Psychosensory therapy involves applying non-specific sensory input to generate an extrasensory response to effect a beneficial change within the brain, either transiently or permanently. This type of therapy is distinct from talk therapy (psychotherapy) and drug therapy (psychopharmacology). The active ingredient in psychosensory therapy is called an “electroceutical”, which is anything that employs electrical stimulation to affect and modify brain functioning. In this therapy, the source of the electroceutical can be generated outside the body (extra-corporeally), or from stimulation of receptors within the body (intra-corporeally).
Some examples of psychosensory therapies include:
- Havening Techniques: This technique uses touch to create delta waves in the brain. It can be self-applied and is used to eliminate unwanted feelings from distressing memories and events, as well as promote personal and professional growth.
- Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT): This technique also uses touch by tapping on specific body points while focusing on a specific issue.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): This technique uses eye movements or other bilateral stimulation such as tapping or sounds while processing traumatic memories.
- Thought Field Therapy (TFT): This is another touch based technique that involves tapping on specific body points in a particular sequence while thinking about a problem.
- Yoga: This practice utilizes movement, breathing, and mindfulness and can help with mood, thought, and behaviour.
- Acupuncture/Acupressure: These therapies involve stimulating specific points on the body to promote healing and balance.
- Exercise: Physical activity can be a form of psychosensory input that impacts mood and mental state.
- Aromatherapy: The use of scents to influence mood and well-being.
- Craniosacral Therapy: Gentle touch is used in this therapy to release tension and restrictions in the body.
- Meditation/Relaxation: These practices help to calm the mind and body through focused attention or relaxation.
- Biofeedback/Neurofeedback: These methods use sensors to provide feedback on physiological responses, allowing people to learn self-regulation.
- Music Therapy: This uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs.
- Massage Therapy: This involves physical touch to manipulate soft tissues to reduce tension and promote relaxation.
Psychosensory therapies can help with a range of issues, including:
- Trauma: They can help de-encode the emotional, cognitive, and sensory components of a traumatizing event. Some therapies like Havening can target neurons holding traumatic experiences active in the brain and empower the brain to release them.
- Anxiety and Fear: By using various sensory inputs, these techniques can help downregulate the response to stressors.
- Pain: Some psychosensory therapies can help reduce the experience of pain by altering the body’s electrochemical state.
- Mood disorders: These techniques can help alter behavior and mood.
- Other psychological issues: They can address symptoms related to other mental health problems such as compulsions.
How Psychosensory Therapies are Used
- Touch: Therapies like Havening use touch as an electroceutical, often combined with distraction techniques, to provide a sense of safety and reduce the intensity of distress from a specific memory. Clients may be asked to focus on a distressing memory or emotion while engaging in the touch.
- Sensory Input: Therapies like EMDR use eye movements or other bilateral stimulation to process and integrate traumatic memories. Other techniques use a variety of sensory input like aromatherapy or music.
- Mind-body Connection: Many of these therapies focus on the connection between the body and mind, using sensory input to change mood, sensations, thoughts, and behavior.
- Self-application: Some techniques, like Havening, can be self-applied. This allows individuals to use the tools in their own time, providing a sense of empowerment.
- Integration with other therapies: Some psychosensory therapies, like Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, can be combined with talk therapy and other approaches, to fully resolve trauma symptoms.
Overall, psychosensory therapies provide a way to work with the brain and body through sensory input to reduce negative emotions and memories, and promote healing and growth.