Category: Alternative Care

Healing from trauma is complicated, and nonlinear. Symptoms can last for years after you get to safety—and they can change over time. What comforts you on a Monday may be triggering on Tuesday. It can be frustrating to feel like you’re not healing fast enough, even when you’re actively trying to get better.

That frustration can be valuable, if you let it motivate you. Healing is, in part, the process of getting to know yourself again. And in rehab for trauma, you can achieve that in any number of ways. You might even experiment with different forms of treatment, until you find the ones that work best for you. These non-traditional therapies can be powerful components of your recovery.

Somatic Healing

Emotional trauma impacts physical health. ((Ho, G. W. K., Karatzias, T., Vallières, F., Bondjers, K., Shevlin, M., Cloitre, M., Ben-Ezra, M., Bisson, J. I., Roberts, N. P., Astill Wright, L., & Hyland, P. (2021). Complex PTSD symptoms mediate the association between childhood trauma and physical health problems. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 142, 110358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110358)) Research even links childhood trauma to heart disease in adults. As a result, experts believe that body-based therapies can support emotional recovery from trauma. ((Grabbe, L., & Miller-Karas, E. (2018). The trauma resiliency model: A “bottom-up” intervention for trauma psychotherapy. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 24(1), 76–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390317745133)) One study reported that these treatments are “more effective for trauma than currently used cognitive (‘top-down”) and exposure therapies.”

Somatic therapies—or body-based therapies—focus on the mind-body connection. Treatments help you address the trauma stored in both your brain and your body, at the same time.

Bodywork

Studies show that receiving safe, healthy touch can help you process traumatic experiences. ((Strauss, J., & Lang, A. (2012). Complementary and alternative treatments for ptsd. PTSD Research Quarterly, 23(2), 2–7. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/publications/rq_docs/v23n2.pdf)) For example, massage and other types of bodywork may help people heal from the emotional impact of sexual assault.

Trauma and Tension Release Exercises (TRE)

These exercises help patients let go of physical and emotional tension. During a session, you’ll shake your body in a safe, gentle way. Experts say that TRE mimics the natural feeling of shaking in response to trauma. ((Case report of a former soldier using tre (Tension/trauma releasing exercises) for posttraumatic stress disorder self-care. (n.d.). JMVH. Retrieved from https://jmvh.org/article/case-report-of-a-former-soldier-using-tre-tension-trauma-releasing-exercises-for-posttraumatic-stress-disorder-self-care/)) And that sensation can “relieve tension, reduce hypervigilance” and increase feelings of well-being. If you’d like to try TRE, make sure you learn it from a trained practitioner. Once you’re comfortable with the exercises, you can also use them as a type of self-care.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

Also called tapping, EFT teaches patients to tap on acupressure points ((Flint, G. A., Lammers, W., & Mitnick, D. G. (2006). Emotional freedom techniques. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 12(1–2), 125–150. https://doi.org/10.1300/J146v12n01_07)) to relieve stress. Studies show that emotional freedom technique relieves trauma symptoms, ((Church, D., Hawk, C., Brooks, A., Toukolehto, O., Wren, M., Dinter, I., & Stein, P. (2013). Psychological Trauma Symptom Improvement in Veterans Using Emotional Freedom Techniques. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 201(2), 153–160. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e31827f6351)) sometimes completely. EFT can also treat clinical depression and anxiety.  ((Bach, D., Groesbeck, G., Stapleton, P., Sims, R., Blickheuser, K., & Church, D. (2019). Clinical eft (Emotional freedom techniques) improves multiple physiological markers of health. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine, 24, 2515690X18823691. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515690X18823691))

Mindfulness-Based Treatments

Mindfulness helps with emotion regulation, ((Lee, M. Y., Eads, R., & Hoffman, J. (2022). “I felt it and i let it go”: Perspectives on meditation and emotional regulation among female survivors of interpersonal trauma with co-occurring disorders. Journal of Family Violence, 37(4), 629–641. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-021-00329-7)) which is a common issue for trauma survivors. This umbrella term refers to a variety of techniques. Some rehabs offer yoga classes, and others teach you how to meditate. But this approach isn’t right for everyone.

If you have a history of trauma, mindfulness can be triggering. As psychotherapist and trauma researcher David A. Treleaven writes, some patients find “meditation can actually end up exacerbating symptoms of traumatic stress.” ((SoP. (2018, January 28). Is mindfulness safe for trauma survivors? The Science of Psychotherapy. https://www.thescienceofpsychotherapy.com/is-mindfulness-safe-for-trauma-survivors/)) Researchers caution that mindfulness techniques can “destabilize clients who are particularly prone to flashbacks, ((Boyd, J. E., Lanius, R. A., & McKinnon, M. C. (2018). Mindfulness-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder: A review of the treatment literature and neurobiological evidence. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience : JPN, 43(1), 7–25. https://doi.org/10.1503/jpn.170021
)) rumination, or easily triggered trauma memories.”

What works for you might trigger someone else. If you’d like to try healing through mindfulness, make sure to get professional support. These techniques aren’t right for everyone, but some patients find them extremely helpful.

Meditation

Data supports meditation as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ((Talkovsky, A., & Lang, A. (2017). Meditation-based approaches in the treatment of ptsd. PTSD Research Quarterly, 28(2), 2–10. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/publications/rq_docs/V28N2.pdf
)) This spiritual practice also has physical health benefits.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

According to experts in mindfulness at Brown University, MBCT “combines training in mindfulness meditation practices with principles from cognitive therapy.” ((What is mindfulness based cognitive therapy? | mindfulness center | brown university. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.brown.edu/public-health/mindfulness/ideas/what-mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy)) Whether you attend 1:1 or group sessions of MBCT, ((Schroevers, M. J., Tovote, K. A., Snippe, E., & Fleer, J. (2016). Group and individual mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (Mbct) are both effective: A pilot randomized controlled trial in depressed people with a somatic disease. Mindfulness, 7(6), 1339–1346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0575-z)) your therapist will guide you through meditations and cognitive exercises. You may also have homework between sessions. MBCT can treat the symptoms of PTSD. ((Boyd, J. E., Lanius, R. A., & McKinnon, M. C. (2018). Mindfulness-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder: A review of the treatment literature and neurobiological evidence. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience : JPN, 43(1), 7–25. https://doi.org/10.1503/jpn.170021
))

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

In many ways, this therapy is similar to MBCT. For example, you’ll likely go through treatment with a group. But instead of using cognitive therapy, patients learn a wider variety of mindfulness techniques. After about 6 weeks of MBSR, patients go on a brief meditation retreat. ((Boyd, J. E., Lanius, R. A., & McKinnon, M. C. (2018). Mindfulness-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder: A review of the treatment literature and neurobiological evidence. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience : JPN, 43(1), 7–25. https://doi.org/10.1503/jpn.170021)) Experts agree that these mindfulness exercises can relieve trauma symptoms. ((Khatib, L., Riegner, G., Dean, J. G., Oliva, V., Cruanes, G., Mulligan, B. A., & Zeidan, F. (2022). The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on trauma in victims of gun violence: A pilot study. Mindfulness, 13(4), 1032–1041. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01858-yfOctober))

Non-Traditional Talk Therapy

Mindfulness teaches you to focus on the present moment. Other treatments help you understand the past. In some types of talk therapy, patients learn to live with traumatic events. You might describe or even re-experience your most difficult memories. The goal is not to trigger you, but to help you process what happened.

Psychodynamic Therapy

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), “psychodynamic therapy focuses on the psychological roots of emotional suffering.” ((Psychodynamic psychotherapy brings lasting benefits through self-knowledge. (n.d.). Https://Www.Apa.Org. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2010/01/psychodynamic-therapy)) Patients work closely with a therapist to get to the root of their symptoms. Short-term psychodynamic therapy ((Chapter 7—Brief psychodynamic therapy. (1999). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64952/)) includes a finite number of 1:1 sessions. Some therapists recommend a much longer treatment program. In that case, you’ll spend the first few sessions free associating, as your therapist gets to know you. Psychodynamic therapy can help with PTSD ((Schottenbauer, M. A., Glass, C. R., Arnkoff, D. B., & Gray, S. H. (2008). Contributions of psychodynamic approaches to treatment of PTSD and trauma: a review of the empirical treatment and psychopathology literature. Psychiatry, 71(1), 13–34. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.456.4171&rep=rep1&type=pdf)) and related conditions, including addiction.

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)

By telling your story, you can take control of it. During NET, patients tell the stories of their lives. ((Narrative exposure therapy(Net). (n.d.). Https://Www.Apa.Org. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/narrative-exposure-therapy)) You’ll focus on traumatic memories, and also talk about some positive ones. Your therapist guides you to re-experience painful emotions, but stay in touch with the present moment.

Inner Child Work

This treatment is just what it sounds like—recognizing that a version of your younger self lives on within you. There are countless ways to connect with your inner child. ((Healing trauma through inner child work | cptsdfoundation. Org. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://cptsdfoundation.org/2020/07/20/healing-trauma-through-inner-child-work/)) For example, you could write them a letter. You can also meditate, picture their face, and start a conversation. It can be especially helpful to ask them simple questions, like “how do you feel?” or “what do you need to feel safe?” This work can bring up repressed feelings and even memories. If you’re new to recovery, it’s best to embark on inner child work with a guide, like a therapist or other professional.

Creative Therapies

Talk therapy can be central to recovery. But it’s not the only way to heal. Creative pursuits help patients unlock deeper emotions and repressed memories. They can also help you release physical, emotional, and even spiritual pain. These therapies empower you to express yourself, working through trauma in the process.

Art Therapy

In art therapy, you’ll create visual art as a way of connecting with your feelings. Sessions may take place 1:1 or in a group setting. By sharing your creations with other people—including your therapist—you practice self-expression. If you enjoy making art, this can become a healthy coping mechanism in the long term. Art can also help you externalize traumatic memories, ((Campbell, M., Decker, K. P., Kruk, K., & Deaver, S. P. (2016). Art therapy and cognitive processing therapy for combat-related ptsd: A randomized controlled trial. Art Therapy : Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 33(4), 169–177. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2016.1226643)) making it easier to live with them.

Music Therapy

Music therapy can alleviate many symptoms of PTSD. ((Landis-Shack, N., Heinz, A. J., & Bonn-Miller, M. O. (2017). Music therapy for posttraumatic stress in adults: A theoretical review. Psychomusicology, 27(4), 334–342. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5744879/)) According to experts, it’s especially helpful for addressing “negative affect and mood alterations.” Because it has such an emotional impact, listening to or playing music may help you regulate your feelings. It can even help outside of therapy sessions. For example, listening to a happy song might help you calm down after being triggered.

Dance Movement Therapy

Experts write that dance therapy “enhances resilience” in trauma survivors. ((Martinec, R. (2018). Dance movement therapy in the wider concept of trauma rehabilitation. Journal of Trauma and Rehabilitation. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327418865_Dance_Movement_Therapy_in_the_Wider_Concept_of_Trauma_Rehabilitation)) There are several reasons for this. For example, dance helps people feel whole by including the body in the process of emotional recovery. As a result, it may reduce dissociative symptoms for people with PTSD. Dance can also build up your confidence. This encourages patients to find joy in the process of healing.

Trauma Recovery on Your Own Terms

Living through trauma changes you. You probably won’t ever return to who you were before. But there’s always a way forward. Recovery is the process of finding the path that works best for you, and takes you exactly where you need to go. With the right kind of treatment, you can build a life you love. And you get to decide what that means.

Find out more about what happens in rehab for trauma recovery, including types of therapy, lengths of stay, housing, and pricing.

Reviewed by Rajnandini Rathod

The gentle practice of Reiki promotes inner peace and natural self-healing. And in addiction treatment, holistic rehabs use Reiki to support clients through the physical, mental, and emotional changes of early recovery. But how exactly does Reiki work, and is it actually effective? 

What Is Reiki?

Reiki is a form of energy healing that originated in Japan in the early 20th century. In Japanese, the word reiki means “universal life energy.” Practitioners act as a conduit for this energy, using their hands (with or without physical touch) to transmit it to the receiver.   

Reiki is about overall wellness.¹ According to practitioner Teri Kersting, “As a holistic health practitioner, you’re looking at mind, body, and spirit. It’s very healing in all respects.”

What Happens in a Session? 

Reiki usually takes place in a relaxed environment, similar to what you’d expect during a massage. There may be soft music playing to help you relax. You’ll remain clothed and lie on a massage table or sit in a chair. If you have physical pain, you can get into any position that will be comfortable for you to be in for the duration of the session. 

Throughout the session, the practitioner will lay their hands on or near you in various positions, and may also draw symbols above your body. These are intended to clear negative energy and realign your chakras. 

Sessions normally take 60-90 minutes, but can be shorter or longer depending on your needs. And like talk therapy, it can also be done remotely.

Do I Need to Do Anything While Receiving Reiki? 

Your only job during the session is to relax. Some people fall asleep, which is completely okay and doesn’t interfere with your ability to receive its benefits. There’s no right or wrong way to receive Reiki.  

What Will I Feel During Reiki? 

Everyone experiences Reiki differently—and you may feel differently from session to session depending on your state at the time. Some people feel warm or tingling sensations at the site of the practitioner’s hands. Others see colors or other visuals, or have dreams. Emotional and physical feelings are said to indicate a release of stuck energy. Some people feel nothing at all, which is also perfectly normal. 

How Will I Feel After Reiki? 

Most people feel relaxed, grounded, and in a better mood after Reiki. You may choose to discuss what came up for you during the session with your practitioner, but this is optional. You’ll likely be advised to drink plenty of water throughout the day to hydrate your body as your energy recalibrates. You can return to your day as usual, and even drive, immediately following. 

Will My Reiki Practitioner Respect My Boundaries? 

As part of creating a trauma-sensitive environment, your practitioner should respect all of your requirements for feeling safe. You may ask them not to lay their hands directly on you, and request any changes you need to feel comfortable, such as adjusting the volume of the music or temperature of the room. As with any therapy, feel free to voice any questions or concerns at any point before, during, or after the session.  

How Many Sessions Do I Need? 

One Reiki session may be enough to lift your spirits or help you through a hard moment. More sessions may be necessary for stubborn or ongoing issues. You may opt for a series of sessions, based on your treatment goals. Reiki can also be used as a regular part of maintenance and self-care. As Kersting says, “It helps us center at the end of the day. Also, it helps us prepare for the day ahead, and all the stresses and anxieties that can come up.” 

Who Can Administer Reiki?

There are 4 levels of Reiki training. At level 1, practitioners can do Reiki on themselves, and at level 2, they can perform it on others. 

While some alternative medicine professionals hold high accreditations that require years of schooling, Reiki is known for being easy to learn and apply, and courses for each level can be completed in as little as a day.  

Where Is It Available? 

Reiki is often offered at holistic rehabs as a complement to other clinical and alternative therapies. If you want to continue after residential rehab, many practitioners offer it as a standalone therapy. Some massage therapists incorporate aspects of Reiki into their practice—though this looks different than a typical Reiki session. 

What Can Reiki Treat? 

Intended to regulate the nervous system and support your body’s natural healing abilities, Reiki can be used to treat a wide range of conditions.² Reiki master and practitioner Melanie Hoffstead says her clients report relief from depression and chronic pain: 

“People who come to me who’ve suffered for many years with arthritis, with quite a few treatments, seem to be almost pain-free. People who suffer from depression seem to be able to have more of a sense that life can be more manageable.” 

Because there are no medical conditions that preclude people from receiving Reiki, it can be applied in almost any setting, and is even used in some hospitals. It can also be used to support substance abuse recovery. 

Reiki and Your Recovery 

Recovery is rewarding, but is inevitably challenging at times. This is especially true in the early stages as you confront deeply held wounds and adjust mentally and physically to a life without substances. Reiki can provide much-needed calm and comfort during tough times. 

Research shows Reiki can produce “significant reductions in stress” and improved emotional well-being, especially for individuals with clinical levels of stress or depression. In fact, studies show that Reiki eases alcohol withdrawals³ by reducing cravings and helping people achieve a sense of harmony through their own, natural processes.

Enlightened Recovery in New Jersey uses Reiki to help their clients restore their mind-body connection: 

“For men and women who are in treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, reiki healing is especially helpful.⁴ Addiction tears apart the mind/body relationship and disconnects a person from themselves. Being in such heightened states caused by stimulant substances or depressed states caused by depressant substances, alters the energy flow of the body. Releasing old energy helps those in treatment release emotions which they have held onto for some time. Reiki directly encourages the therapeutic process for healing mind, body, and spirit.”

Sivana Bali in Canggu incorporates Reiki into their treatment program as part of their alternative therapy⁵ offerings. “While practitioners may vary widely in technique and philosophy,” says their team, “Reiki is commonly used to treat emotional and mental distress as well as chronic and acute physical problems, and to assist the recipient in achieving spiritual focus and clarity.” 

Is Reiki Real?

Some claim that Reiki is pseudoscientific, and research supporting its effectiveness is limited. But numerous studies do seem to draw similar conclusions about its benefits. One study on Reiki for alcohol withdrawal³ confirmed previous findings about its positive effects: 

• Release of fear, negative thoughts, and emotional strain 
• Reduced anxiety and depression 
• Improved self-confidence 
• Increased hope 
• Relaxation and better sleep 
• Reduced heart rate and blood pressure
• Less pain 

Researchers found that “reiki can produce effects like tranquility, peace, relaxation, reduced depression and increased energy level, which supports the results of greater harmony, joy and energy in this study.”

Even for those who are skeptical about energy healing, there’s strong evidence to show that touch—including gentle touch therapies—has proven benefits for human well-being. One large-scale meta-study published in 2023 found that touch was especially effective in reducing pain, depression, and anxiety,⁶ as well as regulating levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) in adults and children. 

Limitations of Reiki

Reiki can surface suppressed emotions, and it’s helpful to be able to process these with a talk therapist. As a complementary therapy, it should be used to support your primary treatment plan. Reiki practitioners don’t provide diagnoses and shouldn’t be expected to treat severe conditions on their own. It may not be for you if you prefer a more evidence-based approach to healing.

Is Reiki Right for You? Discover Alternative Addiction Treatment

Energy healing isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But as Reiki is a safe, gentle practice with no contraindications, there’s very little risk involved in trying it. The safe space that rehab provides is a great place to try new things, and many people find Reiki to be a helpful addition to their care. 

As Kersting says, “Everything in the universe is energy, including emotions. When we have emotional blocks that we hold onto, that can affect our pure life force energy. Reiki is about helping to release those blocks.”
Explore rehabs that offer Reiki to see their facilities, learn about their programs, and reach out to their admissions staff directly.