83 | Exploring Psychedelics in therapy for healing with Lauren Taus
Welcome to episode 83 of The Optimal Body Podcast
Exploring Psychedelics in therapy for healing with Lauren Taus
Ever been curious about psychedelics? Looking to learn more about plant medicine? This episode has got you covered with the healing effects of psychedelics and the therapeutic benefits of drug therapy. Drugs have been stigmatized and have received a bad rep. However, Lauren Taus, psychedelic assisted psychotherapist, sheds light on the healing effects of plant medicine and how appropriate psychedelics can truly be transformative. Lauren explores what psychedelics actually are and the misconceptions around them. Lauren speaks to her perspectives on the legality of drugs and her expertise in MDMA therapy for PTSD and other mental disorders. Through scientific literature and anecdotal perspectives from psychedelic work, she emphasizes its healing effects on trauma and the importance of stepping into our emotions to release suffering. Through her approach to psychedelics, Lauren provides you with considerations upon approaching psychedelics for yourself, and the steps you can take to free yourself from physical manifestations of the mental sufferings you may be holding on to. Tune into this episode to find out how psychedelics and plant medicine may be your key to activating a different perspective, to uncovering meanings and purposes that surround your experiences, and how you can truly discover presence through pure liberation.
We also mention the Coba Board throughout the episode. This simple piece of equipment can create massive changes to how you move, the ability to activate your glutes, and through proper strengthening, even help to relieve back pain! To get your next at-home resistance set up for a discount, use code ‘DOCJENFIT’ at checkout (affiliate code).
What you will learn in this interview with Lauren Taus:
4:59 – Lauren’s Passion
6:43 – Lauren’s first Psychedelic experience
8:32 – Defining Psychedelics
13:54 – The origins of Psychedelic skepticism
18:34 – Regulating the stigma around drugs
22:52 – MDMA Therapy for PTSD
28:03 – Approaching Psychedelics with a feared mindset
31:13 – Finding comfort in the unknown
41:01 – Steps to exploring Psychedelics
45:51 – Who are Psychedelics for?
55:37 – Exploring more with Lauren
About Lauren Taus:
Lauren Taus graduated summa cum laude from Barnard College at Columbia University in 2004 with a BA in Religion before continuing on to NYU for her Masters in Social Work. Lauren is licensed as a clinical therapist in both New York and California with a specialty in addiction and trauma treatment. As a clinician, Lauren integrates alternative modalities of treatment into her work. She trained with David Emerson under the supervision of Bessel van der Kolk at the Trauma Institute in Boston in trauma sensitive yoga, and she’s trained by the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) for MDMA assisted psychotherapy for complex PTSD. Lauren is actively working under the supervision of Dr. Phil Wolfson, author of The Ketamine Papers, to offer ketamine assisted psychotherapy to accelerate healing for individuals who suffer from depression, anxiety and trauma. Alongside her father Stephen D. Taus MD, Lauren supports psychedelic assisted therapy research with the intention to bring these types of interventions back into the Western mainstream model. Lauren teaches yoga and meditation classes in the Los Angeles area. She has facilitated teacher training and she offers immersive wellness experiences globally. In her work as a wellness provider, Lauren has been featured in Yoga Journal, Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Health Magazine, USA Today, Self Magazine and more. Lauren believes that individual and collective healing are intimately intertwined. As an activist and advocate for a safer world, she is dedicated to building bridges in the Middle East. She co-curated a delegation of Israeli and Palestinian peace activists to travel to Dharamsala and meet with the Dalai Lama to learn how to integrate non-violent approaches to conflict in the Holy Land. Lauren is a founding member of the Kosmic Kamels, a camp at Burning Man, composed of individuals from countries in the Middle East whose passports preclude them from visiting one another’s homes. Camp members explore ways in which the 10 principles of Burning Man can be applied to conflict zones.
Items mentioned in this episode:
- Lauren’s INBodied Life Website
- Lauren’s INBodied Life Podcast
- Lauren’s Instagram
- MAPS Psychedelic Directory
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