Psilocybin Therapy Safety & EthicsA care-first, research-informed approach.
At Afterlight, safety begins long before the psychedelic experience itself — and continues long after it ends.
We plan for the whole experience, not only the good moments.
Before
Screening, preparation & consent
During
Setting, support & difficult moments
Beyond
AfterCare, learning & ethics
We take a careful, clinically informed approach to screening, preparation, consent, therapeutic support, setting and continued care. Every decision is guided by the person in front of us — their history, circumstances, readiness and wellbeing.
We recognise that psychedelic experiences can be profound, unpredictable and deeply personal. Good psychedelic care means understanding that complexity and creating the conditions for people to feel supported, respected and well held throughout.
Safety Begins Before the Experience
Thorough Screening & Preparation
Psilocybin is not appropriate for everyone or every moment in life. Our screening process considers psychological and physical health, current medications and supplements, previous experiences with altered states, as well as your intentions, expectations and concerns.
Before inviting you to proceed, we take the time to understand your circumstances and assess whether this work is appropriate for you at this point in your life.
Preparation is not about creating expectations for what your experience should be. It is about helping you understand what to expect, establish a foundation of trust, and feel informed about the choices available to you.
If we believe a psychedelic experience is not appropriate, we will say so. Sometimes the safest decision is to pause, postpone or pursue another form of support.
What screening considers
- Psychological & physical health
- Current medications & supplements
- Previous experiences with altered states
- Intentions, expectations & concerns
Consent, Choice & Personal Agency
Your autonomy is central to the Afterlight experience.
Participation is always your choice. You are encouraged to ask questions, express uncertainty and take the time you need to make informed decisions.
Consent is ongoing and can be withdrawn at any point. You can pause, postpone or decide not to proceed without pressure or judgement.
There is no expectation that you perform, disclose or experience anything in a particular way.
During the Experience
Set, Setting & Feeling Supported
The environment in which a psychedelic experience takes place matters.
We intentionally create a setting that feels calm, warm and grounded, while maintaining the clinical structure and professional boundaries required for this work.
Our approach considers the physical environment, psychological context, therapeutic relationship, music, support and the people present — creating space for the experience to unfold without imposing a particular interpretation or belief system.
Your experience is your own. We are there to support it, not to tell you what it means.
Non-Directive Clinical Support
In altered states, people can feel particularly open and sensitive. Our clinicians maintain a calm, steady presence throughout — offering support that is respectful, non-directive and attuned.
We do not analyse, interpret or steer your experience for you.
Instead, we provide a secure clinical container, helping you orient, regulate and feel supported when needed while maintaining clear professional and ethical boundaries.
When Experiences Become Challenging
Psychedelic experiences can sometimes become emotionally intense, unexpected or difficult.
Our clinicians are prepared to support you through these moments with calm, grounding and careful attention. Nothing is rushed or forced. Psychological and physical safety come first.
Our approach is informed by the understanding that challenging experiences require skilled clinical support — not fear, judgement or unnecessary intervention.
Support does not end when the psychedelic experience does. Where additional care is needed, we continue to help you understand and navigate what emerges afterwards.
Informed by the work of Prof. David Luke and the Challenging Psychedelic Experiences Project, University of Greenwich.
Beyond the Experience
AfterCare & Continued Support
The experience does not end when the session does.
AfterCare provides continued psychological support as you reflect on what emerged and begin bringing new perspectives into everyday life.
A psychedelic experience may open something important. The work afterwards creates space to understand it, work with it and decide what you want to carry forward.
We give the experience somewhere to go.
Ongoing Learning & Ethical Practice
Responsible psychedelic care requires continual learning.
Our clinicians engage in ongoing supervision, professional development and reflective practice, with particular attention to psychedelic safety, ethical practice, risk awareness and trauma-informed care.
We stay close to the evolving evidence base and continue to reflect on how psychedelic therapy can be delivered with greater care, responsibility and clinical integrity.
We do not promise transformation, guaranteed outcomes or quick answers.
We honour pacing, readiness and wellbeing above all else.
Your safety, dignity and autonomy remain at the centre of the Afterlight experience.
Our approach is informed by contemporary psychedelic research, including the work of Professor David Luke and the Challenging Psychedelic Experiences Project at the University of Greenwich.
Supporting the complexity of clinical practice.
Meet Afterlight Clinical, an AI-powered clinical copilot designed to help practitioners and clinics navigate the psychological complexity of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Discover CopilotAfterlight Clinical(opens in a new tab)
This is Afterlight
You don’t just return to life.
You return changed.
We assess before we recommend. We prepare you carefully. We hold the experience with you. And we stay with the work that follows. If you’re ready to explore what’s next, start with a conversation about you.