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

LISTEN ON ITUNES | LISTEN ON SPOTIFY 

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 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 also leads the MDMA therapy trainings for MAPS.

Marcela received her MA in Transpersonal Psychology from Naropa University and MFA from University of Greensboro in North Carolina. 

She began her career as an Installation artist and teacher and after completing her training as a psychotherapist in 1999, she started her private practice working primarily with trauma in diverse populations. Her interest and focus on trauma has led her to understand the healing process as an intimate re-connection with one’s innate essence through love, integrity, acceptance, and honoring of the human spirit. 

Marcela was born and raised in Colombia, South America and now lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband Bruce. She is deeply grateful for home, loved ones, making art, and the privilege to stop and smell the flowers.  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 from this Episode: 

1. MAPS Public Benefit
2. MAPS
3. Film: Trip of Compassion