Psychosensory therapy is an approach that uses sensory input rather than talk or medication to bring about positive changes in a person’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviours. It works by using various forms of stimulation to influence the brain’s electrochemical state, promoting healing and well-being. Unlike some approaches that focus on processing thoughts or emotions verbally, psychosensory therapy uses physical or sensory experiences to create therapeutic effects.
Key Principles of Psychosensory Therapy
- Sensory Input: This therapy relies on stimulating the senses, which can include touch, movement, sound, or even smell, to change brain activity. This sensory input aims to generate an extrasensory response in order to achieve beneficial changes.
- Electroceuticals: The term ‘electroceutical’ is used to describe the active element in psychosensory therapy, referring to the electrical stimulation used to modify brain functioning. This can be generated either externally or through stimulation of receptors within the body.
- Non-Specific Input: The sensory input used is often non-specific, which means it is not directly linked to a particular memory or thought. This approach enables the therapy to bypass verbal processing, and work more directly with the brain’s automatic systems.
- Delta Waves: Some psychosensory techniques, like havening, aim to generate delta waves in the brain through touch, which can help to calm the mind and process difficult experiences.
- Trauma De-encoding: Some psychosensory methods can be used to de-encode the emotional, cognitive, and sensory components of distressing events, making them less impactful.
- Stress Regulation: Many psychosensory therapies can help to regulate the response to stressors and prevent the development of further symptoms.
- Holistic: Psychosensory therapy acknowledges that the body and mind are interconnected and that working with the body’s sensory systems can affect mental and emotional well-being.
- Non-Verbal: This approach offers an alternative to talk-based methods and can be particularly helpful for those who find it difficult to express their feelings through words.
- Brain Changes: This type of therapy works by changing the electrochemical state of the brain, leading to a reduction in pain and stress and increasing positive feelings.
Types of Psychosensory Therapies
Psychosensory therapies are diverse and may be broadly categorised into those that activate the mind through specific memories and those that don’t:
- Havening Techniques: Involves the use of touch to specific areas of the body to create delta waves in the brain and calm distress.
- Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT): Uses tapping on specific points on the body to release emotional blocks.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Utilises eye movements to help the brain process and integrate traumatic memories.
- Thought Field Therapy (TFT): Employs a tapping sequence to address emotional and psychological distress.
- Yoga: Uses physical postures, breathing techniques and mindfulness practices to balance the body and mind.
- Acupuncture/Acupressure: Works by stimulating specific points on the body to promote healing and well-being.
- Exercise: Physical activity is known to have positive effects on the mind and body.
- Aromatherapy: Uses specific scents to affect mood and relaxation.
- Craniosacral Therapy: Involves gentle touch to manipulate the bones of the head and spine to promote healing.
- Meditation/Relaxation: Employs focused attention and breathing to relax the mind and body.
- Biofeedback/Neurofeedback: Allows individuals to gain awareness of their bodily functions, such as heart rate and brain activity, enabling self-regulation.
- Music Therapy: Uses music as a therapeutic tool to address emotional, physical, and cognitive needs.
- Massage Therapy: Uses touch to promote relaxation, reduce muscle tension and improve physical and emotional well-being.
How Psychosensory Therapy Differs From Other Methods
While methods that use talk or medications have their place, psychosensory therapy distinguishes itself through the use of sensory input to create a change, where:
- Talk-based methods rely on language and exploring personal history.
- Medication uses chemicals to alter brain chemistry.
- Psychosensory techniques use sensory stimulation to influence brain activity and improve a person’s state of being.
Summary
Psychosensory therapy is an approach that uses sensory stimulation to bring about a positive shift in a person’s state of being, and therefore addresses the interconnectedness of the mind and body. By utilizing sensory techniques, it offers an alternative method for managing stress, processing difficult experiences, and promoting healing and well-being. This approach can be helpful for people who have difficulty talking about their experiences or who prefer a body-centred approach to wellness.