Microdosing mushrooms has exploded in popularity in recent years, often promoted as a way to boost mood, creativity, focus, and overall well-being. Yet alongside this rise in interest, a wave of unsafe and misleading products has also entered the market—leaving many consumers vulnerable to harmful experiences.

Psilocybin, the active compound in “magic mushrooms,” has been gaining increasing attention for its profound impact on personal growth, creativity, and healing. But not all psilocybin experiences are the same. Two common approaches—microdosing and macrodosing—serve very different purposes.

Every founder knows the exhilarating high of a good idea—the spark that lights up the mind with possibility. But in reality, most ideas never leave the “belief” stage. They get stuck there, simmering quietly in the background, buried under fear, uncertainty, or the overwhelming demands of day-to-day life.

For those who do take the leap and bring their product to market, the road is rarely smooth. Only a small percentage succeed not for lack of effort, but because the obstacles are relentless: shifting market conditions, missed hires, investor pressures, drying funding, leadership misalignment, and the founder’s own self-doubt or ego.

Are you feeling stuck or curious about new ways to approach your personal growth? Maybe you've heard about psychedelic journeys and the profound shifts they can spark. If you're looking for a psilocybin facilitator in Los Angeles, you're searching for a safe way to explore what these experiences might hold for you.

It's a big step, and you probably have many questions about what it involves and how to find the right guide for something so personal. This process can feel overwhelming, but you need clear information. You've come to the right place for practical advice on finding a qualified psychedelic professional in the Los Angeles area.

At The Mind Shift Network, we meet a lot of people who are new to psilocybin experiences. They’ve heard about the healing potential, they’re curious about what’s possible, and they’re ready to explore—but there’s one question that comes up again and again:

“Should I do a private journey or join a group ceremony?”

Both experiences can be powerful, transformative, and deeply healing but they’re held in different ways and offer different benefits.

Let’s break it down in plain language so you can choose the container that best supports your intentions.

At The Mind Shift Network, we deeply honor the ancient roots and sacred essence of plant medicine. Psilocybin and other psychedelics have been used for generations—not as products to be patented, but as profound tools for healing, connection, and transformation.

We recognize that the growing attention from pharmaceutical companies and regulatory bodies signals a cultural shift. In some ways, that’s encouraging—psychedelics are finally being taken seriously in mainstream medicine. But let’s be honest: it also comes with real concern.

In recent years, psychedelic-assisted work has been making its way back into the mainstream — with growing research, shifting cultural acceptance, and evolving legal frameworks. Alongside this rise, new modalities are emerging, including psychedelic coaching: an approach that integrates intention setting, somatic awareness, mindset work, and leadership development to support personal growth through non-ordinary states of consciousness.

As the founder of The Mind Shift Network, I’m often asked: How is what you do different from therapy?

And more importantly: Can we work together?

The answer is a resounding yes.

When people talk about psilocybin or other psychedelic experiences, you almost always hear about the importance of set and setting. And for good reason.

Set is your mindset going in—your emotional state, intentions, and readiness for the journey.

Setting is the physical and energetic environment—the space, music, lighting, and the presence of trusted facilitators.

Together, they create the foundation for a safe and meaningful ceremony. They set the stage.

But there’s another ingredient that’s just as critical—one that often gets less attention: surrender.

Throughout my career, I’ve been praised for my ability to read a room, sense unspoken tensions, and pick up on subtle dynamics. That kind of external awareness was a major asset in high-pressure environments. But for years, I overlooked something far more powerful: the ability to read myself.

I was productive and focused, yet often reactive — driven by thoughts and emotions I barely noticed, let alone understood. Like many high performers, I was operating from reflex instead of awareness.

Things shifted when I began exploring internal practices such as meditation, journaling, and eventually, guided psilocybin journeys. Over time, I developed the capacity to observe my internal experience. That awareness changed how I led, communicated, and made decisions. It gave me choice.

Los Angeles has been my home since 1997, when I moved here from Indianapolis. What started as a career shift turned into a deep, lifelong connection with this city—its rhythm, diversity, ambition, and creative edge. Over the years, LA has provided countless opportunities to grow professionally across multiple industries, from entertainment licensing to tech startups and beyond.

I just wrapped up a beautiful client engagement that spanned about 3.5 months—and I have to say, witnessing this transformation has been nothing short of inspiring.

The first six weeks of our time together were spent unpacking some very real challenges in the workplace—patterns, dynamics, frustrations, and beliefs that were also showing up in their personal life. Funny how that works, right? The inner and outer worlds always reflect each other. We explored these cracks gently but intentionally, allowing space for deep awareness to surface.

Welcome to this week’s edition of Mushroom Monday, where we explore the deeper mechanics behind psilocybin journeys. Today’s topic touches the very root of every successful psychedelic experience: Set and Setting.

If you’ve ever explored or considered exploring a psilocybin experience, this phrase has likely popped up. But what does it really mean? And more importantly — why does it matter?

Let’s break it down.

What if a mystical experience — something hard to describe, deeply personal, and borderline spiritual — could actually help ease depression?

It might sound far out, but that’s exactly what researchers are starting to explore with psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, or PAP. Psilocybin is the active compound in “magic mushrooms,” and it’s showing real promise in treating depression that doesn’t respond to traditional meds.

But here’s the kicker: it’s not just the compound itself that might be helping — it might be how you experience it.

Let’s break it down.

Not long ago, if you mentioned microdosing, most people would picture trippy hippies or Silicon Valley weirdos trying to hack their brains. Fast forward to now microdosing is everywhere. From podcasts and Reddit threads to therapist offices and startup circles, people are exploring tiny doses of psychedelics like psilocybin (the compound in “magic mushrooms”) to lift their mood, sharpen focus, or reduce anxiety — without actually tripping.

So, what’s real? What’s hype? And is it actually worth trying?

If you’ve been curious, this article’s for you. We’re diving into what microdosing is, what science is starting to say, and how to think about whether it’s a fit for you.

How do you really know if you’re ready for a psilocybin experience? It’s not like there’s a checklist you tick off, or a definitive sign from the universe. Some people simply feel called. Others — like me — arrive at the decision through a collision of life moments that eventually crack open something deeper.

I want to share my story. Not because it’s the only way, but because it might help you better understand your own. If you’re even asking the question, “Am I ready?”, then you’re already engaged in a level of self-awareness that matters. That’s a good starting point.

A growing number of people are using AI chatbots as “trip sitters”—a phrase that traditionally refers to a sober person tasked with monitoring someone who’s under the influence of a psychedelic—and sharing their experiences online. It’s a potent blend of two cultural trends: using AI for therapy and using psychedelics to alleviate mental-health problems. But this is a potentially dangerous psychological cocktail, according to experts. While it’s far cheaper than in-person psychedelic therapy, it can go badly awry.”

The above is an excerpt from an article in the MIT Technology Review which was published today. The title pulled me in with curiosity, and as I read it, it just felt all sorts of wrong. I get it, I come from the technology space for the last 15 years. I am intrigued with the opportunities around AI, but to leverage it during such a powerful transformational experience - is just not a good idea in any regard.

Early 2024, I invested in a 6 month course with InnerTrek Oregon to become a certified Psilocybin Facilitator.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into as this course offered so much more than I could have ever imagined - or needed as a facilitator.  The range of learning extended from right relationship between client and facilitator, the ethics of caring, a historical perspective on psilocybin, contraindications with pharmaceuticals and the idea of holding space (and more).  The idea of holding space was a new concept for me at that time and one that I have come to appreciate deeply as it has brought me a new perspective in how I engage with others.  

Lately, I’ve been feeling the ebb. You know how life moves in waves, there are the expansive moments where everything clicks, and then there are the quieter ones, where things feel heavier or uncertain. I’ve been in the flow recently, making progress, growing. But right now, I’m sitting with the slower part of the cycle. The stillness. The questions.

When someone asks me what it’s like to take a heroic dose of psilocybin, I pause. Not because I don’t know, but because the experience is so far outside of everyday language that even the best metaphors feel like shadows of the real thing.  And, everyone’s experience can be uniquely different.

Still, it’s a powerful question. And an important one. Because behind the trippy visuals and mystical language is something deeply human, a chance to meet yourself in a way that most people never do.

Let’s be honest.  Not every psychedelic experience is a walk through fields of cosmic bliss. Sometimes it’s more like being dropped into a storm with no map. But here’s the thing: those challenging moments often hold the greatest keys to our growth if we know how to meet them.

At The Mind Shift Network, we don’t sugarcoat the psychedelic path. We’ve been there. We’ve guided many (and ourselves) through it. And we’ve learned that when things get hard, the right tools, mindset, and support can make all the difference. So if you ever find yourself deep in a journey and thinking, “I didn’t sign up for this,” this guide is for you.