Truffles fall into the category of psychedelics, just like LSD or DMT. Psychedelics are substances that enable someone to perceive and experience the world differently. The effects include a euphoric feeling, visual hallucinations, sensory changes, a disturbed sense of time, the possibility of deep self-reflection, the opening of new perspectives, and the promotion of emotional processing and spiritual experiences.

But how exactly does that work? Truffles contain the substance psilocybin. In the body, psilocybin is quickly converted into psilocin, which then causes mind-altering effects.

For those interested in learning more, psilocybin acts as the prodrug of psilocin (4-hydroxy-dimethyltryptamine), the primary hallucinogenic component of magic mushrooms and truffles, and a classic psychedelic (“mind-manifesting”) molecule.

For healthy people, using psilocybin truffles poses little to no physical risks. The toxicity of psilocybin is so low that you would have to eat about 1.7 kg of dried (or 17 kg of fresh) mushrooms to be potentially at risk. Unlike alcohol, for example, it does not cause physical dependence.

In research settings, no long-term adverse effects have been reported with psilocybin use, even after more than 2,000 sessions conducted since the year 2000.

A relatively small risk with truffles is of a mental-emotional nature, where you can end up in a so-called “bad trip”. At such a moment, you can be overcome by fear, panic or confusion.

However, you can significantly reduce this risk by paying careful attention to the set and setting. Both the set (your emotional state) and the setting (the environment) significantly influence the truffles’ effect.

How you feel and who you are with largely determines the experience you will have. We pay extensive attention to the set and setting in a guided session. We create a familiar environment so that you feel safe. During the preparation, we also pay attention to your expectations and feelings. Together, we formulate clear intentions for the experience.

For healthy people, the use of psilocybin truffles poses few risks. However, psychedelics are not suitable for people with underlying psychiatric or somatic problems. Unfortunately, a psychedelic experience is not suitable if the following factors are present:

• the use of antidepressants
• the use of antipsychotics
• a psychiatric condition
• a (family) history of psychosis or dissociation
• a family member with schizophrenia
• history of seizures
• high blood pressure/hypertension
• history of cardiovascular disease
• during pregnancy or breastfeeding

Psilocybin causes (only a minimal) an increase in heart rate, making it less suitable for people with cardiovascular problems or other severe physical conditions. The risks of truffle use lie mainly in the possible psychological side effects.

The use of psychedelics can be particularly risky for people with a psychotic vulnerability because a trip can trigger psychoses. Intense emotions can also arise during a psychedelic experience in people with a (diagnosed) mental illness, such as PTSD or depression. This makes them vulnerable to a negative experience.

A lot has been written in the media lately about psychedelics as medicine for various mental disorders. The potential of psychedelics is vast. Many mental problems are related to having rigid patterns (OCD, depression, trauma) that need to be broken. A lot of research is currently being done into psychedelics in a therapeutic setting for almost all psychiatric disorders. The results are particularly promising in the treatment of PTSD and depression.

Research into the treatment of PTSD with MDMA (an ‘entactogen’, not a classic psychedelic) is currently in its final phase. It has been shown in a large study that 67% of participants have significantly fewer PTSD symptoms after intensive guidance. If all goes well, this form of therapy will be approved by the FDA (in America) in 2024, followed by approval in Europe (EMA), possibly in 2026.

The study with psilocybin in the penultimate phase for the treatment of long-term depression (‘treatment-resistant depression’). Research is done by important academic groups (e.g. Johns Hopkins University) and large companies (e.g. Janssen & Janssen).

In short, the results look promising. But whether psychedelics have the potential to treat psychological issues effectively remains to be seen. At this time, they cannot yet be used in therapy by qualified practitioners.

At FLO Coaching, we would like to emphasize that it is misleading (and dangerous) to offer psychedelics as therapy for psychological disorders such as PTSD or long-term depression. Currently, only coaching with psychedelics is possible in The Netherlands.

Psychedelic mushrooms and plants are found all over the world and have a long history of ritual use. In many indigenous cultures, psychedelics are used to promote health, strengthen social connections, and connect to the spiritual world.

In recent years, more and more research has been done into how the brain works. To explain this well, we use the metaphor of a busy city with different neighbourhoods. Typically, some neighbourhoods talk a lot to each other, while other neighbourhoods are a bit quieter.

The Default Mode Network (DMN) is a neighbourhood in your brain that is always busy. This is the part of the brain that worries about the future, thinks about the past, makes plans and daydreams.

When you take psychedelics, something special happens in your brain. It’s like new roads are being built between neighbourhoods that generally don’t talk to each other very often. The neighbourhood that worries (DMN) becomes quieter while other parts of the city begin to communicate more with each other. So, novel connections are made between the different parts of the brain.

In short, psychedelics help your brain to work differently. It makes new connections and makes certain parts calmer. It’s like refreshing the city and building new pathways for smooth communication between the different parts of your brain.

This allows you to look at yourself, your life and the world with a fresh perspective.

ACT stands for acceptance and commitment therapy. This is a scientifically based behavioural therapy which originates from Buddhist psychology. With the help of ACT, you develop a resilient attitude towards uncomfortable emotions and thoughts while making value-oriented choices.

With the ACT method, you learn to be present in the moment and experience life in its fullness as it presents itself. At the same time, you focus on what gives meaning. It is an art of living that brings you more satisfaction and satisfaction.

ACT is an experience-oriented form of coaching. This means the sessions consist of much practice, experience and discovery. You will also receive personal in-depth exercises and reference work to take home.

Psychedelics and coaching make a fascinating combination, as they both aim to increase psychological flexibility. Coaching focuses on building a rich and meaningful life aligned with your deepest values. Psychedelics support this process by enabling the brain to make new connections.

In a process at FLO, the psychedelic experience is always anchored in a coaching process so that they can reinforce each other. But coaching (the sessions without psychedelics) and guidance (the session with psychedelics) are two different activities. Your coach fulfils a different role for both.

The coach has an active role during the coaching conversations. Floris and Lotte ask questions and take you through experiential exercises. This provides new insights and practical tools. We will also provide you with some information during the coaching sessions to optimally prepare you for the psychedelic experience.

However, during the guided session, the coach has a passive role. While you are under the influence of psychedelics, there is no coaching conversation going on. You listen to the music silently and become wholly absorbed in the experience.

Floris and Lotte, we do not want to disrupt or influence this inner process. The guide’s role is to provide a safe and calm environment so you do not have to worry about anything. The guide is present the entire time and ensures you get the most out of your experience. The guide’s role is also to help you ground yourself if necessary.

During the guidance (and also the coaching sessions), we will not impose our vision of the world on you. As good guides, in our eyes, we ensure that you feel the space and freedom to be your authentic self. Whether you are atheist, pantheist, Catholic, Buddhist, Islamic or Jewish. You are welcome, just as you are.

Yes, you can also have a psychedelic experience yourself if you are physically and mentally-emotionally healthy.

It will be an exciting and enjoyable experience. Preparing yourself well by paying attention to the set and setting is essential. Take the time to clarify your intentions and ask someone you trust to be your trip sitter. This way, you prevent unpleasant experiences.

We have written a free e-book from FLO coaching. With the help of our 50-page e-book, you will prepare yourself well for a (first) psychedelic experience.

The significant advantage of a guided psychedelic experience is that you are completely relieved of your worries. You are in a safe environment and do not have to worry about anything.

In addition, a guided psychedelic experience is anchored in a coaching process. You can gain deeper insights during the experience through careful preparation and clear intentions. You probably dare to surrender more to the emotions and feelings that arise. The focus on integration ensures that it does not just remain a separate experience but that you can also notice a change in daily life.

A guided psychedelic experience is an investment in your personal growth and development. It is a unique and unforgettable experience that can broaden your horizons.