Integrative Therapy Mind Body
Integrative therapy mind body emphasizes the interconnectedness of your physical, spiritual and mental health. It takes a holistic approach to healing that incorporates techniques such as yoga, meditation, hypnosis and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), with the purpose of helping you regain equilibrium and wholeness in your life.
When someone experiences stress, their body releases hormones that can negatively impact all systems and organs. This could result in issues such as heart disease, compromised immunity function and premature cellular aging. Furthermore, stress may cause psychological symptoms like anxiety or depression.
Traditional talk therapy focuses on your thoughts and feelings, while integrative therapy utilizes various mind-body techniques to help you relax and manage stress. It incorporates both Western and Eastern healing principles for a comprehensive approach to mental health that puts the needs of each individual first.
The primary aim of mind-body techniques is to reduce pain and discomfort while improving a person’s capacity for emotional regulation and physical sensations. This involves practicing relaxation techniques like autogenics (self-suggestions to relax). A study in Hungary revealed that those suffering from tension headaches who learned how to relax their muscles significantly reduced their need for pain medicine.
These practices can be beneficial for a variety of health conditions. In some instances, they may even be successful in treating chronic illnesses like migraines and fibromyalgia.
Some of the most popular mind-body therapies include meditation, deep breathing, tai chi/qigong, relaxation and stress management techniques. These practices can be utilized alone or combined with other treatments to improve moods, sleep quality and physical functioning.
Multiple mind-body approaches have been scientifically proven to be successful in treating cancer patients. Mindfulness-based stress reduction, meditation and tai chi/qigong may all improve patient and caregiver quality of life while decreasing chemotherapy side effects. Studies have even demonstrated that these techniques reduce nausea, vomiting and fatigue levels among cancer patients.
Integrative medicine is an evolving practice that utilizes evidence-based treatments to promote wellness and quality of life for cancer patients. It strives to integrate medical and psychosocial support for patients through trained integrative health professionals.
Many therapists in the integrative care system are also trained in mind-body medicine, an emerging area of research and practice. They draw upon their skillset in various mind-body modalities to assist clients uncover their internal strengths and achieve long-lasting health.
In order for someone to experience a healthy, embodied response, they must be able to recognize the different psychological fields that may be preventing them from reaching their full potential. IBP practitioners identify and teach patients how to recognize these obstacles so they can learn how to move away from them in pursuit of healing, wholeness and inner wisdom.