For some, the term holistic treatment is synonymous with luxury costs and new-aged hocus pocus. Many of us are reluctant to spend unnecessary money on things we don’t understand. We resist what we fear.
But actually, holistic treatment (in therapy terms) is health plan developed for the organic relationship between the whole and the parts. So if you are looking for a better lifestyle, you must address the health of your mind, body, and soul. Holistic treatment will identify, process and heal wounds on every level of existence. It will consider all varieties of therapy and healing to achieve a goal, usually inner peace and happiness. It will examine the relationship among the mind, body and soul as they create a whole. Ancient Eastern and unorthodox practices are often explored to create a well balanced, personalized treatment plan.
Why work with one expert, when you can work with a team of experts all specializing in different fields?
There is no one cure. There is no one answer. Each one of us has several different layers in many different combinations of experiences and history. A team will allow you to create a truly personalized treatment plan that will maximize your potential for overall health.
With all the new discoveries and health crazes, treatment planning can be both time consuming and frustrating. Implementing this treatment plan into your day to day life can be equally exhausting. Some things to consider:
• Know yourself. What are your needs, fears, and hopes?
• Are you mentally, physically, and spiritually ready for intensive therapy?
• Can you afford the time and financial responsibility?
Why a Team?
As in many things in life, a team of individuals focused on one goal is stronger than just one. There are some exceptions to the cause. However in the case of universal health, having a team of qualified practitioners is much more desirable than just one.
Some of the main benefits are:
1. Balanced Healing
Different parts of your team will address different health needs. As they function together, they should guide you in creating a healthy balanced life. As you continue to evolve, you shall have greater understanding of your wants and needs. A team of experts will give you the best available tips, tools, and coping mechanisms to help you be free from illness.
The more experts you have, the more options you have. Some like old ancient methods, while others practice new age ventures. A balanced team will provide new opportunities for healthy living. A solid treatment team will be able to address the health of your mind, body and soul. The balance of the three would be the goal of any holistic treatment team.
2. Quicker or Deeper Process
A team that is invested in your health will push your process to different levels. Because of the team’s constant communication, you won’t have to repeat the same old story over again. You can proceed to process. Holistic treatment teams are quite popular for short term therapy programs such as rehab’s and hospitals. Treatment teams maximize the personal growth under time constraints.
When working simultaneously, a treatment team will address the key points together while digging for new underlying issues. Because you have a team of practitioners assisting you, they will be able to use their different skill-sets to adjust to your own personal needs. Thus information that is spread between the team’s members will allow deeper processing. Knowledge that was divulged in one session is often critical in the success of the overall treatment.
3. Different Perspectives
A well balanced team will provide you with different perspectives and options. Some tools and tips may work for you. Others may not. By having a team, you will have more options that will cater to your different needs and emotional states.
Some days you may prefer a feminine point of you. Perhaps you need a hard-lined approach when it comes to your marital issues and gentler sessions for your inner child. Your doctor can inform you of your physical illness. Your trainer can help you fight back physically. Your therapist may uncover a new underlying issue that creates new understanding. Your life coach can help you put it all into perspective.
Each member of your team fills a vital role in providing an alternative viewpoints and expertise that will allow you to process information in different ways.
Important Keys to Your Treatment Team
There are important criteria for a holistic treatment team to be successful. Some of these include:
1. Managed by a Team Leader
This is a most vital and critical element of your treatment team. You must find someone other than yourself that is willing to manage the communication between the treatment team members. Though it may be easier for you to handle all the communications, there will be information you are not ready to learn.
You may hire one of your team members to do this. Though this concept may be new to the therapy world, once explained many therapists would gladly accept the role. Though their time for managing your team may similar to their charging hours, this cost is highly justified by the potential health benefits. Choose someone you trust and that cares for your overall well being.
Discuss with your manager the exact fees for the exact hours of work. Typically this should only take about 1-2 hours more per week (if weekly sessions).
2. Team Communication
Your manager will conduct the communication among the team members. In a rehab/hospital setting, they have weekly meetings to discuss all the patients. This scenario is unlikely in the real world.
The next best thing would be a teleconference via phone or web chat. In your search for therapists, this will be a requirement. Will some therapists include this as part of their fee? Absolutely, however most would like compensation. Regardless this communication is vital.
There are free teleconferencing services available via phone or internet. MonkMe.com is a great resource for these services. Your team manager can set up a time that would be best for all. In this process, the team must discuss your process, your underlying issues, and any other pertinent information that will aid in your mental/physical/spiritual health. As your team works together, they will develop and gain in strength.
If have one meeting for all your treatment team members is unrealistic, the next best thing would be email interaction. By sending treatment notes to each other via email, the team will still be able to have some limited communication. This is better than nothing. Just make sure your therapists are actually reading and participating in this email conference.
3. Balanced
As mentioned above, balance is a key factor in a treatment team. It would be hard to get different options and perspectives if all your treatment team members are similar. Find different experts in different fields. If you are more comfortable with women, consider men on your treatment team as well. Face your reluctances and fears, rather than avoid them.
If you have a therapist that is heavily influenced by Eastern spiritualism, have a hard-nosed, conservative life coach to keep you balanced. Have a trainer push you till your muscles ache. But then have bodywork to relax those muscles. If one pushes your creativity, have another to push your life’s purpose.
In the end, they all will be able to assist in your ultimate goal. Team members will come and go as you find what practitioners work best for you.
4. Consistency
Your team will grow and evolve together. Regardless of what members come and go, consistency is vital. This starts with your manager. Have regular updates and meetings with your manager to discuss the team’s process and communication. Your manager will introduce new team members and catch them up to speed.
As you find the team members that are good for you, continue to work with them until your final goals are achieved. The team must stay consistent. But you also must be consistent in your efforts in therapy. This combined effort will maximize the potential for mind/body/soul health.
5. Invested in Your Growth
This should go without saying, however there are murky therapists out there. Some are looking simply for a paycheck and will do whatever it takes to get it. They may seem more invested in the bottom dollar than they are your well-being and health. Their participation in the team may be tainted.
In a few sessions, you should be able to tell which therapist is engaged in the process and willing to build rapport and trust. If every single team member you have unconditionally cares for your well-being, your chances for health greatly improves.
COST OF A TREATMENT TEAM
Cost is a huge issue. Having therapy alone is costly. Having a team of therapists and experts working for you can have astronomical costs. There are new programs and services that are more cost effective for the ordinary average citizen.
There are things you can do on your own if you are motivated and creative. You can find different sources and modalities of healing from internet research to a network of friends. Insurance can cover some of the more typical sessions such as psychotherapy and doctor’s visits.
Your team may only consist of 2 experts rather a robust varied team. Know what you can afford and stick with that plan. Therapy is long term. There is no point in putting your life in financial jeopardy while trying to find answers to deep, prolonged underlying issues.
Who Should Be Part of Your Team?
A minimalist treatment team will have at least two members of your team. These essential members are:
• A physician for physical health
A doctor will be able to run different tests and examinations to monitor your health from the cellular level to the surface extremities. Remember many alcohol and drug addictions/dependencies have a chemical interaction with our bodies. We become deficient of vital hormones and neurotransmitters as we continue to abuse our health. As your physical health improves, it increases the likelihood for mental health.
• A psychotherapist or MFT for mental health
A psychotherapist will help you delve into your psyche. He will help explore your innermost fears and allow you to face demons. She will help you identify your underlying issues, process them, and guide towards a path towards mental recovery.
These two experts are usually more qualified than you are in their respective fields. Even if you have experience in the health field, another expert’s opinion and viewpoint is proven to be very beneficial.
To address spiritual health, one does not NEED to hire an expert. Experts in this field can be found in our churches, temples, and synagogues for the religious types. Our friends and family may prove valuable in their loving advice and generosity.
These experts represent the bare minimum for a limited budget. However of you are blessed to have extra resources at hand, it would serve you well to include the following:
• Group/Support Work
This is very important. Not only will you be able to learn from others, others will be able to learn from you. As you share your growth and wisdom, you learn to master your lessons. There are many free group meetings out there. Attend different ones to find the group that feels comfortable. Attend on steadily so that you become familiar with the faces. You will find that you can gain priceless tidbits of wisdom to assist you.
• Hypnotherapist
A hypnotherapist will help you explore your subconscious. Though therapists can provide hypnotherapy, a trained hypnotherapist often has different tools and methods to entering the subconscious. This is especially helpful when there is resistance. The information found in these hypnotic processes often spark deep therapeutic processes.
• Life coach – Spiritual advisor
A good life coach or spiritual advisor will assist you in seeing the “big picture.” They will assist you in seeing things in different perspectives. They will guide towards spiritual health as your mental and physical health improves. They will provide opportunities for you to practice. They will guide you in life to help with tough decisions and enduring moments.
• Physical Trainer and Nutritionist
You must train your body to a peak level of daily performance. Not all of us are athletes. But that does not mean we should allow our bodies to wither away. A trainer will help you develop your body into a healthy mass. They will target muscles and conditioning. Often our physical power translates to mental fortitude and spiritual strength.
A nutritionist (or Doctor) will guide you in your diet. Much of our physical and mental health is dependant on the foods we eat. Are you eating more fast food than healthy fresh fruits and vegetables? Are you allergic to dairy or commonly wheat? Your fatigue and insomnia could simply be an excessive of caffeine and sugar. Low water intake is a common source of illness.
• Body Work
Massage, acupuncture and yoga are wonderful additions to your treatment team. Our muscles store negative energy in forms of knots and tightness. There are pressure points in our body that often need relaxation and release. By stretching these muscles and activating these pressure points via acupuncture needles, our body is free to breathe and flow.
There are often community services that offer many different options for low cost health. You can find loads of research, information, and tips on the internet. Be careful to filter the true answers versus internet propaganda. Trust reliable sources but make careful, well thought out decisions.
