Other Alternative Therapies

If traditional talk therapy wasn’t the greatest experience — or even if it was — you might like to try an alternative therapy. If you want to feel better but find talking about your problems difficult, then you might want to try something new. Below are descriptions of the alternative therapies we offer to help you feel better — just in a different way.

Quantitative electroencephalograph (qEEG) brain mapping is a process that indicates how your brain works and identifies problem areas. qEEG testing creates a visual representation of brain wave activity in each area of your brain, showing areas with too much or too little activity and pinpointing areas for improvement.

Brain mapping is noninvasive and painless; it simply records your brain’s activity. A cap is placed on your head and connected to an electroencephalogram (EEG) machine that reads the electrical impulses in your brain and creates a brain wave map.

After completing a brain mapping session, your therapist evaluates how your brain works and determines which brain waves require training. Brain waves reveal stress levels, thought patterns and emotions that are associated with impulsivity, cognitive issues, anxiety and other symptoms.

Brain mapping is helpful in conjunction with neurofeedback therapy.

Audio-visual entrainment uses a series of flashing lights and tone pulses to guide the brain into various states of brain wave activity, ultimately putting the participant into a meditation-like state of deep relaxation. This state of relaxation increases cerebral blood flow and the release of serotonin, endorphins and dopamine in the brain.

AVE helps individuals struggling with anxiety, attention-deficit disorder (ADD), attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), seasonal affective disorder (SAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain and more. Benefits include improved sleep, mood boost, relaxation, decreased stress and anxiety, and better mental performance.

Often, audio-visual entrainment and cranial electrotherapy stimulation are combined for a truly unique experience. Equipment for both therapies is available for rental or purchase.

Cranial electrotherapy stimulation is appropriate for people recovering from substance abuse and those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), brain injury, cognitive dysfunction, chronic pain and inadequate concentration levels.

CES uses a small device that applies a low-power, pulsed electric current across the client’s head to stimulate the production of endorphins, serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitters. Increases in these substances have been shown to improve cognition, memory and energy level, while reducing situational anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.

The process is not painful, there are no side effects, and it has been proven safe for use in the home without professional supervision. Clients undergoing both CES and AVE have reported deeper relaxation states compared to those using a single therapy. 

Some symptoms of food sensitivity are bloating, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), mood swings, chronic fatigue, headaches, insomnia and sinus problems. Because determining which food(s) cause your symptoms is difficult, we offer blood tests that measure your immune response to various foods. After you receive your results, you can talk with a nutrition coach who will help you understand what you should eat and what you should avoid to alleviate your symptoms and improve your health. 

The tests are differentiated by the number of sensitivity-causing foods that are tested. We offer the following tests, shown in order of the most to the least comprehensive:

• Premium blood test: 200 foods
• Comprehensive blood test: 154 foods
• Standard blood test: 115 foods
• Kosher blood test: 108 foods
• Vegetarian blood test: 104 foods
• Basic blood test: 88 foods

Since medication is part of the treatment plan for some individuals, our nurse practitioner provides medication evaluation and management. For clients who have undergone genetic testing, the nurse practitioner reviews those results prior to prescribing.

However, our nurse practitioner, who is trained in integrative medicine, does more than prescribe medications. She is available to work with clients who have underlying conditions, such as thyroid and hormone issues, that may contribute to their mental health issues. The goal is to make complete healing possible.

This therapy heals by identifying trapped or inherited emotions. Dealing with bodily imbalances helps to alleviate the client’s symptoms, while increasing his or her ability to reach goals and improve relationships.

The body code technique brings balance in 6 ways:

1. Energy. An energy imbalance is corrected by identifying and removing damaging emotional and mental energies that become trapped in the body during stressful, emotional events.
2. Circuitry. Circuitry balance involves stabilizing the body’s energy systems, including the chakras, acupuncture meridians, the spirit-body connection, and the energy circuits of organs and glands.
3. Toxicity. Toxic agents that may or may not be diagnosed in medical tests are identified and addressed.

4. Pathogens. Destructive infections and negative energies are identified, and remedies to rid the body of these elusive pathogens are introduced.

5. Structural. Imbalances in bones, organs, connective tissue, muscles and nerves are found and balanced in a noninvasive manner to restore stability to the physical body.
6. Nutrition. Nutrition balancing involves identifying nutrient deficiencies, imbalances such as dehydration, a magnetic field deficiency or a need for certain healing foods.

Research demonstrates that meditation helps improve focus and attention, reduces anxiety and lowers blood pressure. Some people, especially those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), find that meditation is difficult to master. That’s why the therapists at Aspen Valley Wellness use the Muse™, a brain wave sensing device that utilizes electroencephalography (EEG) technology to provide real-time information about the individual’s meditative state. Allowing the person to recognize and practice brain state changes makes learning the art of meditation easy.

The Muse™ may be used during individual therapy sessions or rented for in-home use.

While mostly used with children and teens, many adults also enjoy expressive arts therapy. This treatment utilizes expressive skills in lieu of traditional talk therapy to help clients heal. The idea is that participation in some form of creative expression (writing, dance, drama, music, art, etc.) allows individuals to examine their feelings, emotions and thoughts.

Unlike art or music therapy, expressive arts therapy incorporates some or all of the creative arts, not just one. During therapy sessions, clients are encouraged to examine their insights and reactions through journaling, painting, movement and other creative media. Individuals do not have to be skilled artists; the process, not the outcome, is what matters.

Expressive arts therapy is a good treatment for clients suffering from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental disabilities, brain injuries, stress, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic illness and social challenges.

This form of expressive therapy is mainly geared toward children, but adults and teens tend to enjoy creating and processing in the sand, too. Our office has one Jungian sand tray and thousands of miniatures for exploring this avenue to well-being.

Most often used with clients who have experienced a traumatic event, sand tray therapy combines play and art therapies. The client is directed to a box or tray filled with sand and a variety of small toys which he or she uses to create a miniature world that represents his or her struggles and conflicts. Sand play provides an opportunity for the client to resolve conflicts and remove obstacles — in a safe, nonverbal manner. 

Clients often find that this therapy reduces the distress that comes from discussing their personal traumas. The therapist observes and diagnoses mental health issues and may take photos to assess changes in scenes over time.