Holistic therapy treats the whole person and not just their symptoms or diagnosis.
Integrative therapy, mind-body therapy, and spiritual therapy are examples of holistic care.
Holistic therapy can help you increase self-awareness, manage stress, and improve functioning.
Holistic therapy is a type of therapy that looks at your whole self — your mind, body, and emotions. It combines talk therapy with tools like yoga or breathing exercises to support your mental health.
If you want to take an active role in your health and healing journey, holistic therapy might be a good fit for you.
Where holistic therapies fit into mental healthcare
Holistic therapy considers your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. While traditional therapy focuses on specific symptoms, holistic therapy takes a more whole-person approach.
In holistic therapy, you’ll collaborate with your therapist to create a treatment plan that fits your needs. You might explore how your thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs affect your mental health through practices like mindfulness, movement, or breathing exercises.
That said, holistic therapy should complement — not replace — more traditional approaches. Depending on your symptoms or diagnosis, you might also need talk therapy or medication.
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What holistic therapy can be good for
Holistic therapy may be effective for anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma. Some people also find it supportive for substance misuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain.
That said, you don’t need to have a mental health condition to benefit from holistic therapy. It can support anyone who wants to build self-awareness, manage stress, or improve overall well-being.
There are several benefits to a holistic approach to care. These include:
Greater mental, emotional, and physical health
Healthy and sustainable coping skills
Improved emotional regulation
Patient-centered care that focuses on your cultural, clinical, and spiritual needs
How different types of holistic therapy work
Holistic therapy describes a range of techniques that can improve functioning and quality of life. These include:
1. Integrative therapy
Integrative therapy looks at the connection between your mind, body, and spirit. The goal is to help you understand the root of your mental health challenges and concerns and improve your overall well-being.
Like other types of holistic care, integrative therapy is tailored to each person’s specific symptoms and needs. It may draw from a variety of evidence-based approaches,, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
2. Somatic therapy
Somatic therapy proposes that healing starts with the body. It focuses on the mind-body connection and encourages people to notice how physical sensations relate to emotional experiences — especially those tied to trauma.
With somatic therapy, your therapist may suggest breathing exercises and movement practices like yoga or dance. They might also use guided visualization and grounding techniques to help you regulate your nervous system and process distress in a safe and supportive environment.
Somatic therapy can help manage symptoms of PTSD, as well as depression, anxiety, and personality disorders.
3. Spiritual therapy
Spiritual therapy considers how your values and beliefs influence your mental and emotional well-being. With the support of your therapist, you can work toward greater clarity, purpose, and inner peace.
Your therapist might use a range of techniques like mindfulness, meditation, or guided imagery. They may also support you in answering existential questions— including those related to identity, purpose, or spiritual connection.
4. Mind-body therapy
As the name suggests, this type of therapy emphasizes the connection between your mind and body. The goal is to manage stress, improve emotional regulation, and support your mental and physical health.
Mindfulness and meditation can help with everything from chronic pain to improving mood. Some examples include deep-breathing exercises, guided imagery, and body-scan meditations. Other mind-body therapy techniques include yoga, tai chi, and music therapy.
If you need medication, your therapist may refer you to a holistic psychiatrist. Like holistic therapists, holistic psychiatrists focus on mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical interconnectedness. They can prescribe medication to help you manage symptoms and challenges.
Getting started with holistic therapy for mental health
Holistic therapy is a chance to heal your mind, body, and spirit. It can enhance resilience and help you learn more about yourself. The journey will look different for everyone, but finding the right therapist is always an important place to start.
When looking for a holistic therapist, consider their:
Treatment approach: What techniques do they incorporate into treatment? Are there any techniques they aren’t comfortable with?
Experience: Do they have experience treating your diagnosis or symptoms? Do they have experience working with people who share a similar cultural background?
Progress: What are their goals in a therapeutic relationship? How will they track your progress?
Holistic therapy starts like other types of therapy. Your therapist will ask about your history and why you're seeking therapy. They may also want to know why you're interested in holistic care and if there are any approaches that do or don’t work for you.
There's no set timeline with holistic therapy, but there may be signs that you’re starting to heal and grow. For example, you might notice more self-awareness, less stress, and healthier coping strategies.
A lot of people think holistic therapy is only about things like yoga or meditation, but it’s really about finding what helps you feel whole and balanced. It’s OK to wonder if it’s right for you — therapy is a safe place to explore those questions and create a plan that works for your unique needs.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Clinical reviewer
Find care with Rula
Holistic therapy can help people learn more about themselves. Your therapist can help you determine which holistic approaches to care feel right to you. If you’re new to therapy, Rula can help you find a therapist that suits your goals and preferences.
At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best.
Rula makes it easier to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who accepts your insurance so you don’t have to choose between affordable care and excellent care. With a diverse network of more than 15,000 providers, 24/7 crisis support, and appointments available as soon as tomorrow, we're here to help you make progress — wherever you are on your mental health journey.
Alex Bachert
Alex Bachert is a freelance copywriter and mental health advocate. Since earning her masters degree in public health, she has focused her career on creating informative content that empowers people to prioritize their health and well-being. Alex has partnered with organizations like Ro, WellTheory, and Firsthand, and her work has been recognized by the Digital Health Association.
When she’s not writing about mental health, Alex is usually playing pickleball, meeting with her local board of health, or enjoying time with her three kids.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Having faced challenges like childhood abuse, neglect, and the loss of her father to suicide, Brandy Chalmers is deeply passionate about providing compassionate care. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Brandy also teaches at a university, sharing her expertise with future mental health professionals. With over a decade of experience in settings like inpatient care and private practice, she specializes in helping clients with perfectionism, trauma, personality disorders, eating disorders, and life changes.
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Rula's editorial team is on a mission to make science-backed mental health insights accessible and practical for every person seeking to better understand or improve mental wellness.
Members of Rula’s clinical leadership team and other expert providers contribute to all published content, offering guidance on themes and insights based on their firsthand experience in the field. Every piece of content is thoroughly reviewed by a clinician before publishing.
