EvoSHIFT Retreat

Each EvoSHIFT cohort is limited to 6–10 participants, supported by 4–5 facilitators on-site — a 1:2 facilitator-to-participant ratio throughout the retreat

very applicant completes a written medical and psychological questionnaire, followed by a verbal screening conducted by a medical doctor and psychiatrist. This assesses physical health, mental health history, and current medications to confirm the program is a safe and appropriate fit before an offer to join a cohort is made.

Eligibility is determined individually through the screening process described above, not against a fixed exclusion list. The screening psychiatrist reviews each applicant’s medical and psychological history case by case. If you have a specific health condition and are unsure whether EvoSHIFT is right for you, the screening conversation is the place to raise it directly.appropriate fit before an offer to join a cohort is made.

EvoSHIFT is a 12-week hybrid program: structured online preparation, a 4-day in-person retreat at Centrum Athanor including a guided psilocybin truffle ceremony with a medical doctor on-site throughout, and a structured integration phase afterward. Four 1:1 sessions with a dedicated facilitator are included across the preparation and integration periods.

EvoSHIFT combines evidence-based preparation and integration practices with a medically supervised psilocybin truffle ceremony. The program is secular and worldview-neutral — it does not require or promote adherence to any particular spiritual or religious framework, and facilitators are trained to support participants within their own beliefs and context rather than a prescribed tradition.

No prior experience is required. The 12-week structure: preparation, the guided retreat, and integration, is designed to support participants regardless of prior experience, with the screening process confirming fit on an individual basis.

While these terms are often used interchangeably to describe the same transformative experience with psilocybin, there are subtle differences in terminology and legal context within the Netherlands: - Truffle Retreat: The only 100% legal option. These retreats use psilocybin truffles, which are permitted under Dutch law and provide the same psychoactive effects as mushrooms. - Mushroom Retreat: This is purely a marketing term. Because “magic mushrooms” are illegal in the Netherlands, these retreats always use truffles to remain legal. If a retreat used actual mushrooms, it would be operating illegally. - Psychedelic Retreat: A broad umbrella term. In the Netherlands, this almost always refers to a legal psilocybin truffle retreat combined with professional facilitation and integration.

An Ayahuasca retreat is a traditional ceremony involving a potent Amazonian plant brew that facilitates deep psychological work but often causes intense physical “purging,” such as vomiting or diarrhea. In contrast, Psilocybin (truffles) provides a much gentler physical experience with significantly fewer medical risks or dietary restrictions. Crucially, while Ayahuasca is illegal in the Netherlands, Psilocybin truffles remain legal, making them the safer and more accessible choice for a guided retreat in that country.

A psychedelic therapy retreat is a guided, multi-day experience designed for personal growth and self-discovery through the supervised use of substances like psilocybin truffles. These retreats focus on helping psychologically stable individuals gain life clarity, emotional insight, and spiritual development. Unlike clinical psychedelic therapy – which is a medical treatment for diagnosed mental health conditions – a retreat is centered on “human flourishing” and transformation.