Trip Sitting
A practical guide to sitting for someone else: preparation, what to watch for, and what to do when it goes wrong.
7 sections4 crisis scenarios
the role of a trip sitter
A trip sitter is a sober or near-sober person who stays present during someone's psychedelic or dissociative experience
You are a safety net, not a therapist, guide, or shaman
Your job is to maintain a safe environment, not to direct the experience
The best trip sitting is mostly invisible. Be there if needed, without leading
before the session
know the substance
Expected onset time, peak, and total duration
Dose taken and route of administration
Common effects and possible challenging effects
Known interactions with any medications the person takes
prepare the environment
Comfortable temperature: the person may feel hot or cold unpredictably
Soft lighting or adjustable lighting (no harsh fluorescents)
Access to water and light snacks
Blankets, pillows, comfortable seating or lying space
Music playlist prepared: calm, instrumental, no lyrics during peaks
Remove potential hazards: sharp objects, open flames, unlocked doors to unsafe areas
prepare yourself
Clear your schedule for the full duration plus 2–3 hours buffer
Charge your phone and know the street address for emergency services
Have benzodiazepines available if the person consents to their use as a trip-abort option
Eat beforehand, so you are comfortable and present, not hungry or distracted
Agree on signals: how the person will communicate if they need help or want to be left alone
during: do
Stay calm: your demeanor sets the emotional tone of the room
Speak slowly and softly when you do speak
Offer water periodically without being insistent
Validate their experience: "That sounds intense" rather than "You're just high"
Use grounding techniques if they're anxious: "Feel your feet on the floor, the weight of your body"
Remind them of the timeline: "You took it 2 hours ago, the peak will pass soon"
Change the environment if they're stuck: different room, different music, go outside if safe
Stay nearby; sometimes just sitting in the same room is enough
Let silence happen. Not every moment needs filling
during: don't
Don't try to talk them out of their experience or tell them it's not real
Don't ask probing questions: "Why are you crying?" can deepen distress
Don't touch them without asking. The same contact can ground one person and overwhelm another
Don't show anxiety, even if you feel it. Excuse yourself briefly if you need to
Don't take photos or videos
Don't invite other people without the person's prior consent
Don't leave them alone for extended periods, especially near peaks
Don't give them more substances
Don't play music with heavy or dark themes
handling difficult experiences
anxiety spiral
Escalating fear, often about physical safety or losing control.
Remind them they took a substance and it will end. Give the specific time
Grounding: name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear
Slow your own breathing visibly; they will often mirror you
Offer a change of environment: "Want to sit outside for a minute?"
A benzodiazepine will reliably reduce intensity if the person consents
thought loops
Repeating the same thoughts, questions, or actions in a cycle.
This is common, not dangerous, and typically passes on its own
Gently interrupt the pattern: offer water, suggest moving to a different room
Don't engage with the content of the loop. Redirect attention instead
Put on different music or turn on a nature documentary (visual distraction)
ego dissolution panic
Feeling of the self dissolving. Can present as "I'm dying" or "I don't exist."
This is the most common psychedelic crisis and is not physically dangerous
Validate without dismissing: "I hear you. You're safe. Your body is fine."
Physical grounding: offer a heavy blanket, hold their hand if they want it
Remind them of who they are: use their name, mention something familiar
Do not say "just let go". It can increase panic in someone who isn't ready
paranoia or suspicion
Belief that people are against them, that something is poisoned, or that something is very wrong.
Don't argue with the content. You won't win, and it escalates
Calmly demonstrate trustworthiness: "I'm right here, nothing has changed"
Reduce stimulation: quieter room, fewer people, dimmer lights
Give them space if they want it but stay within earshot
If they become aggressive, prioritize your own safety and call for help if needed
when to call for medical help
Most psychedelic crises are psychological, not medical. But some situations require professional intervention.
Person is physically harming themselves or attempting to
Seizures of any kind
Loss of consciousness and unresponsive to stimulation
Breathing becomes slow, labored, or stops
Extremely high body temperature (skin hot to touch, not sweating)
Chest pain or cardiac symptoms
Psychotic break: complete disconnection from reality with dangerous behavior
Your instinct says something is seriously wrong. Trust it
aftercare
Don't leave immediately after the experience ends. The person may still be processing
Offer food and water once they're ready
Let them talk about the experience if they want to, but don't push
Don't interpret the experience for them. It's theirs to make sense of
Check in the next day: some experiences take time to process
Suggest writing it down while the memory is fresh
If the experience was difficult, normalize it: challenging experiences are common and can be integrative
Recommend professional integration support if the experience was particularly destabilizing