Chapter 11 — Administration · iETA Field Manual

iETA

Field Manual for Natural Medicine Facilitation

Student Textbook · Inner EDGE Travel Agency

V2.0 · Phase 3
Draft Edition

Chapter 11 Phase 3 · Clinical & Practical Applications

Administration

Everything built in M08 through M10 becomes real — or falls apart under pressure. Presence, attunement, turbulence response, and the emergency action plan are the four pillars of what it means to be in the room.

4 Lessons + 2 OSCE 13 Hours Total 10 hrs Sync · 3 hrs Async PC3 · PC4

By the End of This Chapter You Will Be Able To

Describe the full session arc from pre-brief through postcare — and explain the facilitator's role at each stage without drifting into clinical interpretation.
Demonstrate supportive presence — posture, proximity, gaze, voice, and internal state — distinguished from triggering presence in live practice.
Respond appropriately to all six attunement microscenarios, including the touch request scenario governed by the Touch Contract.
Apply the turbulence response protocol to all five presentation types: presence first, assessment second, technique third.
Identify Safety Officer and EAP activation thresholds — and deliver accurate 911 handoff communication using factual behavioral language.
Document a session in a scope-compliant note: factual, non-interpretive, completed same day.

§1 Session Flow, Pre-Brief & Staging

§2 Presence & Attunement

§3 Turbulence Response & EAP

§4 Documentation & Session Close

§§ Glossary · Knowledge Check

Chapter Introduction

"M08 through M10 built toward this. M11 is where everything that was theoretical becomes real — or falls apart under pressure."

The administration session is the highest-stakes context in facilitator training. The participant is in an altered state. Their experience amplifies everything — fear, warmth, discomfort, trust. The facilitator's presence, pacing, voice, and posture are no longer background variables. They are active forces in the room.

Two things to hold across all four sections. First: scope discipline from M08–M10 is even more critical under pressure. Facilitators who are uncertain about boundaries in a screening conversation will revert to clinical framing when a participant is in distress. The turbulence protocol exists precisely to prevent that reversion — it gives you a structure to act within before the instinct to over-interpret or over-intervene kicks in. Second: presence cannot be performed. A facilitator who understands supportive presence intellectually but whose body does something different when a participant is in pain — that gap is what Section 2 addresses. It closes through practice, not lecture.

Bring your M10 portfolio — preparation plan, safety plan, pre-journey checklist — to every exercise in this chapter. These are active session documents, not reference materials.

Section 1 · Lesson 1

Session Flow, Pre-Brief & Staging

The full session arc · traveler pre-brief · room staging · material handling · secondary amounts

2.0 hrs sync · 1.0 hrs async · 3.0 hrs total

Why This Matters

The session arc was withheld from M08–M10 deliberately. It belongs here — where the full sequence can be understood as a clinical arc the facilitator moves through, not a list of steps the participant experiences. Knowing what comes next allows the facilitator to be fully present in what is happening now, rather than anticipating or managing the future.

The Session Arc — Arrival Through Postcare

Arrival and pre-brief (30–60 min before ingestion): The participant arrives — ideally with adequate buffer before the session start. The facilitator confirms the six coordinates and reviews the pre-journey checklist. The participant's intention is reflected back in their exact words. Logistics are confirmed. The consent affirmation is sought — a "full yes," not a signature collected months ago. The support person is confirmed. Nothing proceeds until the pre-brief checklist is complete.

Room staging and material handling: The physical environment is staged before the participant arrives — not during the pre-brief. Sensory elements are set to the participant's co-designed preferences. Materials are handled per service center protocols. The facilitator knows where everything is and what to do with it without needing to search or improvise. A facilitator who is managing logistics during the session is not present with the participant.

Onset phase (approx. 30–60 min after ingestion): Effects beginning. The facilitator's role is minimal verbal intervention — be present, be available, don't fill the space. Nausea is most likely in this phase; preparation prevents scrambling. Sensory adjustments may be needed. The participant's experience of onset is shaped significantly by their expectation of it — which is why the arc was communicated in preparation.

Peak phase (approx. 2–4 hrs after ingestion): Most intensive experience. Facilitator presence is its most active expression. Turbulence, if it occurs, is most likely here. The turbulence protocol (Section 3) is the primary clinical tool. The facilitator does not interpret content, direct the experience, or fill silence because it is uncomfortable. The participant navigates; the facilitator holds the space.

Landing phase (approx. 4–6+ hrs after ingestion): Effects diminishing. The participant may want to talk, to be quiet, to eat, to move. The facilitator follows the participant's lead. Integration themes may emerge — these are noted but not processed clinically. M12 Integration is where that work happens. The session note is begun in this phase.

Session close and postcare handoff: Transportation confirmed per safety plan. Support person briefed. Immediate postcare instructions given — the participant should not be alone for the first several hours if the plan called for that. Documentation completed same day. Incident report filed if the session involved any Safety Officer or EAP activation.

Secondary Amounts and Material Handling

Secondary amounts — the possibility of an additional natural medicine amount during the session — are not a decision the facilitator makes independently. They follow service center protocols and are discussed in preparation. The facilitator does not escalate the amount during the session based on their own assessment that "more is needed." The participant and the preparation plan govern. Material handling follows service center-specific protocols. Facilitators know their protocols before the session begins — not as something to be figured out in the room.

🌿Practitioner's Note — Knowing the Arc Frees You to Be Present

The session arc is not a script — it is a map. A facilitator who knows where the territory is headed can be fully present in the current moment without anticipating the next step. The participant who is in the peak phase doesn't need a facilitator who is mentally preparing for the landing. They need a facilitator who is entirely with them right now. The arc knowledge lives in the background; full presence lives in the foreground.

Self-Check — Section 1

I can describe all five stages of the session arc — and the facilitator's primary role at each stage — without looking at notes.
I know what the pre-journey briefing checklist covers and in what order — including the consent affirmation that must be sought before anything else proceeds.
I understand why room staging and material handling are completed before the participant arrives — and what it means for facilitator presence if they are not.

Moving Forward

You know the arc. Section 2 builds the most fundamental administration skill: being present with a participant in an altered state in a way that supports rather than disrupts. This is the skill that everything else depends on.

Section 2 · Lesson 2

Presence & Attunement

Supportive vs. triggering presence · attunement microscenarios · DISC in the session

2.5 hrs sync · 1.0 hrs async · 3.5 hrs total

Why This Matters

The participant in an altered state registers the facilitator's internal state before they register any words. A dysregulated facilitator cannot help a dysregulated participant. Supportive presence is not a communication style — it is the facilitator's own physiological regulation made visible in posture, proximity, gaze, and voice. It can be learned. It requires practice, not just understanding.

Supportive vs. Triggering Presence — The Specific Behaviors

The distinction between supportive and triggering presence is specific enough to be observable and practiced. It is not "being warm" versus "being cold." It is a set of behavioral and internal state markers that a participant's nervous system registers, often before conscious thought arrives. Most triggering presence comes not from bad intention but from the facilitator's own unregulated response to the participant's distress — anxiety showing up as hovering, discomfort showing up as avoidance, urgency showing up as rushed words.

✓ Supportive Presence

Posture: Open, relaxed, grounded — neither rigid nor collapsed. Oriented toward the participant without hovering.
Proximity: Respectful distance unless Touch Contract is active — close enough to be present, not so close as to crowd.
Gaze: Soft, available — not fixed, not scanning the room. Willing to make eye contact; willing to look away.
Voice: Calm, unhurried, low. Minimal words. "I'm here" carries more than most sentences.
Authority: "I know this space" — reassurance, not control.
Internal state: Regulated, present, genuinely curious about what the participant is experiencing.

✗ Triggering Presence

Posture: Tense, contracted, or slumped — anything that communicates anxiety or disengagement.
Proximity: Hovering too close; or sitting too removed, managing from a distance.
Gaze: Fixed stare (overwhelming); distracted scanning (abandonment); or avoided entirely (discomfort).
Voice: Tense, directive, rushed — filling silence because the facilitator is uncomfortable with it.
Authority: "You need to..." / "Try to..." / "Just..." — removes participant agency.
Internal state: Anxious, reactive, self-monitoring — the participant registers the facilitator's discomfort.

Attunement Microscenarios — Six Participant Signals and Appropriate Responses

Withdrawal

Participant turns inward — eyes closed, body curled, minimal response to check-ins.

Honor the inward turn. Reduce verbal check-ins. Maintain quiet presence. Gentle, infrequent check-in if needed: "I'm here." Only intervene if withdrawal is accompanied by distress signals.

Scope: supportive presence and quiet monitoring. Not interpretation of content.

Scanning

Eyes open, tracking the room, seeking visual anchors. May look to the facilitator repeatedly.

Provide a calm, steady visual anchor. Gentle eye contact if welcomed. Brief grounding statement if needed: "You're in the room. I'm here with you." Keep your own body still and open.

Scope: orienting support. Do not interpret what they are scanning for.

Startle Response

Sudden physical startle, flinch, or sharp intake of breath — often in response to a sensory stimulus.

Remain still and calm. Gently name the stimulus if identifiable: "That was a sound from outside." Offer grounding presence. Adjust environment if the stimulus is ongoing (sound, light).

Scope: environmental adjustment and grounding. Do not project fear or interpret the startle as crisis.

Seeking Verbal Connection

Participant opens eyes, turns toward facilitator, initiates speech or verbal check-in.

Respond warmly and briefly. Reflect what they say without adding interpretation. "Yes. I'm here." If asking for direction: "What does it feel like you need right now?"

Scope: responsive presence. Do not provide clinical interpretation or direct the content of the experience.

Distress — Unverified

Increased agitation, audible distress sounds, rapid breathing — cause and severity not yet clear.

Move closer. Ground yourself first — regulated presence before any words. Soft grounding statement: "I'm here. You're safe. This is part of the experience." If distress escalates or doesn't resolve within a few minutes: activate turbulence protocol.

Scope: presence and grounding. Do not diagnose, label, or claim to know what is happening internally.

Touch Request

Participant reaches toward facilitator, requests physical contact, or non-verbally signals desire for touch.

Refer to the Touch Contract from M06. If pre-authorized: offer as agreed. If not: "I'm close by. I'm right here." Do not initiate touch beyond what was established in preparation regardless of the participant's state.

Scope: strictly per Touch Contract. In-session modifications require explicit verbal consent when the participant is coherent.

DISC in the Administration Session — One Do, One Don't Per Style

D — Dominance

Signal: May resist intensity — trying to "get through" or "do" the experience rather than move with it
Do: Brief, direct acknowledgments — "You're in it. Stay with it." Validate intensity without pathologizing it
Don't: Give extended reassurance or narrative explanations — under pressure, D energy wants efficiency, not comfort talks that feel like stalling

I — Influence

Signal: May want to narrate and share what's happening — more verbal than other styles during the experience
Do: Receive their sharing warmly; reflect briefly. Their verbalization may be processing, not a request for input
Don't: Match their energy level or become conversational — your calm is the anchor, not a mirror of their state

S — Steadiness

Signal: May minimize distress or be reluctant to ask for what they need — deferential even in difficulty
Do: Check in gently and specifically — "Are you comfortable? Do you want me closer?" Give permission to have needs
Don't: Wait for them to ask — they often won't. Proactive, warm presence matters more with S participants than with any other style

C — Conscientiousness

Signal: May try to analyze or understand what's happening in real time — detached observational mode
Do: Honor the observational mode — it may be how they process. Brief, factual check-ins fit their communication preference
Don't: Interpret or provide explanations for what's arising — the analysis is theirs to do, not yours to offer

⚠Common Pitfall — Filling Silence Because You're Uncomfortable

The most common triggering presence behavior in new facilitators is filling silence. Silence in a psilocybin session is almost always working. The participant is processing, navigating, going deeper. A facilitator who breaks that silence with reassurance, questions, or commentary has redirected the participant's attention outward — toward the facilitator — at the moment it most needed to be inward. Silence is a presence skill. It requires the facilitator to be comfortable enough with their own internal state that they don't need the participant to be in active contact in order to feel like they're doing their job.

Self-Check — Section 2

I can describe the specific behavioral markers of supportive and triggering presence — not as abstract concepts but as observable, practiceable behaviors.
I know how to respond to all six attunement microscenarios — and I have practiced at least three of them out loud in a simulated context.
I know my Touch Contract protocol cold — and I can explain, in the moment, why I am or am not offering touch regardless of the participant's state.
I have identified which DISC style combination with a participant I find most challenging — and I know what my specific do and don't is for that combination.

Moving Forward

You can be present. Section 3 addresses what happens when presence alone is not sufficient — five types of turbulence, the escalation thresholds, and the emergency action plan that exists because some situations exceed the facilitator's scope.

Section 3 · Lesson 3

Turbulence Response & EAP

Five turbulence types · presence first · Safety Officer threshold · EAP activation · handoff communication

3.0 hrs sync · 1.0 hrs async · 4.0 hrs total

Why This Matters

Turbulence is not failure. It is a normal feature of intensive psilocybin experiences. The facilitator's job is not to prevent it — it is to recognize what type of turbulence this is, respond within scope, and escalate appropriately when the presentation exceeds that scope. Intensity is not a crisis. Distress is not danger. The protocol helps you tell the difference — and to act accordingly.

The Core Turbulence Principle — Presence First, Assessment Second, Technique Third

Every turbulence response begins with the facilitator's own regulated presence. A dysregulated facilitator who reaches immediately for a technique has skipped the most important step. A still, grounded, present facilitator is itself a co-regulation resource — the participant's nervous system responds to the facilitator's state before any words or actions arrive. Ground yourself first. Then assess what this actually is. Then select and apply the appropriate technique. The sequence matters because the urgency of turbulence produces a strong instinct to act immediately. The protocol is designed to interrupt that instinct with the right preparation before action.

Scope applies throughout: the facilitator's role in turbulence is to contain, support, and route. They describe what they see factually — they do not diagnose what is happening. They recognize patterns indicating escalation is required — they do not clinically interpret. They use presence, grounding, and de-escalation within their training — and activate the Safety Officer or EAP when those are insufficient. Every technique in the protocol supports the participant's own resources, not overrides the experience.

Presence First · Assessment Second · Technique Third · Know All Five Turbulence Response Protocol — Five Presentation Types

Type 1Anxiety Spike

Rapid breathing, visible tension, verbal expressions of fear or overwhelm, eyes wide or scanning. Often occurs in onset or early peak — the experience is escalating faster than the participant feels ready for.

Become still and present — ground yourself first before any action
Move closer (within agreed proximity) without hovering
Soft grounding statement: "I'm here. You're safe. This is the experience." Brief and unhurried
Invite breath: "Let's breathe together." Model slow, visible breathing — don't direct the participant
If Touch Contract allows: a steady hand on the arm can reduce physiological anxiety
If it doesn't resolve within 5–10 min or escalates to agitation: move to Type 2 protocol

Scope: grounding presence and co-regulation. Do not tell the participant what the anxiety means or what they are afraid of.

Type 2Agitation

Physical restlessness, inability to remain still, raised voice, resistance to the environment. More physically active than anxiety — requires more environmental management.

Remain calm and grounded — match the physical level without escalating
Create more space — agitation often responds to increased room, not decreased
Offer simple, direct options: "Do you want to sit up? Do you want to walk?" Choice restores agency
Environmental adjustment if relevant: reduce sound, adjust light
If participant moves toward leaving the space: gentle redirection — "Let's stay together. I'm right here." Do not restrain
If agitation includes self-harm verbal expressions or incoherence not resolving: Safety Officer threshold met — escalate

Scope: presence, space, and choice. Physical restraint is never in scope. If verbal de-escalation and environmental adjustment are insufficient, escalate.

Type 3Nausea / Vomiting

Common, especially in onset. Not a crisis. Has practical management requirements that must be handled calmly and without conveying alarm.

Have supplies within reach before the session (basin, cool cloth, water) — preparation prevents scrambling during
Move calmly — do not rush or express alarm. Nausea often resolves within 30–60 min
Support physical comfort: help position appropriately, offer the basin
Cool cloth to face and back of neck if welcomed; water available after nausea passes
If vomiting is severe, prolonged, or accompanied by medical distress signs: EAP threshold — escalate

Scope: physical comfort support. Do not frame nausea as negative or alarming. Do not administer any anti-nausea medication without explicit service center protocol authorization.

Type 4Dissociation

Participant appears absent, unresponsive to verbal contact, glassy-eyed, or reports feeling disconnected from body or surroundings. Distinguished from inward focus by unresponsiveness — a participant in inward focus responds when called; a dissociating participant may not.

Do not attempt to pull the participant back verbally — sudden re-entry can increase distress
Gently reduce environmental stimulation: lower sound, steady light
Soft grounding contact if Touch Contract allows — a hand on the arm or back can anchor physical awareness
Calm, simple orienting language at low volume: "I'm here. You're in the room. Feel the ground."
If participant does not respond to orienting attempts within several minutes or shows signs of medical distress: Safety Officer threshold — escalate

Scope: grounding and orienting. Do not diagnose. Document factually: "Participant was unresponsive to verbal contact for approximately X minutes; responded to grounding touch at [time]."

Type 5Retraumatization Cues

Trauma material arising during the session. Characterized by: participant appears to be reliving rather than observing a past experience; intense emotional flooding; freeze response; trauma-specific physical responses (bracing, flinching, gasping). Connects directly to M04 trauma-informed care foundations.

Remain present and regulated — do not pull back in response to the intensity
Do not redirect or try to move the participant away from the material — this can compound the trauma response
Grounding, not containment: "I'm here. You're safe in this room. This is the experience." Orient to the present without dismissing what is arising
Follow the participant's lead on what they need — some want silence, some want contact, some want to speak
If participant becomes acutely unsafe (suicidal statements with specificity, inability to be grounded, medical emergency): EAP threshold — escalate immediately

Scope: present-moment grounding and support. Not processing the trauma — that is M12 Integration territory. The facilitator holds the space while the material moves through; they do not direct or interpret what arises.

Know the Thresholds Cold · Uncertainty at the Escalation Point Is a Safety Failure Emergency Action Plan — Thresholds + Activation Sequence

Safety Officer Threshold — Escalate to Service Center Supervisor

Any of: sustained verbal expression of self-harm ideation (not fleeting) · agitation not responding to intervention with potential for physical harm · dissociation unresponsive to grounding for more than 5–10 minutes · unexpected disclosure of severe trauma that appears to destabilize the participant beyond facilitator scope · facilitator significant uncertainty about participant safety

Contact service center safety officer immediately. Do not leave the participant alone. Continue supportive presence while awaiting guidance.

EAP Activation — Call 911 / Emergency Services

Any of: suicidal ideation with plan or means expressed and immediate (M05 protocol activates) · active psychosis unresponsive to grounding and de-escalation · medical emergency — chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, seizure · participant is a danger to self or others in a way that cannot be contained · any situation where the facilitator's honest assessment is "I cannot ensure this person's safety without emergency services"

Call 911. Activate M05 protocol if applicable. Do not leave the participant. Contact service center supervisor. Document time of decision and activation.

EAP Activation Sequence — Memorize This

1Remain with the participant — do not leave
2Call 911 if medical emergency or imminent danger
3Notify service center safety officer or supervisor immediately
4Activate participant's emergency contact per safety plan if appropriate
5Implement M05 protocol if suicidal ideation with plan is present
6Document time, trigger, and actions taken — factually, not interpretively
7Support participant until handoff to emergency responders or safety officer is complete
8Complete incident report same day — before leaving the service center

911 Handoff Language — Say This

"This is [name], a certified natural medicine facilitator at [service center name and address]. I have a participant who has ingested psilocybin mushrooms approximately [X] hours ago. They are currently [factual behavioral description — not clinical diagnosis]. I need [emergency medical services / behavioral health response]."

Give the address clearly. Stay on the line. Do not use clinical diagnostic language. Describe behavior factually. Name the substance.

🌿Practitioner's Note — Premature and Delayed Escalation Are Both Safety Failures

Two opposing errors appear in EAP training. The first: facilitators who are anxious want to call the Safety Officer or activate the EAP at the first sign of intensity. The protocol thresholds exist precisely because intensity is not an emergency. The second: facilitators who don't want to escalate because it feels like failure. If the threshold is met, the facilitator escalates — full stop. Hesitation at the escalation point is a safety failure, not a sign of care.

Self-Check — Section 3

I can name all five turbulence types and the appropriate facilitator response for each — from memory, without looking at the protocol.
I know the specific triggers for Safety Officer escalation versus 911 activation — and I can explain the difference between them.
I can deliver the EAP activation sequence in order from memory — and I can deliver the 911 handoff script using factual behavioral language, not clinical interpretation.
I understand why retraumatization cues (Type 5) require staying with the material rather than redirecting away from it.

Moving Forward

The session is over. Section 4 closes the administration arc with the documentation and session close that protect both participant and facilitator — and bridge to M12 Integration.

Section 4 · Lesson 4

Documentation & Session Close

Scope-compliant session notes · incident reports · session close procedure · bridge to integration

2.5 hrs sync · 1.0 hrs async · 3.5 hrs total

Why This Matters

Session documentation is both a clinical and a legal obligation. The session note is the written record of what actually happened. It must be factual, non-interpretive, and completed the same day. A note written 48 hours later from memory, with clinical interpretation, is not the same document — and it may not be defensible as either a clinical record or a legal one.

The Session Note — Factual, Non-Interpretive, Same Day

The single most important documentation principle: describe what you observed, not what you think it meant. "Participant cried for approximately 20 minutes; offered tissue and grounding voice" is a factual session note. "Participant appeared to be processing unresolved grief" is clinical interpretation — outside facilitator scope. "Participant showed signs of a psychotic episode" is a clinical diagnosis — outside facilitator scope. The session note records observable behavior in the participant's own words where relevant, facilitator actions taken, any turbulence events with time stamps, and any Safety Officer or EAP activations with trigger and outcome. It does not contain interpretations of what the participant's experience meant, diagnoses, or predictions.

Incident Reports

Any session that involved Safety Officer escalation or EAP activation requires a formal incident report completed the same day — before leaving the service center. The incident report follows service center format and is separate from the session note. Both documents use the same standard: factual, behavioral, time-stamped. An incident report written interpretively or with self-protective framing is not a reliable clinical record.

Session Close and Bridge to Integration

Session close is a clinical moment, not administrative wrap-up. The participant is in the landing phase — experiences are still shifting. The close confirms transportation per the safety plan. The support person is briefed directly if present. Immediate postcare instructions are given in plain language. Integration themes that emerged in the landing phase are noted for the M12 conversation — they are not processed clinically in the session close. The facilitator's last act before leaving is to ensure the participant is not alone if the safety plan called for that.

Documentation — Right vs. Wrong

✗ Out of Scope — Do Not Write This

"Participant was resistant and difficult to work with during the turbulence episode. Appeared to be in a psychotic state. Facilitator interprets this as unresolved trauma from childhood. Participant clearly had a breakthrough in the landing phase."

✓ In Scope — Write This

"Participant showed raised voice and physical restlessness for approximately 15 min during peak phase (Type 2 turbulence). Environmental space increased; verbal grounding offered. Participant resettled at approximately [time]. No Safety Officer activation required. Participant calm and verbal during landing phase."

Documentation Practice

Write a scope-compliant session note entry for a participant who cried for 20 minutes during the peak phase, then became calm and spoke softly about feeling "lighter." Do not interpret what the crying meant or what the lighter feeling indicates. Describe only what was observable, what you did, and the time sequence.

Chapter 11 — Am I Ready?

I can describe all five stages of the session arc and the facilitator's primary role at each — without drifting into clinical interpretation at any stage.
I can demonstrate the specific behavioral markers of supportive presence — and name the specific triggering behavior I am most likely to produce under pressure.
I can respond appropriately to all six attunement microscenarios — including the touch request, which requires knowing my Touch Contract cold.
I can name all five turbulence types and the appropriate response protocol for each — from memory.
I know the Safety Officer escalation threshold and the EAP activation threshold — and I can explain the difference without hesitating.
I can deliver the EAP activation sequence in order and deliver the 911 handoff script in factual behavioral language.
I can write a scope-compliant session note — factual, non-interpretive, without clinical diagnosis or outcome prediction.

Not yet drilled the EAP sequence from memory? This is the highest-stakes protocol in the program. Uncertainty at the escalation point costs seconds that matter. Drill it until it's automatic.

Chapter 11 — Key Takeaways

The administration session is the highest-stakes context in facilitator training. Everything from M08–M10 becomes real here — or falls apart under pressure.
Knowing the session arc frees you to be present. A facilitator who knows where the territory is headed can be fully with the participant in the current moment rather than anticipating what comes next.
Presence is not performed. A dysregulated facilitator cannot help a dysregulated participant. Ground yourself first. The participant's nervous system responds to your state before your words.
Silence is a presence skill. Filling silence because you're uncomfortable redirects the participant's attention outward at the moment it needs to be inward. Be comfortable doing nothing visible.
The Touch Contract governs touch — not the intensity of the session or the participant's state. In-session modifications require explicit verbal consent when the participant is coherent.
Turbulence is not failure. Intensity is not crisis. Distress is not danger. The protocol helps you tell the difference — presence first, assessment second, technique third.
Type 5 (retraumatization cues): stay with the material, don't redirect away from it. Processing belongs to M12. Grounding belongs to M11.
Premature and delayed escalation are both safety failures. If the threshold is met, escalate — full stop. Hesitation is not care.
The 911 handoff uses factual behavioral language, not clinical diagnosis. "Participant has been unresponsive to verbal contact for 15 minutes" — not "participant appears to be psychotic."
Session documentation is factual, non-interpretive, and completed same day. "Participant cried for 20 minutes" — not "participant appeared to be processing unresolved trauma."

Chapter Glossary

Key terms from Chapter 11 — defined for reference and study.

Attunement

The facilitator's real-time responsiveness to the participant's moment-to-moment signals — posture, proximity, gaze, and voice adjusted to what the participant's nervous system is communicating, not to what the facilitator expects.

EAP (Emergency Action Plan)

The protocol for situations that exceed facilitator scope — including the Safety Officer threshold, the 911 activation threshold, the eight-step activation sequence, and the handoff communication script. Must be known from memory before any session.

Factual Documentation

Session notes that describe observable behavior, facilitator actions, time stamps, and participant-reported experience — without clinical interpretation, diagnosis, or outcome prediction.

Incident Report

A formal document required for any session involving Safety Officer escalation or EAP activation — completed same day, before leaving the service center, in factual behavioral language following service center format.

Landing Phase

The final stage of the session arc — effects diminishing, participant increasingly verbal and present. Integration themes may emerge but are not clinically processed; the session note is begun; session close procedures are completed.

Peak Phase

The most intensive stage of the session arc — typically 2–4 hours after ingestion. Turbulence is most likely here. The facilitator's presence is its most active expression; the participant navigates, the facilitator holds the space.

Safety Officer Threshold

The escalation threshold requiring contact with the service center supervisor — triggered by sustained self-harm ideation, unresponsive dissociation, agitation with physical risk, or facilitator significant uncertainty about safety. Distinct from the EAP/911 threshold.

Supportive Presence

The specific behavioral and internal state markers that communicate safety to a participant in an altered state: open relaxed posture, respectful proximity, soft available gaze, minimal calm words, regulated internal state, and authority as reassurance rather than control.

Turbulence

A normal feature of intensive psilocybin experiences — not failure. Five presentation types: anxiety spike, agitation, nausea/vomiting, dissociation, retraumatization cues. Each has a specific protocol beginning with facilitator self-regulation before any technique.

Turbulence Protocol

The structured three-part response framework: presence first (facilitator regulates), assessment second (identify the presentation type), technique third (apply the appropriate type-specific response). Sequence matters — action without presence escalates rather than contains.

Knowledge Check

Attempt each question before checking the Answer Key at the back of the textbook. For applied questions — practice your answer aloud before the OSCE.

Q1Multiple ChoiceMonitoring Role · PC3 · L1

Which statement best describes the facilitator's primary responsibility during the administration session?

Interpret the participant's visions to help them make meaning in real time
Monitor safety and provide non-directive support within scope
Encourage the participant toward more intensive experiences if the session seems mild
Adjust natural medicine amounts as needed based on the participant's response