A sober person who remains present during a psychedelic experience to provide support and ensure safety.
A trip sitter is a sober individual who stays present during someone else's psychedelic experience to provide support, reassurance, and safety. The role ranges from simply being a calm presence to actively guiding someone through difficult moments. Having a trip sitter is considered a fundamental harm reduction practice, especially for higher doses or less experienced users.
A trip sitter's responsibilities include:
While experienced users sometimes journey alone, a trip sitter is strongly recommended for:
Trip sitters represent one of the most important harm reduction practices in psychedelic use. Even experienced users can encounter unexpected challenges, and having a trusted, sober person present can make the difference between a difficult experience and a traumatic one. The trip sitter role also offers a way for people to support the psychedelic community without taking substances themselves—it's a valuable skill that can genuinely help others.