Curious about psychedelics, but not sure where to start or who to trust?
Take our quick, free intake form, and we'll match you with two vetted guides near you. Then talk it through with one of them before you decide anything.
Trying to figure this out on your own is exhausting.
You start with a book or a podcast. Then one search leads to another, and before you know it, it’s midnight and you’ve got forty tabs open on Reddit.
When you finally go looking for someone to talk to, it gets harder. You find directories with no way to tell who’s legit, ads for retreats, and some guy on Instagram with no last name. It can feel like everyone has something to sell you.
And it’s not exactly something you can bring up at dinner with friends. In fact, most people who come to us haven’t told a soul they’re looking.
That’s why we start with a conversation. Before you decide anything, you can talk it through with a guide we’ve already vetted.
A guide supports you before, during and after a psychedelic experience.
Guides are trained, non-clinical professionals. They never provide substances, and they don’t give medical advice. Their job is to make sure you’re never doing this alone.
Why it helps to have a guide with you
Your guide gets to know you, asks about your health and history, and helps you plan ahead.
If you decide to have an experience, your guide is right there with you, calm and sober, so you’re never handling a hard moment on your own.
Your guide helps you make sense of what came up and bring it back into your everyday life. This part is called integration, and it’s a big part of the work.
Not sure if you’d want a guide with you? That’s exactly what your first conversation is for.
Start the Free Intake FormFour steps, at your own pace.
Answer a few private questions about what you're curious about and what matters to you. You don't need a clear reason. Most people answer "I'm not sure yet," and that's a fine place to start.
We match you with two vetted guides near you, based on things like your location, your budget and the kind of support you want.
Pick the guide who feels right and have a 20-minute conversation. It's free, and you're not signing up for anything. If it's not a fit, you can switch guides.
If you both decide to move forward, your guide helps you get ready, stays with you through the experience itself, and helps you make sense of it afterward, all on your timeline.
We turn down about two out of three guides who apply.
Mindi Staley, a certified ICEERS Integration Guide with fifteen years of experience, personally interviews every guide who applies. To be accepted, each one has to meet our ten-point standard.
Our ten-point standard
And because no guide can pay to be listed, every guide pays us the same percentage. So we have no reason to steer you toward anyone.
The red flags we screen out (watch for these wherever you look):
Know who you’re talking to before you ever say hello.
Each match comes with a full profile, so you can see their background and training, how they work, and what they do and don’t offer. You can take your time, read through both, and pick the one who feels right.
Swipe to see all five guides →
Example profiles shown. You’ll see your real matches after the intake form.
What people say about getting started
“I got off the free call and realized I wasn’t scared anymore. I hadn’t even decided anything yet. I just finally understood what I was deciding about.”
“I’d been reading about this for two years without telling anybody. The questionnaire took five minutes and it was the first time I’d said any of it out loud.”
“I interviewed strangers off the internet for weeks and hated every minute of it. One call here and I finally understood what I was actually choosing between. I’d have paid just for that.”
“What sold me was that they asked about my medications before they asked about my credit card. Nobody else had done that.”
“I was skeptical going in. What stood out was how grounded and thoughtful the process felt.”
“Mindi checked in three times before I ever booked anything, and once after. I never had the feeling I’d been passed along.”
Who's behind Guides Collective
Troy has spent 20+ years building and scaling education and media companies, including Mindvalley. When he started looking into psychedelics himself, he ran into a wall, because nearly everyone offering information had something to sell. So he built Guides Collective to be the neutral starting point he couldn't find.
Matthew co-founded Guides Collective to build the part you actually walk through. He comes from creative technology, and he designs every step so you know where you are, what comes next, and that you set the pace.
Mindi is a certified ICEERS Integration Guide, retreat facilitator and holistic wellness coach. She's spent fifteen years as a professional guide, worked with more than a hundred clients, and she interviews every guide who applies.
Karina spent her career in content marketing in the personal growth world, where she learned the difference between content that sells and content that genuinely helps. She leads marketing at Guides Collective, where nothing goes out unless it leaves you clearer than it found you.
Is this for you?
This is for you if...
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FAQ
Is it free?
Yes. The intake form and your intro call with a guide are both free. If you decide to work with a guide after that, you'll talk about their pricing directly with them.
Do you sell or provide psychedelics?
No. Guides Collective doesn't provide or sell any substances, and neither do our guides. Guides are independent professionals.
Is this legal?
Laws around psychedelic substances vary by state and country. Your guide can talk you through where things stand where you live, but nothing here or on your call is legal advice.
Is it private?
Yes. You can start with just your first name, and we never share your answers with your employer, your doctor or your insurance company.
Do I need any experience?
No. You don't need experience or a specific reason. Most people start with "I'm not sure yet."
What if I don't click with my guide?
You can switch guides. The point is to find someone you feel comfortable with.
Are there guides near me?
Guides are only in certain areas right now. The intake form will show you who's available near you.
Still curious, but not sure who to trust?
Start with a quick, free intake form. See your two matches, and talk it through with a vetted guide before you decide anything.
Start the Free Intake FormPrivate. All you need is your first name.