In the world of psychology, a holistic approach refers to a tactic that combines the optimization of one’s mind, body, and spirit. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Life Coach offering in-person and telehealth appointments from my professional office in El Dorado Hills, CA, this specific approach to psychotherapy is based on the belief that each of us is defined as a whole being, made up of mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional connections impacted by societal, work, and interpersonal relationships.
Examples of Holistic Approach Aspects
The holistic approach to therapy seeks to explore the elaborate connections among the various aspects of each client’s life. This approach encourages self-awareness and allows for a more profound understanding of how these aspects impact one’s overall health and well-being.
Holistic approaches to psychotherapy offer various methodologies as they draw from modern clinical options focusing on wellness.
- Stress Management—includes mental, physical, and emotional strategies to reduce the potential adverse effects of stress on health.
- Mindfulness—Mental exercises, which may include various forms of meditation, can help hone a client’s personal awareness. Meditation helps clients stay in the present moment and reduce the things that create worry and anxiety.
- Breathwork—This includes exercises that focus on breathwork to help clients disconnect from their thoughts and achieve relaxation.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy—A version of talk therapy that identifies thought and behavioral processes that affect how clients respond to difficult situations.
- Yoga—Yoga refers to a specific group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices that originated in India thousands of years ago. Yoga seeks to still the mind and create a sense of peace within.
- Guided Therapeutic Imagery—refers to a common methodology for relaxation that involves sitting or lying quietly and imagining yourself in a peaceful and favorite environment (e.g., a beach, meadow, or forest).
Treatments within the holistic approach are personalized to meet each client’s personal needs and generally include various forms of therapy that are used in combination.
Conditions That Can Be Treated by the Holistic Approach
A holistic approach offers potential benefits for the following range of mental health conditions -
- Trauma
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress
For more information regarding holistic therapy and Certified Life Coach options, contact Jessica Wolff online.