Top 4 Alternative Treatments: Are They Right For You?

Psychologists are increasingly integrating alternative and complementary treatments into their work with clients, according to a recent article in Monitor on Psychology. So what is alternative treatment? You may already have some experience with the most popular, according to the Monitor on Psychology. Meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis and progressive muscle relaxation are all popular complementary or alternative psychological treatments.  Although you may be familiar with the most popular, there are dozens of alternative and complementary treatments, which typically fall into four categories:  mind-body medicine, biologically-based practices, manipulative and body-based practices and energy medicine. The Monitor article reports that, although these, and many other, alternative and complementary treatments have been around for thousands of years, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has been studying their usefulness, safety and role in improving health and health care for only a little more than a decade. But many people embrace these treatments and are visiting alternative medicine practitioners more frequently than they visit their primary care doctors.  And these treatments are big business. A 2007 study found that $34 billion is spent each year on products and services for alternative and complementary medicines. Continued research on the effectiveness of these treatments is ongoing and crucial.  However, current research suggests that many are effective for tre...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Tags: ADHD and ADD Alternative and Nutritional Supplements Anxiety and Panic Depression General Happiness Health-related Mental Health and Wellness Mindfulness Research Self-Help Sleep Treatment Alternative Medicine alternative medic Source Type: blogs