Non talking therapy

[Bruisername]

Is there any form of therapy that doesn’t involve talking? Other than medication?

Do you mean like reiki or acupuncture? Or some sort of counselling without talking?

I currently do EMDR, isn't really talking therapy but still have to hash over things that have come up etc, would this be something you'd consider? Not sure what else there is therapy wise that doesn't include discussing matters. Hope you're well!

I tried cbt but I just found it really frustrating and like I was going round in circles. The therapist said my issues were so deeply ingrained that I probably needed a proper psychiatrist but my way is to hold things in - like a clam - I start to open up but as soon as someone probes I claim shut again!

There's online therapy where you can chat with therapist in writing instead of voice. Worked well for me though I ended up f2f eventually

That might work better. Less real!

Art therapy?

@Bruisername are you in the UK?

Psychiatrists aren't really therapists/therapeutic like they are in US. They are usually in the medicine side a good one might be a bit but they don't do typical therapy sessions here.

I'd suggest a counselling psychologist. Highly qualified and much better at nuanced ingrained stuff. Maybe consult one about options?

I'd avoid clinical psychologists from my experience.
Also agree about CBT. Ok for superficial stuff but not much more.

Have a look at Havening OP. It’s fairly new so the research is still developing but lots of great results from practitioners. Lots of different applications right through to severe trauma. It’s somatic rather than talk based. Havening.org is the main website

Thanks. I think the problem is that I haven’t had any trauma or triggering event. Maybe that’s why Indians talking hard because I’ve not really got anything to talk about!

Well one of the benefits of Havening is it can be successful without getting into any ‘story’ or event so definitely worth looking in to. Hope you find something that helps you.

What are you looking to achieve?

i guess I haven’t really felt anything for a very long time other than low level despair. As the perimenopause kicks in I guess I feel angrier with it. Not helped by family circumstances which are adding stress. I’d really just like to disappear and not have to deal with my life anymore!

So I guess I’m trying to achieve a bit of calm and happiness

Yoga Therapy could be a really good option for you.

Does it help with intrusive thoughts? I struggle with any therapy that tries to make you imagine being somewhere else, if you see what I mean. I can’t do that

I'm the opposite but can understand - I struggle with having to place my awareness 'inside' my body.

As it's delivered 1-1 the therapist tailors it specifically to me. It's definitely helped me with intrusive thoughts. I couldn't do CBT or any talking therapy as I felt like I was just academicising the problem, talking around it and wasn't able to be 'honest'. Having a 'whole body' approach takes the pressure off talking, teaches self-compassion and methods of attaining some peaceful moments in your mind and body and has really helped me.

I can best describe it as 'yoga for the mind' as I started out with mostly restorative work before doing anything that vaguely resembles what most people think of as yoga. I do think that feelings and emotions like stress and despair have physical, bodily symptoms so it makes sense to me to address it at bodily level before it 'makes its way up' to the mind and the brain starts interfering!

Thanks - I will have a look

I'm confused; no trauma or triggering event yet you feel low level despair and anger and your "therapist said my issues were so deeply ingrained".

When did you last feel calm and happy?

as a kid probably! I only really started struggling when I left home

I guess the ingrained was more around coping mechanisms

@OwlsRock what is the name of the therapy online where you write it down?

OK. So what muffled or subdued your happiness? Circumstances or feelings?

Well I don’t know. That’s the problem really.

ive managed to work through my anxiety and have a good handle on that but the negative feelings remain

Yoga and or weight lifting x

Try this exercise to clarify where you want to be;

At the moment I am......
After therapy, I am.....

As an example, if someone had a public speaking phobia there's would be;

At the moment I am petrified of public speaking
After therapy, I am a confident public speaker.

Try to keep it specific and in one sentence if you can.

theirs, not there's!