Colorado Springs area's first licensed psilocybin therapy center opens
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The Pikes Peak region's first state-licensed psilocybin healing center has opened in Manitou Springs — just beyond Colorado Springs' regulatory roadblocks.
Why it matters: Elevated Healing Center gives adults seeking alternative mental health treatments a local option for supervised psychedelic sessions, despite opposition to the facilities in neighboring Colorado Springs.
Driving the news: Founder Scott DeWalt, a licensed clinical social worker and natural medicine facilitator, opened the center last month.
- He told KRDO he sees potential to help veterans struggling with combat-related trauma.
- Some people liken the experience to "five years of therapy in five hours," he said, though he cautioned: "That's not true for everybody."
How it works: Colorado's regulated program is open to adults 21 and older. It involves screening, a supervised psychedelic session and follow-up discussions — not simply walking in and buying mushrooms.
- At Elevated, a facilitator reviews clients' medications and mental health history before guiding them through preparation, treatment and follow-ups.
- Elevated lists a $550 center fee plus roughly $400–$900 for the facilitator. Its nonprofit owner, TheraPsych Therapeutic Fund, expects scholarships starting in early 2027.
Yes, but: Psilocybin isn't a proven cure-all. Federal health researchers say it shows promise for treating depression, but questions remain about its long-term benefits.
- Risks include panic, elevated blood pressure and serious complications for people with certain psychiatric conditions.
- Psilocybin remains a Schedule I substance under federal law.
The big picture: Colorado voters legalized regulated psilocybin services in 2022. Cities can't ban licensed healing centers outright, but they can restrict where and how they operate.
- Colorado Springs adopted rules in 2024 requiring healing centers to stay at least a mile from schools, child care facilities, addiction treatment facilities and other healing centers.
- Critics call the restrictions a de facto ban.
The bottom line: A licensed local option is now available outside Denver. But access comes with a hefty price tag and medical questions remain unanswered.