Heart Medicine: A Conversation about MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy with MAPS Principal Investigator Marcela Ot'alora

INbodied Life with Lauren Taus

Marcela Ot'alora, M.F.A, M.A., L.P.C is a principal investigator for MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy Research at the Multi Disciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies, MAPS. She is dedicated to the treatment and research of trauma, through art and through the use of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. She worked as a co-therapist in the first government approved MDMA-assisted psychotherapy study in Madrid, Spain and is the Principal Investigator of the Phase 2 and 3 MDMA-assisted psychotherapy trials in Boulder, Colorado. She received her MA in Transpersonal Psychology from Naropa University and MFA from University of Greensboro in North Carolina. She was born and raised in Colombia, South America and now lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband Bruce Poulter. She is one of the leads in the MDMA therapy trainings for MAPS. In this conversation, Marcela and I sit down to talk about her journey, the work and how it works!

What you will learn:

- How MDMA impacts the brain and invites a person receiving MDMA assisted psychotherapy to return to a pre-conditioned self

- The qualities of a good psychedelic assisted therapist, and a few ways to dislodge traumatic material as a clinician. Hint: French Fries and Movies!

- Why the MAPS MDMA protocol calls for two clinicians working with a single client is so important and how it works

- The value of art in the healing journey and how Marcela integrates her own creativity along with the gifts of her clients

Resources:

MAPS Public Benefit

MAPS

Film: Trip of Compassion