MDMA Couples Therapy (and Other Intimacy Ideas)
10/23/23 • 22 min
Australia looks set to be the first country to run an MDMA-assisted couples therapy trial. What is it about ecstasy that researchers and couples therapists found promising back in the 70s and 80s, before it was made illegal?
Frank and Jenny talk to ‘late-bloomer Boomer’ Charley Wininger about his regular use of ecstasy in his marriage (he’s now 74 and they’ve “rolled” around 80 times, which he likens to 80 honeymoons), and how as a couples psychotherapist he views ecstasy as “emotional superglue”.
Jenny and Frank recall their own Pammy Anderson/Tommy Lee-style first date that wound up with big promises being made and eyebrows being intensely groomed, and they get some advice on how to achieve such intimacy without the use of drugs, through the 36 Questions That Lead to Love, developed by groovy husband and wife researchers Arthur and Elaine Aron.
This episode was mixed by Ally Kallis. A Sonder X Production. Episode released 23/10/23.
LINKS
Frank’s film Sengatan on Prime Video.
Jenny’s latest book, Everything Harder Than Everyone Else: Why Some of Us Push Our Bodies to Extremes, on Audible. In paperback.
Jenny’s article on MDMA couples therapy in the Australian Financial Review.
The 36 Questions That Lead to Love.
Charley Wininger. and his book Listening to Ecstasy.
Sex educator Eleanor Hadley.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Australia looks set to be the first country to run an MDMA-assisted couples therapy trial. What is it about ecstasy that researchers and couples therapists found promising back in the 70s and 80s, before it was made illegal?
Frank and Jenny talk to ‘late-bloomer Boomer’ Charley Wininger about his regular use of ecstasy in his marriage (he’s now 74 and they’ve “rolled” around 80 times, which he likens to 80 honeymoons), and how as a couples psychotherapist he views ecstasy as “emotional superglue”.
Jenny and Frank recall their own Pammy Anderson/Tommy Lee-style first date that wound up with big promises being made and eyebrows being intensely groomed, and they get some advice on how to achieve such intimacy without the use of drugs, through the 36 Questions That Lead to Love, developed by groovy husband and wife researchers Arthur and Elaine Aron.
This episode was mixed by Ally Kallis. A Sonder X Production. Episode released 23/10/23.
LINKS
Frank’s film Sengatan on Prime Video.
Jenny’s latest book, Everything Harder Than Everyone Else: Why Some of Us Push Our Bodies to Extremes, on Audible. In paperback.
Jenny’s article on MDMA couples therapy in the Australian Financial Review.
The 36 Questions That Lead to Love.
Charley Wininger. and his book Listening to Ecstasy.
Sex educator Eleanor Hadley.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
Run Before You Can Walk
Is throwing yourself full tilt into a physical activity a noble leap or a nosedive? It's marathon season in Australia, inspiring many of us to leap from 5k to much grander feats of endurance. And runners aren't the only culprits! In the recent past, Jenny has hurtled headfirst into Muay Thai fighting and competitive bodybuilding like the world is about to end, while Frank has found himself in seriously gnarly surfing and rockclimbing situations, but believes who dares wins.
This episode, we look at Strava show-offs, the gospel of David Goggins and the influence of figures like the Liver King, in our bid to weigh up short cuts versus mastery. Let's say you decide to make the leap into a sport or event. What tests can you get so that forewarned is forearmed? Frank and Jenny get a barrage of them done and tell you how you can do the same. We're helped in this mission by Doc Adrian Jury and our friends from the Stronger Stride podcast as well as the team at La Trobe University Bendigo's Rural Health School/Holsworth Research Initiative.
LINKS
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Are ADHD Obsessions Bad?
ADHD coach Meghann Birks joins Jenny and Frank on the show to nut this one out. Being 'obsessive' doesn't have the most positive connotations, but our hyperfixations can also connect us to community, propel us towards goals and benefit our working life.
Some people have one lifelong obsession, while for others a special interest could last an intensive few months or years before being replaced by the next shiny thing. And then what do you do with all your unicycles/grappling hooks/cosplay outfits? (Meghann's got an answer for that.)
What does the nature of our obsession tell us about what's going in our inner life? (Gary Oldman indirectly answers that one.)
How is our reward system and identity affected by each venture? Finally, what's the difference between an obsession and an addiction?
LINKS
You can book Meghann here and listen to her podcast, Sisters in Stoke.
A Sonder X Production. Episode released 31/10/23.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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