Why Holistic Psychotherapy?

Western cultural focus on intellect, reasoning, and empiricism ignored the mystical part of our life. With the advent of the theory of relativity and quantum physics, these linear reasonings are now challenged. However, in the field of psychology and psychotherapy, the change has been slower. The medical model (disease and symptom treatments) and the role of insurance companies in healthcare disregarded the wellbeing of a person as a whole. Just talking about your past and swallowing pills have shown limited success in transforming the life quality. This is why we need Holistic Psychotherapy, addressing the root causes and learning to manage this life holistically so that you can create the life you want.

Heavy focus on reasoning in the West overlooked all the other parts of life.

Descartes, praised as the father of modern western philosophy, declared, "I think: therefore I am," promoting rationalism, saying the knowledge of eternal truths could be attained by reason alone. He also pushed mind-body dualism, viewing mind and body as distinct entities.

Let's check if it is true.

Life vs. Reasoning - Does it mean you don't exist when you don't think? A tree doesn't exist since it doesn't think? A body of water doesn't exist since it doesn't think? Thinking is a function of your existence. It is a fantastic tool when used properly, but it is not a good tool to figure out the truth of this existence.

The reasoning is the way for us to know the eternal truth - Can we intellectually understand the eternal truth? The reasoning is fundamentally a cutting tool. Analyzing means you cut things into small pieces to perceive complex matters. Let's say if I cut you down to the smallest particle possible, will I get to know you? I may be able to understand much more about your brain, organs, and others, but will I get to know you? The reasoning is not a good tool for this purpose.

Mind-body dualism – If I give you 5 grams of Cocaine, your thoughts and emotions will change completely. All of our mental functioning has a chemical basis– very much physical. Where would you draw a line between mind and body? What if there's more than mind and body? Do you know for sure?

Focus on Cognitive & Empirical approaches influenced modern psychology

Following Pavlov, Skinner accentuated his view on empiricism, saying, "psychology must restrict itself to what it can see and what can be manipulated and measured in the laboratory" empiricism is limited on our sense faculties. It is like saying if you can't sense (see, hear or touch), it doesn't exist. Is it true? Dr. Eagleman, a neuroscientists shares, "when you look at the electromagnetic spectrum, we are seeing less than 1/10 Billionth of the information that's riding on there. So we call that visible light. But everything else passing through our bodies is completely invisible to us." This means we missed 99/10 Billionth of its existence.

Beck, the father of cognitive behavior therapy, claimed change of thoughts would change related emotions and behaviors. It helps but in a limited capacity. Dr. David Eagleman, a neuroscientist, persuasively asked a question. "Can you change your gender identity by changing your thoughts?" 

The Western medical model's emphasis on fixing the symptoms overlooks the root causes and interconnectedness with our body and spirits.

The Western medical model views mental disorders are the products of physiological issues. This model is widely accepted by psychiatrists and psychologists, focusing on making diagnoses and treating the symptoms as a medical disease with medications. For example, when you search for depression treatment, you will find medications as the first treatment option. The logic goes like this; people with depression were found to have low serotonin levels, so take a pill that can raise serotonin levels in the system. Unfortunately, it rarely considers what caused the serotonin level to drop and how it is related to other physical functions. Traditional talk therapies like CBT try to identify negative thought patterns then ask clients to change the thoughts to positive ones. It helps temporarily, but without addressing the root causes and going back to harmful environments, simple thoughts changes result in relapse or never-ending medications and therapies.

So, what am I suggesting here? Let's look into all parts of your life. 

When your car has a problem, would you take it to a mechanic who only uses a hammer or a mechanic who has a garage full of tools? Our lives are affected by innumerable factors, and our systems of body, mind, and spirits are intertwined with each other. Our intellects can be labeled the most advanced, but it is not the right or only tool to address our life problems.  This becomes more evident in severe mental health issues like trauma responses and complex emotional issues.

We learned about many things through our education, but have you ever learned your thoughts, emotions, physical experiences, and spirit? The mental health challenges are because your own thoughts and emotions gained from the past are working against you. These challenges were developed through all dimensions of your life; mind, body, and spirit. Hence the solutions need to address all dimensions.

With Mindfulness, we can see how our own body and mind work. Then, we can make necessary changes that can transform our lives and create the future in the way we want.