What do you think about when you think about going to therapy? Maybe it is the traditional therapeutic setting that you see in movies. There is a therapist in an office, a few chairs and a couch. There is some talking and the therapist is probably taking notes. Or maybe there is some other image you have of traditional therapy. Something else you have seen in movies or on TV. But is it all really effective? It might look good on the screen but does it really work or is there a better approach to achieve the same results? Maybe there are better ways than how it has been done in the past.
There are many traditional approaches to therapy that have been used and that continue to be used because there is some level of success that comes from these methods. A lot of these methods have been coined as "eclectic" by many experts (Jaffe, 2010). However there are also methods such as lobotomies, Insulin- induced comas, as Electroshock therapy that are no longer used due to their lack of results and that they were not the safest options.
This all began to change in the 1950's when there were chemist's that began to experiment with medication therapy to see if the mental imbalances of patients could be resolved that way. These experiments were successful for the most part, and medication therapy is still used to this day. A lot of medication therapy was used in combination with hospitalization treatments due to the severity of the mental illness, and seemed like the best option 70 years ago. However to this day, both methods over the years have reached staggering number of instances.
As of 2009 there was a movement to deinstitutionalize the mentally ill. There was a new way of thinking about treatment at that point and therapy took a different turn. But was it a turn for the better or worse? I suppose that would depend on your opinion. Housing assistance was offered, along with job training, psychiatric counseling, life skills training and social support. The real question however is what kind or success came with these new methods?
There were definitely issues with these new methods at the time. One of those issues was the hesitation from the community. A lot of people were not happy about the thought of people with mental illness, including severe mental illnesses being released from institutions into the community. Another issue was the treatment within these programs that the patients would receive and the conditions that they were forced to experience. These conditions included seclusion, low pay for the jobs they were trained for and no real life skills teachings. Eventually these places were shut down and deemed not only abusive but not therapeutic.
There has to be a better way to do this. As time has passed therapies have evolved. New methods have been developed that have shown success and became more popular than the previous attempts. To this day therapy methods keep evolving. It is necessary to constantly change to not only meet the demands of the patients but to also find what works for each individual patient. It might be that a combination is what works for one particular person, while another patient needs one method and one method only.
Therapy methods with patients can be like a science experiment. Sometimes you have to try many different methods to see what works for one patient. There are times when you can try one method and it will just work for a patient. Depending on perspective, that can be a positive or negative aspect. It is like a puzzle to figure out what will work when it comes to these traditional methods. On that same token, what works for some people is not a guarantee to work on the next person just because it worked with someone who presented with the same or similar issues.
As we look at nonstandard methods, or non-traditional methods, are becoming increasingly more popular. It is not that these methods are experimental, and that is for many reasons. In theory, all methods are experiments. You never know what is going to work for someone, so you have to sometimes try different things until you find one that does. That is how methods come to be in the first place. That is also why methods are constantly being changed. Depending on the patient, there might need to be adjustments to the basic method so that it works for that particular patient.
When methods start to become less than effective, or they are adjusted to fit a patient it leads to the development of new methods and sometimes to the development of non-traditional methods. Therapy evolves just as the people receiving the therapy evolve. Like anything else, therapy methods need to keep up with the times. Sometimes that means alternative therapies need to be researched to see if there is a basis for attempting one of these options. The definition of alternative therapies is any form of medicine that is outside the mainstream idea of western medicine or conventional medicine as practiced by the majority of doctors today. When it comes to therapeutic methods, which leaves a lot of leeway for alternatives.
There are many different methods that would be considered alternative now a days due to the lack of knowledge of these methods. They might also be considered controversial due to the lack of knowledge and use. One of the methods that are being used is pharmacology, or drug therapy. While this particular method is not new, the medications that are being used are continually changing. Not only are new medications being developed, but they are finding new uses for older medications.
There has been a lot of controversy over the use of medications as a therapy method mainly for two reasons. The first issue being the use and safety of medications in children. There are many people who don't like the idea of giving children medications and would only use that as a last resort. Another issue with drug therapy is the problem with side effects. The side effects of a lot of these medications can be worse than a lot of the mental illness to begin with. This has been a documented issue with a lot of schizophrenic medications. The patient will stop taking the medications when the side effects get so bad and deal with the mental illness.
Other methods that have been tried are more along the lines of creative arts. Art, music and dance therapy is becoming a new way for a patient to express themselves and be able to communicate without using words. These methods have shown to be effective for children who are not able to put their feelings into words, as well as people who are not sure how to express their feelings. This method also works well with traditional therapy if the client is capable. It allows the client to show or act out their feelings or emotions and then discuss them with a therapist or a group depending on the setting in which this method is taking place in. This is a method that can be effective in either individual or group therapy.
Another alternative method of therapy that has proven to be effective is yoga therapy. Exercise in general is a good method or alternative to therapy. There have been medical studies that show there are hormones in the brain that are released that during the process of physical activity. These are hormones that calm and relax the body and can be beneficial in relieving issues such as depression and stress.
There has been a new movement in alternative therapy that has been around for centuries in the eastern cultures, and is beginning to become popular in western cultures. This is the practice of hypnotherapy and acupuncture. Both of these methods use the power of the mind to help one believe that they can cure themselves with just believing that they can do it. This is also another example of a controversial method. There are a lot of individuals who believe that this is not possible and that it is not an effective method of therapy. Many practitioners of this method maintain that it could also help treat a variety of psychological, emotional, and physical disorders. Everything from overcoming addictions and phobias to ending a stutter and reducing pain. Many mental health professionals dismiss this method as effective, because in the long run, it does not actually get to the root problem on the mental illness so it will never actually relieve the client of the issue.
Another alternative method of therapy that has had a huge impact on the mental health community due to its rates of success is what has been referred to as Equine Therapy. There have been many studies on this particular therapy and the reasons why it has been successful. This is also one of the newest methods that the mental health community has embraced. There has been a lot of research as to why it works. I can also attest from my own personal experience that it has been successful.
Equine therapy has proven to be successful for many patients with a variety of issues. Not only can it help with depression, anxiety, and conduct disorders, but it has also been used to treat dementia, autism and ADD/ADHD. This type of therapy can be beneficial for the horse as well as the patient. Some critics might think that this is simply a patient getting on a horse and riding that horse, however equine therapy is much more than that and does not always involve riding.
This method, like most could be considered experimental. That is because during this type of treatment, the patient is not only learning about themselves they are also learning about animals as well as other participants during these activities. It could also be said that does not work for everyone. That however could be said for all the methods that have been previously discussed. You might ask why so much focus than on this particular method? That answer is simple. Equine therapy is not only versatile, it is has so many benefits as well.
This method of therapy requires many skills that need to be developed by the participant that will not only assist the participant during the sessions, but also in their everyday activities. They must learn non-verbal communication skills, problem solving, creative thinking, leadership as well as focus. Those are things that can be difficult for the target audience of equine therapy.
Another important life skill that the participant will learn is relationship building. Not only with the other participants, but also with the animal. People with mental illness can have a hard time developing relationships with people much less an animal, and most animals will provide an unconditional acceptance. That is what makes animal therapy a good place to start. By building this relationship it allows the participant the opportunity to care for something other than themselves and allow them to be affected in a positive manner.
People often wonder why horses are the best animal to choose as opposed to some other type of animal. First and foremost, horses are large and can be an intimidating animal. This obstacle gives the participant the opportunity to overcome fear, and build a confidence level they might not have had before. Building self confidence is important for someone suffering from a mental illness to have, as it will allow them to face future challenging experiences in the future.
Equine therapy has many benefits and outcomes. Some of which have been discussed, and others include trust, self efficacy, impulse control, boundaries, perspective, self acceptance as well as decreased isolation. Equine therapy can be done individually or as a group and can also be combined with other methods of therapy. As long as the desired result is being achieved, the method would be successful. As with anything it can take time. But as long as all parties are will to try it is definitely worth exploring.
Many methods of therapy have been presented here, although there are many more that exist. In the end, what method works for one person might not be the best option of everyone. Therapy is very individual and takes time and work to find the right combination. What works for one person might not work for the next. And sometimes you have to experiment with different options or even combine different methods. Once that winning combination is found, the patient and provider need to stick with it, and realize in the future the methods might need to be changed due to the patients changing needs. That is what therapy is all about. Flexibility and time are two of the most important concepts and sometimes two of the hardest to balance.
There are many traditional approaches to therapy that have been used and that continue to be used because there is some level of success that comes from these methods. A lot of these methods have been coined as "eclectic" by many experts (Jaffe, 2010). However there are also methods such as lobotomies, Insulin- induced comas, as Electroshock therapy that are no longer used due to their lack of results and that they were not the safest options.
This all began to change in the 1950's when there were chemist's that began to experiment with medication therapy to see if the mental imbalances of patients could be resolved that way. These experiments were successful for the most part, and medication therapy is still used to this day. A lot of medication therapy was used in combination with hospitalization treatments due to the severity of the mental illness, and seemed like the best option 70 years ago. However to this day, both methods over the years have reached staggering number of instances.
As of 2009 there was a movement to deinstitutionalize the mentally ill. There was a new way of thinking about treatment at that point and therapy took a different turn. But was it a turn for the better or worse? I suppose that would depend on your opinion. Housing assistance was offered, along with job training, psychiatric counseling, life skills training and social support. The real question however is what kind or success came with these new methods?
There were definitely issues with these new methods at the time. One of those issues was the hesitation from the community. A lot of people were not happy about the thought of people with mental illness, including severe mental illnesses being released from institutions into the community. Another issue was the treatment within these programs that the patients would receive and the conditions that they were forced to experience. These conditions included seclusion, low pay for the jobs they were trained for and no real life skills teachings. Eventually these places were shut down and deemed not only abusive but not therapeutic.
There has to be a better way to do this. As time has passed therapies have evolved. New methods have been developed that have shown success and became more popular than the previous attempts. To this day therapy methods keep evolving. It is necessary to constantly change to not only meet the demands of the patients but to also find what works for each individual patient. It might be that a combination is what works for one particular person, while another patient needs one method and one method only.
Therapy methods with patients can be like a science experiment. Sometimes you have to try many different methods to see what works for one patient. There are times when you can try one method and it will just work for a patient. Depending on perspective, that can be a positive or negative aspect. It is like a puzzle to figure out what will work when it comes to these traditional methods. On that same token, what works for some people is not a guarantee to work on the next person just because it worked with someone who presented with the same or similar issues.
As we look at nonstandard methods, or non-traditional methods, are becoming increasingly more popular. It is not that these methods are experimental, and that is for many reasons. In theory, all methods are experiments. You never know what is going to work for someone, so you have to sometimes try different things until you find one that does. That is how methods come to be in the first place. That is also why methods are constantly being changed. Depending on the patient, there might need to be adjustments to the basic method so that it works for that particular patient.
When methods start to become less than effective, or they are adjusted to fit a patient it leads to the development of new methods and sometimes to the development of non-traditional methods. Therapy evolves just as the people receiving the therapy evolve. Like anything else, therapy methods need to keep up with the times. Sometimes that means alternative therapies need to be researched to see if there is a basis for attempting one of these options. The definition of alternative therapies is any form of medicine that is outside the mainstream idea of western medicine or conventional medicine as practiced by the majority of doctors today. When it comes to therapeutic methods, which leaves a lot of leeway for alternatives.
There are many different methods that would be considered alternative now a days due to the lack of knowledge of these methods. They might also be considered controversial due to the lack of knowledge and use. One of the methods that are being used is pharmacology, or drug therapy. While this particular method is not new, the medications that are being used are continually changing. Not only are new medications being developed, but they are finding new uses for older medications.
There has been a lot of controversy over the use of medications as a therapy method mainly for two reasons. The first issue being the use and safety of medications in children. There are many people who don't like the idea of giving children medications and would only use that as a last resort. Another issue with drug therapy is the problem with side effects. The side effects of a lot of these medications can be worse than a lot of the mental illness to begin with. This has been a documented issue with a lot of schizophrenic medications. The patient will stop taking the medications when the side effects get so bad and deal with the mental illness.
Other methods that have been tried are more along the lines of creative arts. Art, music and dance therapy is becoming a new way for a patient to express themselves and be able to communicate without using words. These methods have shown to be effective for children who are not able to put their feelings into words, as well as people who are not sure how to express their feelings. This method also works well with traditional therapy if the client is capable. It allows the client to show or act out their feelings or emotions and then discuss them with a therapist or a group depending on the setting in which this method is taking place in. This is a method that can be effective in either individual or group therapy.
Another alternative method of therapy that has proven to be effective is yoga therapy. Exercise in general is a good method or alternative to therapy. There have been medical studies that show there are hormones in the brain that are released that during the process of physical activity. These are hormones that calm and relax the body and can be beneficial in relieving issues such as depression and stress.
There has been a new movement in alternative therapy that has been around for centuries in the eastern cultures, and is beginning to become popular in western cultures. This is the practice of hypnotherapy and acupuncture. Both of these methods use the power of the mind to help one believe that they can cure themselves with just believing that they can do it. This is also another example of a controversial method. There are a lot of individuals who believe that this is not possible and that it is not an effective method of therapy. Many practitioners of this method maintain that it could also help treat a variety of psychological, emotional, and physical disorders. Everything from overcoming addictions and phobias to ending a stutter and reducing pain. Many mental health professionals dismiss this method as effective, because in the long run, it does not actually get to the root problem on the mental illness so it will never actually relieve the client of the issue.
Another alternative method of therapy that has had a huge impact on the mental health community due to its rates of success is what has been referred to as Equine Therapy. There have been many studies on this particular therapy and the reasons why it has been successful. This is also one of the newest methods that the mental health community has embraced. There has been a lot of research as to why it works. I can also attest from my own personal experience that it has been successful.
Equine therapy has proven to be successful for many patients with a variety of issues. Not only can it help with depression, anxiety, and conduct disorders, but it has also been used to treat dementia, autism and ADD/ADHD. This type of therapy can be beneficial for the horse as well as the patient. Some critics might think that this is simply a patient getting on a horse and riding that horse, however equine therapy is much more than that and does not always involve riding.
This method, like most could be considered experimental. That is because during this type of treatment, the patient is not only learning about themselves they are also learning about animals as well as other participants during these activities. It could also be said that does not work for everyone. That however could be said for all the methods that have been previously discussed. You might ask why so much focus than on this particular method? That answer is simple. Equine therapy is not only versatile, it is has so many benefits as well.
This method of therapy requires many skills that need to be developed by the participant that will not only assist the participant during the sessions, but also in their everyday activities. They must learn non-verbal communication skills, problem solving, creative thinking, leadership as well as focus. Those are things that can be difficult for the target audience of equine therapy.
Another important life skill that the participant will learn is relationship building. Not only with the other participants, but also with the animal. People with mental illness can have a hard time developing relationships with people much less an animal, and most animals will provide an unconditional acceptance. That is what makes animal therapy a good place to start. By building this relationship it allows the participant the opportunity to care for something other than themselves and allow them to be affected in a positive manner.
People often wonder why horses are the best animal to choose as opposed to some other type of animal. First and foremost, horses are large and can be an intimidating animal. This obstacle gives the participant the opportunity to overcome fear, and build a confidence level they might not have had before. Building self confidence is important for someone suffering from a mental illness to have, as it will allow them to face future challenging experiences in the future.
Equine therapy has many benefits and outcomes. Some of which have been discussed, and others include trust, self efficacy, impulse control, boundaries, perspective, self acceptance as well as decreased isolation. Equine therapy can be done individually or as a group and can also be combined with other methods of therapy. As long as the desired result is being achieved, the method would be successful. As with anything it can take time. But as long as all parties are will to try it is definitely worth exploring.
Many methods of therapy have been presented here, although there are many more that exist. In the end, what method works for one person might not be the best option of everyone. Therapy is very individual and takes time and work to find the right combination. What works for one person might not work for the next. And sometimes you have to experiment with different options or even combine different methods. Once that winning combination is found, the patient and provider need to stick with it, and realize in the future the methods might need to be changed due to the patients changing needs. That is what therapy is all about. Flexibility and time are two of the most important concepts and sometimes two of the hardest to balance.