Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Psychologists: An Essential Resource

How do alternative medical practices like yoga, meditation, or massage affect our health? Mental health practitioners can expect as many as four in 10 of their clients to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to supplement conventional psychotherapy. This book arms therapists with the information they need to provide advice on the safety and effectiveness of CAM therapies and describes a broad array of approaches that may benefit clients. These include mind-body therapies, such as biofeedback, meditation, hypnosis, yoga, and spirituality; biologically based practices, including dietary supplements and aroma therapy; manipulative and body-based therapies, including chiropractic care, massage, and movement therapy; energy medicine, such as Reiki; and the whole medical systems of traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. Each chapter focuses on the underlying science to describe how the approach works; relevant research, contraindications, and risks; and how to integrate the approach with psychological practice.