As a coaching practice that is part of the Guild of Guides (Nederland), it is essential to follow the code of conduct that was developed collaboratively. This way, coaches like us are held to a standard that guarantees a safe and comfortable experience for the people who come to us for coaching, supported by psychedelics.
Here is our commentary on the Guild of Guides Code of Conduct, to clarify the rules and share our perspective on some of the thinking behind them.
Participant Safety
- Guides carry out an exhaustive physical and mental health screening of participants and ensure that their clients receive adequate support before, during, and after a psychedelic experience.
- After our first introductory call, we send you our intake questionnaire. This questionnaire covers many mental and physical health aspects and informs participants about known contraindications. This is a logical step, and one we know most psychedelic coaches use. In most cases it is a questionnaire that comes from the guide, although some practices in the United States have outsourced this step to a third party.
- Guides inform participants and clients about the risks and benefits of undertaking a psychedelic experience and offer insight into their own capacities and limitations. They work with written informed consent. Guides do not give medical advice.
- This describes the next step that follows the intake questionnaire, which may already have been partly discussed in the introductory call. As a guide/coach, we are keenly aware of our limitations and that we do not work within the medical system (and therefore refrain from giving medical advice).
- Guides are responsible for setting, maintaining, and monitoring appropriate boundaries within the guide-client relationship. They are aware of power dynamics and inequality, do not enter into sexual or romantic relationships, nor act in any inappropriately exploitative way. They never pressure clients into taking a psychedelic substance and respect their autonomy. In principle, guides do not allow participants or clients to leave the designated space while under the effects of the substance, without consulting and obtaining the guide’s consent.
- The power dynamics at play in sober coaching already lead to complex relationships in some coaching contexts. This is only amplified by the use of psychedelics. That makes it important to discuss things like touch (e.g. holding a hand, a tap on the shoulder) before the coaching session. In our experience, and we hope this is the same for other coaches, this will be the only form of intimate touch (apart from a warm hug when you leave).
- Guides ensure that personal information about the client is stored securely, in accordance with the law, and is never shared with anyone else without prior consent. Under certain conditions, guides may share clients’ personal information with other members of the guild. Guides guarantee privacy and confidentiality before, during, and after retreats.
- We will not share your information with other parties. During conversations with other guides/coaches, we discuss matters without identifying personal details. We believe that the one-on-one coaching framework we use guarantees even more privacy than retreats with multiple people. Testimonials with identifying information are only shared if someone consents to it.
- Guides provide clients with appropriate and reliable preparation, integration, and aftercare for a psychedelic experience. They reach out to relevant professionals, colleagues, or third parties if they cannot provide the necessary support themselves.
- This fifth guideline ties in with the second one about not being able to provide medical care ourselves. When needed, we know who to refer to (Lotte has worked in mental health care for more than 9 years).
- Guides exercise careful caution when touching clients and set limits on their use of touch, based on their professional capacities and limitations. They never touch in any sexual way.
- As discussed under the third guideline, there is no touch beyond what has been agreed in advance.
- Guides hold a position of power relative to participants and are aware of this power relationship and the responsibilities it brings. They do not proselytize and do not impose their own worldview.
- This is a guideline that is very close to our hearts. Every individual comes in with a different worldview, which may differ greatly from our own. So we respect that, and we act as a sounding board for clients, not as authorities who ‘know everything’.
- Guides have a complaints procedure in place and can contact or refer clients to the external confidential advisor employed by the Guild of Guides NL.
- You have the option to file a complaint if something has gone wrong during the coaching process. If we cannot reach agreement, you can submit your complaint to the Guild of Guides.
- Guides only share testimonials – verbal, written, video, audio, and at any level of anonymity – under strict conditions and with written informed consent.
- At the end of the coaching process, we ask you for a testimonial. You are free to leave one if you wish. We will share it in whatever way you feel comfortable with (with/without photo/video/name). You are also free to withdraw the testimonial you gave or to have your name removed.
- Guides set limits and/or conditions on receiving donations and tips, fees, and on entering into business relationships or ongoing services, during and after a psychedelic experience.
- This is less of an issue here in the Netherlands, but it is not uncommon for retreats in the US to ask for donations right after the session has taken place (i.e. when you are not fully back down to earth). This is, of course, abusing the power dynamic we talked about in point seven. We always discuss the price beforehand and are clear about what our future offer is (another coaching process you can do six months later at the earliest).
- Guides inform clients about their responsibilities before, during, and after a psychedelic experience. They advise against making major life changes in the two months following a psychedelic experience.
- A psychedelic-assisted session with a guide is something that can give you insights you can build on for a lifetime. At the same time, these insights can be destabilizing if implemented too quickly or without regard for the consequences. That is why we advise you not to make any life changes in the week after the coaching. The two months is something we might slightly disagree with, but I think it comes down to how you interpret ‘major’; if you say you are going from 0x to 3x a week at the gym, we believe that is quite a big change, and we are happy if you do that in the second week. We do, of course, advise against making changes like switching jobs, ending relationships, etc. in the first two months.
- Guides take care to protect their clients from COVID-19 and do not guide clients through psychedelic experiences online.
- The first part of this guideline is a little outdated, but as you might understand, we take our clients’ safety seriously and will not hold sessions if we ourselves are unwell. This also means that a psychedelic-assisted session is always in person.
The Guild of Guides Code of Conduct serves as a fundamental pillar of our coaching practice, putting the safety, privacy, and wellbeing of every participant at the heart of what we do. This comprehensive code not only sets the standard for psychedelic-assisted coaching, but also emphasizes the importance of trust, transparency, and respect in the guide-client relationship.
As we explore the deep and transformative world of psychedelics, it is essential to have a clear ethical compass guiding our actions. We are deeply committed to upholding these principles and encourage all participants to familiarize themselves with these guidelines. By doing so, we can create a supportive environment in which profound insights and personal growth can flourish, while guaranteeing the highest standards of care and professionalism.
Tomorrow we analyze the ‘Guide Requirements’.
