Music for Psilocybin Therapy: How Sound Is Used To Facilitate and Enhance Sessions

Psilocybin has been used for centuries to help humans access their subconscious. This process can allow users to see problems in a new light or heal past traumas. Since Oregon has legalized psilocybin for adults in controlled settings, a whole new world of therapeutic experiences is now available. 

Music is an integral part of psilocybin therapy. Psychedelic sessions are all about accessing your inner thoughts and memories. Music is incredibly evocative and can mentally take the listener to a certain time or emotion. For example, Christmas carols make us think of winter and time spent with family, for better or worse. 

The process of psilocybin therapy can involve music to help access memories or provide a soothing atmosphere. If you are curious about the best psilocybin therapy music, read on to learn: 

• Why music is important in psilocybin therapy
• Types of music suitable for psychedelic therapy
• How facilitators can use music

Why Is Music Important in Psychedelic Therapy?

Music is an important part of the human experience. The first evidence of humans creating musical instruments is over 40,000 years old, with flutes made of animal bones. However, scientists believe that music is much older than that, starting with singing. 

As humans, music is ingrained in our cultural and social experiences. That is why music is so important to psychedelic therapy. Music not only contributes to a relaxing and supportive setting, but upbeat music can encourage a positive mental outcome and help guide the client through the psychedelic experience. 

What Type of Music Is Best for Psilocybin Therapy Sessions?

Did you know we have been combining music and mind-altering substances since Greco-Roman times? While this process is hardly new, psychedelic experience facilitators are striving to craft the perfect music and psilocybin playlist. 

What kind of music is best for psilocybin therapy sessions depends heavily on the client and their culture. However, there are some general rules for selecting good music for a psilocybin experience. 

When selecting music for a psilocybin experience, most facilitators will try to match music that has cultural influences to the user — for example, if the client loves the music they grew up hearing in church or if they belong to an Indigenous tribe that has culturally meaningful music. 

Typically, facilitators use instrumental music. Facilitators try to avoid music with voices or singing, as this can disturb clients when they are in an altered state. 

If you want to learn more about becoming a psilocybin facilitator, consider checking out Clinical Cognitive Training, the premier Psilocybin Facilitator Training in Oregon. With small class sizes and affordable tuition, Clinical Cognitive Training is the perfect place to start your new career as a psilocybin facilitator. 

How Do Facilitators Structure Music for Psychedelic Therapy Sessions?

Each psychedelic facilitator structures music differently. This is based on the session length, the psychedelic dosage, and the client's personal preferences and background. 

The music playlist for psychedelic therapy is timed to the session progress. According to the professionals at Clinical Cognitive Training, a session can last 4-5 hours. The music should be designed to shift during stages of the altered state. Below is the general “timeline” of a psychedelic session and how music impacts these stages.

Phase 1: Onset 

The onset is the very beginning of the psychedelic process. This is the phase where the psychedelics are beginning to kick in, and it is important to set the correct tone to have a healing, relaxing, and meaningful session. 

Here, the music is trying to relax the listener and encourage them to release control of their thoughts. Ideally, day-to-day concerns and worries will float away, allowing for a deeper state of consciousness. 

In addition to being instrumental, the music played during this phase should be calm and inviting without being too sleepy. You want the listener to relax while remaining engaged. 

Phase 2: Ascent 

During this psychedelic phase, your brain “ascends” to the point of full altered state or the “peak.” During this ascent phase, you want the client to feel they are entering a sacred space. Depending on their experiences, that can mean different types of music for each person. 

The intended effect of the music during the ascent stage is solemn and sacred. This includes pieces that contain multiple harmonic layers, such as choir music or sweeping orchestral pieces. The music chosen should encourage the lister to move towards larger, lofty thoughts.  

Phase 3: Peak 

The peak of psilocybin therapy is when the client is experiencing the full effects. During this stage, they are both vulnerable and exploring their current altered state, so it is very important to select the right music to gently push the client towards understanding and healing. 

Music for this phase should be more lively than previous stages. The exact choice will vary as always, but joyous and complex music is an ideal choice to help the client move through the stages and transcend to a place of healing. Good examples of music for this phase of psilocybin therapy include mystical pieces with Middle Eastern instruments or Indigenous drum beats. 

Phase 4: Descent

Once the peak has occurred, the descent follows. However, psychedelic experiences vary, and many have several cycles of peaks and valleys throughout the session. 

When experiencing descent, the client may be feeling many emotions. Sometimes it is cathartic, but other times, it can be frightening and overwhelming. During training at Clinical Cognitive training, psychedelic facilitators learn how to support clients during this fragile and transitional time. 

During the descent, music should be emotional and slow to encourage thoughtfulness and relaxation.

Phase 5: Reintegration

The final phase of a psychedelic experience is reintegration from mind to body. During this phase, the effects of the psychedelics will begin to fade, and the individual will slowly ground themselves back into their body and waking thoughts. 

The best music for this process is slow, bright, and peaceful — think spa music, with bright notes of windchimes or string instruments. You want the client to be able to reorient themselves and begin processing their experiences. 

Examples of Psilocybin Therapy Music

For years, Americans have refused to study the many therapeutic effects of psilocybin. Only recently have researchers been allowed to learn more about this fascinating drug and its impact on the human mind. 

Johns Hopkins University has been at the forefront of psilocybin therapy research and has even created their own playlist of the best psychedelic therapy music. Johns Hopkins University conducted studies on the effectiveness of psychedelics in treating depression. Using this research, they designed a playlist containing mostly classical pieces to help clients move through the stages of the psychedelic experience. 

The Johns Hopkins playlist has been adapted by other psychedelic research centuries, such as NYU Langone Health and the Usona Institute in Wisconsin. At the Usona Institute, longtime psychedelic scientist and researcher Bill Richards added new elements to the playlist, including Spanish guitar and classical music from Eastern countries. 

Psychedelic research using music is a constantly expanding field. Scientists and researchers are currently testing psychedelic treatments using music to treat anorexia, PTSD in veterans, substance use disorder, and more. 

Clinical Cognitive Training: Portland’s Premier Choice for Psychedelic Facilitator Training 

Are you burned out from the corporate grind? Tired of having a job that doesn’t fulfill or interest you? If you want to be part of a cutting-edge treatment to help others, consider becoming a psychedelic facilitator at Clinical Cognitive Training.

With small class sizes and hybrid programs, Clinical Cognitive Training aims to create a new generation of skilled and ethical psychedelic facilitators. Learn to support clients through their emotional journey, helping them seek relief, spark creativity, and heal from trauma. Check out our website and learn more about becoming a licensed psychedelic facilitator.