Mushroom Therapy or Psilocybin Therapy?
Mushroom therapy and psilocybin therapy are the same thing. The name comes from two angles: psilocybin is one of the active compounds in certain mushrooms (along with psilocin, into which it converts in the body), and \"Psilocybe\" is also the genus those mushrooms belong to. In Oregon's psilocybin services program, the only species allowed by law is Psilocybe cubensis. So whether someone calls it \"mushroom therapy\" or \"psilocybin therapy,\" they're referring to the same practice.
Different names, same practice
Whether you've heard it called mushroom therapy, psilocybin therapy, magic mushroom therapy, psilocybin-assisted therapy, mushroom-assisted therapy, or psychedelic-assisted therapy — these all describe the same legal, supervised process: a measured dose of psilocybin administered at a licensed Oregon psilocybin service center, with a trained facilitator present throughout.
Is it legal?
Psilocybin is a Schedule I substance under U.S. federal law, including in states that have legalized supervised adult use. To date, federal authorities have not enforced against state-regulated psilocybin services programs, though that policy could change.
- Oregon — voters approved Measure 109 in 2020, establishing the first U.S. supervised adult-use program. Licensed service centers began operating in 2023.
- Colorado — approved its program through Proposition 122 in 2022; licensed services rolling out.
- New Mexico — approved a similar framework through state legislation; services not yet live.
Bendable Therapy operates within Oregon's program. Adults 21 and older can participate, including people who travel to Oregon from other states.
How it works
Psilocybin therapy in Oregon is structured around three phases:
- Preparation — meetings with your facilitator to discuss intentions, review history, and build a working relationship before the session
- The session — 4 to 8 hours at a licensed service center, with the facilitator present throughout
- Integration — follow-up sessions to process the experience and make meaning of it
Each phase matters. The session itself is the most visible part, but preparation and integration are where most of the lasting work happens.
Individualized therapy and group retreats
Oregon's program supports both individualized one-on-one therapy and group retreat formats. Both are legal. The individualized model tends to suit people working with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or treatment-resistant conditions — situations where a sustained one-on-one therapeutic relationship matters. Group retreats often appeal to people seeking community alongside their psilocybin experience. Most of Bendable Therapy's work is individual sessions with facilitators who are also licensed mental health counselors.