The Zendo Project trains psychedelic peer supporters to help people through difficult altered states at festivals and events using non-coercive, harm reduction care

Psychedelic peer support stands at the center of the Zendo Project's model for helping people navigate difficult altered states at festivals, gatherings, and other event settings. Non-coercive care, emotional grounding, and practical harm reduction form the core approach, with volunteers supporting distressed participants without pathologizing or escalating the experience unnecessarily. The Zendo Project is known for creating calm spaces where challenging experiences can be met with presence, reassurance, and basic safety monitoring rather than punishment or force. Its work connects psychedelic culture with public health by training supporters, building community-based response capacity, and reducing the risk of trauma, panic, or unsafe interventions during intense states. This conversation centers on how peer support works in practice, why it matters for event safety, and how compassionate response can improve outcomes for people moving through vulnerable psychedelic experiences.