Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy
Support in Your Journey to Healing and Growth
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Oregon
At the Portland Institute for Psychedelic Science (PIPS), we offer psilocybin-assisted therapy: structured psychotherapy before, in connection with, and after a psilocybin session conducted through Oregon’s Psilocybin Services (OPS) program.
Our team has extensive experience delivering psychedelic-assisted therapy in both clinical practice and in clinical trials. We have been involved in designing, delivering, and studying psychedelic-assisted treatments, including MDMA- and psilocybin-assisted therapy, and have contributed to the scientific literature in this area. That experience shapes how we assess safety, prepare people for powerful experiences, and support careful, grounded integration afterward.
Oregon’s psilocybin services system is primarily designed to provide safe, supervised psilocybin sessions. By law, those services are not considered health care and are not focused on diagnosing or treating mental health conditions. That means many people seeking help for anxiety, depression, trauma, or other concerns do not receive the depth of psychological preparation and follow-up that research suggests is important for meaningful and lasting change.
Our role is to provide that therapeutic component. We combine evidence-based psychotherapy with carefully coordinated psilocybin services so that the medicine experience is grounded in a clear treatment plan and supported by an ongoing therapeutic relationship.
Our therapists are licensed mental health professionals with specialized training in psychedelic-assisted therapy and a strong grounding in the research. We help you determine whether psilocybin is appropriate for you, clarify your goals, and work with you to translate any insights into real, sustainable changes in your life.
Our process consists of 3 key phases:
1.) Consultation and Assessment:
We begin with a thorough evaluation of your situation, including biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors.
We assess potential risks and benefits of psilocybin for you.
We help you consider other treatment options and how psilocybin might fit into your broader care.
We coordinate with your other medical or psychiatric providers to support safety and continuity of care.
Our experience in clinical trials helps us bring a careful, structured approach to screening and risk assessment. Together, we decide whether psilocybin services, combined with psychotherapy, are likely to be helpful and appropriate for you.
2.) Psilocybin Session through OPS:
If we agree to move forward, we help you plan for a psilocybin session at a licensed psilocybin service center under Oregon’s Psilocybin Services program.
We match you with a facilitator that we know who is a good fit for your needs, values, and practical constraints.
We coordinate directly with your facilitator so that your therapy and your psilocybin session are aligned.
In some cases, your PIPS therapist may also hold an OPS facilitator license; in others, your therapist and facilitator work as a coordinated team.
3.) Integration
and Ongoing Support:
After your psilocybin session, we provide structured integration sessions and, when helpful, ongoing psychotherapy.
We help you process emotions, memories, and insights that emerge during and after the experience.
Drawing on both clinical experience and research from psychedelic trials, we use evidence-based methods to support behavior change, values-based action, and long-term wellbeing.
We work with you to translate short-term shifts into lasting changes in relationships, habits, and self-understanding.
Our Approach
At PIPS, we believe psilocybin can be most beneficial when it is embedded within a thoughtful psychotherapeutic process and a safe, supportive environment.
We integrate lessons learned from psychedelic clinical trials, including how to structure preparation, dosing-day support (within OPS), and integration to maximize safety and potential benefit.
We pay close attention to your history, identities, and cultural context.
We emphasize collaboration: you are an active participant in shaping your goals, your preparation, and the focus of integration.
We also recognize that psilocybin-assisted therapy is not for everyone. During the assessment phase, we will discuss alternative options, such as medication, more traditional psychotherapy, or other forms of support. If there are questions about medical safety—such as interactions with existing medications or health conditions—we help you connect with physicians who are familiar with psychedelic medicines.
Why Work with PIPS for Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy?
Integrated psychotherapy + psilocybin services rather than a stand-alone dosing session
Extensive experience delivering psychedelic-assisted therapy, including in research and clinical trials
Clinician–researchers with expertise in PAT, contributing to the scientific literature and training
Comprehensive bio/psycho/social assessment and personalized treatment planning
Experienced licensed mental health professionals with training in psychedelic-assisted therapy
Collaborative work with OPS facilitators and centers to support continuity and safety
Person-centered, culturally responsive care tailored to your unique history and goals
Emphasis on long-term wellbeing, not just a single experience
FAQs about Psilocybin Services:
What do you mean by “psilocybin-assisted therapy”?
When we say “psilocybin-assisted therapy,” we are referring to a structured psychotherapy process in which:
You receive ongoing mental health care from a licensed therapist at PIPS, and
Your psilocybin session takes place at a licensed psilocybin service center under Oregon’s OPS program.
The therapy and the psilocybin session are planned and coordinated together, with a shared focus on your mental health goals. The psilocybin experience becomes one important part of a broader therapeutic process, rather than a stand-alone event.
What are “psilocybin services” in Oregon?
“Psilocybin services” is the term Oregon uses for regulated psilocybin experiences offered at licensed service centers. These services include at least one preparation session, a supervised psilocybin administration session, and some follow-up, all provided by a licensed psilocybin facilitator at a service center.
By design, psilocybin services are not classified as medical or mental health treatment. You do not need a diagnosis to access them, and facilitators are not required to be licensed health professionals. A fact sheet on psilocybin services is available here.
Is this legal?
Yes. The pieces of what we offer are all provided within existing legal and regulatory frameworks:
Psychotherapy is provided by licensed mental health professionals, billed and documented as standard mental health care.
Psilocybin is provided only through licensed psilocybin service centers and facilitators under Oregon’s psilocybin laws.
We do not prescribe, dispense, or sell psilocybin.
Our role is to integrate legal psilocybin services into a coherent therapeutic plan, not to replace or circumvent the OPS system.
Will my insurance cover this?
In most cases, insurance will cover the psychotherapy we provide (assessment, preparation, integration, and ongoing therapy) when it is focused on a diagnosed mental health condition and provided by in-network licensed clinicians.
Insurance does not currently cover the psilocybin services themselves—the preparation, administration, and integration sessions that occur at a psilocybin service center are not considered medical treatment under Oregon law. Those costs are typically paid out of pocket directly to the facilitator and service center.
We can help you understand what parts of your care may be reimbursable and how to talk with your insurance company about coverage.
How do I know if psilocybin services are right for me?
That’s exactly what we explore together in the consultation and assessment phase. We look at:
Your mental health history and current symptoms
Your prior treatment experiences and what has or hasn’t helped
Potential risks and contraindications
Your goals, values, and reasons for considering psilocybin
From there, we’ll discuss whether psilocybin-assisted therapy seems like a good fit, or whether other options may make more sense at this time.
About Our Team
The Portland Institute for Psychedelic Science (PIPS) is led by clinicians who are also active researchers in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Our team has:
Delivered PAT in structured clinical trials as well as in outpatient clinical practice
Contributed to the scientific literature on shame, self-compassion, and psychedelic-assisted therapies
Helped develop and refine preparation and integration methods used in research settings
We draw on this experience to offer psilocybin-assisted therapy that is careful, research-informed, and grounded in the realities of real-world clinical care.
Contact us.
pips@portlandpsychotherapy.com
(503) 281-4852
3700 N Williams Ave
Portland, OR 97227