Essential Resources for Psychedelic Trip Sitters

Resources for Trip Sitters

Psychedelic substances have a profound ability to alter consciousness, bringing about transformative experiences. However, these experiences can be unpredictable and, in some cases, challenging or even distressing. That’s where a trip sitter comes in – someone who remains sober to guide and support the individual undergoing the psychedelic journey. To be an effective trip sitter, it’s important to have a solid grounding in the fundamentals of psychedelics and the harm reduction approach. The following resources can help trip sitters develop a comprehensive understanding of psychedelics, from understanding their effects and potential risks to providing the best possible support during a psychedelic experience.

BEFORE, DURRING & AFTER THE TRIP

Preparation Material

• • Watch the video ‘How to TripSit’
  • Read TripSafe’s entire guide
  • Watch the video ‘How to Work With Difficult Psychedelic Experiences – MAPS’
  • Read the Zendo Project Training Manual or watch the Zendo Project Training Video​¹​.

Preparation Tips

• • Develop rapport and trust with the participant. This can involve discussing meaningful aspects of the participant’s life such as childhood, romantic life, current relationships, and their philosophical and/or spiritual beliefs.
  • Be prepared to sit quietly for a long time. Assume 12-16 hours for LSD and 6-9 hours for mushrooms​¹​

During the Session

• • Be nondirective and supportive, and encourage participants to trust, let go, and be open to the experience.
  • Don’t leave the participant alone; a sitter should be present at all times.
  • Be prepared for the participant needing to use the bathroom, and ensure their safety during this time.
  • If the participant tries to leave the room, guide them back with compassionate but firm direction.
  • Check in with the participant regularly (approximately once per hour) to ensure they’re not experiencing significant anxiety.
  • Discourage excessive communication or analysis while they’re still tripping.
  • After the trip, let the participant know they can call you if they need support later that evening and plan to check in with them for an hour or two the following day​¹​.

Other Tips

• • Be flexible and ready to switch from “sitter” mode to playful/friend mode if the tripper wishes.
  • Have writing utensils available for the tripper.
  • Check the time using a watch, not a phone.
  • Isolate the tripper from unnecessary disturbances like phone calls or knocks at the door.
  • Reassure the tripper that you’ll take care of yourself and are prepared to wait with them for the duration of the trip.
  • Don’t dismiss anything the tripper says, and be prepared for them to say things that might seem strange or scary​¹​.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

For Trip Sitters or Those on a Psychedelic  Trip

Free, confidential peer support by phone and text message to people in the midst of psychedelic experiences, people exploring the meaning of past psychedelic experiences, and people who are trip sitting for others.

• • https://firesideproject.org/psychedelic-peer-support-line
  • Call: 62-FIRESIDE

For Medical Emergencies

• • Call 911

For People Who are Actively Suicidal

• • Call 988

National Poison Control Center

For guidance in cases of substance related emergencies

• • Call 800-222-1222

EXTERNAL RESOURCES

Erowid

Online resource for information about psychoactive substances.

• • https://www.erowid.org

MAPS – Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

Organization focused on research and education about psychedelic substances.

• • https://www.maps.org

Zendo Project

Harm reduction services for challenging psychedelic experiences at events.

• • https://zendoproject.org

The Third Wave

Guides on responsible psychedelic use, microdosing, and more.

• • https://thethirdwave.co

The Shroomery

Online community and information hub about magic mushrooms.

• • https://www.shroomery.org

Psychedelic Science Review

Covers the latest scientific research on psychedelics.

• • https://psychedelicreview.com

TripSit

Online community providing live trip sitting and harm reduction resources.

• • https://tripsit.me

Psychedelic Safety Project

Guidelines for safe psychedelic use and trip sitting.

• • https://psychedelicsafety.org

Bluelight

Harm reduction community and forum for substance-related discussions.

• • http://www.bluelight.org

Please remember to use these resources responsibly and prioritize safety. If you or someone you know is experiencing a medical emergency, please call emergency services or seek professional medical help immediately.