Therapy Smorgasbord: A Taste of Healing Styles

Welcome! It's me in italic blue. Since this is an introductory post, I wanted to give an in-depth overview of some topics to come. Join me for more!

A cozy and safe place to share.

Why It Matters:

Therapy can be a great investment in yourself and your relationships! With the right professional, it provides a safe, judgment-free space for growth, understanding, and healing.

It helps you uncover where your coping mechanisms come from, why you act and react the way you do, and opens the door to new tools for healing. AKA—it gives you tools for your own Mindful Balance Toolkit! Yes, please!

Therapy isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about empowering yourself to face life’s challenges with emotional resilience and greater self-awareness. Whether you’re looking to heal past wounds, improve communication, or simply find balance, therapy offers a unique opportunity for transformation.

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The Breakdown:

Keep a lookout for upcoming blog posts that break down each individual type. For now, explore how it feels in your body to keep an open mind about each one. Trust what is piquing your interest!

Sink your teeth into a range of transformative therapy approaches below and discover the ones that resonate with you on your journey toward healing and growth. Breathe. You're safe. Keep going!

Mental Health Therapies:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

• Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

• Narrative Therapy

• Psychodynamic Therapy

• Trauma-Informed Therapy

Physical Health Therapies:

• Chiropractic Care

• Massage Therapy

• Occupational Therapy (OT)

• Physical Therapy (PT)

• Sacral Cervical Manual Physical Therapy

Complementary Health Therapies:

• Acupressure

• Acupuncture

• Aromatherapy

• Art & Music Therapy

• Ayurveda

• Bilateral Music Therapy

• Energy Healing Facilitator

• Equine-Facilitated Learning (EFL)

• Past Life Regression Therapy/Hypnosis

• Meditation

• Reiki

• Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga

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Healing is a journey!

My Journey:

My journey with traditional talk therapy has yielded varying results. I've had well-meaning therapists who acted more like mirrors, repeating back what they thought I was trying to say. I’ve also had therapists who asked, “And how does that make you feel?” a little too often. Back then, I didn’t trust my intuition, gut, or knowingness to guide me, so I felt frustrated by having to work out complex theories myself. My younger self thought, “I’m paying you to tell me what the heck is going on. I don’t want to guess. Just tell me!”

Those methods were helpful in one sense—they unknowingly started my practice of self-care. The practice of setting aside dedicated time with someone to share my feelings with. By 'feelings,' I really meant thoughts—not sensations—at that time.

I had doubts about therapy and its effectiveness. Not every therapist was equally effective for me. These early therapies got stuff off my chest, but I wasn’t truly learning new things about myself that would help me grow and break patterns. I even felt some shame about telling friends and family I was seeing a therapist.

As a young adult in my 20s, still clinging to childhood coping mechanisms, I didn’t know you could actually have conversations with therapists about what methods work best for your learning and growth. I didn’t know how many types of therapies were available, and I definitely didn’t know you could switch therapists if yours didn’t feel safe or right.

Now in my 40s, when I choose a therapeutic path, I feel more comfortable telling the practitioner that I work best when they provide me with practical tools I can use in my daily life. I ask them to gently challenge me when I say something that’s out of step with the life path I’m currently moving toward—like an old coping mechanism popping up, desperate to make a comeback. (I had to learn that just because a familiar coping mechanism feels safer than the new one doesn’t mean it still serves us.)

I also ask them to tell me if they notice any changes in my speech pattern or physical presentation. (As a person with chronic illnesses and a traumatic brain injury, these are things my doctors need to know about.) Some practitioners I’ve spoken with actually want you to tell them how best to help you. Otherwise, they’re left guessing or using trial and error.

My hope is that with knowledge comes the power of choice. And with openness to change comes a path of growth for all of us. I’ll dive deeper into my journey with each of these therapies in upcoming blog posts.

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Your Turn:

What therapy practices do you incorporate into your routine to support your own mindful balance? Share your favorite tools, insights, or personal experiences in the comments below.

Until next time,

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