Why a holistic approach is essential for healing.
Holistic therapy approaches focus on seeing you as a whole, not just your symptoms or mental distress, but in addressing your physical, emotional, spiritual, and social wellbeing as well. This is essential for healing and personal growth.
Even though our minds have a large impact on our wellbeing and distress, it's only one component-- so talk therapy that only addresses the mind is overlooking other important parts. Psychological distress can create physical impacts in the body. Similarly, there are ways to calm the body's systems which send soothing, caring, and safety signals to the mind. And the list goes on with how much interconnectedness there is between the mind, body and spirit. When psychotherapy or a healing modality only involves talking about the mind or only talk therapy, this is a disservice; it ignores other parts of your being.
Conventional western approaches may emphasize diagnoses and medication, and while medication can absolutely be helpful- and essential- to healing, it's only one option and unfortunately sometimes provided as the first and only option, rather than empowering a client to feel they can access their own healing. Additionally, therapy and healing does not only involve removing or addressing symptoms; it also includes creating more fulfillment, presence, and inspiration in life which requires a deeper embodiment.
By engaging in a wider range of approaches, that pull from Eastern, "non traditional", and ancestral mind-body-spirit techniques, you create a deeper connection to yourself and can become your own healer. Holistic approaches can take many forms; if you're not sure if a therapist is holistic, find out what will be addressed and how.
Types of holistic healing:
Acupuncture and Acupressure
Breathwork
Meditation
Hypnosis
Aromatherapy
Ayurvedic therapy
Reiki
Astrology
Yoga
Tai Chi
Art, music and movement therapy
Herbal therapy
Massage therapy
Cacao ceremony
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to healing, growing, and creating a fulfilling life. All of these modalities offer a way of connecting to yourself and can be an incredible compliment to psychotherapy, particularly if a therapist mainly focuses on the cognitive and behavioral parts.
