When you suffer intensely from mental health problems, you may need an intensive therapeutic option to address your needs. For many, counseling, mental health medications, or a combination of both may be sufficient in making you feel okay to get through life.
However, those things don’t work for everyone, and some don’t want to settle for getting through life—they want to thrive in life. There are many different options in intensive therapy programs, depending on your specific needs, budget, and mindset. For example, if you learn more about natural healing, you may be more open to an alternative healing path.
1. Retreat
An intensive therapy retreat gives you a few days to focus solely on your mental health issues and the core causes of those issues. While some people have chemical imbalances in their bodies that cause mental health issues, many feel the long-term impact of unresolved trauma and grief. These are the types of problems that can be resolved through therapy. However, sometimes an immersive experience like a therapy retreat can allow you to explore quickly and get to some of the deeper issues that are the root cause of your problems. This isn’t to say all of your problems can be solved in a long weekend. However, you can learn new skills, gain unique strengths, and learn a new way to approach issues over a long weekend.
Following the weekend, you can arrange for individual therapy, couples therapy, or family therapy to continue working on the problems that are damaging your relationships and mental health. Therapy retreats are not meant to solve all of your concerns but rather to get you started on the path to recovery.
2. Residential Program
A residential intensive therapy program allows you to remove yourself from your everyday problems and interactions to reduce distractions and provide a safe environment to explore mental health issues. Residential treatment programs for teens are often helpful because many of their triggers are within their home life, and having a safe place to stay while working through issues can be extremely helpful and relieving. If you are a parent with a struggling teen, you may want to look into residential programs that will meet your child’s needs. This will also allow you to seek mental health help as you may be struggling as a parent.
Residential programs are not meant to send someone away who needs help. As a parent, it is essential to understand that you are not abandoning your child. Alternatively, you are offering your child an opportunity to heal without you watching over them, and you are giving them space and freedom to heal on their terms.
3. Alternative Path
When traditional therapy paths have not been fruitful or are possibly beyond your budget, alternative approaches have been found highly beneficial for people battling mental health issues related to stress and past trauma. Sitting mediation, yoga mediation, and reiki are effective ways to heal past trauma and develop healthy coping skills for stressful or triggering situations. You can take classes, participate in a retreat, or start on your own with online videos or books. There are an immense amount of resources available in the area of meditation, yoga, and reiki.
Regardless of the path you choose, it is critical not to ignore mental health problems. The first step may be talking to your primary physician and getting a referral to a mental health professional. There are also emergency helplines you can call if you need to speak to someone immediately. There is no reason to ever suffer in silence; there are people and options you can turn to for help.
