Finding a psychedelic guide or therapist is not like finding a GP. There is no single European registry for this work. There is no government-issued license that applies across borders. And there is no standardized certification that covers every therapeutic approach, modality, or country.
That is not a sign that the field is reckless. It is a sign that the field is early. The professionals doing this work are, in many cases, ahead of the formal institutions that will eventually regulate them. Many already hold serious clinical credentials and have completed rigorous psychedelic-specific training. Others have built deep expertise through structured programs, supervised practice, and professional accountability networks — without holding a traditional clinical license.
We built our screening framework to reflect that reality honestly. Not to lower the bar, but to define it accurately.
What we look for
Every provider on Theta Health must meet at least one of two criteria.
Track 1 — Clinical foundation
A formal degree in psychology, psychotherapy, psychiatry, medicine, or counseling — typically at master's or doctoral level — combined with demonstrated engagement with psychedelic-assisted work through specific training, supervised experience, or structured practice.
This includes licensed and registered professionals such as:
- Psychologists and psychotherapists accredited with recognized European bodies (e.g. EAGT, BDP, or national equivalents)
- Licensed counselors (LPC, LCSW, or national equivalents)
- Clinical psychologists with formal research or practice background in mental health
A clinical degree alone does not automatically qualify someone. We also assess whether they have meaningfully engaged with the specific demands of psychedelic-assisted work — including contraindication screening, preparation protocols, and integration support.
Track 2 — Structured practitioner training
Some of the most experienced practitioners in this field came through intensive programs specifically designed for psychedelic-assisted therapy and facilitation — not through traditional clinical pathways. We accept this track when all of the following are present:
A recognized training program. Completion of a named, structured program from an established institution. Examples include:
- MIND Foundation — Augmented Psychotherapy Training (APT), Berlin
- Mind Medicine Australia — Certificate of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (CPAT)
- Synthesis Institute — Psychedelic Practitioner Core Training
- MAPS — MDMA-Assisted Therapy Training
- IFS Institute — Internal Family Systems Practitioner Certification (Level 2 or above)
A professional accountability structure. Active membership in a peer supervision network, ethics framework, or recognized professional body — for example: Guild of Guides (Netherlands), IFS Institute practitioner directory, CNVC-certified trainer network, or ANZACATA.
Documented, verifiable experience. A traceable record across recognized programs, organizations, or institutions — not just self-reported years.
Trauma-informed and safety competence. Demonstrated training in trauma-informed practice, harm reduction, contraindication awareness, and support for difficult experiences.
What we check beyond credentials
Credentials establish a baseline. They do not tell you everything.
For every provider, we also look at:
Safety protocols. Can they articulate contraindications — including relevant psychiatric diagnoses, medications, and cardiovascular risk factors? Do they screen clients before accepting them?
Session structure. Is preparation and integration built into how they work, or are they offering a single isolated experience with no follow-up support?
Ethics and boundaries. We look for clear professional boundaries, appropriate session structures, and evidence that the client's wellbeing — not the provider's agenda — is driving the work.
Profile verification. We verify that stated credentials are genuine and that providers appear in the professional directories and institutional records they reference.
Values. This is harder to quantify, but it matters. The providers on Theta Health are doing this work because they believe it helps people with serious mental health conditions. We look for evidence of that conviction in how they describe their practice, not just in their CV.
What we do not accept
We do not list providers:
- Whose only qualification is personal experience with psychedelics
- Who cannot identify common contraindications or demonstrate basic safety awareness
- Whose work is framed primarily as spiritual tourism, recreational use, or personal development for healthy people
- Who offer group experiences without any individual-level preparation or follow-up support
- Whose public profile is inconsistent with the credentials they have submitted to us
Ongoing standards
Screening is not a one-time event. We review profiles regularly as providers complete new training, credentials are updated, or circumstances change.
We also act on any substantiated reports of unprofessional conduct. If you have concerns about a listed provider, you can contact us directly.
Our standards themselves will develop as the field matures, as evidence accumulates, and as formal regulation emerges in different countries. We document significant changes to our criteria here.
A note on the regulatory context
The formal regulation of psychedelic-assisted therapy is developing rapidly across Europe — but unevenly. What is established clinical practice in one country may be in a legal grey area in another. This is changing, and most of the providers on Theta Health are actively engaged with that process — through research programs, professional associations, and policy discussions.
What we can say clearly: every provider on this platform is operating with professional training, genuine ethical standards, and real concern for the people they work with. The uncertainty, where it exists, is regulatory. The professionalism is not in question.