#21 Inside An MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Session with Marcela Ot’alora

This week I speak with luminary and early psychedelic pioneer, Marcela Ot’alora.

As a psychotherapist and an installation artist, Marcela has dedicated her life to exploring and understanding trauma through art and through MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. She was the co-therapist in the first government-approved MDMA-assisted psychotherapy study that ever happened in Spain. Marcela is also the principal investigator of phase 2 & 3 MAPS’ MDMA-assisted psychotherapy trials in Boulder, CO, USA.

In episode 8 with Rick Doblin of MAPS, we talked a lot about the past, the present, and the future of the Psychedelic Renaissance, but we didn’t really go “into the room”. We never talked about what it actually is like being with people and witnessing the healing happening during an MDMA-assisted psychotherapy session.
In this episode, we get to do just that, Marcela and I discuss what it’s like witnessing the emotions that come up during the MDMA-assisted psychotherapy session. What is it like to be in a room filled with sadness, anger, joy, frustration, all at the same time? Marcela describes the preparation and setting of the sessions and gives context for anyone considering MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy.

Lastly, we go down memory lane a bit and Marcella talks about how she met Rick Doblin, and about her view on the last 35 years of progress from when MDMA was first made illegal to now when we’re witnessing it becoming legal again. We also speak about what’s the role of art in healing and in life.

Marcela is a cultural treasure, I hope you enjoy this conversation with her and share it with a friend.

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This episode is brought to you by The Trip Report - a wonderful online newsletter and blog by Zach Haigney about the latest and most exciting psychedelic news and happenings. If you want to be in the know about the psychedelic renaissance, check it out.

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