If you have tried most types of mental health therapy and still find yourself suffering you might want to try something different, something unheard of. These ten types of mental health therapy are on the fringes of therapy and while I can’t personally vouch for any of them I can at least bring you some information about them so you can decide if you want to try them yourself. (always consult your doctor and current therapist before trying any of these as they might have a counteractive effect on your current treatment)…
Ho’oponopono Therapy
You don’t have to go to Hawai to try this unusual type of reconciliation and forgiveness therapy as you can take online instructions and even just watch some YouTube videos. This might be something to help people suffering from PTSD or maybe a fear of Hawaiian skirts. It sounds to me like a localised form of talking therapy which is pretty harmless to most people.
Sand Therapy
This was started by a fully-qualified psychologist named Dora Kalff who realised kids playing with sand tend to go into a trance-like state as they play with it, so then tried it with some of her own patients to surprising effects. If you like the feel of sand running through your fingers maybe this is worth a try. Even if it doesn’t work an hour playing in the sand is always time well spent.
Primal Therapy
Created by Arthur Janov this “cave-man (or women) type of therapy has shown some interesting results in people who are willing to go all-in on it. The idea is to have primal/extreme reactions to memories or feelings. So loud shouting, running and a lot of punching inflatable dinosaurs is the name of the game here. Sometimes it is good to let out a scream or two, so maybe this is not so odd at all.
Gestalt Therapy
A lot of therapists will use the “Empty Chair Technique” in their treatment of people, but Gestalt Therapy is based around this single technique. I have done this myself and did find it oddly satisfying, but I am not sure if it would be good for long term treatment. But I would be willing to give it a go for a while.
Puppet Therapy
*TRIGGER WARNING* This type of therapy is often used on children and was invented by therapist Ingrid Lagerqvist, but more and more unconventional therapists are using it with adults as well. I can imagine that this is something that will only cause trigger firing in a lot of people, but I could also see it offering help for others.
Beer Bathing Therapy
Sadly you will have to go to Prague to do this, but people do use it as a form of mental health therapy as well as a physical one. The beer is made with all-natural ingredients making it good for the skin at the very least, but I have to wonder if you smell like a pint afterwards. But this is something I would be willing to try at least once!
Laughter Therapy
We all know laughing makes you feel better, but this therapy is based on little more than laughter yoga! A lot of people do this type of therapy and swear by its effectiveness. I would certainly be willing to try this as even if it didn’t work it would be a good laugh along the way. The worst thing that could happen is that I wet myself laughing!
Rebirthing Therapy
This therapy is based on your birth being a traumatic event that your brain can’t let go of (which I am sure for your mother it was!) It is designed to help you let go of your daily worries and struggles and make you feel more relaxed. It’s an odd one that is for sure and not something most people will have access to. This is one that I am not sure I would try myself without going to a group session before starting.
Biofield Therapy
I’m not sure why, but this is something a lot of golfers have been known to use. It is essentially a practitioner realigning your bodies own energy and information flow into the areas that need them the most. This, in turn, helps you control your stress levels and some even claim it helps stimulate healing responses in the body. This is a weird one that is for sure, but not something new as energy healing has been around for a lot longer than you would think
Cuddle Therapy
And I end this post with one therapy I would love to try myself (although here in wales we call a cuddle a Cwtch). This is said to be perfect for people suffering from depression as well as many other types of mental health disorders. Even if it doesn’t work it is always nice to get a Cwtch from someone. I just can’t see this one working, but it also can’t do any harm to try.