Colorado Natural Medicine Health Act (NMHA) Compliance Version 

Facility: The Sacred Journey 

Facilitator: Shaun Peterson

This Code of Ethics is submitted in accordance with Colorado’s Natural Medicine Health Act (NMHA) and the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) requirements for psilocybin facilitator licensure. It reflects my commitment to client safety, legal compliance, ethical conduct, and professional responsibility. 

1. Professional Integrity, Competence & Ethical Responsibility 

1. I will represent my training, credentials, and scope of practice accurately and will not mislead clients about expected outcomes. 

2. I will practice within the limits of my competence and pursue supervision, consultation, and continuing education as required for safe and effective facilitation. 

3. I will maintain professional boundaries at all times, recognizing the power differential inherent in facilitator–client relationships. 

4. I will not provide services while impaired or in any compromised mental, emotional, or physical condition. 

5. I will act honestly, transparently, and with accountability in all professional activities and communication. 

6. When appropriate, I will refer clients to medical, psychological, or community professionals whose expertise is needed. 

2. Client Screening, Safety & Risk Management 

1. I will conduct thorough medical, psychological, and personal history screening to determine whether a client is appropriate for psilocybin services. 

2. I will not proceed with a session if any contraindications or significant risks are identified. 

3. I will provide accurate information regarding risks, benefits, expected effects, limitations, and potential for challenging experiences. 

4. I will create and maintain a safe, stable, and monitored environment throughout administration and integration phases. 

5. I will maintain emergency protocols, including crisis-response procedures, and will take immediate action in the event of medical or psychological instability. 

6. I will remain physically present, attentive, and available throughout the entire duration of the client’s non-ordinary state. 

7. I will document screening, preparation, administration, and integration in accordance with Colorado requirements. 

3. Informed Consent, Autonomy & Client Rights 

1. I will obtain documented, voluntary, and informed consent prior to any session, consistent with Colorado’s legal standards. 

2. I will ensure clients understand that their participation is voluntary and that they may withdraw consent at any time, including during the session. 

3. I will provide clear information about procedures, session structure, duration, risks, expected experiences, and alternatives. 

4. I will avoid any action that could be perceived as coercive, manipulative, or suggestive. 

5. I will support client autonomy by allowing clients to determine the direction of their own internal experience without interference. 

4. Privacy, Confidentiality & Documentation 

1. I will maintain client confidentiality and comply with all applicable state and federal privacy laws. 

2. I will disclose the limits of confidentiality—including mandated reporting—prior to services. 

3. I will store records safely and securely, accessible only to authorized personnel. 

4. In group settings, I will require all participants to agree to confidentiality regarding shared experience. 

5. I will address any breach of confidentiality promptly and transparently. 

5. Boundaries, Touch & Dual Relationships 

1. I will not engage in any sexual contact, sexualized behavior, or romantic relationship with clients, former clients, or clients’ family members. 

2. I will avoid dual relationships (personal, financial, business, or otherwise) that could impair professional judgment or increase the risk of harm. 

3. I will discuss the use of touch during preparation and obtain explicit consent before any non-safety-related touch occurs. 

. I will discontinue touch immediately upon request or if informed consent cannot be clearly maintained. 

5. I will use touch only when it is appropriate, supportive, non-sexual, and within my professional scope. 

6. Inclusion, Non-Discrimination & Cultural Humility 

1. I will not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or socioeconomic status. 

2. I will demonstrate cultural humility by respecting clients’ backgrounds, traditions, and meaning-making frameworks without imposing my own. 

3. I will examine and address personal biases that may affect the quality of care. 

4. I will provide equitable, respectful, and culturally aware services in accordance with Colorado standards. 

7. Ethical Conduct in Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness 

1. I acknowledge that clients in altered states may be highly suggestible, and I will avoid influencing their experience, interpretations, or beliefs. 

2. I will not impose meaning, direct the client’s internal process, or lead clients toward specific psychological or spiritual outcomes. 

3. I will remain attentive to transference and countertransference dynamics and seek supervision when necessary. 

4. I will maintain a calm, stable, and non-directive presence throughout the session. 

5. I will recognize and support the full range of experiences—including emotional, symbolic, somatic, and visionary—without pathologizing them. 

8. Therapeutic Support, Integration & Aftercare 

1. I will cultivate a supportive facilitator–client relationship based on empathy, presence, and professionalism. 

2. I will provide individualized preparation and integration support tailored to the client’s history, goals, and needs. 

3. I will help clients apply insights safely and constructively while maintaining clear professional boundaries. 

4. When clients require additional mental health or medical support, I will provide referrals to qualified professionals. 

9. Ongoing Competence, Training & Self-Care 

1. I will engage in continuing education in areas relevant to psilocybin facilitation, including ethics, trauma-informed practice, crisis management, and cultural competency. 

2. I will seek supervision or consultation when facing complex ethical, emotional, or interpersonal situations. 

3. I will monitor my own wellbeing and seek personal support when necessary to ensure I am fit to practice safely. 

4. I will uphold high professional standards consistent with Colorado regulations and national psychedelic-therapy ethics frameworks. 

10. Professional Accountability & Community Standards 

1. I will communicate with colleagues respectfully and collaborate in ways that support client safety and best practices. 

2. I will uphold the integrity of the profession and address unethical behavior when necessary. 

3. I will welcome and respond to feedback in order to continuously improve my practice. 

4. I will contribute to a culture of safety, transparency, and ethical excellence within the psychedelic community. 

11. Commitment to Self-Awareness & Ethical Presence 

1. I will engage in regular self-reflection to identify personal triggers, vulnerabilities, and unconscious material that may impact my facilitation. 

2. I will seek support, therapy, or supervision when personal issues may interfere with my ability to provide safe care. 

3. I will maintain authenticity, humility, and grounded awareness in all professional interactions. 

4. I will align my internal wellbeing with my external conduct so that my practice remains ethical, responsible, and client-centered.