Holistic Therapy | Benefits & How it is Used
Addiction recovery is a complex and multifaceted condition. More often than not, people are driven towards addiction by a variety of factors, some clear and some hidden. For this reason, holistic therapy uses a whole-person approach to treat a disorder rather than just a symptom of it. At Linwood House, we use different approaches and workshops to enhance mental, physical, social, emotional and spiritual well-being to improve the overall quality of life.
What is the holistic approach to recovery?
Holistic therapy for addiction involves a range of approaches designed to promote wellness and reduce the stresses and anxieties that can lead to addictive behaviours. These approaches differ from traditional talk therapies, incorporating a broader range of techniques to help heal the whole person.
Holistic therapies can help reduce cravings and promote wellness through techniques employed in your daily life. They do this in conjunction with traditional addiction treatments such as one-to-one and group therapy so that your treatment is comprehensive and balanced.
This approach can be utilised for all kinds of substance use disorders, and we utilise holistic therapies in all our rehab programmes.
Some of the main objectives are:
- Identify the thoughts that drive addictive behaviours
- Strengthen coping mechanisms
- Reduce the appeal of substance use
- Promote physical fitness
- Increase self-confidence
- Cope with withdrawal symptoms
Some holistic therapy sessions focus on psychological exercises, some on physical activities or a combination. However, each session aims to explore overall healing in some area of themselves.
Why is holistic therapy a good approach to treat addiction?
Using a holistic approach when treating addiction has been a growing trend to achieve longer-lasting positive results. Holistic addiction therapy allows the entire person to be addressed and not just a particular aspect of the disorder they are presenting. For this reason, many believe this whole-person approach to treatment allows people in recovery to heal more aspects of themselves that have contributed to their substance taking.
Examples of holistic treatments and their benefits
Linwood House provides a fantastic range of holistic therapies which can have huge benefits for your recovery. These are offered alongside our traditional therapies and can be a welcome change of pace. Some of the most important (and fun!) holistic therapies include:
Exercise
Getting up and moving your body might be the last thing you feel like doing in early recovery, especially if you are experiencing discomfort or pain during withdrawal. But exercise can be a real game changer both during rehab and later after you leave rehab. Exercise boosts your mood, clears your mind and helps you sleep better, all of which are key to staying on track. It can also help fill the space that addiction leaves behind, replacing old routines with something positive and empowering.
Sound Therapy
Sound therapy uses calming tones, vibrations and music to help your body and mind relax. It can slow your heart rate, ease anxious thoughts and create a sense of peace when everything feels overwhelming. Many people find it helps them process emotions that are hard to put into words and there have even been studies which found that sound therapy can boost your immune system and help with chronic pain.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is all about learning to be present, even when things feel tough. It helps you take a step back from your cravings, thoughts and emotions so you can respond instead of react. Over time, it teaches you to stay steady, even when life throws difficult challenges your way. Mindfulness can be particularly useful in relapse prevention, allowing you to take a moment, breathe and resist temptation.
Yoga
oga helps you slow down and listen to what your body is trying to tell you. It is a chance to stretch out stress, quiet your thoughts and feel more at home in yourself. Many people in recovery find yoga is a powerful way to process through emotions and regain the sense of calm and control lost during addiction. It can also be a great hobby after you leave rehab, helping you to stay fit and healthy and even meet some new friends.
Combining holistic therapies with traditional therapy
Talking therapies are powerful tools for addiction recovery as they help you understand your story, unpack trauma and develop healthier ways to think and respond. For example, during a CBT session, you might uncover that conflict in relationships is the biggest trigger for your cravings. That awareness gives you something to work with, but having tools to manage those feelings in the moment is just as important.
Holistic therapies fill in those spaces. They help you reconnect with your body, find moments of calm and ease the tension that talking alone can’t always reach. For example, when there is conflict in relationships, practising breathwork or mindfulness when you feel anger or cravings rising can stop you from turning to drugs and alcohol to cope.
Another example is exploring grief or unpleasant memories during trauma therapy. The emotions these experiences trigger can be very hard to process, but sound therapy can help lighten the emotional burden, which talking therapies can’t always achieve. Or maybe you explore grief in trauma therapy and then use sound therapy to safely recognise and resolve the emotional heaviness that words can’t always reach. Even something as physical as yoga can complement therapy by teaching your body how to release stress and feel safe again, especially after discussing difficult memories.
By combining both traditional and holistic therapies, you are covering all bases. Therapy gives you insights while holistic treatments give you ways to act on those insights. It means your recovery isn’t just about stopping a behaviour but is about building a new way of living that actually feels good. That’s what creates true lasting change and that’s what we focus on at Linwood House.
Start your recovery with Linwood House
Linwood House is a treatment centre in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, specialising in addiction recovery. Our rehabilitation facility was founded by and still operated by people in long-term recovery themselves, allowing an understanding approach to treatment to be built.
We understand the difficulty of facing addiction, and offer a range of holistic therapies within our recovery programme to help you through the process with others. Please contact us today to learn more about our holistic treatment plans to start your journey to recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Disclaimer:
The availability of therapies may vary across UKAT centres. The specific therapies provided will be determined based on your treatment plan and the programme offered at your chosen facility. All treatments are subject to clinical assessment and programme availability at the time of admission. For further details on the therapies included in your treatment plan, please contact our admissions team.