Holistic Psychology
The Guiding Principle
The area of holistic psychology maintains the basic principle that the mind has a central impact on the body's health. Specifically, our thoughts and emotions are directly connected to our body's nervous and immune systems. That means we need to pay close attention to the emotional-psychological components of health to improve recovery from illness and also to prevent health problems. There is tremendous scientific literature now supporting the mind-body-spirit connection. The physiological, epidemiological and clinical research all point to that conclusion. Mind/body/spirit medicine is not so much an alternative approach, as a complementary one. It is perfectly compatible with standard medical treatment and can be a powerful way of augmenting it, neither challenging it or replacing it.
The Approach
Generally, the treatment follows a cognitive-behavioral approach and is of short-term duration. The individual seeking help becomes an active participant in the therapeutic process and often will have 'homework assignments' between sessions to facilitate progress. Each therapy is moulded around the needs of the client and works to favor optimum health. An improvement in health is sought on physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual levels.
The Process
This approach focuses on:
| Educating the individual on the general role of stress, emotions and mental processes on one's physical health and behavior. |
| Bringing awareness to the contributing factors of one's health condition. |
| Providing a sense of hope and mastery over the health condition. |
| Teaching practical and powerful coping skills to deal with stress. |
| Introducing the restorative and healing effects of the Relaxation response by teaching relaxation and or meditation skills. |
| Creating a sense of purpose and passion in life. |
| Empowering the individual to take responsibility for his/her health and life. |
| Training the unconscious to effect changes in one's thoughts, emotions and overall health. |
| Transforming unconscious patterns that contribute to the health condition. |
| Provide tools and suggestions that would prevent a relapse of the condition. |