Beyond Talk Therapy: Transformative Healing Modalities You Need to Know About

Throughout my healing journey, I’ve had to confront childhood trauma, PTSD, depression, social anxiety, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, toxic relationships, body shame, behavioral addictions, and creative blocks.

I've sought out different types of therapies to aid in my healing process, and I'm eager to share my takeaways so that you can make the best decision for your own journey.

Traditional Talk Therapy: The Benefits and Limitations of Talk-Based Healing

While it has been beneficial to me—I’ve spent over a decade of my life in therapy—I have come to recognize that talk therapy also has its limitations. While talking to someone and having support can be an invaluable resource, it doesn’t always lead to healing the feelings and patterns that are keeping you stuck. Many people I’ve talked to have stated that they hit a wall with therapy or that they got tired of talking about the same thing over and over.

The truth is that traditional talk therapy has been shown to be less effective when treating trauma, which is why I’m sharing other types of therapies available that are more suited to trauma healing.

Some things to consider when choosing a therapist:

• Do they align with your views on spirituality, physical well-being, and personal growth?

• Do they specialize in areas that relate to your specific needs?

• Are they trauma-informed if you are working through trauma?

For those seeking a therapist, Psychology Today offers an excellent search engine: Find a Therapist. I encourage you to use the filters to find the best fit for you.

Hypnotherapy: Unlocking the Power of the Subconscious Mind for Rapid Rewiring

Hypnotherapy works by guiding individuals into a deeply relaxed state, allowing access to the subconscious mind where deeply ingrained beliefs and patterns reside. A skilled hypnotherapist creates tailored experiences to help you explore your internal world, uncover limiting beliefs, and rewire your subconscious to align with your goals and desires.

This process often involves Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), a powerful communication technique that follows specific linguistic patterns to speak directly to the subconscious. By using carefully crafted language and guided visualizations, hypnotherapy helps reshape thought patterns and create lasting transformation.

I spent six months in a dedicated hypnotherapy container, working on a variety of personal and professional challenges. Through this work, I built confidence in teaching and speaking in front of groups, strengthened my belief that my needs are valid and important, and developed an empowered feeling of safety when setting boundaries. Each session provided me with profound shifts in perception and a greater sense of personal empowerment.

Fun fact: Statistics suggest that while 600 sessions of traditional therapy can lead to a 38% improvement rate, just 6 sessions of hypnotherapy can offer an impressive 93% improvement rate.

Somatic-Based Therapies: Reprocessing Trauma by Revisiting Deeply Stored Memories

These somatic-based therapies help individuals reprocess traumatic and intense memories by re-experiencing sensations in the body and reshaping the narrative around those experiences.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Brainspotting, and Somatic Experiencing all work by activating unprocessed trauma stored in the nervous system and allowing the brain and body to fully process it. By revisiting traumatic memories with guided support, these therapies help the brain "refile" these experiences, reducing emotional distress and fostering a less reactive relationship to them.

While each approach has its nuances, they all emphasize the body's role in healing trauma. Instead of relying solely on cognitive processing, they facilitate the natural release of stored trauma through physical sensations and movements. This process gently guides individuals to access and resolve stuck trauma responses, allowing the nervous system to return to a regulated state.

Many people find that combining these therapies leads to deep and lasting healing, particularly when traditional talk therapy has not helped them move past traumatic experiences. If you’re seeking to release trauma from your body and reclaim your emotional well-being, these modalities may be worth exploring.

Breathwork: A Somatic Tool for Nervous System Healing and Emotional Release

Breathwork is a powerful somatic tool that supports both nervous system regulation and the release of deeply stored trauma. Breath is unique in its direct relationship to the nervous system—it can be used to shift the body into either an activated stress response or a relaxed rest state. It is also the only function we do both consciously and subconsciously, making it a bridge between the two worlds of awareness and automation.

Because this modality has been so pivotal in my healing, I became certified in two kinds of breathwork—Pranayama breathwork through the Academy of Breath and transformational breathwork journeys through Somatic Breathwork.

Pranayama Breathwork: Daily Breath Practices for Balance and Clarity

Pranayama breathwork comes from the ancient tradition of yoga. These practices are powerful daily tools for nervous system regulation, mental clarity, and emotional balance. Different techniques can be used to promote relaxation, increase focus, or strengthen your connection to intuition. Pranayama is also an excellent complement to meditation, as it is traditionally used to calm the mind and body in preparation for stillness.

Transformational Breathwork Journeys: Accessing and Releasing Suppressed Emotions

Transformational breathwork journeys are immersive, hour-long experiences designed to help you dive deep into your internal world. This style of breathwork shifts you into an activated state, allowing you to access fears, emotions, and trauma that may be buried due to habitual conditioning or emotional suppression. The first half of the session is effortful and focused on expression and release, while the second half transitions into deep relaxation, allowing for repatterning and the integration of new insights. By consciously imprinting positive feelings and visions into the mind-body connection, the effects of these journeys can be profound and long-lasting.

Psychedelic Healing: Exploring the Potential of Altered States of Consciousness for Transformation 

The possibilities for psychedelic healing are truly limitless. From treating mental health issues to accelerating spiritual growth, psychedelic compounds have brought healing to many who had given up on traditional therapies.

The FDA is moving closer to approving MDMA and psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) for therapeutic use. Ketamine, which is already legal in several areas, has been shown to be effective in treating anxiety and depression.

If you're curious about the science behind psychedelic therapy, I highly recommend the book How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan, which explores the history and modern research on psychedelics and their impact on healing.

For further education, DoubleBlind Mag offers excellent online and print journalism on psychedelic research and healing, as well as courses on topics like microdosing.

Final Thoughts: Healing is a Recipe—A Blend of Many Modalities, Tools, and Support

Healing and transformation are not about finding a single, all-encompassing solution. There is no one modality, practice, or tool that serves as a cure-all. The journey of healing is one that requires an evolving toolkit—different approaches, practices, and sources of support to meet you where you are.

The real question isn't which modality will 'fix' you, but rather, which one aligns with what you're navigating in this season of life. Healing is an ongoing process of self-exploration, not a destination with one final answer. One of the biggest blind spots that can lead to stagnation is finding a single approach that "works" and sticking to it indefinitely. Growth requires adaptation, openness, and a willingness to explore new methods when the time is right.

I’d love to hear your thoughts—what resonated with you the most? Which healing modality sparked your curiosity? Take a moment to reflect:

• Which healing modality piqued your interest the most?

• What aspects of this modality feel most aligned with where you are right now?

• Do any of these approaches challenge the way you’ve thought about healing before?

Let’s keep the conversation going!

Healing is not a solo journey, and you don’t have to navigate it alone. All of the modalities I’ve shared here—except for traditional therapy—are woven into my work. Whether you’re looking to regulate your nervous system, release stored emotions, or reconnect with your creative flow, I am here to support you.

If you're interested in learning more, let’s set up a discovery call to explore which container is the perfect fit for you.

Talk soon—until then, continue growing, stay curious, and keep on healing.

Best, Liz