How do holistic therapies treat addiction? Holistic therapies allow you to heal from addiction without the use of medicinal methods. While not primary treatment, holistic therapy offers alignment and healing for the mind, body, and spirit. During therapy, a treatment specialist focuses on giving you an overall sense of well-being while helping you overcome your addiction.
Holistic treatment is beneficial in all stages of your recovery, including detox, rehab, and ongoing aftercare. When you enter a holistic addiction treatment center in Northern IL, you can find relief for withdrawal symptoms, cravings, mental disorders, and physical pain that you may be going through.
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What is Holistic Therapy?
Evidence-based treatment, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, targets an addiction to drugs or alcohol. However, therapy does not always address outlining problems that may have contributed to your addiction. For instance, you may have insomnia, a poor diet, lack of exercise, stressful working conditions, or family problems.
Holistic therapy for addiction aims to help you with these areas in your life that create emotional turmoil or a mental health issue. These types of treatment can be highly effective in restoring your sense of peace and balance. They are based on practices that help people cope with their everyday life.
How Do Holistic Therapies Treat Addiction?
Holistic treatment centers on health and well-being. Some of the main target areas include nutrition, meditation, exercise, and engagement with your skills or abilities. An instructor may guide you through different forms of therapy, such as:
- Yoga
- Mindfulness meditation
- Massage therapy
- Acupuncture or chiropractic care
- Art or music therapy
- Outside activities
Every holistic addiction treatment center in Northern IL is different and offers different types of holistic treatment. What they share in common, however, is a focus on healing, not just addiction treatment. The underlying goal is to address what factors led to your addiction, instead of the addiction.
Combining Holistic Therapies and Evidence-Based Therapies
When you are going through detox, rehab, or aftercare, it is important to draw from as many sources as possible to help you overcome your addiction. Individual therapy program or group therapy program is a great starting point for helping you with your addiction. You should also focus on your therapy as a primary approach to recovery.
Holistic therapies treat addiction by “filling in the gaps” so to speak in areas that evidence-based treatment does not address. For instance, cognitive based therapy will explore your negative beliefs or thoughts and then teach you how to replace them with more positive and empowering thoughts.
However, cognitive based therapy will not address your nutrition, physical fitness, or overall health. These are things that are covered in holistic therapy. When you combine both, then you get a well-rounded approach that helps you heal in all areas of your life. Both evidence-based and holistic therapy for addiction are complementary and form a comprehensive treatment plan for recovery.
Sign Up for Holistic Treatment Today
How do holistic therapies treat addiction? Find out more at Northern Illinois Recovery Center. We offer an extensive holistic treatment program to help you heal from addiction. Call us at 855.786.1978 to explore your treatment options.
Licensed Physician and Surgeon
Dr. Beth Dunlap, a board-certified addiction medicine and family medicine physician, and is the medical director at Northern Illinois Recovery Center. She is responsible for overseeing all the integrated medical services at both campuses. Beth completed medical school, residency, and fellowship at Northwestern University, where she continues to serve on the faculty as a member of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She has extensive experience in addiction medicine at all levels of care, and her clinical interests include integrated primary care and addiction medicine, harm reduction, and medication-assisted treatment.
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