Shannon Carlin is the associate director of training and supervision at the MAPS Public Benefit Corp. In this role, she oversees the development and implementation of the programs that prepare mental health and medical professionals to deliver MDMA assisted psychotherapy in approved clinical settings.  

Today Shannon is sharing what the clinical and legal landscape currently is for MDMA trials. The discussions with the FDA are currently evolving, but Shannon is very optimistic about the direction things are going in. She also talks about the current model of trials that they are conducting and how this promises to yield innovative and tangible results.

Shannon describes how these trials are conducted and what participants can expect throughout the process. Shannon acknowledges that its a complex and tedious process, but stresses that everything is done to ensure both the safety of the participants and the proper scientific gathering of data. To that end, she explains how they are currently running tests and how they are preparing to change once approval for expanded trials happens.

• The current FDA regulations of MDMA
• The types of practitioners who are participating in ongoing studies
• What trial participants can expect as they prepare for an MDMA trial
• What takes place during a clinical trial with MDMA 
• The importance of mindset for both the practitioners and the clinicians during trails
• How dosing is determined during clinical studies

“I really enjoy being in the therapy room with somebody who doesn’t have my same professional background because it broadens the competence that the two of us have together.” [7:21]

“To me, it really does feel ceremonial. There is a certain amount of ritual or sacredness about it.” [13:25]

“There’s a symbolic gesture. It’s subtle, but we don’t give the medicine, we don’t administer the medicine, we offer the medicine.” [19:13]

MAPS

MDMA Therapy Training Program

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