Self-assessment
Set & Setting Readiness Questionnaire
Fourteen questions across five dimensions. Five minutes. The result is a readiness snapshot plus targeted reading from the library, not a clinical clearance.
Set and setting predict outcomes as much as the substance and dose. This is a structured way to check the conditions before you commit. Honest answers are more useful than reassuring ones.
Progress
0 of 14 answered
Dimension 1 of 5
Physical baseline
Sleep, food, medication, recent illness. The body is the container; it sets the floor.
1.How have you been sleeping the last few nights?
SSRIs, SNRIs, lithium, tramadol, MAOIs, stimulants, and many others change how psychedelics work, sometimes dangerously.
2.Are you currently taking any psychiatric or interaction-relevant medication?
Cardiac concerns, seizure disorder, pregnancy, or acute illness all warrant medical input before any psychedelic.
3.How is your general physical health right now?
Dimension 2 of 5
Emotional state
Acute stress, recent loss, mood baseline. Psychedelics amplify what is already present.
1.How would you describe your emotional baseline this week?
Bereavement, breakup, job loss, major conflict, accident. Psychedelics tend to bring unresolved material forward.
2.Has anything significant happened in the last few weeks?
Classic psychedelics can trigger or accelerate episodes in vulnerable individuals. This is the most established contraindication.
3.Personal or family history of psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder?
Dimension 3 of 5
Support system
Sitter, trusted contact, post-experience anchor. Someone steady, before and after.
Not a participant, a steady presence whose only job is to be there if something hard arises.
1.Will a sober, trusted person be present or reachable?
A therapist, a close friend, a peer group, an integration circle. Material often surfaces in the week following.
2.Do you have someone to talk to in the days afterward?
Dimension 4 of 5
Setting
Physical environment, time buffer, freedom from interruption. The container around the container.
Familiarity reduces baseline alertness. Privacy means no interruptions. Safe means no falls, no traffic, no unsecured doors.
1.Is the location private, safe, and familiar?
The experience itself, plus a buffer for re-entry. No driving, no commitments, no morning meeting.
2.Have you protected enough time before and after?
3.Are interruptions controlled? (phone, doorbell, others arriving)
Dimension 5 of 5
Intention
Why this, why now. A clear question or aim does not guarantee an answer, but it shapes attention.
Not a goal, not a fix: an orientation. "I want to understand my anger" is enough. "To party" is its own kind of intention; name it honestly.
1.Can you state, in one sentence, why you want this experience?
Strong attachment to "healing X" or "breakthrough on Y" often produces the opposite. The experience tends to give what is needed, not what is wanted.
2.How attached are you to a specific outcome?
Not a requirement, many people have meaningful first experiences. But familiarity changes what readiness looks like.
3.Have you done this substance (or class) before?
Important: This is a self-reflection tool, not medical advice or clinical assessment. Most psychedelics are controlled substances in most jurisdictions.
If you have a personal or family history of psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder, or take psychiatric medication, consult a qualified provider before any psychedelic experience. Check the interaction checker for specific pairings.
Related
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Topic
Set and setting
The two factors that shape every psychedelic experience, internal state and external environment.
Guide
Preparation guide
A practical checklist for the days, hours, and minutes before a session.
Hub
Integration Hub
Preparation, integration, and harm-reduction guides for psychedelic practice generally.