When it comes to seeking therapy to improve your mental health, there are many different solutions out there beyond traditional therapy. Such alternative methods may not be suitable for all mental health problems but could be surprisingly effective for common issues like depression, stress, and anxiety. Below are 7 examples of such therapy.
Adventure therapy
Adventure therapy, or wilderness therapy, involves getting out into the great outdoors. Such programs may involve going on a long walk with a therapist or they could take the form of a mental health boot camp as these Second Nature Utah reviews describe. There are many studies that support the mental health benefits of getting outside, exercising, and immersing oneself in nature – it can be an opportunity to challenge oneself and get away from everyday problems in order to gain some perspective on them. Consider whether this type of therapy could benefit you.
Chess therapy
Some people find that they are able to more easily open up while engaging in an activity. Chess could be just the type of activity to help you open up – playing chess encourages us to organize our thoughts, and can help us to more easily communicate our problems. Chess therapy sessions are genuinely better suited to people who know how to play chess already, although it could also be an opportunity to learn chess. This guide at Mindmentorz explains more about this type of therapy.
Equine therapy
If you love horses, you may enjoy equine therapy. This type of therapy incorporates horse riding, which studies have found can have many mental health benefits including reducing hyperactivity and improving social skills. Whether you’ve rode a horse before or never rode a horse, it could be worth trying.
Horticulture therapy
Social therapeutic horticulture integrates gardening, which can be a great activity for helping people to focus and relax. Such therapy sessions are carried out by a qualified horticultural therapist and may involve trying a range of plant-based activities while talking out your issues.
Scream therapy
It may be possible to scream your problems away. Scream therapy is ideal for those with lots of pent-up stress or anger – screaming can provide a release and trigger feel-good endorphins. Sometimes known as ‘primal scream therapy’, this form of therapy can be carried out in group sessions or one-to-one with a trained therapist. This is a very niche form of therapy, so may have to search far and wide to find sessions.
Laughter therapy
For many mental health problems, laughter really can be the best medicine. Laughter is known to be a great way of releasing endorphins and making us feel happier. There are a few forms of therapy that incorporate laughter including laugh yoga and laughter coaching. If you have depression or anxiety, it could be worth trying a session to see how it makes you feel.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy involves using hypnosis to try to instill new positive habits and behaviors. It has become increasingly popular in recent years for treating mental health problems like addiction and phobias. This form of therapy should be carried out by a trained hypnotherapist.
