A Journey of Empowerment, Equity, and Inner Wisdom in the Psychedelic Space with Candace Oglesby-Adepoju

In Conversation with Beckley Retreats Facilitator and Psychotherapist Candace Oglesby-Adepoju

For Candace Oglesby-Adepoju, the path to becoming a psychotherapist began with a deep, personal truth: that her own experiences of pain held the seeds of something greater. Healing, for her, wasn’t a destination — it was a calling. And that calling led her into the heart of service, first through traditional therapy and eventually into the world of psychedelics, psilocybin, and immersive psychedelic retreats.

“This work sought me out,” she shared during a recent Beckley Talks conversation with Val-Pierre Genton. “It asked me to heal by supporting others in their own journeys.”

That journey has since evolved into a powerful blend of advocacy, facilitation, and therapeutic presence — work that now includes guiding participants in psilocybin retreats with Beckley Retreats. Bridging clinical insight with embodied wisdom, Oglesby-Adepoju is helping reshape the landscape of mental and emotional support in the psychedelic space.

A Personal Awakening

Four years ago, Oglesby-Adepoju encountered psychedelics for the first time. What followed was a profound shift — not just personally, but professionally.

“My relationship with these experiences deepened my own recovery journey,” she reflected. “And it also gave me a new lens for the work I had already been doing as a therapist.”

Through that lens, she began to reimagine what support could look like — not as a top-down model of expertise, but as a co-created, human-centered experience. And with that came a renewed commitment to advocacy: to ensure that psychedelic retreats and programs are not just accessible to the privileged few, but available to all communities, regardless of background or socioeconomic status.

From Expert to Partner: Redefining the Role of the Therapist

In therapy training, Oglesby-Adepoju recalls being taught to “do” — to fix, to interpret, to carry the weight.

“We’re trained to take on a power dynamic as the expert of someone else’s system,” she said. “But psychedelics helped me let that go.”

Instead, she has learned to trust in the wisdom of the individual — to become not the “healer,” but the mirror, the space holder, the collaborator. Whether in a traditional setting or in a psilocybin retreat, her approach now centers on creating a safe and loving environment where the client can access their own internal guidance.

“I’ve learned that I don’t need to be a caretaker,” she said. “My job is to create the conditions for someone to remember their own wholeness.”

The Sacred Work of Preparation

One of Oglesby-Adepoju’s core commitments is ensuring that participants are equipped — not just for a moment of insight, but for the journey that follows.

“If someone just wants to skip straight to the dosing experience, I lovingly let them know — I may not be the right guide.”

Her preparation process is anchored in helping participants distinguish between their inner “parts” (protective mechanisms shaped by past experiences) and the “self” (a core space of compassion, clarity, and creativity). This practice, grounded in internal family systems (IFS) and other therapeutic modalities, lays the groundwork for a more empowered experience with psilocybin or other psychedelics.

“The self has always been there,” she said. “The work is helping people trust it again.”

At Beckley Retreats, she found an aligned approach.

“The time and care Beckley Retreats puts into preparation is something I deeply appreciate,” she said. “It allowed me to feel equipped — both as a facilitator and as a participant.”

Psychedelics, Identity, and Integrity

As a Black woman in the United States, Oglesby-Adepoju speaks openly about the complex relationship between identity, visibility, and access in the psychedelic space. While the momentum around psilocybin experiences — like the psychedelic experiences provided by holistic psilocybin retreats — is growing, she knows that equity must remain front and center.

“We carry histories — of risk, of erasure, of being excluded,” she said. “And yet, we also carry deep wisdom. That’s why doing our own work, staying in integrity, and holding each other accountable is so essential.”

She advocates for safe, intentional environments where diverse voices are not just welcomed, but centered — and where preparation and integration are designed with cultural and lived experience in mind.

The Power of Community at Beckley Retreats

Oglesby-Adepoju recently participated in Beckley Retreats’ inaugural Black Women’s Retreat, a program designed to create space for healing, connection, and visibility.

“It’s hard to describe how profound it was,” she said. “The intention, the care, the presence of the facilitators — it was unforgettable.”

What began as a gathering of strangers transformed into something much deeper.

“We left as family,” she smiled. “That kind of connection — it’s what the world needs more of.”

Showing Up with Love and Letting Go of Labels

At the heart of Oglesby-Adepoju’s work — whether in traditional therapy or in a psychedelic retreat setting — is a refusal to reduce people to diagnoses or brokenness. She validates the fullness of their experience, guiding them back to the inner resources they already carry.

“You’re not crazy. You’re not broken. You are whole,” she said. “Sometimes, you just need someone to remind you.”

Whether you’re a facilitator, a therapist, or someone simply curious about the potential of psilocybin and immersive psilocybin retreats, her invitation is the same:

Do the inner work. Stay present. Be real. And never underestimate the power of simply being a loving presence.

Disclaimer: Our programs are non-medical and designed for personal, professional, and spiritual development. We do not diagnose or treat any conditions.