Rebecca Otero

Archetype

Kind mother. Mindful explorer. Gentle and compassionate guide to inner worlds.

Role

Humanistic and psychodynamic integrative psychotherapist. Facilitator of psychedelic preparation and integration and guidance.

Personal Journey

My name is Rebecca Othero Smith, and since childhood, I have been captivated by the enigmatic world of dreams, art, and creativity. This early fascination ignited a deep calling to explore the realms of non-ordinary states of consciousness and the profound mysteries of the psyche. At sixteen, I experienced my first psychedelic journey — a challenging and transformative encounter that revealed a vision of healing and immersed me in a state of non-dual connectedness akin to the “pure love and light” Carl Jung describes. This experience planted the seed for my life’s purpose, illuminating a path toward healing and wholeness.

My own childhood was marked by deep trauma and abuse, shaping my profound understanding of surviving pain, resilience, and the transformative potential of suffering. From an early age, I sensed the alchemical power to turn pain into strength and wisdom. This lived experience became the foundation for my life’s work — guiding others through their own journeys of transformation, integration, and self-discovery.

In my twenties, I lived in Indonesia, where I immersed myself in deep self-work. Alongside this inner journey, I engaged with local communities through art initiatives, fostering connection and creative expression. My academic path merged sociology with fine arts, allowing me to research human behaviour through a creative lens. My travels and time living in Japan and Mexico expanded my perspective, while my MA opened new dimensions of exploration.

My work draws on years of personal and professional experience with plant medicine, combined with my ongoing spiritual journey rooted in Buddhism. This path has deepened my understanding of mindfulness, compassion, and non-attachment, which are integral to my therapeutic approach. My spiritual practice informs the safe and sacred container I create for individuals as they navigate the realms of plant medicines.

With extensive experience working with clinical trials at MAPS in Europe and facilitating integration and guiding individuals through the profound and often life-altering terrain of the psychedelic journeys, I support people in bridging the symbolic, emotional, and somatic insights that arise from these experiences. My role is to help individuals transform fleeting moments of clarity into sustained growth and transformation by anchoring insights into daily life.

Drawing from methods like Internal Family Systems (IFS), Gestalt, and CBT, as well as neuropsychology, polyvagal theory, and somatic awareness, I work relationally, recognising how both therapist and client contribute to the unique quality of the therapeutic relationship. This process helps individuals rebuild and integrate all aspects of their emotional essence and authentic self in an authentic, non-judgmental, and compassionate way.

My work with plant medicine integration is supported by over a decade of personal experience and professional training as a BACP-accredited psychotherapist. I am deeply passionate about the transformative potential of therapy.