At Imaginative Living, or i-Liv as we like to call it, we do not offer or participate in the purchase, handling, or intake of illegal psychedelic substances. However, we offer support—before, during, and after—for those planning to take psychedelic substances with the intention of psychological healing. We offer these services for two very important reasons. First, we believe in and have witnessed the transformative power of healing through psychedelics when done within safe, controlled environments. Second, we offer these services to reduce potential harm and abuse.

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Where to Start Your Journey

One aspect of the guidance I offer is helping individuals identify legal and ethical opportunities for psilocybin and ketamine journeys. Some of these are in the United States, while others are abroad. Finding the right fit between the facilitator or retreat and the client is perhaps the most important element in preparing for this experience.
 

Suitability for a Journey As part of my commitment to improving outcomes and reducing potential harm, I offer services to help identify areas that may be problematic in the use of psychedelics. I provide access to screening tools and can direct you to medical practitioners who specialize in drug interactions and vulnerabilities related to specific medical conditions. Please note: I do not recommend the use of any substance or predict specific outcomes from such use.
 

The Components of a Journey

In simple terms, a therapeutic journey is more than just consuming psilocybin in a social setting. It involves careful attention to both "set" and "setting." The process is typically broken into three distinct phases: Preparation, Dosing, and Integration. I can help you navigate each step.

• Preparation: This involves "set" (your mindset going into the journey) and "setting" (the physical environment). We will first define your intentions and then plan the course of your journey.

• Safety: The most important consideration is having a trained, trusted facilitator to sit with you. If you proceed without one, I will do my best to help you identify a "sober sitter" to remain with you for the duration of the dose. We will discuss expectations, safety plans, emergency contacts, and transportation.

• Consultation: I can provide research, literature, and referrals to medical professionals for questions regarding medications or specific risk factors.

• Integration: Reaping the Benefits Following the dosing session comes what I believe is the key to lasting change: integration. The power of psilocybin is derived only partly from the dose itself; much of the benefit comes from the work done in the weeks and months following the session. Integration is the process of understanding your experience and how it relates to your past, present, and future.
   

This process is particularly valuable because it occurs during a window of increased neuroplasticity—the brain’s capacity for change. After a psilocybin experience, the brain is more capable of creating new neural connections. Research indicates that psilocybin disrupts the default mode network—the brain’s "status quo" state. When this network is disrupted, the brain has a greater opportunity to form new pathways. In the weeks following a dose, integration sessions help solidify these new connections.

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Integration is more than just insight; it works best when the physical and emotional bodies are engaged. This can be achieved through movement, art, group processing, or contemplation in nature. The goal is to continue "bathing" the brain in new experiences while it is most receptive.

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Psilocybin is not a miracle drug. However, given thoughtful and caring work during the two to three weeks post-dose, you have a significant opportunity to solidify new directions for your personal journey.