STUDENT PROFILE: EIGHT MATALLANA
SYNOPSIS:
Eight Matallana, a College of Education Master's student in Counseling in Clinical Mental Health discusses her recent selection as a Master's Fellow to the National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program; and her work to improve mental healthcare supports for PGM and LGBTQIA2S+ communities and education pertaining to psychedelic-assisted therapy in Oregon.
Published January 14, 2025
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Eight Matallana, a College of Education student in the Master of Counseling in Clinical Mental Health track, was recently selected as a National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program Master’s Fellow for the 2023-2024 cohort. This prestigious award is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and provides $10,000 in tuition assistance to master’s counseling students who commit to serving and increasing mental health care resources for marginalized populations. As part of the fellowship, Eight will receive training, mentorship, and other professional development opportunities through various symposiums and conferences.
The fellowship will allow Eight to continue her work on improving mental healthcare supports for PGM and LGBTQIA2S+ community members, as well as accessibility, ethical standards, research, and education pertaining to psychedelic-assisted therapy in Oregon.
In 2020, Oregon became the first state to legalize the use of psychedelic mushrooms under supervised use. And while Oregonians can now legally utilize psilocybin at approved service centers, and clinical research around it’s potential for treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder is promising, there are still barriers that exist for mental health professionals to support clients utilizing these services.
“In Oregon, the psilocybin and mental health licensing boards operate somewhat separately at this time” explained Eight. “My research explores harm reduction and ethical considerations within our field.”
Eight’s interest in the subject extends, at least in part, from her Colombian heritage. “South Americans have a long history of utilizing entheogens and other plant teachers for medicinal purposes, especially in Indigenous communities,” Eight said. “I’m interested in learning how to bridge Western models of mental health care with indigenous knowledge, and how psychoactive plants play a role in that.”
Eight hopes her research will help expand our understanding of these plants and advocate for harm reduction and stronger ethical models. She intends to go into private practice in Oregon, supporting marginalized communities and plans to continue her research.
RELATED FEATURES:
The OSU Ecampus Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s degree meets the educational requirements for licensure as a counselor in Oregon (LPC), Washington (LMHC), and in many U.S. states. Graduates are also eligible to become board-certified counselors by the National Board of Certified Counselors.
Oregon will become the first state in the country to legalize psilocybin Tuesday with the passage of Measure 109.
The program is distinguished by exceptional in-classroom instruction, a cohort model where students form strong bonds, and both academic knowledge and theory. The experience of closely supervised practicum and internships build competence in counseling skills and in personal growth.