presented by horizons pbc, a public benefit corporation

with Marcela Ot’alora G. LPC

and Bruce D Poulter, RN, MPH

Part of the 15th annual Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics conference in New York City.

Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 8am-6pm
at the New York Academy of Medicine

The Instructors

Marcela 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 bilingual in Spanish and English.

Bruce has provided harm reduction services thru Zendo and other organizations and now works in multiple MAPS studies as a sub-investigator/therapist, beginning in 2012 with MAPS MDMA for PTSD Boulder Study, to MAPS Healthy Volunteers Study and now with the MAPS Phase 3 Clinical trials. In addition to his direct care work, Bruce is a Lead Clinical Supervisor with our Phase 3 therapists as well as a Lead Trainer for therapists moved by this powerful healing work.

The New York Academy of Medicine

1216 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029

Since its founding in 1847, the Academy has been a vital source for thought and action regarding healthcare and public health in New York City and beyond. 

Its landmarked building on Fifth Avenue facing Central Park was completed in 1927 and houses one of the most comprehensive and historic medical libraries in the country.

Horizons offers all-day introductions to psychedelic-assisted therapy led by leading researchers and experienced practitioners. These classes are designed with medical and mental health professionals and students in mind, but may also be attended by others. These classes are limited in size, not recorded or broadcast, and are intended to foster interaction between the students and instructors. The class is one full day of instruction with breaks in mid-morning, midday, and late afternoon.

Lunch is available at The New York Academy of Medicine for an additional fee, available through registration.

8:00am | Doors open
9:00am | Convene
9:30am | Morning session
1:00pm | Lunch
2:00pm | Reconvene
2:15pm | Afternoon session
5:15pm | Session concludes
6:00pm | Adjourn

Registering for catered lunch on-site is strongly recommended, as neighborhood lunch options are limited.

Due to changes in CE / CME requirements and providers, Horizons will not be offering CE / CME credits for any workshops or presentations.

Scholarships

Our scholarship programs allows community members to attend who may not have the resources to support our standard rates.

The scholarship program is available to anyone, not just students and academic professionals.

Applications for this year's scholarships will open shortly.

Learn more >

This workshop will encompass:

1. Discussion of the personal/professional qualities that appear to enhance safety and efficacy in treatments that employ psychedelic substances
2. Exploration of basic principles that have been found to expedite the beneficial exploration of consciousness
3. Facilitation of comprehension of the potential therapeutic potency of visionary and unitive forms of consciousness and how their occurrence and integration may contribute to changes in attitudes and behavior
4. Survey of practical procedures in structuring set and setting in psychedelic therapy, including the use of music
5. Consideration of potential therapeutic applications in the near future, notably in the treatment of depression, addictions and end-of-life issues. Implications of the varieties of alternative states of awareness occasioned by psychedelics for education and religion, as well as medical treatment, will also be considered.
   

Marcela Ot'alora G. LPC

Principal Investigator MDMA-Assisted Therapy Research, MAPS

Marcela Ot’alora G. was born and raised in Colombia where her mother, aunt, and grandmother were instrumental in cultivating compassion and kindness as the highest values for engaging with others and the world. Their teaching led her to view success from this lens. Currently she lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband, dogs, and daughters nearby. She has an MA in Transpersonal Psychology from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, and an MFA in Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

For over 20 years Marcela has been in private practice working primarily with PTSD. In addition to private practice, she has dedicated her professional life to training and research. Beginning in 1999, she has worked on various studies sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) as a Principal Investigator and therapist using MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD. Additionally, she is a lead trainer and supervisor for MAPS’ training program.

Bruce D Poulter, RN, MPH

Lead Trainer, MAPS

Bruce's interest and work throughout his career has been with people in altered states where he valued experiential learning. Bruce's initiation into health care began as an Intensive Care Unit nurse, then moved into public health and eventually worked somatically the next 25 years with people in chronic pain. His main therapeutic influence has been “Processwork” – an ‘awareness practice’ originally articulated as a therapeutic approach developed by Jungian author and analyst Arnold Mindell.

Bruce has provided harm reduction services thru Zendo and other organizations and now works in multiple MAPS studies as a sub-investigator/therapist, beginning in 2012 with MAPS MDMA for PTSD Boulder Study, to MAPS Healthy Volunteers Study and now with the MAPS Phase 3 Clinical trials. In addition to his direct care work, Bruce is a Lead Clinical Supervisor with our Phase 3 therapists as well as a Lead Trainer for therapists moved by this powerful healing work.

Our 2022 conference + classes will be produced in accordance with requirements and best practices for safety, as dictated by the federal, state, and local health authorities.

Statement on Covid-19 & safety >