What to expect from a psychedelic clinical trial
Taking part in a clinical trial is a significant and personal step—one that can feel exciting, meaningful, and understandably a little daunting. At Mirabilis Health, we want you to feel safe, informed, and supported every step of the way. Whether you’re completely new to these medicines or simply curious about what’s involved, this article outlines the journey you can expect during a typical trial.
Our clinical trials are carefully designed, ethically approved, and led by compassionate professionals trained in trauma-informed care. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect from start to finish.
1. Screening: prioritising your safety
Before you begin, we’ll invite you to attend a thorough medical screening with our experienced doctors and nurses. This initial checkup helps us ensure that the trial is safe and appropriate for you. We’ll review your medical history, current medications, and mental health background.
This step is vital—not everyone will be eligible, but if you are, we want you to feel confident that your wellbeing is our first priority. Think of this as laying the foundation for a safe and supportive therapeutic journey.
2. Preparation: building trust and readiness
These new therapies are not just about the medicine—it is about the mindset and the support you receive around it. Before any dosing sessions, you’ll meet with a trained therapist for one or more preparation sessions. These are calm, welcoming conversations designed to help you:
Understand the structure of the trial
Explore your hopes, questions, and concerns
Establish trust with the therapist who will support you during the experience
We’ll also talk through possible effects of the medicine—both emotional and physical—so you feel informed and grounded going in.
3. Dosing: the therapeutic experience (Specific to psychedelic medicine trials)
This session is specific to research involving psychedelic medicines where you take a dose on our site and sit for the day with a therapist. Not all our research involves this, however this is our main area of focus as a practice as we believe it to hold the most healing potential.
When it’s time for your dosing session, you’ll be welcomed into a peaceful, comfortable room designed to help you feel safe and at ease. You’ll receive either the psychedelic medication or a placebo, as part of the trial’s design. This is essential for scientific accuracy and fairness—but no matter what you receive, you’ll be supported in the same caring and attentive way.
Throughout the session, a therapist (or therapists) will be present to gently guide and support you. They won’t interfere or direct your experience—but they’re there to keep you grounded, emotionally safe, and physically monitored. Your heart rate, blood pressure, and psychological state will be observed by our clinical team throughout.
For many people, this is a time of deep introspection, emotional release, or insight. For others, it may feel subtle or confusing. There’s no right or wrong way to have this kind of experience—and no pressure to feel a certain way.
4. Integration: making meaning
After your dosing session, you’ll begin the integration phase. This is where the real therapeutic work often happens.
In one or more sessions with your therapist, you’ll explore what came up during the experience. That might include emotions, memories, thoughts, or imagery. Your therapist will help you make sense of it all, supporting you to:
Reflect on your experience with care and curiosity
Identify patterns or insights that could support healing
Consider practical ways to carry any shifts into your daily life
Integration is key. It’s where the experience becomes something lasting and meaningful—not just a moment, but a process of change.
5. Follow-up: monitoring long-term wellbeing
Therapy doesn’t end with the last session. We’ll check in with you at regular intervals in the weeks and months that follow. These follow-up appointments help us:
Understand your longer-term response to the treatment
Ensure you’re feeling supported and stable
Collect data that helps improve future therapies and trials
These check-ins are gentle, flexible, and built around your needs.
6. Discharge: closing the loop
Once your final follow-up is complete, you’ll be formally discharged from the study. You’ll receive a summary of the trial’s outcomes (once available), along with any personal recommendations for ongoing care or therapeutic support.
You won’t be left wondering what comes next. Our team will ensure you feel informed and supported as you move forward—whether that means returning to everyday life, exploring further therapy, or simply taking time to reflect.