Are you a therapist or nurse practitioner interested in psychedelic therapy? With the passage of Colorado’s Natural Medicine Health Act, the state is moving forward with a regulated program for psilocybin services. This guide walks you through how to become a licensed clinical psilocybin facilitator in Colorado and how to choose the right training to get there.

Why Colorado?

Colorado is one of the first U.S. states to legalize and regulate psilocybin for therapeutic use outside of a clinical trial setting. With the rollout of its Natural Medicine program, licensed facilitators will be permitted to offer psilocybin services at approved healing centers. For therapists and mental health professionals, this opens new opportunities to support clients through altered states of consciousness in a structured, legal, and ethically grounded way.

Step 1: Understand the Role of a Psilocybin Facilitator

Before applying, it is important to understand what a facilitator does and does not do and what separates clinical and non-clinical facilitators. In Colorado’s model:

• Clinical facilitators guide participants through psilocybin sessions, including preparation, administration, and integration.

• There is a key differentiation between clinical facilitators and non-clinical facilitators under the Colorado legislation.

  • Non-clinical Facilitator: Guides participants through psilocybin sessions but does not provide clinical treatment for diagnosed conditions.

  • Clinical Facilitator: A licensed healthcare provider (e.g., NP, psychologist, LPC, LCSW, etc.) who may offer clinical services in the context of psilocybin administration.

• Non-clinical facilitators do not provide therapy unless they are separately licensed mental health professionals.

• Clinical facilitators work in approved licensed healing centers, not in private practice, aside from authorized locations under specified conditions (like working with end-of-life clients in their homes).

For both roles, the focus is on holding safe space, supporting inner-directed experiences, and ensuring ethical care.

Step 2: Meet Basic Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for facilitator licensure in Colorado, you must:

• Be at least 21 years old and provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

• Pass a background check

• Complete an approved didactic facilitator training program, an in-person practicum, and 50 hours of consultation work.

For therapists and licensed professionals, these requirements may overlap with your existing training, but you will still need a state-approved psilocybin-specific program.

Step 3: Choose an Approved Psilocybin Facilitator Training Program

Colorado requires that facilitator training programs be approved by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) and cover specific topics including:

• The pharmacology and effects of psilocybin

• Cultural and historical context

• Facilitation techniques and safety

• Legal and ethical frameworks

• Crisis and adverse event management

Fluence’s Psilocybin Facilitation certificate program is designed to meet Colorado’s training requirements and prepare mental health professionals for real-world facilitation. It is designed for learners pursuing the clinical facilitation route.

"I really appreciate Fluence. The trainings and coursework, the literature shared, the community, self-development and insightful explorations have strengthened me as a professional and given such a sense of competence in this evolving space." — Fluence Alumni Amy Johnson, LCSW

Step 4: Complete Your Licensing Process

Once you complete your approved didactic training program, the in-person practicum, and 50 hours of consultation with an experienced, licensed facilitator, you can submit your application through the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Fluence partners with PRATI to offer the in-person practicum upon completion of the didactic training, as well as a referral system for alumni to complete the 40 hours consultation. To finalize the licensing process you will need to:

• Provide proof of training completion

• Pay licensing fees

DORA will maintain an online registry of licensed facilitators. Only licensed individuals can legally offer psilocybin services in Colorado.

Step 5: Stay Compliant and Continue Your Learning

Once licensed, you may be required to:

• Complete continuing education specific to natural medicine services

• Consistent renewal of the Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

• Adhere to a code of ethics

• Maintain professional liability coverage

• Work only within approved healing centers

Psilocybin facilitation is an evolving field. Ongoing education, peer support, and supervision are essential.

Ready to Begin? Start with the Right Training

Becoming a psilocybin facilitator is not just about checking boxes. It is about preparing yourself to hold space for some of the most meaningful experiences in people’s lives. Fluence’s Colorado-approved Psilocybin Facilitation certificate program offers a robust, trauma-informed, and clinically grounded pathway for licensed professionals.

Learn more about our Psilocybin Facilitation certificate program here.

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. Please consult the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) for the most current licensing information.