Neccesary Components for Successful Therapy
In order to have a safe and successful therapeutic session with MDMA, researchers find the role of set and setting to be very important. The set refers to the mental state of the therapist and the patient. This set refers to the expected results and experiences of the two participants in the session, and how they feel about reaching those expectations. Greer and Tolbert found that it was important to have a setting that made people feel secure. Users must focus on allowing the drug to have its effects and embracing those effects, prior to ingesting it.
If, at some point in the future, therapy with MDMA is a common occurance, much care will need to be taken to ensure the experience is beneficial for the patient. MDMA is not a predictable drug, if the setting changes for the worse, so will the experience of the user. More research needs to be done regarding the long term damage of MDMA use before its use can be sanctioned for widespread therapeutic purposes. Great care was taken by Greer and Tolbert to keep people comfortable and content, by adjusting the sensory information they received in the form of changing music and varying degrees of contact with others. It seems that the effects of MDMA are greatly influenced by the environment in which they are taken, and the other people who are nearby during the experience. Because MDMA can cause you to feel like your surroundings are somewhat unreal, it is important to feel comfortable in your surroundings before the drug begins to affect you. For more information on staying safe while under the influence of MDMA go HERE.