Holistic therapy, also sometimes referred to as holistic psychotherapy or body-centered psychotherapy, is an integrative type of therapy that incorporates both traditional and non-traditional treatments to help the individual as a whole. Rather than focusing on a narrow problem, it considers mental, physical, and spiritual factors that influence a person's well-being and seeks to help people heal and thrive on a deeper level. Holistic therapy combines aspects of traditional talk therapy and non-traditional approaches, including hypnosis, breath therapy, and meditation. Types of Holistic Therapy
Holistic psychotherapy is an umbrella term that can encompass a number of different types of treatments. Professionals who offer this type of treatment may refer to themselves as holistic therapists, but they may also refer to their practice as:
• Eclectic or integrative therapy: An approach that draws on multiple traditions and techniques in order to best address a person’s needs.
• Mind-body therapy: This refers to groups of techniques that focus on improving body functioning and inducing relaxations as a way to improve health.
• Somatic therapy: A body-centric approach that utilizes strategies such as breathwork, dance, and meditation to heal trauma, stress, and other mental health issues.
• Spiritual therapy: An approach that incorporates belief systems and spiritual faith to explore problems that a person faces in their life.
Techniques
Holistic therapy utilizes a range of techniques to help individuals understand their symptoms. In addition, such strategies are designed to foster a greater sense of self-awareness to better understand the connections between their body, mind, and relationships and how these elements play a role in mental health. Such techniques are often rooted in mindfulness and bodywork practices. These techniques may include techniques commonly used in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that are designed to promote relaxation and help individuals better understand the connection between the body, mind, and spirit.
Some of these practices include:
• Acupuncture
• Biofeedback
• Breathwork
• Guided imagery
• Hypnosis
• Massage
• Meditation
• Mindfulness
• Reiki
• Tai chi
• Yoga
What Holistic Therapy Can Help With Holistic therapy may be helpful in the treatment of a number of different psychological conditions. Some of these include:
• Addictions
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Emotional difficulties
• Family problems
• Stress
• Trauma
• Work-related problems
Benefits of Holistic Therapy
The wellness practices that are frequently utilized in holistic therapy are often used more generally to help people deal with tension and stress and to promote overall well-being. One benefit of holistic therapy is that it is a whole-body approach that addresses mental, physical, and spiritual health. It often allows individuals to better see the connections between these different aspects of their lives and better understand how this affects their health and wellness.2 Many holistic techniques are also strategies that people can practice and perform on their own outside of therapeutic sessions. This can be particularly helpful in daily life when people are facing situations that can trigger stress, anxiety, or changes in mood. By implementing tactics such as deep breathing, mindfulness, or meditation, people can better manage the situations that are contributing to distress. Holistic approaches are also often centered on prevention in addition to treatment. Rather than waiting until a problem emerges, learning to utilize holistic treatments may be helpful for preventing problems that can harm a person's emotional, physical, social, or spiritual well-being. Effectiveness Because of the wide variety of techniques and approaches utilized in holistic therapy, it can be difficult to evaluate its efficacy. However, it often incorporates other empirically validated therapies such as CBT and brief dynamic psychotherapy. Techniques such as acupuncture, yoga, and deep breathing have also been effective for many purposes. Some research does suggest that integrated, holistic care can have many benefits.
• One 2017 article suggested that holistic approaches offer physical and mental benefits that are also cost-effective.
• Research has found that mindfulness and meditation are useful for reducing anxiety and stress and can be adapted for various purposes and situations.
• Guided imagery, often used in holistic practices, may help improve sleep, improve mood, decrease stress, and improve relaxation.
• Research has shown that deep breathing techniques can reduce stress levels and promote relaxation, which can benefit both physical and mental health