Do Alternative Mental Health Therapies Really Work? Why a Holistic Approach Is Best

As with any specific treatment option, the efficacy of alternative, or complementary, therapies for mental health may vary from person to person. And the intention of these approaches may be just as creative as the therapies themselves.

Alternative therapies may be indicated to:

• Treat symptoms of mental health disorders
• Lessen side effects from medications or other treatments
• Promote relaxation
• Assist with a client’s engagement in treatment
• Develop an empowered mind-body connection
• Support an all-around healthy lifestyle in recovery

Sometimes, people choose to prioritize alternative therapies instead of traditional clinical approaches. Sometimes, people add alternative treatments to their clinical options. The best route is to integrate the various types of treatment in a dynamic way that really responds to an individual’s diverse needs.

Typically, alternative therapies have minimal side effects, so it’s positive to try out different options. A clinician can help to monitor your progress and your response to these treatments. They can also recommend alternative therapies to try that you may not be aware of, broadening your range of available options.

Here are some common alternative therapies that often help to round out an integrative treatment plan for someone’s optimal mental health:

• Acupuncture can benefit your sleep, digestion, experiences of pain and tension, anxiety, endorphin release, and overall sense of well-being.
• A drumming group combines the benefits of music therapy and welcoming community reduce stress and anxiety, lower your heart rate and blood pressure, ease pain, and inspire positivity, confidence, and self-expression.
• Massage can bring relief from pain and tension, improve immune function and circulation, minimize stress, connect your mind and body experiences, and enhance sleep, self-awareness, and mood.
• Meditation refers to a very wide range of techniques that can promote relaxation, positive energy, emotional stability, self-awareness, mind-body connection, serotonin production, cognitive fitness, and healthy blood pressure.
• Physical fitness also represents diverse activities for you to expend energy in positive directions, decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety, get better-quality sleep, feel confident and empowered, gain self-awareness and connection between your mind and body, relieve tension, and enhance your strength, immune system, and overall physical health.
• Pottery is a form of art therapy that awakes creativity and self-expression, promotes healthy blood pressure and heart rate, exercises cognitive and physical dexterity, encourages confidence and a sense of accomplishment, and offers a constructive outlet for challenging thoughts and feelings.
• Yoga is a very adaptable practice that can benefit your strength, endurance, flexibility, sleep, immune system, emotional regulation, stress reduction, self-awareness, mind-body connections, focus on the present moment, and your positivity and sense of empowerment.