Your mental health is a key part of your overall well-being, making it just as important to care for your mind as you do for your body. Sometimes, though, just the thought of doing so can feel overwhelming due to so many kinds of behavioral health care options, making it difficult to know which path is the right one to take for your specific needs.
Psychiatric medicine and holistic therapy are two approaches to treatment, and choosing the right method for you can enhance your care experience. Let's explore these options to learn the difference and why many lean toward holistic care when searching for help.
What Is the Difference Between Psychiatric Medicine and Holistic Therapy?
Psychiatric Medicine vs. Holistic Therapy
While there are many approaches to mental health care, you’ll likely come across two main types: psychiatric medicine and holistic therapy. These are two different types of behavioral health care, though they often intersect. Understanding the differences between these two methods can help you have agency in your care plan.
Psychiatric medicine involves prescribing medication to treat a behavioral health condition, such as depression or anxiety. In this approach, psychiatrists diagnose the condition through psychological testing and prescribe a treatment, which may include psychotherapy as well as medication.
As the name suggests, holistic therapy takes a more integrative approach to mental health care. Holistic therapy gets to the root of the behavioral health concern and treats the condition from many angles. A typical holistic therapy treatment plan might include individual and group therapy, yoga for mental health, and health coaching in addition to comprehensive medication management. However, each patient will have a different experience and not every person will utilize the same treatment modalities.
Both psychiatric medicine and holistic therapy involve working with licensed mental health professionals, and each approach can be effective. It all comes down to your personal preference and needs.
The Holistic Therapy Difference
Providing a more complete approach to mental health care, holistic therapy can be a healthy and supportive part of your healing journey. Holistic behavioral health services put your needs at the center and provide a safe environment for growth. Some of the benefits of holistic therapy include:
- Individual Solutions: Your holistic therapy team will curate your services based on your individual needs. If you’re struggling with grief, for example, they might recommend group therapy in a supportive setting in addition to your individual counseling appointments. Or, someone with an eating disorder would have the opportunity to work with a therapist and nutrition counselor, for example.
- Integrative Treatments: Holistic therapy focuses on the mind-body connection, so you can focus on every part of your well-being. This can involve talking to a therapist on a weekly basis while checking in monthly with a health coach. Your holistic care team will help you put the pieces together.
- Ongoing Trust: By putting the focus on the individual, holistic therapy practitioners build trust with their patients over time. And this trust can be invaluable when it comes to your healing. Your therapist and other clinicians on the care team will create a safe and confidential environment for you to discuss every aspect of your well-being.
The bottom line is that holistic therapy encompasses parts of traditional psychiatric medicine and more. By taking a more integrative approach to mental and behavioral health care, holistic clinicians can support the healing and overall well-being of their patients.
Heal through Holistic Therapy
Interested in holistic therapy for your mental health concerns? The team at SOL Mental Health, including holistic wellness coaches and therapists, is proud to offer comprehensive behavioral health services both in-office and online. Find out how you can holistically heal from mental health conditions by contacting us for a consultation with one of our providers.
Does My Insurance Cover a Therapist at SOL Mental Health?
SOL Mental Health is partnered with several insurance providers to make our services more accessible to you. You can verify your insurance through our website before scheduling an appointment.
