Holistic substance use disorder treatment looks at all aspects of your life and who you are, not just your substance use and symptoms.
Many holistic providers use alternative treatment approaches, like expressive arts therapy, mindfulness, and more.
A combination of traditional medical treatments and holistic methods is often most helpful for managing substance use disorder.
Healing from substance use disorder (SUD) can be difficult, and for most people, takes several tries. Holistic substance use treatment is a well-rounded approach that works toward helping you improve your overall well-being, including your physical, mental, and spiritual health.
A holistic approach to SUD treatment can help you approach your substance use from all angles so you have the best chance at long-term recovery.
Why choose a holistic approach to SUD treatment?
More traditional substance use treatments focus on your physical — and sometimes mental — health. For example, mental health providers might supervise the detox process to make sure you overcome physical dependence on the substance. Or they might use medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help you through withdrawal and cravings. In some situations, this approach is necessary — especially if someone’s life is at risk.
Medical approaches like MAT have been found to be very effective for conditions like opioid use disorder. But because this approach primarily focuses on addressing immediate SUD symptoms, it might not help you as much over time to improve your well-being and prevent relapse.
On the other hand, holistic treatment goes beyond symptoms to treat the whole person. Holistic providers use interventions that improve your overall well-being in the long term — including your emotional, physical, social, financial, and spiritual well-being.
Most people find success from a combination of medical models and holistic approaches to SUD treatment. It’s about finding what works best for you.
You might choose a holistic approach to SUD treatment if you:
You want a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses all areas of your life, including emotional, physical, social, financial, and spiritual well-being.
You’re looking for personalized care that focuses on your individual needs and recognizes you as more than just your substance use.
You’ve experienced relapse or struggle with traditional treatment methods and want a more well-rounded approach to manage it.
You prefer non-medication options or complementary therapies alongside traditional methods to support your recovery.
You want to develop healthier coping skills to manage stress, triggers, and emotions that contribute to substance use.
You’ve found recovery and stability with other methods of treatment and you want to address long-term well-being with a holistic approach.
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Alternative ways to heal substance use disorders
If you’re curious about a holistic treatment for SUD, your provider may recommend one or a combination of the approaches below.. Often, these alternative methods work best as a complement to other medical treatments. You and your provider can work collaboratively to find a plan that works best for you.
Mindfulness meditation
Mindfulness can be helpful for SUD and many other conditions. It’s the ancient practice of staying present with each moment, whatever it may bring — including painful emotions and urges.
Research has found that mindfulness meditation could target the brain processes that are affected by substance use, including executive functioning and the reward circuit. There are also specific mindfulness-based treatment methods for SUD.
Mindfulness-based interventions are also effective treatments for mental health conditions that often co-occur with SUD, like depression and anxiety.
Expressive arts therapy
Expressive therapies are often used as an alternative treatment method in rehab centers. These therapies — which include art, music, and dance therapy — could provide another way to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to SUD.
One systematic review found that music therapy specifically had positive effects. These therapies could be especially helpful for you if it’s hard to express your thoughts verbally in talk therapy. Some experts also say this type of therapy can teach you useful coping mechanisms.
Spiritual integration
Holistic practitioners may integrate spiritual wellness into substance use treatment. This could include things like prayer, meditation, and belonging to a spiritual community. Research shows people who received stronger religious and spiritual support were more likely to avoid relapse, have higher self-esteem, and complete their treatment. A type of meditation called transcendental meditation (TM) may also be effective for reducing alcohol use, but we need more research to know for sure.
It’s not necessary to practice religion or get spiritual counseling if you don’t want to. But you can talk to your provider about incorporating spirituality into your recovery process if that’s appealing to you.
Yoga, tai chi, qi gong, and other Eastern movement methods
Yoga and other movements based in Eastern traditions like tai chi and qi gong could have some benefits for SUD. For example, one randomized trial found that yoga improved mood and quality of life for people going through heroin detox. Another systematic review found that yoga could be a helpful practice for people with SUD.
These practices support mind-body awareness, emotional regulation, and stress reduction — key areas often affected in people with SUD. By nurturing a sense of inner calm and connection, these methods may help people better tolerate distress, reduce cravings, and reconnect with their bodies in a healing way. The structured, intentional movements combined with breathwork and mindfulness can also offer a grounding routine that complements traditional recovery approaches.
Vocational counseling
Research shows that people with SUD are more likely to be able to maintain recovery if they’re also employed. Getting a fulfilling job through vocational counseling can improve self-esteem, which could help you stay motivated during your recovery.
Participating in vocational counseling or training as part of your treatment program could help you find employment, make a living, and find a sense of purpose. Keep in mind that vocational counselors aren’t therapists. They only focus on helping you find educational and job opportunities.
Mental health therapy
Therapy is often an important part of a holistic treatment plan for SUD. This is especially true because half of people who have SUD also have a co-occurring mental health condition.
Addressing only SUD symptoms — and not the underlying mental health condition — could get you locked in a vicious cycle. Many people self-medicate their mental health symptoms with alcohol or drugs. So if you don’t address mental health symptoms directly, you might fall back into old habits to cope.
How to find a holistic provider to support your recovery
If you think holistic substance use treatment is right for you, there are some steps you can take to find a provider who meets your needs.
Remember, you don’t need to choose between traditional and holistic treatment. Often, the above treatment methods are most effective when they're combined with necessary medical treatments. For example, you could receive MAT for opioid use disorder while also exploring other approaches like yoga or mindfulness.
Not all holistic providers may advertise themselves as such. You can ask questions to get a better idea of their approach. For example:
How would you describe your approach to substance use treatment?
What treatment methods are you trained in?
How do you collaborate with other people on my treatment team?
How can you help me improve my overall well-being?
What do you believe is the goal of treatment?
In addition, you may want to ask logistical questions, like:
Do you accept my insurance?
Are you accepting new patients?
Do you see patients online, in person, or a combination of both?
Holistic practices like yoga, acupuncture, or meditation are most effective when used alongside traditional treatments. They can enhance recovery by supporting emotional regulation, stress management, and overall well-being.
Ashley Ayala, LMFT
Clinical reviewer
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Healing from substance use disorder can be a long and challenging journey. But there’s hope. It’s possible to achieve recovery with the right support. A holistic approach to SUD treatment examines all aspects of your life so you can achieve long-term recovery and well-being. You’re more than just your addiction, and you deserve a practitioner who sees that.
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.
Saya Des Marais
Saya graduated with her Master in Social Work (MSW) with a concentration in mental health from the University of Southern California in 2010. She formerly worked as a therapist and motivational interviewing trainer in community clinics, public schools, mental health startups, and more.
Her writing has been featured in FORTUNE, GoodRX, PsychCentral, and dozens of mental health apps and therapy websites. Through both her clinical work and her personal OCD diagnosis, she’s learned the importance of making empathetic and accurate mental health content available online.
She lives in Portland, Oregon but you can find her almost just as often in Mexico or in her birthplace, Tokyo.
Ashley Ayala, LMFT
Ashley is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in generational healing and family dynamics. Ashley has worked in schools, clinics, and in private practice. She believes that people’s relationships, including our relationship with ourselves, greatly shape our experiences in life.
Ashley is committed to empowering others to show up authentically and deepen their self understanding. This passion stems from taking a critical lens on her own life story and doing inner healing. One of her favorite quotes is “Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.”
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