The return of MDMA as a therapeutic aid

MDMA is back with a vengeance when it comes to using its therapeutic potential. Alongside LSD and psilocybin, MDMA was pushed into the background for many years by being labeled as an illegal and dangerous drug. Renewed research is ensuring that these drugs are getting the proper attention again and can once again be used as therapeutic agents during psychedelic assisted therapy (PAT). The video below explains the history of psychedelics and why psychedelics are starting to be used again during therapy.

MDMA therapy can be used for a variety of purposes

Most research done with MDMA as a therapeutic tool is about treating PTSD and anxiety symptoms such as social anxiety. Some other possibilities for MDMA-assisted therapy include treatments for low self-esteem and couples therapy. We expect to see more research in the coming years into other research areas such as addiction and depression, for example.

The MDMA treatment explained

The positive effect of an MDMA treatment is not just due to the chemical effects of the MDMA. The combination of the effects of the drug, proper preparation, the therapeutic setting, the intent of the participant, and the involvement of the counselor dramatically increases a successful session. MDMA can temporarily reduce anxiety and dramatically increase positive emotions toward self and others. This ensures that confidence is increased without clouding sensory perception while maintaining access to all emotions. MDMA can catalyze therapeutic processing by allowing participants to remain emotionally engaged while reliving traumatic experiences without being overwhelmed by excessive anxiety or other painful emotions. Further, MDMA can enable a heightened state of empathetic rapport to enable the therapeutic process and provides a remedial experience of secure attachment and cooperation with therapists. At some point during the MDMA experience, feelings of empathy, love and deep appreciation may be experienced in conjunction with a clearer perspective of the trauma as a past event and a heightened awareness of support and safety in the present.

Research participants have said they can successfully process painful emotions during MDMA-assisted therapy has given them a way for feeling and expressing pain that has changed their relationship with their emotions. MDMA can also provide access to meaningful spiritual experiences and other transpersonal experiences, the release of tension in the body and a sense of healing in ways that cannot be intellectually explained with words.

Learn more about the MDMA sessions

Want to learn more about MDMA therapy? You can read more about our MDMA sessions at the link below:

MDMA therapy

Want to watch a documentary about MDMA and how it works? Then we recommend How To Change Your Mind (Episode 3) on Netflix and it can be found at this link:

How to Change Your Mind on Netflix