The landscape of mental health treatment in Colorado is evolving, particularly with the implementation of the Natural Medicine Health Act (Proposition 122). This has opened the door for regulated psilocybin-assisted therapy, sparking hope and curiosity for many seeking alternative paths to healing. Here at My Denver Therapy, we understand that alongside questions about effectiveness and process, a major consideration is cost.
Navigating the financial aspect of any therapy is crucial, and we want to provide clarity on what contributes to the price of psilocybin-assisted therapy in Colorado. While the regulated system is still new (with services expected to roll out more broadly through 2025), we can break down the factors involved and offer estimates based on the available information.
What is Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy (as regulated in Colorado)?
It’s important to understand that regulated psilocybin therapy is distinct from recreational or unsupervised use. Under Colorado law, it involves:
- Working with Licensed Professionals: Therapy must be conducted by state-licensed facilitators operating within state-licensed healing centers.
- A Structured Process: The model typically includes several distinct phases:
- Preparation Sessions: One or more sessions with your facilitator to discuss your history, intentions, concerns, and what to expect.
- Dosing (Medication) Session: The administration of psilocybin in a safe, controlled environment, supervised by the facilitator(s). These sessions are lengthy, often lasting 5-8 hours or more.
- Integration Sessions: Follow-up sessions to process the experience, insights, and challenges, helping you integrate them into your daily life.
Why is Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy a Significant Investment?
Several factors contribute to the overall cost, making it distinct from a standard therapy hour:
- Extensive Facilitator Training & Licensing: Facilitators undergo rigorous, state-approved training (often 150+ hours plus supervised work) and licensing processes, which involve significant personal investment in time and money (training can cost $10,000 or more).
- Time Commitment: The model requires substantial time from facilitators, including multiple preparation and integration hours, plus a full day for the dosing session itself. Some protocols may even require two facilitators during dosing.
- Regulatory & Operational Costs: Licensed healing centers have overhead, including state licensing fees (which can be thousands of dollars), insurance, specific safety and security requirements, and facility costs.
- The Psilocybin Product: The cost of the psilocybin itself, cultivated and tested according to state regulations by licensed entities, is also a factor included in the service fee at a healing center.
- Lack of Insurance Coverage: Currently, psilocybin-assisted therapy is not approved at the federal level, meaning health insurance plans in Colorado do not cover these services. This makes it an out-of-pocket expense.
Breaking Down the Potential Costs: What to Expect
The total cost of a psilocybin-assisted therapy journey is the sum of its parts. While specific pricing will vary between licensed centers and depend on the exact structure of your program (number of sessions, etc.), here’s a general breakdown:
- Initial Consultation/Screening: Assessing suitability for the therapy.
- Preparation Sessions: Typically charged per session (similar to standard therapy rates, which are typically around $150/hour in Denver).
- Dosing Session: This is the most significant cost component due to the long duration (5-8+ hours) and intensive support required. Estimates from Oregon and early Colorado centers suggest a single session could range from $1,000 to $3,500 or more.
- Integration Sessions: Similar in cost structure to preparation sessions, charged per hour.
- Psilocybin Product: This cost continues to vary as cultivators are navigating costs due to state requirements.
Estimated Total Cost in Colorado
Please remember that regulated psilocybin therapy is new in Colorado, and pricing is still emerging. The following are estimates based on current information and are subject to change.
- Some studies and comparisons to other states (like Oregon) suggest full treatment courses could potentially range higher, with one study estimating between $7,638 and $9,532 depending on various factors.
- At My Denver Therapy, based on our planning and understanding of the requirements, we anticipate that our psilocybin-assisted therapy treatment plans – which will include multiple preparation sessions, one all-day dosing session, and multiple integration sessions with one of our trained therapists – will likely cost between $4,000 and $5,000.
Insurance and Financial Accessibility
As mentioned, insurance does not currently cover psilocybin-assisted therapy, and it won’t for a very long time. This is a significant barrier for many.
While some centers may explore options like sliding scales or discounts for specific populations in the future, it’s best to assume it will be an out-of-pocket expense for now, and demand will make it unlikely for therapists to offer discounted rates in the near future. We recognize this challenge and hope for greater accessibility as the field evolves.
Choosing a Safe and Legal Provider
It is crucial to only work with state-licensed facilitators operating within state-licensed healing centers. This ensures adherence to safety protocols and legal requirements established under the Natural Medicine Health Act. DORA (Department of Regulatory Agencies) is expected to maintain a public directory of licensed professionals.
An Investment in Your Mental Wellbeing
Psilocybin-assisted therapy represents a potentially profound investment in your mental health and personal growth. While the cost is significant, it reflects the intensive, specialized, and regulated nature of this therapeutic approach.
Join our psilocybin-assisted therapy waitlist
My Denver Therapy is committed to providing ethical, evidence-informed, and compassionate care. We are preparing thoughtfully to offer psilocybin-assisted therapy in alignment with Colorado’s regulations.
- We currently have a waitlist questionnaire for individuals interested in psilocybin-assisted therapy.
- We anticipate beginning to contact people on this list starting in May 2025.
- You can find the waitlist and more information on our Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy page.
We understand this is a significant decision. If you have questions about psilocybin therapy costs, our approach, or wish to explore other effective, currently available therapies like traditional psychotherapy, EMDR, or Ketamine-Assisted Therapy, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
