What Does a Trip Sitter Do?

A trip sitter is someone who supervises a person's psychedelic experience. Read on to learn more about the value of a trip sitter.

January 17, 2025 · 8 min · 1678 words · Alexander Cortez

Table of Contents

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Psychedelics?The Term ‘Trip’What Does a Trip Sitter Do?What Is Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy?HPDD

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Are Psychedelics?

The Term ‘Trip’

What Does a Trip Sitter Do?

What Is Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy?

HPDD

Close

Originally associated with the counterculture movement of the 1970s,psychedelicsare now receiving attention for theirtherapeutic benefits.

However, regardless of whether these substances are used recreationally or therapeutically, there is much controversy due to the sheer fact that they are criminalized. This means that outside of participating in aclinical trial, these drugs are still illegal.

Taking psychedelics can lead to an intense experience, so many will look to a “trip sitter” to support them throughout their experience. Trip sitters supervise another person’s psychedelic “trip” to ensure their safety.

Read on to learn more about psychedelics and the role of a trip sitter.

What Are Delusions?

Psychedelics are a class of drugs that disrupt an individual’s experience of reality. They alter one’sperception,cognition, andemotionalstate, with some drugs enhancing one’s sense of physical sensations while others cause dissociation from reality.

Examples of psychedelics include:

Types of Hallucinations

What Does the Term ‘Trip’ Refer To?

A “trip” refers to the experience of taking a hallucinogen. Psychedelic drugs can lead to individualsexperiencing the effects for hours. Therefore, when one takes a psychedelic drug, they are taking a “trip” from reality.

However, a psychotherapist offering psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in a professional setting would not use this terminology.

What to Know About Ketamine Use

A ‘trip sitter,’ also known as a ‘sober sitter’ or ‘psychedelic carer,’ is someone who refrains from taking hallucinogens in order to take care of the person who is taking the hallucinogen.

But what exactly does a trip sitter do?

They Make Sure That the Person Taking Psychedelics Is Safe

Since psychedelics can lead to long effects, a trip sitter can be essential to ensure everyone stays safe.

Recreational use of psychedelics can present a risk of harm to self and others, specifically due to the effects of feeling detached from reality.This is why having a trip sitter can be important for maintaining thesafety of the person experiencing the drug.

The person who is “tripping” might not be able to see or understand that certain situations - like driving a car, walking outside, or even trying to go up or down the stairs - are dangerous for them while they are experiencing the psychotropic effects of the hallucinogen. The trip sitter can prevent this person from taking part in activities that might harm them.

They Provide Support Throughout the Psychedelic Experience

A trip sitter may provide food and water, transportation, and general support to the individual who ingested the drugs.

In case of an emergency, they are the point person to determine the best course of action. They also might help set up a safe space for the person to enjoy the effects of the hallucinogens, removing anything from the area that could be used to cause harm. Remaining nonjudgmental is a preferred quality of a trip sitter.

Trip Sitters Will Allow People to Fully Experience the EffectsIt is also ideal that they are nonintrusive, allowing the person who ingested the psychedelic to fully experience their trip.

Trip Sitters Will Allow People to Fully Experience the Effects

It is also ideal that they are nonintrusive, allowing the person who ingested the psychedelic to fully experience their trip.

A psychotherapist that specializes in psychedelic therapy may perform some of the roles of a trip sitter, but they also provide the support that stems from their professional therapeutic experience.

Therapists Can Help You Understand Your Psychedelic ExperienceFor example, they are present to offer emotional support and may help make meaning of the psychedelic experience in addition to managing hazards and safety concerns.

Therapists Can Help You Understand Your Psychedelic Experience

For example, they are present to offer emotional support and may help make meaning of the psychedelic experience in addition to managing hazards and safety concerns.

The frequency and type of psychotherapeutic interventions can vary. Clients are encouraged to tune in to the feelings, thoughts, and sensations they are experiencing and freely engage in the psychotherapy process.

What Can Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy Treat?

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is gaining steam as an evidence-based treatment for:

During a session of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, a trainedclinicianis present to support the client for the duration of the experience.

Hallucinogen Use May Lead to Hallucinogen-Persisting Perception Disorder (HPDD)

Psychedelics, whether used therapeutically or recreationally, are not for everyone. It is possible for those who usepsychedelic drugsto experience hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPDD).

What Is HPDD?This disorder causes people to re-experience the perceptual symptoms that were experienced when the hallucinogen was initially used. These symptoms can cause significant distress or impairment in important areas of one’s life.

What Is HPDD?

This disorder causes people to re-experience the perceptual symptoms that were experienced when the hallucinogen was initially used. These symptoms can cause significant distress or impairment in important areas of one’s life.

Those who use psychedelics recreationally are at an increased risk for HPDD. While there has been little risk found for those using it in a clinical trial, research is ongoing.

Everything You Need to Know About Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)

A Word From Verywell

It can be tempting to turn to substances when experiencing struggles with reality. Despite the temptation, remaining mindful of the effects of drug use is critical. If you’re interested in using psychedelics for their healing effects, consider seeking out aclinical trialthrough theMultidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).

If you do decide to partake in hallucinogens outside of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, using a trip sitter is a responsible decision. This person can keep you safe while you are experiencing the effects of the drug you took.

Crisis SupportIf you or a loved one are struggling with a mental health crisis, please contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.988

Crisis Support

If you or a loved one are struggling with a mental health crisis, please contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a mental health crisis, please contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

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5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Smith WR, Appelbaum PS.Two models of legalization of psychedelic substances.JAMA. 2021;326(8):697-698. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.12481Schenberg EE.Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: a paradigm shift in psychiatric research and development.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:733. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00733Thal SB, Engel LB, Bright SJ.Sober sitter or coconsumer? Psychedelics, online forums and preferences for interpersonal interactions.Addict Res Theory. 2022;0(0):1-9. doi: 10.1080/16066359.2022.2065268Husain MI, Umer M, Mulsant BH.Can the revival of serotonergic psychedelic drugs as treatments for mental disorders help to characterize their risks and benefits?Expert Opin. Drug Saf. 2022;21(6):721-724. doi: 10.1080/14740338.2022.2063274Orsolini L, Papanti GD, De Berardis D, Guirguis A, Corkery JM, Schifano F.The “endless trip” among the nps users: psychopathology and psychopharmacology in the hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder. A systematic review.Front Psychiatry. 2017;0. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00240

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Smith WR, Appelbaum PS.Two models of legalization of psychedelic substances.JAMA. 2021;326(8):697-698. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.12481Schenberg EE.Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: a paradigm shift in psychiatric research and development.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:733. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00733Thal SB, Engel LB, Bright SJ.Sober sitter or coconsumer? Psychedelics, online forums and preferences for interpersonal interactions.Addict Res Theory. 2022;0(0):1-9. doi: 10.1080/16066359.2022.2065268Husain MI, Umer M, Mulsant BH.Can the revival of serotonergic psychedelic drugs as treatments for mental disorders help to characterize their risks and benefits?Expert Opin. Drug Saf. 2022;21(6):721-724. doi: 10.1080/14740338.2022.2063274Orsolini L, Papanti GD, De Berardis D, Guirguis A, Corkery JM, Schifano F.The “endless trip” among the nps users: psychopathology and psychopharmacology in the hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder. A systematic review.Front Psychiatry. 2017;0. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00240

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Smith WR, Appelbaum PS.Two models of legalization of psychedelic substances.JAMA. 2021;326(8):697-698. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.12481Schenberg EE.Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: a paradigm shift in psychiatric research and development.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:733. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00733Thal SB, Engel LB, Bright SJ.Sober sitter or coconsumer? Psychedelics, online forums and preferences for interpersonal interactions.Addict Res Theory. 2022;0(0):1-9. doi: 10.1080/16066359.2022.2065268Husain MI, Umer M, Mulsant BH.Can the revival of serotonergic psychedelic drugs as treatments for mental disorders help to characterize their risks and benefits?Expert Opin. Drug Saf. 2022;21(6):721-724. doi: 10.1080/14740338.2022.2063274Orsolini L, Papanti GD, De Berardis D, Guirguis A, Corkery JM, Schifano F.The “endless trip” among the nps users: psychopathology and psychopharmacology in the hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder. A systematic review.Front Psychiatry. 2017;0. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00240

Smith WR, Appelbaum PS.Two models of legalization of psychedelic substances.JAMA. 2021;326(8):697-698. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.12481

Schenberg EE.Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: a paradigm shift in psychiatric research and development.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:733. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00733

Thal SB, Engel LB, Bright SJ.Sober sitter or coconsumer? Psychedelics, online forums and preferences for interpersonal interactions.Addict Res Theory. 2022;0(0):1-9. doi: 10.1080/16066359.2022.2065268

Husain MI, Umer M, Mulsant BH.Can the revival of serotonergic psychedelic drugs as treatments for mental disorders help to characterize their risks and benefits?Expert Opin. Drug Saf. 2022;21(6):721-724. doi: 10.1080/14740338.2022.2063274

Orsolini L, Papanti GD, De Berardis D, Guirguis A, Corkery JM, Schifano F.The “endless trip” among the nps users: psychopathology and psychopharmacology in the hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder. A systematic review.Front Psychiatry. 2017;0. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00240

Hannah Owens, LMSW

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