With a background in chemistry, a passion for philosophy, and extensive knowledge of psychology and health, his approach is holistic. Marcel is a full-time trip leader. With over 2,200 guided sessions, Marcel is the most experienced member of our team.
About Marcel
Chemistry and biochemistry. That's my field of study. After completing my degree, however, I moved into something completely different: retail and service in the video game industry.
Besides managing various online stores and tinkering with game consoles, I always maintained my scientific interest in (bio)chemistry in combination with sports, nutrition, and general well-being. Based on this interest, I've been reading and studying scientific research on diseases, nutrition, sports, herbal medicine, phytotherapy, psychology, and general well-being for over 10 years. I've applied this knowledge to help people holistically.
As I gained more and more knowledge and experience with psychedelics (magic truffles), everything fell into place. Psychedelics fit perfectly into a healthy lifestyle and deserved a place in coaching for both physical and mental health. The idea behind trip therapy was born, and the comprehensive approach became even more holistic.
There was a high demand for these kinds of courses and so the education as a basis, the continued interest in biochemistry, the power of psychedelics and my own drive for health merged into Triptherapie.
Specialism
During my early years at Triptherapie, I specialized primarily in depression and negative self-images and how these work at the cellular level. Depression can have various causes, including diet, medication, illness, and emotional setbacks. The mind, or in other words, your way of thinking, can make your body unhealthy and thus trigger depression through inflammation. It also works the other way around: depression or inflammation in the body, in turn, triggers negative thinking. You can use my knowledge and services to escape the negative spiral of depression. Currently, I attend lectures on the combination of behavior, biology, and evolution. These demonstrate that much of our behavior extends beyond our own lives. I apply this new knowledge to new sessions.
Starting in 2021, demand for psychedelic sessions for anxiety and PTSD suddenly skyrocketed. Over the past few years at Triptherapie, I've learned a great deal about psychedelic treatments from experience with our clients, and I've delved deeper into the theory to enrich the psychedelic sessions with gentle exposure therapy.
My approach
The action plan is based on the (medical) information you provide during the digital intake. We use the intake results and your information to determine if you're lacking certain substances, and if necessary, we'll provide you with advice regarding nutrition, supplements, herbs, exercise, and/or lifestyle. In addition to these tips to improve your neurochemistry, among other things, we'll also offer suggestions for watching specific videos or reading books. This information can be helpful during the psychedelic session.
During a hallucinogen trip, the beginning will resemble talk therapy. After ingestion, we'll communicate less and less, eventually abandoning words; after all, it's about the experience. During a trip, I may use music, light, herbs, and/or aromatherapy to achieve our predetermined goal. My presence will be subtle, and I'll act as a calm and safe energy source, supporting you and gently guiding you where needed. As you sober up, we'll gently re-engage in conversation and explore together what your psychedelic experience might mean for you. When using MDMA, the session will be similar to the one described above, but there will be more of a balance between introspection and conversation.
My own experiences with psychedelics
To do this work, and out of my own interest, I've taken around 170 trips. Most weren't very high-dose, but were intended to learn more about the psychedelic state and the services offered by psychedelic therapy. A few higher-dose trips did indeed help me gain insights. Here's a brief introduction to myself and how some psychedelics have helped me.
I had a wonderful childhood. Perhaps my parents were sometimes a bit too strict, and I sometimes got a good smack. I don't think I ever really suffered from trauma or anything like that. Yet, everyone's behavior, and mine included, changes based on previous circumstances. During several psychedelic trips, I relived these circumstances, but never as something very painful. I value myself today, and that means I should also value everything I've experienced; after all, it made me who I am. So I've accepted the past because there are only two options:
1: The things you cannot accept you will have to change
2: The things you cannot change you will have to accept
Now, the above is just one insight I've gained, partly because of psychedelics. But there are many more insights that have made my life more enjoyable.
I was able to process the loss of two loved ones during a trip. The ceremony I witnessed with my eyes closed was an indescribably beautiful farewell. From sadness to happiness. From repressed memories to honoring cherished moments.
Another great insight is that I used to believe that prosperity and finances were the most important things. I worked myself to the bone to accumulate money. It's something our society encourages: individual achievement and self-enrichment. That came easily to me, but it wasn't satisfying. Psilocybin truffles have made me realize that it's actually about connection, not loneliness. Loneliness actually leads to unpleasant symptoms and addictions. Psychedelics are about connection!
Experience thanks to psychedelic sessions
I'm the founder of Triptherapie, and I've been working at this wonderful company for seven years. Before starting trip therapy, I had already gained seven years of experience with psychedelics and counseling. In all, I've counseled over 2,100 people so far and have been working (more than) full-time since its inception.
I would like to share some further insights I gained during my work as a trip leader:
- Our reality is what you think it is. The world is heaven and hell simultaneously. Focus on the heavenly aspects, and the opportunities for you to experience and recognize heavenly things in this world increase. This is how the "law of attraction" works. So we co-create reality.
- Everyone has a different trip and believes in different things. It's an interpretation of information. That interpretation is only human and also a little different for everyone.
- Some people think psychedelics heal people, but what we often forget is that everyone is whole. Psychedelics show you that you are perfectly formed to the circumstances that existed and exist. For example, depression and burnout are a perfect message from the body that something different needs to happen. Psychedelics are not the solution, but the key to the solution in the subconscious mind.
- Let's not think in terms of pieces or things we lack. Let's think of the things we do have. Everything is a gift, and life itself is too.
- The purpose of life? That's life itself. There's plenty of room to give it your own purpose. That can be a burden or a tremendous freedom! Some people get an inspiration, and it feels like a gift.
- Life, like a psychedelic trip, is a journey. It's not about the destination.
- Good and evil is all in the beholders eye!
Reviews about Marcel
Marcel has facilitated over 2,200 sessions and currently has over 120 reviews! Feel free to browse through some reviews to get a better idea of what other clients have thought of Marcel. Below are the 10 most recent experiences with Marcel as a trainer.
Marcel in the media
Marcel has worked on numerous productions for newspapers, magazines, videos, and podcasts thanks to his extensive experience. Some examples include: Assisting with microdosing at work at SlamFM, Facilitating a psychedelic session of a journalist from the Algemeen Dagblad (2 years of therapy in one truffle session), as a trip sitter accompanying a Quest's project not to think, at the YouTube channel Injections & Swallowing to inform about psychedelic therapy in its current form, and many other podcasts and news articles to mainly raise awareness of the therapeutic and medicinal use of psychedelics.
Contact Marcel
Would you like to connect with me before booking a session? That's perfectly understandable! You can contact me using one of the options below. If I don't answer by phone, it's best to send me a message via WhatsApp, Telegram, or email.
Book a psychedelic session with Marcel
I work throughout the Netherlands. So you can book me for sessions at your home, an Airbnb, a vacation rental, or a hotel of your choice. For in-home sessions, I'll be based in Noordwijkerhout, and travel expenses of 50 cents per kilometer will be included. postal code 2211BM Calculated. Do you live far away or are you traveling from abroad? In that case, you can also choose to rent a cottage/hotel/Airbnb closer to beautiful Noordwijkerhout. Finally, you can also use our location in Schiedam. Accommodation and food/drinks are included in bookings at our Schiedam location.