Psilocybin mushrooms have a long history of medicinal use, and are being investigated as a modern treatment for a range of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, addiction and PTSD. Studies show that they can improve psychological health in the long term, can create lasting personality change, making people calmer, happier and more open-minded. Their use are associated with lower levels of mental illness. Research shows that just a single dose of psilocybin can lift anxiety and depression for six months or longer. They may be effective in quitting smoking and help with relationship therapy. Not only do they help people with mental health issues, they have also been shown to help people who are already well to improve their lives. Magic mushrooms can reignite a sense of awe in the world and can reliably trigger a mystical or spiritual experience. In Ireland, where most of the Inwardbound team are from, magic mushrooms have a long ancestral history of being used as a medicine and spiritual guide.

At InwardBound, our interdisciplinary team of psychotherapists, PhD scientists and holistic therapists believes in weaving together the threads of science and spirituality, knowing that the two ways are one. We work in the broad tradition of Dr Stan Grof – creating a safe container for people to access the wisdom of their own inner healer. We come from a long tradition of psilocybin use in Ireland. Our Celtic ancestors used the wild mushrooms of Northern Europe (Psilocybe Semilanceata) and worked with the patterns of nature for healing and spiritual growth and we continue that land-based ancestral tradition to create a modern context for psilocybin ceremony and reconnection with nature. We hold small groups with four facilitators (a balance of male and female) to a maximum of 12 participants. This very low ratio allows us to provide the highest possible standard of care for our participants using humanistic psychology’s core conditions of: empathy, being real and unconditional positive regard. Private rooms are available on most retreats. We do not claim to heal or fix anyone. Nor do we work with people in very vulnerable emotional, psychological or mental states. We do, however,  strongly trust in the power of psilocybin, the psychological process that unfolds on our retreats, and have witnessed many clients have transformative and life changing experiences.

We work in the Netherlands, where the sale and purchase of psilocybin-containing truffles is legal, allowing us to work within the law.

When used correctly, psilocybin is one of the safest drugs to consume, having no detrimental effect on long-term mental health.However, our programmes are not suitable for people with a history of psychosis, bipolar, schizophrenia, suicidality or suicidal ideation, clinical depression or a personality disorders, or who are dealing with serious addiction or substance abuse issues.