Written by Sian McKenzie, The Soulshine Therapist
Sian McKenzie is the founder of The Soulshine Therapist, a healing business, where she integrates her wealth of psychological and spiritual knowledge to guide clients on a journey towards inner peace, self-discovery and profound personal growth.
Holistic therapy is gaining more attention within the wellness world, but what is it? And why is this alternative to the mainstream medical approach becoming more popular? In this article, I will answer these questions and more, as I delve into the meaning and benefits of holistic therapy opening you up to a whole new way to boost your wellbeing.
What is holistic therapy?
Holistic therapy is an integrative approach to well-being that involves inclusion for the person’s mind, body, emotional, social and spiritual well-being. Holistic approaches agree that none of these elements can be examined in isolation, as all are intrinsically interlinked.
Rather than treat individual symptoms, holistic therapy works to treat a person in their wholeness, taking the whole picture into account.
Culturally, the medical model of treatment is most dominant. For example, if you go to the doctor with anxiety or low mood, you will likely be prescribed some form of medication to overcome the issue. The pill you are given has gone through scientific testing and has produced stable results enough times to indicate that the medicine works for the issue at hand. The medicine prescribed is likely to alleviate the symptoms of your issue, but not the root cause.
However, holistic therapy takes a different view. Rather than treating the symptom, holistic therapy works to treat the underlying root causes by healing the individual on all levels. This is because holistic approaches work in a multi-layered way, respecting that we are multi-layered and as such, so are the issues we experience in life.
For example, a hypnotherapist may help to uncover limiting beliefs that are at play in the subconscious mind. These beliefs may be impacting a person’s sense of self, negatively impacting their mental health. By redressing this, the hypnotherapist supports the person to create and embody new beliefs that serve their well-being more positively.
The aim, then, of holistic therapies is to restore balance and harmony within the individual and to support them in creating self-care practices that promote their ultimate wellness.
Holistic therapies have the potential to attend to issues in a comprehensive, deep-rooted way when used to complement medical treatments. Where a holistic approach is used instead of medical treatment, it is commonly known as ‘alternative’ therapy.
What can holistic therapy help with?
Holistic therapies can help with a wide range of issues. It is important when seeking a holistic therapist that they are informed of your issues and healing goals. They can then ensure you get the most out of the treatment you have chosen.
Here are just some of the issues holistic therapy can support you with:
Addiction
Anxiety
Confidence / Self-esteem
Depression
Relationship issues
Social exclusion
Stress
Trauma
Where holistic treatments are integrated with clinical support, outcomes can be boosted for the individual. For example, in my business, clients have the option to combine reiki or guided meditation with their talking therapy sessions. Other examples include cancer patients being offered Reiki alongside their chemo or radiotherapy. Anxiety patients can be prescribed a course of mindfulness meditation classes alongside their medication to help them gain helpful strategies to manage their anxiety.
Types of holistic therapy
There are many forms of holistic therapy, originating from all over the world. Which one is best for you will depend on your issue and what feels right and aligned. It is helpful to research the approaches before booking in with a therapist. Most therapists are happy to answer any questions you have prior to the treatment (if they are not, maybe look for somebody else).
Here are some examples of holistic therapy options:
Art therapy
Acupuncture
Aromatherapy
Breathwork
Hypnotherapy
Light therapy
Massage
Meditation
Mindfulness
Reflexology
Reiki
Somatic healing
Sound healing
Tai Chi
Yoga
Although each of these therapies takes a different approach to healing, they share an understanding that we are whole beings and treating us as such is beneficial to overcoming the difficulties being experienced. It is wise to consult your doctor before trying holistic options to check they are suitable for your needs.
What are the benefits of holistic therapy?
Engaging with holistic treatments, either alongside or as an alternative to clinical treatments, can bring a number of benefits.
As previously mentioned, holistic therapies align with a whole-person approach, and there are benefits to addressing well-being in this respect, rather than in fragmented ways. Healing from the position of intersection, that is, how the mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of a person overlap to create a whole, means overall health and well-being can be understood and treated more deeply.
Working holistically is also more likely to be a tailored, unique experience. Where the clinical model applies a proven way to all individuals, holistic approaches recognise the idiosyncratic nature of people, and practitioners can therefore customise the treatment to suit the individual and unique needs of their client.
Moreover, holistic therapies can be accessed by most people, meaning the practices are inclusive and accessible. Spiritual people, in particular, benefit from the holistic approach because it makes room for their spirituality. This can support and deepen their spirituality, ultimately benefitting their overall sense of wellness.
Lastly, holistic therapies aim to empower the individual to take control of their well-being by broadening self-awareness and self-understanding. Holistic practitioners will often offer guidance and advice on how the client can continue to support themselves beyond the session. For example, a masseuse may offer stretches, an aromatherapist may recommend scents to have in the home and a sound healer may offer an audio to listen to whilst you sleep.
This advisory element means people can take more ownership of their wellness and find practices that they can incorporate into their daily life as self-care, for longer lasting benefits.
Want to try holistic therapy for yourself?
If you are looking to try holistic therapy, here are some steps you can take to help you find the right practitioner for you:
Research the different therapies available
As you read earlier, there are many types of holistic therapy. It is a good start to read up on each of the different options to help you understand more about them and to figure out which feels like it could be something beneficial to you.
Search directory pages that cover your local area
You can search a general holistic therapy directory, or you can search on a specific directory, for example, for a reiki healer, a hypnotherapist, or a reflexologist.
Alternatively, you can do a simple Google search to find local therapists – e.g., ‘holistic therapist near me’
Speak to family and friends to see if they have any recommendations
If an internet search is proving overwhelming, word of mouth is a powerful way of gaining information. Speak to family or friends who have experienced holistic therapy to ask if they can recommend somebody.
You could also post in local Facebook groups, asking for recommendations.
Check the qualifications, professional body, and insurance status of the practitioner
Once you have found a practitioner you would like to book with, it’s important to check their credentials. In many countries, this industry is unregulated, meaning anybody can set up as a holistic therapist.
Check out the practitioner’s website to find out what qualifications they hold, if they are member of a professional body, and whether they are insured to do their work. If this information is not readily available, ask. Any ethical and responsible therapist will be more than happy to share this information with you. If they are not, perhaps consider trying somebody else.
Ask the practitioner questions to understand more about the treatment and how they work
Transparency can help you to feel more comfortable in accessing a new form of therapy. Therefore, it is important to ask the therapist any questions you might have. Don’t be embarrassed, practitioners are eager to answer your questions.
Good therapists will outline their intention with the work, and fully explain this to you. Holistic therapists do work in different ways, so don’t assume you know what you have booked. It’s good practice to know their process and what you should expect from engaging in treatment with them in advance.
Speak to your GP to find out which therapies might best support you
If you are unsure of whether a holistic approach is right for you, speaking to your GP about this in advance of booking something can be helpful. Your doctor knows your health and will be able to advise what they feel could support you.
Read more from Sian McKenzie
Sian McKenzie, The Soulshine Therapist
Sian McKenzie is a rising voice within the mental health space. Founder of The Soulshine Therapist, she is a soulful practitioner offering a unique blend of counselling, spiritual coaching, tarot therapy, Angelic Reiki healing, and meditation healing. Her intention is to attend to all of her client's needs: mind, body and spirit. Sian dedicates herself to creating a spiritually inclusive space where psychology and spirituality can marry to support clients in their wholeness. She truly believes no client should have to leave their spirituality at the door, which is often the case in conventional counselling, nor should their emotions be inadequately supported, which is often the case with conventional healing therapies.
