On Sept. 2, NeuroBloom, a psilocybin healing center, opened for business at Basalt’s NeuroSpa, a local wellness center for mind and body. The new treatment option is set to expand to NeuroSpa’s Aspen office in November. The wellness center is licensed and regulated by Colorado’s Natural Medicine program, and focuses on helping to treat folks facing challenges such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and addiction.
In speaking with Dr. Brooke Allen, the founder of both NeuroSpa and NeuroBloom, the team at NeuroBloom looks forward to offering alternative treatment options.
“I felt called to offer patients something more than what my traditional western medicine neurology clinic could offer,” Allen told The Sopris Sun. “For some, because of the severity of their PTSD, anxiety and depression, they really didn’t respond to more typical or more traditional therapies in the neurology space.”
Allen also has experience with ketamine treatments, having gained certification through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute for Ketamine five years ago. This treatment was integrated into NeuroSpa four years ago, around the same time Colorado was considering changes to its laws regarding the practice of such natural therapies. She and another facilitator later received certification through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute in Boulder, enabling them to provide psilocybin-based care.
“Throughout this process, we ended up meeting with a lot of local psychologists, counselors [and] life coaches, some of whom already had experience in the psilocybin space and some who were undergoing the same training that my team and I were doing,” explained Allen. “We built a coalition over the past couple of years of individuals who know this work and want to continue in the regulated model. We’re super excited to share this new offering with patients.”
Meagan Adams, a licensed facilitator at NeuroBloom, echoed Allen’s enthusiasm.
“I’m excited to have been involved with ketamine and to stay involved with ketamine treatments, and now to get to branch out into the regulated psilocybin framework,” she stated.
Adams doesn’t look at psilocybin as a recreational drug, “especially if it’s done intentionally,” she stated. “The model we’ve set up — and then the model that the state has set up, with their rules and regulations — ensures that safety is paramount.”
Psilocybin, also known as 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, is a natural psychedelic found in particular species of mushrooms, commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms,” which interacts with the serotonin receptors in the brain once it turns into psilocin after being ingested. It is still considered a Schedule 1 substance under U.S. federal law. However, some cities and states across the country have decriminalized psilocybin and/or legalized it for research and therapeutic purposes. The personal sale of magic mushrooms is still illegal in Colorado.
Patients at NeuroBloom begin with a complimentary exploratory consultation, covering their medical and psychological history, medication regiments and their intention for being there ahead of a treatment session — also known as a journey — taking place.
“Some people are trying psilocybin because they’ve not had luck with traditional therapies in the depression and anxiety space. Others might be trying it for personal growth, and any of those options are allowed in the regulated space,” explained Allen. “Through that consultation, we also talk a little bit about what the experience would be.”
Adams explained that the initial sessions center on informed consent, ensuring that individuals understand entirely what they are signing up for.
“If someone has a history of trauma or PTSD it’s possible that those memories or experiences will resurface and they might reexperience them,” Adams stated. “The idea is they’re in a safe place with a trusted facilitator who’s trained and that the screening was done to ensure that they’re a good fit.”
“Journeys can happen in one day, or as part of a weekend retreat where there are actually two journeys followed by an integration session,” explained Allen. “We also love having groups. Groups are beautiful and dynamic, especially if the group is well designed. They can support each other and help each other heal, and that can be a lovely experience for people.”
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