Holistic Therapy

To aid the health and healing process, holistic therapy covers three general elements of a person at the same time: mind, body, and spirit. This is seen as addressing the “whole” person. Incorporating emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of their well-being at the same time allows them to better understand themselves across each of these levels.

What is Holistic Therapy?

Holistic therapy treatment comes in various forms. This is because a holistic framework will account for the unique needs of each individual, tailoring evidenced-based treatment as part of the therapy process. Due to its focus on overall well-being, it shouldn’t be a surprise it borrows from other therapy types. Inspiration for holistic approaches include:

Psychodynamic therapy
Mindfulness practices
Breathwork
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

This type of combination is beneficial when a patient is dealing with numerous symptoms at the same time. As an example, someone with post-traumatic stress disorder could suffer from physical pain. They may also feel detached and fearful due to this condition. Holistic therapy is able to address these symptoms concurrently.

Atlantic Behavioral Health: Holistic Therapy Massachusetts Specialists

Holistic therapists are not all equal. However, at Atlantic Behavioral Health, you are guaranteed to receive the finest holistic treatments in Massachusetts. Our holistic approach is as comprehensive as it is caring, where we take all necessary steps to improve the treatment you are receiving. Our mental health professionals have extensive training across various holistic techniques.

These techniques include a variety of exercises, activities, and educational sessions. This range allows us to identify the most suitable holistic therapy for your requirements. Whether this involves breathwork or massage therapy, we will use the information you provide about your emotional and physical state, discuss with you the techniques available, and decide together on the best course of action.

As Atlantic Behavioral Health offers a range of outpatient psychiatric services for people aged 18+ and who are stepping down from acute hospitalization or stepping up from other outpatient providers, we are able to combine our various holistic therapies with other treatments. This increases the chances we find the most effective solution to your health issue.

Along with expert treatment from experienced professionals, you will be welcomed to our friendly and accommodating facility. Our aim is to make you as comfortable as possible during your sessions. If you want to benefit from holistic therapy, get in touch today to arrange an appointment where we can discuss your situation further.

How Holistic Therapy Works

Holistic therapy begins with an initial check-in and assessment. This is done to gauge your present emotional and physical state. If the holistic care is done in a group setting, it is usually optional for you to share personal information. By doing so, however, it provides support for the group as everyone works together.

After this step, your holistic therapist will lead you through a set of activities or exercises. These can vary significantly, with them being based on your current mental state and condition. Certain holistic therapy sessions will opt for a focus on psychological exercises, whereas others will go with physical exercises. Additionally, education will often be incorporated into sessions in some form.

Here’s a breakdown of some common activities used during a standard holistic therapy session:

Cognitive behavioral therapy exercises

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be incorporated into holistic treatment. CBT exercises can be used to spot and correct cognitive distortions, while an enhancement in positive self-talk – where you avoid gaslighting yourself and instead utilize positive affirmations – can further assist with cultivating a healthy mindset.

Breathwork

One of the most common elements found in holistic therapy is breathwork. This practice is used to control and quicken breathing patterns, with the overall goal being to influence your physical, emotional, and mental states. The influence of breathwork can go beyond being a supplemental activity, where, in certain cases, it is the main focus of a treatment session.

Massage

Massage could be recommended as part of your treatment by your holistic therapist. A holistic massage mirrors the physical benefits of a standard massage with its mental benefits. It can release endorphins and supply you with increased energy. Other hands-on bodywork can also be incorporated into your treatment plan.

This can make your health much worse, both in terms of mental illness and physical health, especially if you have a dual diagnosis, which is why it’s best to leave medication management to the experts.

Acupuncture or Acupressure

Another common option with holistic therapy is acupuncture or acupressure. These techniques, which mix physical and non-physical aspects, apply pressure to certain points of the body. These points are seen to correspond with the energetic fields of your body.

Mindfulness/Meditation

It is rare to find a holistic program that doesn’t incorporate meditation in some form. Meditation is proven to help both the brain and body, where it can reduce stress, improve sleep, ease depression and anxiety, and more. Along with meditation, holistic therapy may add other mindfulness practices. These include mindful eating, journaling, and visualization.

Sound and Aromatherapy

Sensory elements are other wellness practices that some holistic therapists will use. These sensory elements are relaxation techniques that are proven to ease various disorders, including depression, anxiety, and respiratory conditions.

All of these are considered clinical holistic medicine. Although it doesn’t take the form you’d normally associate with traditional medicine, these treatments have all been designed to improve your physical and mental well-being.

Areas Where Holistic Therapy Can Help

Before you decide to pursue holistic therapies, you may wonder which areas this treatment can help. Along with being able to boost overall well-being, it can also support improvement in the following mental health conditions:

Depression
Anxiety
Existential crisis
Stress
PTSD
Schizophrenia

Due to the nature of holistic therapy, it can also help in areas beyond mental health. For instance, yoga is proven to assist with managing pain, while evidence suggests meditation can treat the likes of insomnia and irritable bowel syndrome.

Holistic Therapy Sessions and Their Frequency

There’s a wide assortment of holistic therapy treatments available. Holistic therapy is also used to treat or ease a large number of conditions. When you bring these two points together, it’s no surprise that session frequency can vary significantly.

With holistic therapy treatments like breathwork and massage therapy, these are typically offered as single sessions. These are available on an as-needed basis. On the other end of the scale, you will find treatments that take place multiple times during the week.

If your holistic therapist puts together a program with numerous treatments, your schedule will see different sessions occurring at varying times. As an example, you could attend yoga sessions three times a week, a psychotherapy session every fortnight, and consult with a nutritionist each month.

The Benefits of Holistic Therapy

Holistic therapies naturally deliver a range of benefits. When you receive holistic therapy treatment, you can expect to experience the following advantages:

Long-Term Management

A mental health condition requires a combination of short-term and long-term management techniques. The latter is covered with a holistic approach. When benefiting from holistic therapy, you are able to practice a range of coping skills that can minimize actions that lead to triggers. By keeping these as part of your treatment, this can better help manage your condition over time.

Learn More About Yourself

A holistic therapist will help you to learn more about yourself. Thoughts, feelings, spiritual beliefs, physical health, social connections – you will be asked to explore aspects like these that revolve around your life. By doing so, you learn how they all connect and interact with one another. This can then help uncover areas that cause unhappiness and stress.

Address Underlying Causes

Identifying any underlying causes is a necessity when treating a mental health problem. If this isn’t done, this increases the chances your issues will crop up again. Holistic therapy is known for being an effective treatment to address underlying causes. Once uncovered, you have the platform to make positive, long-lasting changes.

Affordable Therapy

Other forms of therapy are known for being relatively expensive, especially when health insurance coverage isn’t available. However, holistic therapy can be an affordable treatment solution. While certain holistic activities are not the cheapest, others won’t eat up too much of your finances. As a result, this makes holistic therapy more accessible to more people.