Is Holistic Therapy Right for You?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of Holistic TherapyTechniquesWhat Holistic Therapy Can Help WithBenefitsEffectivenessThings to ConsiderHow to Get Started

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Types of Holistic Therapy

Techniques

What Holistic Therapy Can Help With

Benefits

Effectiveness

Things to Consider

How to Get Started

Close

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 mental health treatments to help the individual as a whole.

Rather than focusing on one specific problem, holistic therapy considers the mental, physical, andspiritual factorsthat 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, includinghypnosis, breath therapy, andmeditation.

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:

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Holistic therapy utilizes a range of techniques to help individuals understand their symptoms, triggers, and challenges. In addition, such strategies are designed to foster a greater sense ofself-awarenessto better understand the connections between their body, mind, and relationships and how these elements play a role in their mental health.

Such techniques are often rooted inmindfulnessand 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:

In addition to these elements, holistic therapists incorporate psychotherapy approaches, includingcognitive-behavioral therapy(CBT),psychoanalysis, andperson-centered therapy.

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Holistic therapy may be helpful in the treatment of a number of different psychological conditions. Some of these include:

Since this type of therapy seeks to heal the whole person, it may be helpful for problems that do not have a single, definable cause or those that affect multiple areas of a person’s life.

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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.

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 asdeep 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.

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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:

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As with other types of therapy, it is essential to be willing to work with your therapist to deal with the emotional and mental conflicts you are facing. Holistic approaches require participation and are often very hands-on.

The non-profit academic medical center Cleveland Clinic notes that holistic therapy should not take the place of traditional medicine but can be used in conjunction with other treatments to help improve the healing process and overall well-being.

In some cases, your therapist may begin with more traditional, psychotherapeutic techniques before moving to other alternative therapies.

It is often helpful to approach treatment with an open mind in order to enjoy the full benefits of the process.

If you are interested in trying holistic therapy, there are a few things you should do before you get started.

Find a Therapist

The first step is to find a professional in your area who practices holistic therapy.Online therapymay be an option in some cases, but many of the more hands-on practices (massage and Reiki, for example) require in-person appointments.

Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Get Help Now

We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

What to Expect

During your first session, your therapist will evaluate your current state of functioning and work with you to develop goals for your treatment. Because holistic therapy is flexible, your needs can be evaluated and your plan can be adapted as you progress through therapy.

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6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Brom D, Stokar Y, Lawi C, et al.Somatic experiencing for posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled outcome study.J Trauma Stress. 2017;30(3):304-312. doi:10.1002/jts.22189Cleveland Clinic.Holistic psychotherapy.Shafran R, Bennett SD, McKenzie Smith M.Interventions to support integrated psychological care and holistic health outcomes in paediatrics.Healthcare (Basel). 2017;5(3):44. Published 2017 Aug 16. doi:10.3390/healthcare5030044Behan C.The benefits of meditation and mindfulness practices during times of crisis such as COVID-19.Ir J Psychol Med. 2020 Dec;37(4):256-258. doi:10.1017/ipm.2020.38Cleveland Clinic.Guided imagery.Ma X, Yue ZQ, Gong ZQ, et al.The effect of diaphragmatic breathing on attention, negative affect and stress in healthy adults.Front Psychol. 2017;8:874. Published 2017 Jun 6. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00874

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Brom D, Stokar Y, Lawi C, et al.Somatic experiencing for posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled outcome study.J Trauma Stress. 2017;30(3):304-312. doi:10.1002/jts.22189Cleveland Clinic.Holistic psychotherapy.Shafran R, Bennett SD, McKenzie Smith M.Interventions to support integrated psychological care and holistic health outcomes in paediatrics.Healthcare (Basel). 2017;5(3):44. Published 2017 Aug 16. doi:10.3390/healthcare5030044Behan C.The benefits of meditation and mindfulness practices during times of crisis such as COVID-19.Ir J Psychol Med. 2020 Dec;37(4):256-258. doi:10.1017/ipm.2020.38Cleveland Clinic.Guided imagery.Ma X, Yue ZQ, Gong ZQ, et al.The effect of diaphragmatic breathing on attention, negative affect and stress in healthy adults.Front Psychol. 2017;8:874. Published 2017 Jun 6. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00874

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Brom D, Stokar Y, Lawi C, et al.Somatic experiencing for posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled outcome study.J Trauma Stress. 2017;30(3):304-312. doi:10.1002/jts.22189Cleveland Clinic.Holistic psychotherapy.Shafran R, Bennett SD, McKenzie Smith M.Interventions to support integrated psychological care and holistic health outcomes in paediatrics.Healthcare (Basel). 2017;5(3):44. Published 2017 Aug 16. doi:10.3390/healthcare5030044Behan C.The benefits of meditation and mindfulness practices during times of crisis such as COVID-19.Ir J Psychol Med. 2020 Dec;37(4):256-258. doi:10.1017/ipm.2020.38Cleveland Clinic.Guided imagery.Ma X, Yue ZQ, Gong ZQ, et al.The effect of diaphragmatic breathing on attention, negative affect and stress in healthy adults.Front Psychol. 2017;8:874. Published 2017 Jun 6. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00874

Brom D, Stokar Y, Lawi C, et al.Somatic experiencing for posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled outcome study.J Trauma Stress. 2017;30(3):304-312. doi:10.1002/jts.22189

Cleveland Clinic.Holistic psychotherapy.

Shafran R, Bennett SD, McKenzie Smith M.Interventions to support integrated psychological care and holistic health outcomes in paediatrics.Healthcare (Basel). 2017;5(3):44. Published 2017 Aug 16. doi:10.3390/healthcare5030044

Behan C.The benefits of meditation and mindfulness practices during times of crisis such as COVID-19.Ir J Psychol Med. 2020 Dec;37(4):256-258. doi:10.1017/ipm.2020.38

Cleveland Clinic.Guided imagery.

Ma X, Yue ZQ, Gong ZQ, et al.The effect of diaphragmatic breathing on attention, negative affect and stress in healthy adults.Front Psychol. 2017;8:874. Published 2017 Jun 6. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00874

Hannah Owens, LMSW

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