A holistic approach to psychotherapy involves the body, mind, and spirit in the work of therapy. It takes into account the mind-body-spirit connect to address the intricate dance between our different internal systems.
Traditional talk therapy, the gym, or a one-on-one spiritual adviser may focus on one of the three aspects of the individual. Holistic psychotherapy brings the three into unison.
At hOMe, holistic psychotherapy integrates empirically-verified psychotherapy methods with time-tested holistic healing practices. This provides a robust approach to living well.
SomaticTending to the Body
Most holistic psychotherapy sessions at hOMe integrate talking with non-verbal attunements to the self.
The therapist invites the client to pay attention to the physical self by tracking emotions within their body. The client is guided to experience how each emotion or thought pattern lives in a different place in the body. They discover how subtle movement patterns and postural shifts help the body and mind shift out of states of hypoarousal or hyperarousal (i.e. fight, flight, freeze). Movement techniques may include standing up, walking, or stretching; guided, simple yoga exercises that aid in processing thoughts and feelings; tapping acupressure points; heart-centered meditation; and rocking, swaying or bouncing while seated or standing.
The therapist may use heating pads, blankets, weighted sandbags, and/or essential oils to help the client regulate their nervous system. This creates a sense of containment and safety within the body.
Contemporary Relational Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Tending to the Mind
Clinicians at hOMe use this style of therapy. It emphasizes exploring unconscious beliefs, thoughts, and feelings underlying current mental and emotional struggles and current behavior. The therapist uses what is happening in session as a platform for understanding what goes on outside of session. Present moment thoughts and feelings within session become a means to examine the client’s past and present relationships.
High value is placed on the effects that past relationship wounds have on present relationships. The therapist helps the client to tenderly explore the complexity of emotions around these wounds within the context of the therapeutic relationship. Therapist and client work together to form a strong, trustworthy connection that can serve as a model for developing healthy, honest, and open relationships outside of the therapy office.
Clients are best served by a long-term approach to therapy in order for sustained healing to occur.
Spiritual
Tending to the Soul
For clients who are interested in spiritual exploration, the therapist brings spirituality into the therapeutic process through discussion, meditation, guided imagery, and use of breath and sacred sounds. This helps one to get one in touch with the innermost being. Clients may be invited to explore complementary offerings such as ecstatic dance, meditation groups, and yoga classes at hOMe.
Spiritual exploration is not necessary or required. All faith backgrounds - and agnostics and atheists - are welcome.