A Conversation

Note: I offer a free 20 minute “meet and greet” Zoom call for you to ask questions, and to help determine if we are a good fit.

I’ve created this fictional dialog with a prospective client that I hope will give you a sense for the process and how I work. Use the Contact Form if you have more questions or would like to schedule your free call.

Hi Cindy - thank you for talking with me today. I’ve struggled with depression for most of my life, and I’ve tried everything with little progress. Do you think magic mushrooms can help me?

They have helped many people, and there are no guarantees with any treatment. Part of the work we do in preparation for your experience with the mushrooms is to look at your hopes and expectations. In many ways, your journey has already started with this call. I’ll want to talk more with you about the things you’ve already tried, and what your experience has been with them. This will help you to create an intention about the work with mushrooms that makes it more likely you may have the kind of healing you are seeking.

Oh, I’ve tried so many things! This burden has worn me out - so often I feel like just giving up.

I imagine even contacting me about this was hard for you, and I want to acknowledge that there is a part of you that isn’t giving up, and that is still seeking some kind of healing for you. I think there is a difference between giving up and surrender - a difference between withdrawing and allowing - that is something else we’ll discuss more in your preparation. This is very different from a medical treatment - the mushrooms have a way of inviting and offering, and we’ll look for ways that you can accept their invitation and lean in to the process. This can take real effort, especially if the world has been unkind to you, and your instinct is to protect yourself. My most important role in this work is to help you feel safe and cared for, so that you can brave the journey knowing that you are not alone.

Wow. It sounds like this could be a very intense experience. That is kind of scary.

Each one of us has a different experience, and even the same person can have widely different experiences at different times. It sounds like you have endured a lot of suffering and that this healing process might be difficult with or without the mushrooms. There are likely to be many strong emotions during your journey, and they may range between great joy, deep sorrow, abject fear and a sense of deep and abiding love. My hope is that in our preparation sessions, you will feel enough trust in me and the process to hold these emotions with tenderness and respect - they can be powerful teachers when held in this way.

Your words are bringing tears to my eyes right now. I’m afraid to hope that there may be a way out of this darkness.

I can’t guarantee that, but I can tell you that many people have had profound healing experiences with the mushrooms, and that I would be honored to accompany you, if we determine this is the right path for you.

Thank you. I’m really feeling the possibility of healing, but this is so much money to spend. Why is this so expensive?

It is expensive, and I hope in the future the costs will be lower. Because Psilocybin is illegal on the Federal level, there are lots of extra hoops to jump through and high taxes. The Oregon Health Authority must charge high licensing fees to the growers, testers, facilitators and service centers in order to make this program self-supporting. I know that this is a financial stress for many, with no guarantee of success. I also know that there is wisdom in this work, even if it is not the wisdom you expected to receive. If you can find a way to afford this without increasing the suffering in your life, my hope is that you will find it was well worth it.

Thank you Cindy! I will think more about the cost and my motivation, and contact you when I am ready to proceed.

Wonderful! I enjoyed talking with you - let me know if you have any other questions.