What is Guides Collective and how does it work?
Guides Collective is an informational platform that connects adults curious about psychedelics with independent, experienced guides. You answer a short private questionnaire, see guides curated for your circumstances and goals, and book a free consultation with the one who feels right before deciding anything else. Guides Collective is not a medical provider and does not provide or sell any substance.
Most people who start looking into psychedelics hit the same wall: a lot of information, very little way to tell who is trustworthy, and no obvious first step. Guides Collective exists to make that first step clear. It is a two-sided platform. On one side are adults exploring psychedelics. On the other are independent guides who offer preparation, support, and integration conversations.
Guidance matters because the field has no universal licensing floor. A national peer-support line run by Fireside Project has fielded more than 35,000 calls from people during or after psychedelic experiences, and in one published sample nearly 30% of callers said that without the call they might have been harmed (Kruger et al., 2023). Guides Collective is built around making it easier to find a prepared, accountable person before an experience, not after a hard one.
How it works, step by step
- A short, private questionnaire. You answer questions about your situation, goals, health background, and preferences. It takes a few minutes and costs nothing.
- Guides curated for you. Based on your answers, the platform shows you a small set of guides whose experience fits your circumstances and goals. Seeing a guide's profile is not a booking and not a commitment.
- A free consultation. You choose who to talk with and book an introductory call. This is your chance to ask about training, how they screen, and what their emergency plan is. Our guide to finding a trustworthy psychedelic guide lists the questions worth asking.
- Sessions with your guide, if you decide to continue. Any ongoing work is arranged between you and the guide you chose. Guides set their own services and are responsible for them.
- Integration. Guides support the weeks after an experience, when people make sense of what came up and decide what to change in daily life.
What Guides Collective is, and what it does not do
| Guides Collective does | Guides Collective does not |
|---|---|
| Publish education on safety, preparation, legality, and research | Provide medical care, therapy, or diagnoses |
| Connect adults with independent guides and offer a free first consultation | Provide, sell, or arrange any substance |
| Review guides before they appear in your results | Certify every credential a guide describes, or supervise their services |
| Point you to licensed programs where they exist (Oregon, Colorado) | Promise or guarantee any outcome |
Is it legal?
Legality depends on the substance and where you live. Oregon and Colorado run state-regulated psilocybin programs for adults 21 and older, and most other places do not. Guides Collective is an educational and connection platform, and it does not supply substances. Read the state details in where psychedelics are legal in the US, Oregon, and Colorado.
Who it is for
Guides Collective is built for thoughtful adults who are curious about psychedelics but do not know where to start or what is right for them. You do not need prior experience. If you are not sure you are ready, the pages on trying psychedelics for the first time and who should not take psychedelics are a good place to begin, and some people decide after reading them that now is not the time.
See guides curated for you
Answer a few private questions, see guides who fit your circumstances and goals, and start with a free consultation before you decide anything.
Start the free questionnaireFrequently asked questions
Is Guides Collective a medical provider?+
Does Guides Collective provide or sell psychedelics?+
What does it cost to start?+
Who can use Guides Collective?+
How does Guides Collective review guides?+
Sources
- Kruger DJ et al. Reducing the harms of nonclinical psychedelics use through a peer-support telephone helpline. J Psychedelic Stud. 2023.
- Oregon Health Authority: Accessing psilocybin services.
- Colorado DORA: Natural Medicine FAQs.
Guides Collective is an informational platform that helps adults explore profiles of independent psychedelic guides. It is not a medical or mental-health provider and does not provide therapy, medical care, or psychedelic services.
All guides operate independently and are not employees, contractors, or agents of Guides Collective. Guides Collective does not verify guide-provided descriptions or credentials, does not recommend, endorse, or supervise any guide or service, and does not oversee or participate in any services guides offer.
Guides Collective does not provide or facilitate access to any substances. Each guide is solely responsible for their own services, communications, and compliance with local laws. Users are responsible for evaluating whether a guide's experience and approach are appropriate for their situation. No specific outcomes are promised or guaranteed.
Educational information on this page is provided for context only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or therapeutic claims. Research findings describe study populations and do not predict individual outcomes. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (U.S.).