Introduction to Alternative and Complementary Therapies

By Anne L. Strozier

Book Overview

Discover creative new ways to facilitate the therapeutic process

Therapeutic modalities that psychotherapists usually rely on--such as psychodynamic, humanistic, systems, cognitive, narrative, analytic and solution focused--are all verbal interventions. Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Therapies presents a comprehensive overview of complementary and alternative therapeutic interventions that go beyond the standard verbal approaches. The therapies presented in this book--including mindfulness and meditation, spirituality, poetry therapy, art therapy, psychodrama, dance/movement therapy, music therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and touch therapy--provide the reader with creative non-traditional modalities that are effective in conjunction with traditional treatment, or as substitutes. They may enrich talk-therapy, especially when therapists and/or clients get stuck, or they may provide healing on their own.

Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Therapies explains the basics about how these nontraditional therapies work and provides vivid examples for utilizing them in treatment. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field of expertise, and includes a description of the approach, research evidence about its effectiveness, guidelines on how to use the therapy in practice, and case examples. This excellent volume also provides practitioners with a wide range of resources, including Web sites, information on state and national organizations, accrediting board info, and more.

Topics in Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Therapies include: the mind-body relationship ways to integrate spirituality in counseling the healing components of poetry research studies on art therapy different techniques available in Psychodrama using body movement as a means of expressing conflicts and desires how music therapy promotes positive changes in the client the healing aspects of animals and much more

Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Therapies is a horizon-expanding guide for therapists, social workers, psychologists, counselors, physicians, educators, and students.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0789022060
• ISBN13: 9780789022066
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 292 Pages
• Weight: 2.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

A good overview of for the professional clinician

Introduction to Alternative and Complimentary Therapies is a compilation of overviews of modalities by various authors. The authors are considered to have expertise in their respective field. For example, the chapter on art therapy is written by Dr. Laura Cherry, who is a board certified Art Therapist and an associate professor of art at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina. Dr. Cherry has conducted art therapy programs for special needs children in the Caribbean. Dr. Trudy Duffy, PhD, the author of the chapter on psychodrama is a certified practitioner and trainer of psychodrama in addition to conducting academic research at Boston University and publishing professional writings on psychodrama. Each chapter in the book gives an overview of selected alternative and complimentary therapies. The nine chapters or areas of focus are mindfulness, spirituality, poetry therapy, art therapy, psychodrama; dance / movement therapy, music therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and touch therapies. Each chapter includes an introduction to the modality as well as empirically based research and case examples. The editors state: "This book is intended to pique your interest, light your curiosity, and perhaps inspire you to learn more about one or two of these approaches in depth." My professional interest in reviewing this book comes out of a love for the complimentary therapies, particularly the arts as well as mindfulness / transpersonal therapy. There are certainly ways to incorporate bits and pieces of each complimentary therapy into one's practices. However, after reading each chapter, I gained a deeper appreciation for each discipline and a greater respect for the benefit of selecting one of these fields and receiving in depth training. Must I become a proficient artist to use art therapy with my clients? No, but it certainly helps. I was particularly humbled in reading the chapter on music therapy written by Dr. Jennifer Jones, who is a board certified music therapist who's resume includes working with children as well as working in an acute psychiatric hospital and working with substance abuse patients in recovery. Dr. Jones defines music therapy, gives examples, gives a historical perspective, speaks to the benefits of music therapy, and lists several techniques along with case examples. A music therapist needs to be highly skilled as a musician as well as a therapeutic clinician. Music therapy can include selecting a piece of music for clients to listen to on one end of the continuum, and on the other end, a music therapist should be able to assist clients to write songs and compose their own music as a part of the therapy as well as to help client create musical improvisations. Those seeking further information about a field of discipline will be pleased. Each chapter includes a meaty reference list, including books and articles from academic journals. A helpful appendix lists "Resources for Further Exploration" for each chapter. H