Therapy, from the Greek therapeía, means ‘care, treatment’. Therapy is thus related to the idea of health and well-being. More specifically, according to Aurélio Dictionary definition, therapy is “the part of medicine that studies and puts in practice the appropriate means to relieve or cure the sick”. Therefore, therapy is also a technical resource.
As such, therapy is not deep talking with friends. Therapy involves years of study, and a previously established method. This can vary and be based on a different understanding of humans and of the world itself. There are those therapies promoted by psychology theories and researches, whose numerous approaches differ according to the theoretical foundation that supports the practice of the psychologist, which guides the form of intervention, the therapist’s stance during the session, and the way of understanding the processes experienced by the client/patient. You may have seen psychologists who work on divans, in groups, in couples, with a specific number of sessions, with homework, with greater moments of silence – such variations are related to the variation of these so-called “approaches”. Among some possibilities, there are psychoanalysis (with its various possible authors), Jungian, Lacanian, cognitive-behavioral, analytical-behavior, gestalt-therapy, constructionism, psychological counseling, psychodrama, phenomenology, and so on. All of them are based on complex theories and consistent and effective practices.
For some circumstances, medication administration is also necessary, which should be discussed with a psychiatrist and monitored properly throughout its use.
However, psychology and psychiatry are just a few of the existing therapeutic possibilities. There is also a great number of the popularly called alternative, complementary, or integrative therapies. This name is due to the fact that they do not conform to the dominant medical model; many have ancient traditions, mostly related to oriental cultures. They constitute the field of alternative medicine, which is recognized by WHO as a set of health practices that are part of the country’s tradition. In Brazil, there are more than 20 alternative practices recognized by the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS) since 2006.
Such therapies focus their approach more on human’s interiority and body energy, also addressing their beliefs, thoughts, perceptions of themselves, focus, and concentration. Acupuncture, for example, works based on the concept of balance of body energy, unblocking charged points of tension, and helping to treat anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Also centering energy balance, there is flower therapy and homeopathy, both based on the healing potential of natural substances. Phytotherapy also enters this trend, seeking a harmonization between man and nature.
There are those more focused on corporeality, such as chiropractic, reflexology, and massage therapy, which help to remove tension nodules from muscles, treating painful regions of the body. In addition, the development of practices such as meditation and yoga help to develop individual interior focus, favoring concentration, and formation of memories, besides representing a powerful resource for the development of greater self-knowledge.
In addition to all this, there are still countless advances and new treatment possibilities arising from technological development. There is, for example, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a therapy that, by simulating the movement of the patient’s eyes during REM sleep, it allows the reconstruction of traumatic events, helping in their elaboration and overcoming. In recent years, new technologies create expectations for future treatments with great therapeutic potential, such as neuromodulation.
Thus, “doing therapy” encompasses various possibilities and a very wide range of options for self-care – necessary for everyone. You can test different perspectives, depending on your problem, your personal beliefs, and values. Don’t be afraid to change if you don’t like it. What is important is to always be aware of yourself, and also to always investigate the quality of the therapist who is helping you, doing a careful evaluation especially with therapies that promise a magical cure, as self-care is a process, with natural fluctuations and difficulties, without instant success recipes. Be aware that no matter what choice you make, respect and dignity must be preserved. Some categories, such as psychology, have national councils, which are open to questions about the conduct of therapists, and even to the occurrence of complaints. Self-care and self-knowledge are processes of no return, which have a decisive impact on our quality of life and on the quality of the relationships we establish.
Here at VHMOR, we have partnerships with several therapists. Among the therapies offered are acupuncture, lymphatic massage, Reiki, Aromatherapy, auriculotherapy, and more! If you are interested, contact us for more information 🙂
References:
https://www.drdenisgraciotto.com.br/neuromodulacao-e-a-nova-promessa-de-tratamento-para-dor-cronica
https://www.vittude.com/blog/terapias-alternativas/s/
https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/gm/2006/prt0971_03_05_2006.html
