MycoMeditations

Last updated
MycoMeditations
Formation2014
Type Psychedelic therapy retreat center
Headquarters Treasure Beach, Jamaica
CEO
Justin Townsend
Website mycomeditations.com

MycoMeditations is a psilocybin-assisted wellness retreat center located in Treasure Beach, Jamaica. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

History

MycoMeditations began in late 2014 as a small psilocybin mushroom retreat in Jamaica. [4] [5] In 2015, it was formally established in the Treasure Beach area on Jamaica’s south coast as one of the first legal psychedelic retreat centers. [4] [6] [5] Early retreats were small, with a few assistants supporting participants during psychedelic sessions. [4]

By 2016, MycoMeditations began hosting psilocybin retreats full-time in Treasure Beach. [4]

In the late 2010s, MycoMeditations expanded alongside growing public interest in psychedelic therapy. The 2017 release of Michael Pollan's How to Change Your Mind and broader media coverage of the "psychedelic renaissance" prompted more people to seek legal psilocybin experiences abroad. [7] [8] As a result, MycoMeditations attracted guests pursuing relief from depression, anxiety, trauma, or seeking spiritual exploration. [8]

By 2018–2019, it hosted regular programs and had served several hundred participants, becoming a recognized psychedelic retreat. It was noted for providing a legal setting and AFAR magazine characterized it as “widely considered the gold standard in magic mushroom retreats.” [9]

In 2019, Justin Townsend became CEO, which helped transition MycoMeditations to a more structured approach. [10] It adopted a Western approach informed by protocols used at Johns Hopkins University. [10] MycoMeditations also implemented a screening process for guests and ensured the presence of therapists on staff. [10] [5]

Despite a suspension of operations from March to August 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MycoMeditations experienced surging interest and demand once it restarted. [8] In 2022, Netflix's miniseries How to Change Your Mind was released, bringing increased interest in and visits to psychedelic retreats like MycoMeditations, which hosted at least 40 retreats in 2023. [2] [11] [12]

References

  1. ↑ Aitkenhead, Decca (February 1, 2020). "How a Jamaican psychedelic mushroom retreat helped me process my grief". The Times .
  2. 1 2 Verdon, Michael (August 7, 2022). "I Tripped on Mushrooms (Legally) at a Therapy Retreat in Jamaica. It May Have Changed My Life". Robb Report .
  3. ↑ "Wellness retreat in Jamaica helps you connect with yourself through magic mushrooms". The Independent . April 27, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Naftulin, Julia. "People are paying $10,000 to trip on magic mushrooms at a retreat in Jamaica. But past struggles with safety and staffing show the difficulty of taking psychedelics mainstream". Business Insider .
  5. 1 2 3 Dunne, Carey (6 December 2018). "Welcome to the trip of your life: the rise of underground LSD guides". The Guardian.
  6. ↑ Smith, Jen Rose (7 January 2021). "Will psychedelic mushroom vacations come to the U. S.?". The Washington Post.
  7. ↑ Love, Shayla (January 29, 2020). "I Went to a High-End Psychedelic Retreat to Address My Anxiety". Vice.
  8. 1 2 3 Jelski, Christina (May 24, 2021). "Good Trips: Psychedelic wellness and tourism space growing". Travel Weekly.
  9. ↑ Farsad, Negin (December 12, 2023). "At a Magic Mushroom Retreat, a Comedian Reluctantly Embraces Her "Healing Journey"". AFAR .
  10. 1 2 3 Hlavinka, Elizabeth (October 1, 2023). "Psychedelic retreats are becoming more popular as patients wait for FDA approval. But do they work?". Salon .
  11. ↑ Irwin-Hunt, Alex (August 10, 2023). "Jamaica's psychedelic ambitions: healing or trippin'?". FDi Intelligence .
  12. ↑ Chappell, Kate; Ellsworth, Brian (November 24, 2022). "Psychedelic mushrooms expand Jamaica tourism beyond sunshine and reggae". Reuters. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
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