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Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Based on the theories of psychoanalysis, this approach focuses on increasing the client’s awareness of the subconscious and using those insights to resolve inner conflicts and issues. Generally, the patient and therapist sit face to face. Meetings generally occur less often than during psychoanalysis—usually once a week—and the entire therapeutic process usually lasts a year or less.
Voice Dialogue: Voice dialogue is a therapeutic technique developed by two American psychologists, Hal and Sidra Stone. Rooted in Jungian psychology, this work is based upon the premise that we have myriad selves living inside us, each with its own interests, needs, thoughts, feelings, and opinions. These selves, referred to as sub-personalities, or “voices,” influence our lives and life choices. Voice dialogue is used to help the client gain greater awareness of the parts that are dominant in his life, better manage the parts that limit him, and further develop the state of consciousness known as the “aware ego.”
Approaches for Physical Health and Well-Being
Acupressure: Based on the principles of Oriental medicine, acupressure predates acupuncture but is similar in that treatment involves contact with the same key points on the surface of the skin. When these points are pressed, it relieves muscular tension and heightens blood circulation. The practitioner uses hands and fingers to apply pressure to stimulate the meridian system, those pathways along which the body’s energy force is believed to flow. Acupressure is used to relieve pain and stress and to promote overall good health by supporting the body’s own curative properties.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a Chinese medical practice dating back more than 5,000 years. It involves inserting needles at points on the surface of the body to increase or decrease the flow of energy—or qi—throughout the body. This energy is believed to travel along special pathways known as meridians. The acupuncture points are those locations where the meridians come to the surface of the skin and are more easily accessible. Acupuncture is used to treat a variety of illnesses, relieve pain, promote relaxation, and address addictions.
Applied Kinesiology: The word kinesiology refers to a branch of science that studies the human body’s anatomy, physiology, and mechanics of movement. Founded in 1964 by the American chiropractor George Goodheart, applied kinesiology is primarily a diagnostic tool that evaluates health problems through muscle tests. It is a holistic approach to balancing the movement and interaction of a person’s energy systems and is used to enhance physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of essential oils, which are concentrated plant extracts. These oils are complex, fragrant, and volatile compounds that are believed to be easily absorbed so that they penetrate deeply into tissues, bloodstream, and organ systems. They are used in skin care, massage, and simple inhalation to promote natural body functioning, well-being, and vitality. This approach was first documented in the 13th century in Britain.
Ayurveda: Recognized as one of the most ancient medical systems, Ayurveda originated in India. Ayurveda is a comprehensive system of health care that employs lifestyle interventions and natural therapies including herbs, nutrition, special cleansing, massage, breathing, and meditation. The actual diagnostic and healing process varies from one practitioner to another. Ayurveda seeks to prevent disease, increase life span, and restore and rejuvenate the body and body systems by emphasizing the integration of body and mind and each person’s union with nature, the self, and the universe.
Biofeedback: Biofeedback is the process of monitoring physiological signals (such as muscle tension or brain waves) and making the results available to the person being treated. The patient then uses this information to learn how to self-regulate and control physiological functioning. Biofeedback has been found to be helpful in treating a wide variety of conditions including asthma, headaches, and high blood pressure.
Breath Therapy: A practice based on both ancient Eastern and modern Western disciplines and methods, breath therapy employs a number of specific breathing techniques and exercises. Each of these is designed to achieve a particular end—for example, correcting breathing patterns, promoting relaxation, increasing inner awareness, and enabling emotional release. Full and correct breathing helps the body heal itself and is believed to provide renewal of body, mind, and spirit.
Chiropractic Medicine: Originally developed in the 19th century, chiropractic medicine involves the hands-on manipulation of the spine in order to maintain the integrity of the spine and nervous system. Spinal manipulation, to realign the vertebrae and relieve pressure on the nerves, is believed to be an effective treatment for a number of health-related problems including muscle spasms of the back and neck, and tension headaches. While many patients seek out a chiropractor for the relief of pain, the chiropractor’s aim is to restore and promote the overall health of the patient.
Craniosacral Therapy: This is a form of therapy that uses gentle touch to both evaluate and affect the craniosacral system—the cranium or skull, the spinal column, and the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Craniosacral therapy is believed to affect all aspects of the body by promoting general health, reducing stress, and improving brain and spinal cord function. It is used to treat problems such as chronic pain, scoliosis, coordination issues, postoperative care, sports injuries, depression, birth trauma, hyperactivity, and hormonal imbalances.
Herbal Medicine: Based on the use of plants and plant extracts, herbalism is perhaps the most ancient form of medicine. According to the World Health Organization, herbal medicine is three to four times more commonly practiced worldwide than conventional medicine, and 25 percent of modern medicines are made from plants. Herbs can be administered in many forms, including tinctures (alcoholic extracts of herb), tisanes (hot water extracts of herb), topical application, whole-herb consumption, and inhalation. Herbalism is a holistic approach that treats the patient as a whole and not the disease as such.
Homeopathy: Founded in the late 18th century by German physician Samuel Hahnemann, homeopathy is based on the principle that “like cures like”—the idea that the best remedy for an illness is a substance that produces symptoms similar to the disease. Homeopathy seeks to stimulate the body’s defense mechanisms and processes to prevent and treat illness, and treatment is tailored to the individual. That is, homeopathic practitioners use the total picture of the patient—including symptoms, lifestyle, emotional and mental state, and other factors—to select remedies.
Massage Therapy: Massage is one of the oldest healing arts, dating back thousands of years and used by the ancient Chinese, Hindus, Persians, and Egyptians. It involves the application of various manipulation techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the human body, which has the effect of reducing stress and fatigue and improving circulation. Massage therapy is used to treat many conditions including back pain, arthritis, bursitis, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, suppressed immunity, and tension.
Meditation: There are several forms of meditation, most of which can be grouped into two basic approaches: (1) focused or concentrated attention and (2) mindfulness. Meditation moves one toward balance and harmony and is often used as a pathway to self-knowledge. The practice may well be as old as humankind. It is particularly conducive to relaxation, which allows the body’s self-healing capabilities to work, and can be used to relieve stress-induced physiological and psychological problems and to strengthen the immune system.
Naturopathy: A holistic approach that addresses the whole patient—mind, body, and spirit—naturopathic medicine is a system based upon the healing power of nature. It employs a variety of techniques, such as nutrition, herbal medicine, acupuncture, and homeopathy, both to support the body’s own healing abilities and to enable individuals to make lifestyle changes necessary to achieve good health. Used primarily to prevent diseases, naturopathy may also be used to treat illness and chronic conditions.
Nutrit
ional therapy: Nutritional therapy targets diet as a treatment for health problems. Toxic overload, food allergies or intolerances, and the inability to assimilate food properly are some of the issues nutritional therapy addresses. The nutritional therapist works with each individual to determine what that person’s particular dietary needs and problems may be. Different types of diets, herbs, and supplements may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms and treat problem conditions.
Osteopathy: Osteopathic medicine is a complete system of medical care that treats the whole person—not just the symptoms. It is concerned with the relationships of structure and function and attempts to use the body’s self-curative abilities. Osteopathy regards true health as total physical, mental, and social well-being, rather than just the absence of disease. Osteopaths use treatment with the hands or mechanical means to restore proper relationships among the various parts of the body and correct defects in the musculoskeletal system.
Reiki: Reiki is a Japanese technique that promotes healing, stress reduction, and relaxation. It is a holistic approach that has its roots in ancient Buddhist teachings. It is based on the idea that there is a life-force energy—the ki (in Chinese, qi) that flows through us and that this life force can be harnessed for the purpose of healing. When this energy is high, we are able to feel healthy and happy; and when it is low, we are more likely to become ill and to feel stress. The Reiki practitioner channels the ki by means of a “laying on of hands” to the patient, activating the body’s natural ability to heal itself.
Yoga: Yoga is an ancient Indian practice focused on the creation of balance in the body through the development of both strength and flexibility. Yoga involves the use of poses or postures that promote harmony of mind, body, and spirit. During the performance of these postures, the discipline of breathing and concentration helps the yoga practitioner achieve greater tranquility and heightened awareness.
Other Resources
ALCOHOL ABUSE
United States
Al-Anon/Alateen
Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters
1600 Corporate Landing Pkwy.
Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617
(888) 4AL-ANON (425-2666)
www.al-anon.alateen.org
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
General Service Office
475 Riverside Dr., 11th Fl.
New York, NY 10115
(212) 870-3400
www.aa.org
Center on Addiction and the Family
164 W. 74th St.
New York, NY 10023
(646) 505-2060
(800) 359-COAF (359-2623)
www.coaf.org
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
511 E. John Carpenter Frwy, Ste. 700
Irving, TX 75062
(800) GET-MADD (438-6233)
www.madd.org
National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) 11426 Rockville Pike, Ste. 100
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 468-0985
(888) 55-4COAS (554-2627)
www.nacoa.net
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) (800) 729-6686
www.health.org
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) 244 E. 58th St., 4th Fl.
New York, NY 10022
(212) 269-7797
(800) NCA-CALL (622-2255—24-hour hotline)
www.ncadd.org
Women for Sobriety
P.O. Box 618
Quakertown, PA 18951
(215) 536-8026
www.womenforsobriety.org
United Kingdom
Alcohol Concern
020 7264 0510
www.alcoholconcern.org.uk
Alcoholics Anonymous
General Service Office
PO Box 1, 10 Toft Green
York YO1 7NJ
01904 644026
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Drinkline
0800 917 8282
Canada
Alcoholics Anonymous
www.aa.org
Al-Anon/Alateen
(800) 714-7498
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
75 Albert St., Ste. 300
Ottawa ON K1P 5E7
(613) 235-4048
www.ccsa.ca
CODEPENDENCY
Co-Dependents Anonymous
P.O. Box 33577
Phoenix, AZ 85067-3577
(602) 277-7991
www.codependents.org
DEATH/GRIEVING/SUICIDE
United States
AARP Grief and Loss Programs
(888) OUR-AARP (687-2277)
www.aarp.org/griefandloss
Grief Recovery Institute
P.O. Box 6061-382
Sherman Oaks, CA 91413
(818) 907-9600
www.grief-recovery.com
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization 1700 Diagonal Rd., Ste. 625
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 837-1500
www.nhpco.org
Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
8120 Penn Ave., Ste. 470
Bloomington, MN 55431
(952) 946-7998
www.save.org
Suicide National Hotline
(800) 273-8255
United Kingdom
The Compassionate Friends
53 North St.
Bristol BS3 1EN
0845 123 2304 (helpline)
0845 120 3785 (administration)
www.compassionatefriends.org.uk
Winston’s Wish
Westmoreland House
80-86 Bath Rd.
Cheltenham GL53 7JT
0124 251 5157 (general inquiries)
0845 203 0405 (helpline)
www.winstonswish.org.uk
Canada
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
Annex B, Saint-Vincent Hospital
60 Cambridge St. North
Ottawa, ON K1R 7A5
(800) 668-2785
www.chpca.net
Grieving Children at Seasons Centre
38 McDonald St.
Barrie, ON L4M 1P1
(705) 721-KIDS (721-5437)
www.grievingchildren.com
Centre for Suicide Prevention
Ste. 320, 1202 Centre St. SE
Calgary, AB T2G 5A5
(403) 245-3900
www.suicideinfo.ca
DRUG ABUSE
United States
Cocaine Anonymous International Referral Line
(800) 347-8998
www.ca.org
Cocaine Abuse Hotline
(800) COCAINE (262-2463)
Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Prevention Services www.drughelp.org
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
National Institutes of Health
6001 Executive Blvd., Rm. 5213
Bethesda, MD 20892-9561
(301) 443-1124 (for information)
(800) 662-HELP (662-4357—for referrals)
www.nida.nih.gov
Narcotics Anonymous World Service Office, Inc.
P.O. Box 9999
Van Nuys, CA 91409
(818) 773-9999
www.na.org
United Kingdom
National Drug Helpline
0800 77 66 00
0800 917 8765 (textphone)
www.talktofrank.com
The Centre for Recovery
Cyswllt Ceredigion Contact
49 North Parade
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion SY23 2JN
01970 626470
www.recovery.org.uk
Narcotics Anonymous, UK Region
0845 FREEDOM (373 3366—helpline)
020 7730 0009 (helpline)
www.ukna.org
Canada
Canadian Assembly of Narcotics Anonymous
CANA/ACNA
P.O. Box 25073 RPO West
Kildonan
Winnipeg, MB R2V 4C7
www.canaacna.org
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
75 Albert St., Ste. 300
Ottawa, ON K1P 5E7
(613) 235-4048
www.ccsa.ca
EATING DISORDERS
United States
Focus Adolescent Services
(410) 341-4216
(877) 362-8727
www.focusas.com/EatingDisorders.html
Overeaters Anonymous
World Service Office
P.O. Box 44020
Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4020
(505) 891-2664
www.oa.org
United Kingdom
Eating Disorders Association
103 Prince of Wales Rd.
Norwich NR1 1DW
0845 634 1414 (adults)
0845 634 7650 (youth)
www.b-eat.co.uk