Psilocybin-assisted therapy is psilocybin given inside a course of psychological support, not on its own. A therapist-training paper from the COMP360 program describes three phases: preparation, the psilocybin session and integration (Tai et al., 2021). Most efficacy studies give the support before and after the drug session, rather than during it (Hosein et al., 2025).
In trials, people are screened carefully, meet their therapists several times, and spend a dosing day of six to eight hours with staff in the room (Goodwin et al., 2023). Results in depression are mixed: one trial against escitalopram found no significant difference on its primary outcome (Carhart-Harris et al., 2021), and a 2026 trial was called inconclusive by its own authors (Mertens et al., 2026).
In Canada, Health Canada says there are no approved therapeutic products containing psilocybin and names three legal routes: clinical trials, the Special Access Program and section 56 exemptions (Health Canada). Oregon runs a separate, non-medical licensed service model (Oregon Health Authority). This is a description, not medical advice.
Sources
- Health Canada: Psilocybin and psilocin
- Tai et al., Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2021
- Goodwin et al., Neuropsychopharmacology, 2023
- Mertens et al., JAMA Psychiatry, 2026
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