Healing and Wholeness: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Mental Health
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
By definition, the naturopathic
psychotherapist is holistic. Because naturopathic psychotherapy is
holistic, it is concerned with how the mind and body work together to obtain
balance. A naturopathic psychotherapist seeks to remove the causes of disease,
whether psychological, physiological or environmental. The patient is
considered to be composed of a mind, body and spirit that work together in
concert. These factors act and react upon each other, producing either health
or disease.
Just as the naturopathic physician
believes that each person has an inherent ability to heal, so does the naturopathic psychotherapist. By combining psychotherapy with
naturopathic methods, the naturopathic psychotherapist often uses
psychoeducation to teach practices that can help to prevent further problems.
The primary focus in naturopathic psychotherapy is to
determine the underlying factors that may have predisposed a patient to
developing a mental health problem. Genetics, nutrient deficiencies,
physiological disease, environmental and toxic exposures are all considered.
Thorough evaluation of these factors allows for individualized therapy to
address underlying causes. In addition to getting a detailed history, the
naturopathic psychotherapist may recommend a physical exam and other laboratory
tests.
Another goal of naturopathic psychotherapy is to
optimize the patient's quality of life. For those on conventional medications,
the naturopathic psychotherapist works to reduce or eliminate the side effects
of traditional treatments by advising diet and lifestyle changes to optimize health,
and encouraging patients to be active participants in their own care.
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Book Details
About the Book
Healing and Wholeness: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Mental Health provides a comprehensive overview of complementary and alternative treatments for mental health, with information and research on their effectiveness for treating specific disorders. Twenty-two chapters document research and the current practice of using complementary and alternative therapies in treating a number of disorders, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, and addictions.
The therapies covered are both state-of-the-art and ancient, including naturopathy, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, nutritional therapy, herbal medicine, meditation, and others.
Each chapter begins with a description of the classification of the disorder, followed by discussions of scientific documentation on diet, nutritional therapy, herbal medicine, complementary and alternative therapies, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes.
This compendium of integrative and holistic therapies provides the reader with access to a multitude of options for improving their mental health. This is a thorough guide to alternative therapies in the mental health field, organizing a large amount of information in a relevant, easy-to-use format.
Healing and Wholeness: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Mental Health can be used as a standard reference for the mental health care professional, the graduate student, or anyone looking to improve their emotional health.
To learn more about Healing and Wholeness: Complementary and
Alternative Therapies for Mental Health and to read excerpts, visit www.HealingandWholeness.org.
About the Author
Randi Fredricks lives and works in San Jose, California, counseling people on holistic health care. In an effort to create a therapeutic environment that's a powerful catalyst for positive change, she draws from a wide variety of healing modalities. Dr. Fredricks has over a dozen certifications, including a Doctorate in Naturopathy, Masters in Psychology, and accreditations as a Nutritionist, Herbalist and Hypnotherapist. She blends transpersonal psychology with naturopathic principles in order to capitalize on each person's inherent healing abilities.
In her work, Dr. Fredricks helps individuals, couples, children, and families. She is particularly committed to encouraging people to move towards empowerment in their own health care. She provides a unique holistic approach to psychotherapy and naturopathy by combining her wide breadth of education and experience. This multi-disciplinary approach allows her to address issues from a neuro-biological perspective, helping the people she works with to feel better faster and appreciate lasting results.
Dr. Fredricks integrates scientifically-proven complementary and alternative therapies in the treatment of the following mental health problems:
- Depression
- Seasonal Effective
Disorder
- Postpartum Depression
- Bipolar Disorder
- Anxiety Disorders
- Insomnia
- Attention-Deficit /
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autistic Spectrum
Disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Eating Disorders and
Food Addiction
- Substance-Related
Disorders
- Nicotine Addiction
- Chronic Fatigue
- Stress Management
- Cognitive Decline and
Dementia
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Parkinson's Disease
According to Dr. Fredricks, "By definition, the naturopathic psychotherapist is holistic, treating the individual as a whole person; mind, body and spirit. Essential elements in a naturopathic treatment model include diet, nutrition, exercise, lifestyle and effective support systems. Individuals who adopt a naturopathic approach to emotional problems often become healthy in other areas of life as well.”
Dr. Fredricks’ website is www.randifredricks.com.