Alternative Therapies In Mental Health

In the pursuit of treating a mental illness, most people would think of conventional treatment options, such as counseling or medicine. Seeking a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist is a typical response to abnormal symptoms that may be indicative of a mental health disorder. However, the National Health Interview Survey estimates that around 38% of citizens in the United States have used complementary and alternative medicine (Louie, 2014). This paper will discuss three common types of alternative therapies and whether or not they can be used as a valid alternative or complement to traditional treatment.
As defined by Johnston et al., yoga is a system of both mental and physical practices that “…reduce musculoskeletal and mental tension, …show more content…
The study also sought to determine the long-term effects of energy therapy on depression and stress. Since Reiki is safe for use at any age, the participants ranged from 19 to 78 years old and all had depression and/or stress-related symptoms. For six weeks, participants either received hands-on Reiki, distance/non-touch, or distance placebo. The participants were tested after the treatment period, and demonstrated that there was no difference in receiving hands-on Reiki versus the non-touch method, but there was a significant difference in reduced mood symptoms compared to the distance placebo. After a re-test one year later, the groups that received either hands-on or non-touch Reiki continued to show lower scores on measures of depression and stress compared to their pre-tests as well as their post-test that immediately followed the treatment …show more content…
Of all of the alternative therapies we researched, we expected it to have the least amount of clinical studies, definitely more than acupuncture. Unexpectedly, after researching the clinical trials demonstrating the effectiveness of energy therapy, as well as better understanding the process behind the results, our initial feelings have been replaced by curiosity. We were surprised to find that the application of energy therapy is growing so much that some hospitals are now being trained in performing energy therapy techniques. This development is critical for further advancement in the energy therapy field, and encourages clinical research.
With more institutions utilizing energy therapy, we believe that the credibility and support for these methods will continue to increase. While there are already several clinical trials marking the effectiveness of treatment for physical ailments, there are few that study the effects it has on mental illness. There is a definite need for more clinical studies to reinforce the results of energy therapy, and we hope to see more research done in the next few years. We are excited and curious to see more applications of energy therapy as a stand-alone treatment as well as complementary to traditional