{"id":18063,"date":"2024-02-08T06:19:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T14:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.helloklarity.com\/?p=18063"},"modified":"2024-02-16T05:10:49","modified_gmt":"2024-02-16T13:10:49","slug":"alternative-mental-health-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.helloklarity.com\/post\/alternative-mental-health-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Complementary and alternative mental health therapy: a guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When we commit to getting therapy, we expect results \u2014 otherwise, we wonder if therapy is worth it<\/a>. Standard mental health treatment is usually effective, but it\u2019s not the only option. Complementary and alternative mental health therapy can be used alongside standard treatment, and it\u2019s a great choice for people who don\u2019t see improvement with standard treatment or who simply want more options.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Complementary and alternative therapies for mental health include a wide range of treatment methods not considered \u201cstandard.\u201d That doesn\u2019t mean they aren\u2019t effective \u2014 and the effectiveness of some of them is backed by promising research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this comprehensive guide, we review 11 of the most common types of alternative mental health therapies that can help you with depression<\/a>, anxiety<\/a>, OCD<\/a>, and more or simply get to a better place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is complementary or alternative mental health therapy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Complementary or alternative mental health therapy includes any treatment method(s) that aren\u2019t typically considered a standard of first-line treatment or standard therapy (see the next section). This is usually because they don\u2019t yet have enough research behind them to support their use as a first-line treatment. In some cases, it\u2019s because the treatments are too cost-prohibitive or come with more side effects compared with standard treatments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Complementary treatments are methods used alongside traditional treatments, while alternative describes treatments that are sometimes used in place of, or alongside, traditional treatments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it\u2019s generally recommended that you see a licensed therapist if you\u2019re experiencing symptoms of a mental illness. You may still use complementary and\/or alternative options alongside standard treatment and should let your therapist know or work directly with them on alternative therapies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is standard mental health therapy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Standard mental health therapy refers to the treatment methods that are recommended as first-line treatments for different mental health conditions. For the wide majority of mental health conditions, the current standard treatment is a combination of talk therapy (typically cognitive-behavioral therapy<\/a>) and medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These treatments are considered \u201cstandard\u201d because of the research that supports their effectiveness and benefits<\/a>. When there\u2019s enough research to determine that a treatment is effective, it\u2019s considered \u201cstandard\u201d treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This doesn\u2019t mean that other types of mental health treatment aren\u2019t effective \u2014 just that we need more research to be certain. Many factors determine what treatment methods are studied and to what extent. It simply means that alternative or complementary treatments haven\u2019t yet been studied extensively enough to call them standard treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of complementary and alternative therapies for mental health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Following are some prominent complementary and alternative therapies used in mental health treatment today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brain stimulation therapies have been on the scene since the 1930s with the invention of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brain stimulation therapy has evolved since then. While ECT, which involves using electric currents to stimulate certain areas of the brain to create long-lasting chemical changes, is still used, there are newer types of brain stimulation therapy in use that have fewer side effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS therapy, uses electromagnetic coils, rather than electrical shocks, to stimulate the brain. The coils are placed on the scalp and use a technology similar to MRI machines. This makes it much more comfortable for patients and it has fewer side effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The FDA has approved one type of TMS machine<\/a> as an effective intervention for treatment-resistant depression<\/a> and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This means that if standard depression treatment (psychotherapy and medication) hasn\u2019t worked for you, TMS may be a good option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, is an alternative mental health therapy for trauma that\u2019s made its way into the mainstream. It\u2019s been shown to be very effective in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)<\/a> and has promising evidence for other mental health conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During EMDR, your therapist guides you to make rapid bilateral eye movements (moving your gaze from side to side) while thinking about past trauma. EMDR works by changing the way your brain stores traumatic memories, and helping you heal from emotional pain. In essence, you reprocess these memories and can let go of the associated trauma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although EMDR is heavily supported by research<\/a>, it\u2019s still relatively new when compared with other, more standard treatments \u2014 which is why it\u2019s still considered alternative and not yet complementary or standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nutritional supplements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people take nutritional supplements or vitamins as a complementary treatment for mental health. Some vitamins and supplements that may support mental health symptoms<\/a> include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n