--- title: "4 Alternative Therapies For PTSD" url: https://alsuprun.com/blog/alternative-therapy/4-alternative-therapies-for-ptsd/ author: Editorial date: 2026-08-28T22:07:17+00:00 categories: [alternative therapy] tags: [] --- # 4 Alternative Therapies For PTSD There are various approaches available to treat PTSD, from therapy and medication to [alternative therapies](https://alsuprun.com/); some methods have proven more successful than others. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TBCT) can help change negative perspectives about past traumas, as well as enable you to learn how to tolerate distressful physical sensations more comfortably and acquire effective coping techniques. Medication such as Paroxetine, Mirtazapine, Amitriptyline and Phenelzine may help relieve anxiety by altering neurotransmitter levels in the brain. While these medicines may provide temporary relief, side effects include diarrhea, dizziness and nausea. [![Rejuvenate your whole body & balance your health without medications - now remotely!](https://alsuprun.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/BioresonanceTopAd.png)](https://www.bioresonance.rent) ## Acupuncture Ancient Chinese medicine developed this technique to reduce anxiety and help individuals relax. Acupuncture has also been found to relieve symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Furthermore, it can balance hormone levels within the body while increasing immunity function – providing a holistic solution to treat PTSD. Mind-body practices such as yoga and meditation can provide a natural alternative to prescription medication for mental health conditions like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yoga and meditation have proven successful at relieving stress and anxiety while improving self-esteem and sleep quality; social connection increases while emotional regulation improves. They’re especially useful for veterans as they provide them with an outlet to express themselves creatively while connecting with people in an accepting and safe environment. NICE guidelines recommend trauma-focused psychological therapies like Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as effective therapies to treat posttraumatic stress disorder in adults. These approaches seek to restore healthy brain function through relaxation training and gradually exposing survivors of trauma to memories, feelings, sensations and situations they fear or avoid. [![](https://alsuprun.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/ForeverYoungYouWannaBe.png)](https://alsuprun.com/services.html#Contact) Complementary and integrative health (CIH) practices such as hypnotherapy and art therapy have proven themselves as useful treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complementing conventional treatment or being combined with psychotherapeutic modalities like Prolonged Exposure therapy to increase overall sense of well-being in individuals. Neurofeedback is another CIH practice that is effective at combatting the symptoms of PTSD. This treatment acknowledges that repeated adverse experiences lead to strengthening or weakening of different neural connections to support survival, leading to hyperarousal in emotional regions and decreased activity in cognitive areas, as well as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, hypervigilance and anger outbursts resulting from these imbalances. Neurofeedback seeks to rebalance brain connections with an aim of decreasing anxiety levels and other related PTSD-related symptoms such as depression, anxiety etc. ## Aromatherapy Aromatherapy employs essential oils, which are concentrated, aromatic plant extracts that have various health benefits. People typically use them to help alleviate pain, promote sleep and ease anxiety; aromatherapy may also be combined with other therapies for PTSD; however it is always advisable to first speak with a healthcare provider prior to trying any [alternative therapy](https://alsuprun.com/) treatments for PTSD. Psychotherapy can be the first step to treating PTSD, which involves speaking to a therapist about your experience of trauma. Psychotherapy can help you understand what happened while shifting how you think about it; additionally, this therapy may provide invaluable coping tools and skills needed to cope with symptoms and overcome trauma. Psychological treatments have proven successful at managing the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Prolonged Exposure, and Narrative Exposure. Medication may also be prescribed, though such drugs often come with unpleasant side effects that don’t always work effectively. Complementary and integrative health (CIH) practices have quickly grown in popularity in the US and are increasingly being investigated as potential treatments for mental health conditions like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). CIH can be defined as “a system of healthcare that integrates conventional and nonconventional approaches to managing symptoms”, covering an array of mind-body techniques including yoga, meditation, massage therapy, acupuncture and herbal remedies. [![](https://alsuprun.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/RadionicMerch.png)](https://alsuprun.com/merch.html) Many complementary and integrative health (CIH) practices have been shown to help reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and are available through VA medical facilities. Evidence on their efficacy remains limited, however; further study needs to be completed. It should also be noted that without supervision by an authorized healthcare professional these practices could prove harmful. Trauma-focused CBT is one of the most accessible and effective PTSD therapies. This type of CBT focuses on changing negative thoughts and behaviors associated with trauma events – such as self-blame. Therapy sessions may take place either individually or group sessions and it often complements other forms of treatment like EMDR. ## Horseback Riding Horseback riding therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) offers participants an incredible opportunity to connect and trust horses. Horses are highly sensitive creatures who pick up on people’s energy without verbal communication – clients learn how to interpret the horse’s nonverbal body movements in order to establish safe, healthy relationships between horse and rider. Furthermore, learning to ride can build confidence and self-esteem – in fact one study showed that over 80% of participants reported riding as having positive psychological benefits such as relaxation, enjoyment and an enhanced sense of achievement! Equine therapy has proven particularly helpful for veterans who have experienced trauma that has resulted in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Soldiers serving under extreme circumstances and being exposed to numerous traumatic scenes may benefit from using this form of psychotherapy; The Department of Veteran Affairs has acknowledged this method as an invaluable resource in treating veterans suffering from PTSD. Therapeutic horseback riding offers an experiential therapy approach. As horses are prey animals, they’re highly attuned to anxiety and stress from several feet away – they even know when a heartbeat changes so if they detect that someone is stressed they may back off or become restless; providing immediate, honest feedback about the effects of internal state on you in a safe, supportive environment. At Take Heart Counseling, our therapists are specially trained to offer trauma-informed horseback riding therapy. We understand that not everyone feels ready to discuss traumatic experiences openly; so our sessions provide a safe and relaxing environment in which healing may occur. Furthermore, they use horse’s actions and reactions as an opportunity to teach about emotional regulation for each client individually. Mental health professionals and those suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder should find alternative treatments that suit their unique needs, whether that’s massage therapy, aromatherapy or horseback riding. There are various holistic solutions that may reduce symptoms of PTSD like massage therapy and aromatherapy; contact us now to discover our Equine-assisted Psychotherapy programs as an avenue toward recovery! ## Yoga Yoga is a collection of physical, mental, and spiritual practices designed to forge an integration between body and mind. Studies have demonstrated its ability to reduce stress levels and enhance mood while at the same time decreasing trauma’s negative impacts on physical wellbeing and improving quality of life overall. Hatha, Ashtanga, Kundalini yoga are some of the many varieties available; each type offers poses, breathing exercises, meditation techniques and chanting or singing as means for practice. Trauma-informed yoga (TC-TSY) is a specialty form of yoga designed to meet the needs of people who have been affected by trauma. Utilizing techniques such as titration, it empowers individuals to increase tolerance of both bodily sensations associated with trauma as well as those that provide comfort. Furthermore, TC-TSY allows participants to express emotions safely. One study conducted on veterans found combining yoga and creative therapies was highly successful at relieving their symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yoga also enabled participants to feel more connected to others during these sessions. Studies have also demonstrated the efficacy of yoga for decreasing fatigue and improving quality of life for people living with cancer, though these studies were relatively weak; therefore further investigation needs to be conducted in order to ascertain how yoga might benefit other groups with health conditions. Yoga has been found to significantly decrease pain and restore function in those suffering from chronic back pain. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials concluded that it was more effective than other forms of exercise at relieving back discomfort while improving function, as well as safe for most people. One study discovered that adding yoga into a program to help veterans stop smoking was effective at decreasing the number of cigarettes consumed and improving participants’ stress management capabilities. Studies have demonstrated the potential benefits of yoga on sleep quality and menopausal symptoms. 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