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Unravel with Elaine Clark
Unravel, hosted by Elaine Clark, explores the intersection of mental health and physical health. Through expert interviews and insightful conversations, we uncover science-backed tools and practices for well-being and personal growth.
Whether you’re seeking to cultivate resilience, challenge misconceptions, or reconnect with your innate wisdom, Unravel offers the insights and guidance to support your journey.
Science meets embodiment. Let’s explore what it means to unravel the layers—together.
Unravel with Elaine Clark
15- Relational Psychedelics: MDMA, Trauma, and Healing with Dr. Anne Wagner
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Psychedelic medicines aren’t "one-dose miracles" —they’re tools that can deepen the therapeutic process when used with skill, intention, and integration. In this episode, Dr. Anne Wagner—clinical psychologist, treatment-development researcher, and founder of Remedy and Remedy Institute— explores how MDMA-assisted therapy is being studied in relational contexts, especially for PTSD and couples work.
We talk about why MDMA is not a curative agent, how non-ordinary states can surface what’s ready to be worked with, and why preparation and integration matter as much as the medicine itself. Dr. Wagner shares insights from her team’s pilot trials (and a randomized study) combining evidence-based therapies with MDMA, plus what clinicians and couples should know before considering this pathway.
Episode Highlights
- Why MDMA is a catalyst—not a cure—and what effective integration looks like
- How non-ordinary states can amplify curiosity, compassion, and emotional tolerance
- The promise of couples-based MDMA protocols for PTSD: communication, safety, and staying with difficult emotions
- Common misconceptions (the “one-dose miracle”) and the importance of context, preparation, and support
- Experiential training for therapists and what it could mean for empathy, burnout, and clinical presence
- Bringing the learnings back home: practicing honest conversations without the medicine
Dr. Anne Wagner is a clinical psychologist and researcher based in Toronto. She is the founder of Remedy, a mental health innovation community, and Remedy Institute, its research and charitable arm. Dr. Wagner has led pilot trials combining cognitive processing therapy and cognitive behavioural conjoint therapy for PTSD with MDMA-assisted therapy, with a new randomized study on the horizon.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Anne Wagner:
REMEDY - Ph.D., Psychologist & Founder
🌐 Website: https://remedycentre.ca/team/anne-wagner/
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