Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a term referred to the psychotherapy treatment that changes patterns of thinking or behaviour that are behind people's difficulties.It is used to help treat a wide range of issues in a person’s life, from sleeping difficulties or relationship problems, to drug and alcohol abuse or anxiety and depression.

This therapy focuses on the thoughts, images, beliefs, and attitudes that people have and how the cognitive process relate to the way a person behaves, as a way of dealing with emotional problems.

With this statements we can say that CBT can be a combination of psychotherapy and behavioral therapy. Psychotherapy emphasizes the importance of the personal meaning we place on things and how thinking patterns begin in childhood. Behavioral therapy pays close attention to the relationship between our problems, our behavior and our thoughts.

CBT is based on a model or theory that express the following idea: If our thoughts are too negative, it can block us seeing things or doing things that don’t fit – that disconfirm – what we believe is true. Feeling distressed, in some cases, may distort one’s perception of reality. Dr. Beck, the father of CBT,  suggested that these thinking patterns are set up in childhood, and become automatic and relatively fixed.

This therapy mainly say that this negative things can and do happen. But when we are in a disturbed state of mind, we may be basing our predictions and interpretations on a biased view of the situation, making the difficulty that we face seem much worse. CBT helps people to correct these misinterpretations.Cognitive-behavioral therapy acts to help the person understand that this is the correct way to going on.

Curiosities-on:

Art Therapy

Expressing oneself through a drawing, painting, sculpture, or collage makes our thoughts, feelings, and ideas tangible and communicates what we sometimes cannot say through words alone, this is very important and we can do it in a therapeutic way called art therapy.

Even if you believe you can not draw a straight line, you have the capacity to use the creative process. Art therapy uses simple art activities to help people express themselves and develop a sense of well-being; additionally,  the main idea of this therapeutic process is the creativity that you have and the product, but we need to emphasize that art therapy is also an avenue of communication of feelings, thoughts and experiences.

This kind of therapy is commonly used on children and also, it is confused with play therapy because the specialist on this two types of therapeutics process mix the activities to created a special and dynamic relationship with their patients.

The product that art therapy produce are tangible in most cases and this is used for the therapist to help and to understand visually express and record experiences, perceptions, feelings and imagination, among other; they use their vast knowledge of arts-based approaches to enhance young clients’ ability to communicate through creative expression.

Art therapy “works” with the following principles:

• Non-Verbal:  its simplest definition, art expression is a form of non-verbal communication. For children who may not be able to articulate thoughts, sensations, emotions or perceptions, it is one way to convey what may be difficult to express with words.
• Sensory-based:  means that it allows the children to experience themselves and communicate on multiple levels (visual, tactile, kinesthetic, etc.)
• Growth and Development: as we say before art expressions provide useful information on development in children, especially young clients who are 10 years or younger, because differences in artistic development can help us understand something about a child’s emotional experiences, cognition and sensory integration.
• Self-Regulation: Some sensory characteristics of art making seem to be effective in improving mood, sensory integration, and calming the body and mind.
• Meaning-Making: the patient can express metaphor or experiences through art expression, so with the guidance of a specialist, these narratives can tell us about some traumatic experiences or disorders on the patient.
• Right-Hemisphere-to-Right Hemisphere: It is about the patient-specialists´ relationship.

There are some simple art activities that anyone can do:

• Try to draw something on a sketchbook or sheet anytime you feel stress or anxious, (using colors, shapes and lines to describe how you are feeling today).
• Simply doodle or draw whatever comes to your mind.
• If drawing does not stimulate your creative juices, collect magazine pictures, postcards and photos that are soothing to you. Using scissors and glue, make a collage of your images on a large sheet of paper or cardboard.

Curiosities-on:

Music Therapy

Music is an important part of daily life, people commonly use music to do or made daily activities; for example when they’re cooking a meal, taking a shower, or folding the laundry. For this reason and many others, music is often linked to mood; we know that a certain song can make us feel happy, sad, energetic, or relaxed,  because music can have such an impact on a person’s mindset and well-being.

With this affirmative points, It is not a surprise that music therapy has been studied for use in managing numerous medical conditions. Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions with a therapeutic objective to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. the specialist in this area realize a diagnosis to catch the different needs of each patient. Then,  the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music.

Some of the benefits of this therapeutic context are:

•  Patients' abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives.
• Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words.
• All forms of music may have therapeutic effects, although music from one's own culture may be most effective
• It can help us with some special cases, for example: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), dementia, depression or depressive disorder, sleep quality, infant development, etc.

We need to be careful because just as certain music can help induce relaxation and peaceful states, other music may cause agitation. For example, classical music has been found to cause comfort and relaxation while rock music may lead to discomfort.

On therapeutic ways music may be used with guided imagery to produce altered states of consciousness that help uncover hidden emotional responses and stimulate creative insights. other uses are:

• Music in the classroom to aid children in the development of reading and language skills.
• Music to create a different environment in a specific situation, as a physical exercise  class, a test, a hospital, etc.

Curiosities-on:

Animal-assisted therapy

Animals have an important role on human life, and they can help us not only with a form of nourishment for our bodies, they also can help us psychologically and emotionally. It is not a new idea to use animals on the process of mental ealing in human therapy, this is nowadays called Animal Assisted Therapy.

Animal-assisted therapy is a therapeutic complementary intervention that incorporates animals, such as horses, dogs, cats, pigs, and birds, into the treatment plan.

AAT has roots with ancient Greeks, they were the first to use animals, specifically horses and currently pets animals are used to reduce the levels of anxiety and stress in adult and youth psychiatric patients. The first formal research into Animal-Assisted Therapy was made during the 1960s, Dr, Boris Levinson found that his dog had a positive effect on mentally impaired young patients and he discovered that this patients were more comfortable and likely to socialize with his dog than with others humans.

This therapy works because animals can provide a sense of calm, comfort, or safety and divert attention away from a stressful situation. Some of the benefits that AAT has a very important role on the quality of human life as the followings:

• They can help people to stabilize their emotions, and improve their communication, self-regulation, and socialization skills.
• Studies shown that owning a pet can help you live a longer, happier and healthier life.
• Animals can reduce the risk of heart disease, specially dogs.
• They can reduce feelings of depression and loneliness, especially on children or young people.
• Pets ease aggression presented by those with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
• Animals are great for teaching children responsibility and reducing a child’s risk of allergies and asthma.

Curiosities-on:

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is an alternative therapy that uses essential oils to help, improve and balance you (emotionally and physically), while helping you to take time out for yourself, even for a moment. Aromatherapy uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Sometimes it is called essential oil therapy.

The aromas experienced through aromatherapy and essential oils have a dynamic effect on the mind and body. You can use essential oils in any number of ways; for example you can use with body lotions, facial toner, shampoo, or conditioner. On a physical level, essential oils help to ease muscular aches and pains, improve circulation, ease sinus congestion and act as a strong antioxidant.

Aromatherapy is thought of as both an art and a science. Recently, aromatherapy has gained more recognition in the fields of science and medicine.

Aromatherapy commonly used the followings products: diffusers, aromatic spritzers, inhalers, bathing salts, body oils, creams, or lotions for massage or topical application, facial steamers, hot and cold compresses, clay masks, among others.

Aromatherapy has a lot of benefits such manage pain, reduce stress, agitation or anxiety. It can be used to treat headaches and migraines, respiratory problems and others illnesses.  However, we need to remember that side effects of using essential oils include rashes, nausea, allergic reactions, etc; so the specialist need to be careful and also prepare for this situations.

Curiosities-on:

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is the use of water for health purposes; also, it is called as water therapy, hydrotherapy, treatments as saunas, steam baths, foot baths, contrast therapy, hot and cold showers, among others. In many European countries, hydrotherapy takes place in spa water, because they suggest that mineral content of the water may make a difference, other studies show that hydrotherapy has significant benefits.

Hydrotherapy can help you on different ways:

• The warmth of the water allows your muscles to relax and eases the pain in your joints, helping you to exercise.
• The water can be used to provide resistance to moving your joints.

Scientific studies have shown that hydrotherapy can improve strength and general fitness in people with various types of arthritis. It is effective and you can start slowly and gradually build up your strength and flexibility.  Adsicionally, alternating hot and cold water, you can decrease inflammation and stimulate circulation and lymphatic drainage.

Types of hydrotherapy

• Watsu.
• Sitz bath.
• Warm water baths.
• Steam bath or Turkish bath.
• Sauna.
• Compresses.
• Wraps.
• Contrast hydrotherapy.
• Warming socks.
• Hot fomentation.
• Hydrotherapy pool exercises.

Precautions

Hydrotherapy may not be appropriate in certain circumstances:

• Cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure.
• Fever.
• Inflammation (Warming may not be recommended for acute injuries).
• Kidney disease.
• Cancer.
• Pregnancy.
• Decreased sensitivity to hot and/or cold.

Curiosities-on:

Alternative and Complementary Therapy

Nowadays, it is common used phrases as complementary therapy and alternative therapy, traditional medicine, etc; but they are different things.

A complementary therapy means you can use it alongside your conventional medical treatment. It may help you to feel better and cope better with others treatments, improving your quality of life.

There are many different types of complementary therapy, including:

• Aromatherapy
• acupuncture
• herbal medicine
• massage therapy
• visualisation
• Yoga

An alternative therapy is generally used instead of conventional medical treatment. There is no scientific evidence to show that this therapies can replace medical treatments; for this reason, they can be a risk for the patient. 

We need to remember that there are several different terms commonly used to describe complementary or alternatives therapies. You may see therapies described as:

• Unconventional therapies
• CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
• Integrated healthcare or integrated medicine
• Traditional Medicine

• 
  

Curiosities-on: