Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of several types of Psychotherapy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT assists in replacing negative behavior or harmful thoughts with more accurate outlook and positive action steps.

CBT addresses disorders such as anxiety, trauma, depression, eating and a variety of emotional imbalances with physical symptoms.

In a CBT therapy session a qualified psychotherapist will guide a patient through the process of describing an emotion or dynamic that creates a disturbance in their life. The patient is asked to put physical characteristics on this emotion, such as what size or material would this be made of if this emotion was an object. The patient will be guided in “asking” this object what it is trying to tell the patient or what is wants from them. This technique minimizes the full body effects that anxiety or PTSD from a trauma can have by placing permitters and identifiable characteristics to then be addressed head-on. Once the confines of a “physical” description have been established, the patient is urged to journal about these experiences and continue to add any new insights that come to mind throughout the days following the session. Follow up sessions are important as there are many layers contributing to physical and lifestyle disturbances.

From my personal experience, psychotherapy has been the best and most effective form of therapy since it focuses on an individual taking full responsibility for everything they are and everything they have experienced. Psychotherapy deals with the actual events of a person’s story or past traumas in smaller doses. This allows for each session to be productive and the patient feeling like they’ve uncovered a hidden secret within them. It is normal for “homework” to be suggested to continue progression of new developments outside of the sessions.

When I took full responsibility for everything in my life, even things that happened to me, I was in control in how I moved forward. Whereas, with conventional talk therapy, the typical “blame game” left me more stressed and sad with zero answers. After a regular therapy session, I felt like I talked for an hour and dumped all of my “stuff” onto another person without much response, feedback or a next step. This did not work for me so I kept searching for ways to be guided in addressing issues and moving through them, create a productive plan and change what did not serve me. I also learned forgiveness for anything I could not control.

“Forgiveness isn’t approving what happened. It’s choosing to rise above it.”

— Robin Sharma

Psychotherapy and CBT are very detailed topics and require further investigation. If you’re on a path to heal past from emotional traumas, consider looking into a form of psychotherapy that would best serve your needs.

Photo by Sarah Arista @sarawh13

Chromatherapy

The benefits of chromatherapy or color therapy correlates to the chakras in the body. Color has a larger impact on emotional health than most people realize. Think about a time when you felt noticeably happy or angered in someone’s home. Colors are a backdrop or an accent yet they create the essence of a room or space. Here are two extreme examples of how red and green affect mood and behavior. Red evokes anger and tension even though it’s the color of “love.” It’s best to avoid using reds in a bedroom especially if the room is shared with a partner. All values of green are safe for any room in a home. Green is found in nature so it is grounding and calms the nervous system, it nourishes through vegetables, it’s connected to the heart chakra and is the color that represents prosperity. Now go paint your kitchen, bathroom, office and bedroom your favorite shades of green. Also, if you’re in the process of healing a broken or sad heart, try wearing an emerald on your left hand.

Another way to add chromatherapy into your life is to “eat the rainbow.” Add foods such as; eggplant, grapes, blueberries, spinach, bananas, oranges, red berries or tomatoes into your daily routine.

Understanding the chakras helps when focusing on an ailment in a certain part of the body. If you’re experiencing imbalances in the body, there may be underlying emotional or traumatic issues from your past that could be blocking the flow of balanced energy.

Acupuncture and psychotherapy are healing modalities that effectively unblock stuck energy through meridians (nerve highways) along the chakras. If you’ve read this far, then you’re open to it or you’re at least curious and should research how acupuncture and psychotherapy can help you in your healing process. We all have healing to do and there’s no “one size fits all” wellness path. You did it, you got through a “woo woo,” “hippy dippy,” post and please note that I didn’t use the word “journey.” (That one doesn't count since I didn't use it in a woo woo sentence.) Ha!

Quick Guide to Chakras

Purple/Violet = Crown chakra
Indigo/Purple = Third-eye chakra
Blue = Throat chakra
Green = Heart chakra
Yellow = Solar plexus chakra
Orange = Sacral chakra
Red = Root chakra

I am not a medical professional so please consult a licensed physician before receiving acupuncture. Psychotherapy is a form of talk therapy that can bring up a lot of past trauma so be sure you are ready for this step mentally before making an appointment. Psychotherapists are not required to have a PhD in psychology. Be sure to research each method carefully and listen to your instincts when it comes to your health. Natural remedies and alternative healing procedures are effective when they are used along with western practices.