What Does the Participant Intake and Session Process Actually Look Like?

Last reviewed: August 2026 · Psychedelic law changes quickly — verify current status before relying on this page.

Who this is for: Anyone preparing for or seriously considering psilocybin services in Oregon or Colorado who wants to understand exactly what happens from first contact through the end of their engagement — what forms they will complete, what conversations will occur, what takes place during a session, and what comes after.

The short answer

The intake and session process in Oregon and Colorado follows the same three-part structure — preparation, administration, and integration — with specific required steps at each stage. The process is more structured than most people expect. Before any psilocybin is consumed, a licensed facilitator must conduct at least one preparation session that involves intake forms, informed consent, safety planning, and a facilitated determination of whether the client is appropriate to proceed. The administration session itself takes place at a licensed facility with the facilitator present throughout. Integration follow-up is required within 72 hours in Oregon and is a defined component in Colorado as well. Nothing about this process is casual or drop-in.

First contact with a service center or facilitator

The process begins when you reach out to a licensed service center or healing center. In Oregon, OHA maintains a publicly accessible OPS Licensee Directory listing service centers that have consented to have their contact information listed. In Colorado, DORA’s Office of Natural Medicine maintains information about licensed facilitators and healing centers. Service centers and facilitators manage their own client communications — the state does not facilitate intake or scheduling on behalf of licensees.

Initial contact typically involves a conversation or intake questionnaire in which the service center or facilitator learns about your intentions, medical history, current medications, and any relevant mental health history. That exchange is preliminary — a step before the formal preparation session, used to determine whether scheduling one is appropriate for both parties.

The preparation session

The preparation session is the first formally required step in both states. It must be completed before any psilocybin is consumed.

In Oregon, the preparation session must occur no less than 24 hours and no more than 90 days before the first administration session. During the preparation session the facilitator completes required intake documentation with the client, including the OHA Client Information Form. The facilitator reviews the client’s eligibility — specifically screening for active suicidal ideation, recent lithium use, and other factors that may create unsafe interactions. The facilitator reviews the client bill of rights, obtains informed consent, discusses the nature of the psilocybin experience and what to expect, works with the client to set intentions, establishes a Safety and Support Plan, and creates an individualized transportation plan for after the session.

Pricing is also addressed at this stage: the facilitator discusses what the client will pay for psilocybin products and for services. The price the client pays for the product itself goes to the service center; facilitation fees may be paid to the service center or directly to the facilitator depending on the arrangement.

The facilitator and the client both determine at the end of the preparation session whether to proceed to an administration session. The decision is not unilateral. The facilitator may decline to proceed if they determine the client is not appropriate for services. The client may decline to proceed for any reason.

If both parties agree to proceed, the administration session is scheduled.

In Colorado, the initial consultation serves a similar function — it includes a screening assessment to identify contraindications, required disclosures, and informed consent. If the participant has specific medical conditions, the facilitator may require clearance from their treating provider before services begin.

Before the administration session

Once the preparation session is complete and both parties have agreed to proceed, several things need to be in place before the day of the session.

The client’s Safety and Support Plan must be finalized. This includes a transportation plan — because psilocybin impairs the ability to drive, the client must have an arrangement for how they will get home safely after the session ends. The client must not plan to drive themselves.

For group sessions, prior written consent for participation in a group must be obtained during the preparation session. If the client has agreed to allow a support person to be present in the administration area during the session, that consent must also be documented at the preparation stage.

The facilitator confirms before each administration session that the client’s information remains current.

The administration session

On the day of the administration session, the client arrives at the licensed service center or healing center. The facility is designed to support a comfortable internal experience — typically a quiet, private room with a place to lie down, music or the option for silence, eye shades if desired, and a contained environment where the client will not be disturbed.

The facilitator reviews the client’s Safety and Support Plan and confirms current status before the session begins. The client then selects and purchases their psilocybin product from the service center. In Oregon, products are labeled with potency information to support informed dose selection; the facilitator helps the client understand the options. The maximum dose in Oregon is 50 milligrams of psilocybin analyte per session. The average dose administered in the first half of 2025 was approximately 24 milligrams.

Once the client consumes the psilocybin, the facilitator remains present throughout the session. The facilitator adopts a non-directive stance — they support the client’s internal process rather than directing, interpreting, or intervening except to ensure safety. Physical touch during a session requires prior written consent established in the preparation session.

The client must remain at the service center until a minimum duration has elapsed. In Oregon that minimum is determined by the dose consumed; at higher doses the stay is longer. In Colorado, the minimum duration is at least one hour per 2 milligrams of psilocin administered, and at least five hours for sessions up to 50 milligrams. The client cannot leave until the facilitator determines they are sufficiently stable for transport.

Only the client and the licensed facilitator are permitted in the administration area during the session, unless the client has provided prior written consent for a support person to be present.

After the session: the integration follow-up

After the administration session ends and the client has been safely transported home, the licensed integration follow-up begins.

In Oregon, the facilitator must follow up with the client within 72 hours of the administration session. This follow-up reviews the Safety and Support Plan, discusses the experience, and provides referrals to community resources, peer support networks, and other services as appropriate. Ongoing integration sessions may be offered beyond the initial 72-hour follow-up.

In Colorado, the integration session is a required part of the service structure — the participant meets with the facilitator to process the experience and plan for any further support needed.

Integration follow-up in both states is conducted under the facilitator’s license. The follow-up is not clinical therapy unless the facilitator holds a separate clinical credential and is operating under a dual licensure framework. The facilitator’s role is to support the client’s processing, ensure their safety plan remains appropriate, and connect them with additional resources if needed — not to diagnose or treat conditions that may have surfaced.

After the initial required follow-up, the facilitation relationship continues on whatever terms the client and facilitator have agreed upon. In Oregon, once a client has completed a preparation session, no additional preparation sessions are required for subsequent administration sessions with the same facilitator within the following 12 months — provided the facilitator confirms before each subsequent session that the client’s information remains current.

Common mistakes and misconceptions

“I can walk in and get a session the same day.” The preparation session must occur at least 24 hours before the administration session in Oregon, and a screening and consultation process must be completed in Colorado. Same-day access is not possible within the licensed framework.

“I can pick my dose in advance before arriving.” Dose selection occurs at the service center in connection with the administration session, informed by the potency information provided by the licensed product. The facilitator helps the client understand the options, but the decision is made at the point of purchase during the administration session itself.

“My session is completely private — no forms, no documentation.” The licensed framework requires specific documentation at each stage: intake forms, the Safety and Support Plan, informed consent, product and end-of-session records, and demographic data reporting to OHA in Oregon. The regulatory record of your session exists within the state program’s infrastructure.

“After my session I can leave whenever I feel ready.” The client must remain at the facility for a minimum period determined by their dose. The facilitator determines when the client is stable for transport. Leaving before the facilitator clears the client for departure is not consistent with the program’s safety requirements.

When you should speak with a lawyer

You should speak with a lawyer if:

Something went wrong during any stage of the process — intake, session, or integration follow-up — and you want to understand your rights and options
You believe the service center or facilitator failed to follow required procedures and you want to understand whether to file a regulatory complaint, pursue a civil claim, or both
You have questions about the documentation you signed during intake and what it means for your legal rights

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This article is public legal education, not legal advice. If your situation is specific, speak with a lawyer who practices in this area.