 34(2), 167–180. doi: 10.1177/0269881119895520
- Emotions and brain function are altered up to one month after a single high dose of psilocybin. Barrett et al. 2020. Scientific Reports, 10(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59282-y
- A single psilocybin dose is associated with long-term increased mindfulness, preceded by a proportional change in neocortical 5-HT2A receptor binding. Madsen et al. 2020. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 33, 71–80. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.02.001
- More Realistic Forecasting of Future Life Events After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression. Lyons, et al. Frontiers in Psychology. October 2018. 9(1721): 1-11, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01721
- Quality of Acute Psychedelic Experience Predicts Therapeutic Efficacy of Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression. Roseman, et al. Frontiers in Pharmacology. January 2018. 8(974): 1-10, doi: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00974
- Patients’ Accounts of Increased “Connectedness” and “Acceptance” After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression. Watts, et al. Journal of Humanistic Psychology. June 2017. 57(5): 520-564, https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167817709585
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up. Carhart-Harris, et al. Psychopharmacology. November 2017. 235(2):399-408, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4771-x
- Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms. 2017. Carhart-Harris RL, Roseman L, Bolstridge M, Demetriou L, Pannekoek JN, Wall MB, Tanner M, Kaelen M, McGonigle J, Murphy K, Leech R, Curran HV, Nutt DJ. Scientific Reports 7, Article number: 13187 (2017), doi:10.1038/s41598-017-13282-7
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. 2016. Carhart-Harris RL, Boldstridge M, Rucker J, Day CMJ, Erritzoe D, Kaelen M, Bloomfield M, Rickard JA, Forbes B, Feilding A, Taylor D, Pilling S, Curran VH, Nutt DJ. The Lancet Psychiatry. 17 May 2016.
Studies on Addiction
- Clinical Interpretations of Patient Experience in a Trial of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorder. Bogenschutz, et al. Frontiers in Pharmacology. February 2018. 9(100):1-7, https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00100
- Classic hallucinogens in the treatment of addictions. 2015. Bogenschutz MP, Johnson MW. Prog Neuro-Psychopharmacol BiolPsychiatry. Mar 2015
- Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation: Abstinence outcomes and qualitative analysis of participant accounts. 2015. Garcia-Romeu AP, Noorani T, Griffiths RR, Johnson MW. Drug & Alcohol Dependence, Volume 156, e78. DOI
- Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: a proof-of-concept study. 2015. Bogenschutz MP, Forcehimes AA, Pommy JA, Wilcox CE, Barbosa PC, Strassman RJ. J Psychopharmacol. 29 Mar 2015, (3):289-99. doi: 10.1177/0269881114565144. Epub 2015 Jan 13
- Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction. 2014. Johnson MW, Garcia-Romeu A, Cosimano MP, Griffiths RR. J Psychopharmacol. 28 Nov 2014, (11):983-92. doi: 10.1177/0269881114548296. Epub 2014 Sep 11