By Sue Coyle
Talk therapy in some form is the modality most think about when they consider seeking counseling or even becoming a counselor. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), for example, has long been the most utilized and researched form of psychotherapy in the United States and globally. In fact, it has been described as the gold standard, with millions of individuals seeking out CBT each year.
However, CBT and other forms of talk therapy may not work or may not fully meet the needs of every individual in search of healing. “I don’t want to knock talk therapy. A lot of people are making a whole lot of progress in talk therapy,” says Marian Thompson, LCSW, SEP, a psychotherapist in private practice in Austin, Texas. “[But] at some point, they may think, ‘Is there something more that might get to this? I understand my trauma and I have my coping strategies, but I can still feel it in my body.’”
For those looking for something additional or different from talk therapy, there are other modalities. One such subset of psychotherapy is mind-body therapy, a holistic approach that incorporates, as the name implies, both the mental and the physical.
Mind-Body Therapies
Mind-body therapy, also called somatic therapy, is an overarching term that refers to a number of different therapeutic modalities. It is described as a bottom-up approach to therapy, as it begins with a focus on the physical body. This is different from the more prominent talk therapies.
“For decades, cognitive approaches like CBT have been the dominant framework for mental health treatment. These therapies focus on changing thought patterns to influence emotions and behaviors, helping individuals challenge negative beliefs and develop healthier ways of thinking,” explains Katrina Clark, LCSW, a holistic psychotherapist in Hawaii. “While this approach can be helpful, it often falls short of addressing the root causes of suffering, particularly when trauma, chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation are involved. The reality is that our emotions, memories and past experiences are not just stored in our thoughts; they are embedded in the body and the nervous system.”
Read the full story in the NASW Social Work Advocates magazine.
