Which Healing Modality Is Right For You?

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 as a breathwork coach, and I'm eager to share my takeaways so that you can make the best decision for your own journey.

Traditional Talk Therapy

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 invaluable resource, it doesn’t always lead to healing the feelings and patterns that are keeping you stuck.

Of the people I’ve talked to over time as a breathwork practitioner, many have stated that they hit a wall with therapy - citing that they got tired of talking about the same thing over and over. And the truth is that traditional talk therapy has been shown to be less effective when you’re treating trauma which is why I’m sharing other types of therapies available more suited to trauma healing. 

Some things to consider are whether your therapist has views that align with yours in terms of spirituality, physical wellbeing, and life experiences as well as their psychology ideologies and specialties. 

For those seeking a therapist, Psychology Today offers an excellent search engine: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists. 

I encourage you to use the filter for "Types of Therapy" and selecting what aligns with your needs. In particular, if you are seeking to heal from trauma, selecting "Trauma Focused" can be an important distinguishing factor.

This became crucial for me, as when I began to uncover the trauma of my past, I went back to see a therapist that I worked with for several years to seek support and guidance. Unfortunately, this therapist didn’t see that my experiences were trauma-related and deterred me from referring to my experiences as abuse. This set me back and confused me. It took 6 months more (and for things to get increasingly worse) for me to trust my own instincts and find a trauma informed therapist who was able to give me confirming care and eventually my diagnosis of CPTSD. 

This is one of the many reasons why I would eventually go on to get certified as a breathwork coach.

My biggest suggestion when seeking therapy is finding a practitioner who treats you like a unique individual and edifies your truest self. It's worth noting that some therapists are now incorporating somatics into their practices - more on that later!

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy utilizes relaxation techniques (hypnosis) with the intention of inducing the Theta brainwave state. This helps individuals access their subconscious mind and align it with their goals and desires. Our subconscious mind makes up over 95% of your brain power, so when you get the subconscious mind on board with change - big shifts can happen!

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.

I recently committed to a 6-month program of hypnotherapy, and I've already reaped results from just a few sessions. I am eager to continue this work, as I know it will only deepen my personal growth and professional growth as a breathwork practitioner.

Somatic Therapies

Release and Reconnect Breathwork

A therapeutic technique that involves one hour of focused breathwork. The first half is for releasing suppressed emotions, stress, and trauma that have become stuck in your body. The second half takes you deep into a meditative state where you reconnect with yourself and the healer within. 

According to Western psychology, the top-down process - involving thinking and talking - is commonly believed to be the most effective way to work through repressed pain and trauma. This is reflected in traditional talk therapy, which prioritizes processing through the mind. 

However, recent evidence suggests that the bottom-up way of processing may be a more effective way to work through trauma for a positive impact on mental health.

Because this modality has been so pivotal in my healing, I became a certified breathwork coach in this technique through Somatic Release. 

For a limited time, I'm offering a special deal of 50% off all sessions until the end of March 2023.

Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) 

This form of therapy focuses on the internal parts that make up an individual's identity. Despite what you might pull from the name, it's important to note that it doesn't revolve around external family systems. Rather, it emphasizes the internal "parts" of oneself, such as the inner child, the overachiever, the angry teenager, the people pleaser, and so on.

I dip into it with the guidance of my therapist. This work is crucial in helping you become more whole by accepting and taking care of all parts of yourself. As a breathwork practitioner and proponent of honoring your own uniqueness, I cannot recommend this modality enough.

EMDR and Brainspotting

Both of these are deep trauma healing therapies that have gained popularity in recent years. Personally, I've experienced great results with Brainspotting, which I step into with the guidance of a coach. Meanwhile, my sister underwent EMDR therapy and also found it to be beneficial. 

In these sessions, with the guidance of traditional talk therapist or coach, you reenter traumatic memories that you were unable to process at the time (whether due to age, dissociation, or the experience simply being too much, too fast). Traumatic memories reappear time and time again in our day to day lives because the memory doesn’t get “filed” or “coded” correctly.

My experience as a breathwork coach has taught me that our bodies remember them in order to keep us safe and protect us. You can think about these memories like a record skipping. However, once you are able to process the experience, our brains can then “refile” the memory as a regular memory that no longer needs to be replayed.

Read more about my experiences with Brainspotting here.

Somatic experiencing

This is a therapy modality that emphasizes the healing power of feeling emotions in the body. While it is a unique approach to healing, it can also be practiced in conjunction with a traditional talk therapist or a coach.

Psychedelic Healing

The possibilities for psychedelic healing are truly limitless.

From treating mental health issues to accelerating spiritual growth, psychedelic compounds have brought healing for many. Many of whom had given up on the path of healing altogether. 

The FDA is moving closer to approving MDMA and psilocybin, which is the active ingredients in magic mushrooms. 

I know what you are probably thinking… “Aren’t those party drugs? Shouldn’t we just leave that to the raver crew?”

But hear me out!

Some of the common benefits associated with psychedelic therapy include increased feelings of unity, clarity of thought, improved mood, and increased openness overall. Furthermore, this allows us to gain insight into our own depths, connect with a higher power, and make sense of our often confusing, busy minds. 

Ketamine, which is already legal in several areas, has been shown effective in treating anxiety and depression.

With the practices of psychedelic healing becoming more accepted and trustworthy, research and clinical trials on psychedelics are beginning to gain traction. 

The benefits are vast, and I look forward to what the future holds in this realm of healing. It has played a crucial part in my journey and in becoming a breathwork practitioner.

Curious?

I highly recommend the book "How to Change Your Mind" by Michael Pollan.

The first half of the book delves into the history of LSD research, which gained traction in the 50s and 60s but was ultimately derailed by the government's reaction to the hippie counterculture movement. Despite strong evidence supporting the beneficial effects and medicinal value of these drugs, psychedelics were made illegal. The second half of the book explores current research on psychedelics and their potential benefits.

Additionally, DoubleBind Mag offers online and print journalism on psychedelic research and healing, as well as courses on various topics like microdosing.

Final Thoughts

I’d love to know what your takeaways were from this blog. 

What stood out to you?

Did anything resonate?

Was there anything that took you by surprise?

I’d love to know!

Talk soon! Until then, continue growing, stay curious and keep on healing.

Best, 

Liz

Your Los Angeles Breathwork Coach