*indicates a modality that appears in one or more categories.

Mindfulness-Based Therapies
As mindfulness has gained popularity, a growing number of therapies have integrated it and other aspects of Buddhist psychology into their approach

Mindfulness training alone might not be sufficient to treat complex trauma and other mental health issues leading to the creation of a “hybrid approach” combining western and mindfulness methods.

Benefits:

The therapist’s own mindfulness (paying close attention, non-judgmental attitude, and compassion) can positively contribute to a client’s outcome in treatment

Yoga
The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit root "yuj", which means "to yoke" the spirit and physical body together.

Yoga has evolved over thousands of years to embrace a wide range of styles and disciplines.

It is considered a mindfulness practice with its emphasis on movement and breath.  

Hypnosis:

Hypnosis -- or hypnotherapy -- uses guided relaxation, intense concentration, and focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness that is sometimes called a trance. The person's attention is so focused while in this state that anything going on around the person is temporarily blocked out or ignored. In this naturally occurring state, a person may focus his or her attention -- with the help of a trained therapist -- on specific thoughts or tasks. Source: http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-hypnotherapy

Biofeedback:
Biofeedback is a method that uses the mind to control a body function that the body normally regulates automatically, such as skin temperature, muscle tension, heart rate, or blood pressure.

When you are first learning biofeedback, you will have sensors attached to your body and to a monitoring device. This provides instant feedback on a body function (for example, your skin temperature). The biofeedback therapist will then teach you physical and mental exercises that can help you control the function. The results are displayed on the monitor while you learn how to control that function. The monitor beeps or flashes when you achieve the desired change in that body function (such as increasing skin temperature or reducing muscle tension).

Two types of biofeedback are:

Learning biofeedback requires several sessions in a biofeedback lab or other setting. Most people can have success with biofeedback by the time they complete 12 sessions. Home feedback units are also available. With practice, many people may be able to learn to influence their muscle tension or blood flow without the help of the feedback monitor. People most often use biofeedback to control problems related to stress or blood flow, such as headaches, high blood pressure, and sleep disorders. Using it may also help control long-term (chronic) pain.

Labyrinths:

A labyrinth is a pattern of pathways that weave in a circle around a central point. You walk through the pathways to get to the center retrieved July 2016. Source: http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/labyrinths-for-modern-stresses. Labyrinths are often utilized by spiritual care practitioners and health care clinicians in order to support reflection, stress reduction, and the exploration of personal wellness in a sacred setting. Heard CP1, Scott J2, Yeo S. (2015.) “Walking the Labyrinth: Considering Mental Health Consumer Experience, Meaning Making, and the Illumination of the Sacred in a Forensic Mental Health Setting.” J Pastoral Care Counsel. Dec;69(4):240-50. doi: 10.1177/1542305015616102. Retrieved July 2016. Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26631524

Massage:

Gentle, nurturing touch reduces stress, promotes relaxation and quiets and calms the mind and body. Massage is known to improve circulation, support the immune system, and promote healing.

Dance/movement therapy (DMT) in USA/ Australia or dance movement psychotherapy (DMP) in the UK is the psychotherapeutic use of movement and dance to support intellectual, emotional, and motor functions of the body. As a form of expressive therapy, DMT looks at the correlation between movement and emotion. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_therapy

Art therapy: is defined by the American Art Therapy Association as “a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. Source: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/bipolar-i-disorder/art-therapy-patient-bipolar-disorder-pictures-speak-more-thousand-words.

Animal Assisted Therapy/Pet Therapy: a goal-directed intervention in which an animal is incorporated as an integral part of the clinical health-care treatment process. AAT is delivered or directed by a professional health or human service provider who demonstrates skill and expertise regarding the clinical applications of human-animal interactions.” Source: http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-truth-about-animal-assisted-therapy/

Prayer: Prayer is the spiritual exercise that allows people to communicate directly with an object of worship, a greater being, or their God. Prayer is used by many to have a positive impact on mood and mental health; diminish feelings of loneliness and reduce stress and anxiety. Sources: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2014/09/18/new-study-examines-the-effects-of-prayer-on-mental-health/; and, http://adrenalfatiguesolution.com/faith-and-stress/

Guided imagery therapy is a cognitive-behavioral technique in which a client is guided in imagining a relaxing scene or series of experiences. http://www.minddisorders.com/Flu-Inv/Guided-imagery-therapy.html

Compassion: is defined as the emotional response when perceiving suffering and involves an authentic desire to help. Practicing compassion has been demonstrated to increase daily positive emotions, reduce depressive symptoms, and increase life satisfaction. Source: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2013/may-june-13/the-compassionate-mind.html

Labyrinths: A labyrinth is a pattern of pathways that weave in a circle around a central point. You walk through the pathways to get to the center retrieved July 2016 Source: http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/labyrinths-for-modern-stresses. Labyrinths are often utilized by spiritual care practitioners and health care clinicians in order to support reflection, stress reduction, and the exploration of personal wellness in a sacred setting. Heard CP1, Scott J2, Yeo S. (2015.) “Walking the Labyrinth: Considering Mental Health Consumer Experience, Meaning Making, and the Illumination of the Sacred in a Forensic Mental Health Setting.” J Pastoral Care Counsel. Dec;69(4):240-50. doi: 10.1177/1542305015616102. Retrieved July 2016. Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26631524

Massage: Gentle, nurturing touch reduces stress, promotes relaxation and quiets and calms the mind and body. Massage is known to improve circulation, support the immune system, and promote healing.

Energy Therapy: Healing Touch, Reiki, Qi Gong, T’ai Chi Chuan, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Psychological Acupressure, Reflexology:

Energy work is based on a fundamental understanding that everything in the universe is made up of energy. It is the life force of our cells, glands, and systems of our body. Energy practices work to enhance the body’s own ability to bring its energy to balance, restoring a sense of ease and well-being.

Reiki:  A healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient's body and restore physical and emotional well-being.

Reflexology: An ancient therapeutic practice of applying light pressure and gentle stimulation to sensor reflexes on the feet, inducing a natural state of relaxation that helps to improve the flow of energy and promote the healing process.

T’ai Chi and Qi Gong: Tai chi and qi gong (say "chee goong") are traditional Chinese movement exercises. They are based on two ideas:

Tai chi is a series of movements done either very slowly or quickly to help move the body's chi. People use tai chi as a way to combine meditation and movement and to improve and maintain health.

Qi gong involves different movements that may be done in different orders. Some common qi gong movements include raising and lowering the arms, moving the head from side to side, and gently rubbing the ears, feet, and hands.

People may use tai chi and qi gong to improve posture, balance, coordination, endurance, and flexibility and to maintain good health and quality of life. Source: http://connecticut.networkofcare.org/mh/library/article.aspx?hwid=aa106255spec&search=tai chi

Acupuncture and Acupressure: Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that has been practiced for centuries. It's based on the theory that energy, called chi (say "chee"), flows through and around your body along pathways called meridians.

Acupuncturists believe that illness occurs when something blocks or unbalances your chi.

Acupuncture is a way to unblock or influence chi and help it flow back into balance.

Acupuncture is done by putting very thin needles into your skin at certain points on your body. This is done to influence the energy flow. Sometimes heat, pressure, or mild electrical current is used along with needles.

People use acupuncture to relieve pain and treat certain health conditions. You can use it by itself or as part of a treatment program. Studies have found promising results for the use of acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy, chemotherapy, and post-surgery pain. Acupuncture also may be useful for drug addiction. Acupuncture may help reduce symptoms of withdrawal after a person stops taking a drug he or she is addicted to. It may also help prevent a relapse. More studies are needed to learn about the benefits of acupuncture. Source: http://connecticut.networkofcare.org/mh/library/article.aspx?hwid=aa77639spec&search=acupuncture

Traditional Chinese Medicine: TCM is considered a Complementary Alternative Modality, and TCM principles are applicable to the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Acupuncture and other TCM treatments are dependent on restoration of balance. It is asserted that the nature of any entity, living or not, is determined by the intrinsic balance between opposing states, Yin and Yang. Disturbances in balance result in changes in nature, often expressed in living systems in the form of symptoms or signs of disease. TCM treatments are intended to restore balance. Balance is accomplished by influencing the vital energy, the Qi. Steven K.H. Aung, MD, OMD, PhD, FAAFP, CM,1 Heather Fay, MD,2 and Richard F. Hobbs,III, MD, FAAFP, FAAMA. (2013.) “Traditional Chinese Medicine as a Basis for Treating Psychiatric Disorders: A Review of Theory with Illustrative Cases.” Med Acupunct. Dec 1; 25(6): 398–406.
doi:  10.1089/acu.2013.1007 PMCID: PMC3870484 Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3870484/

Ayurvedic medicine: was developed in India over 3000 years ago and is the oldest medical system to have survived until the present time.  It sees each individual as having a unique mind-body constitution and set of life circumstances. It is similar to traditional Chinese medicine in believing that matter and energy are the same thing. Treatment in an ayurvedic system is holistic, involving natural medicine, massage, diet and the regulation of lifestyle. Ayurveda has been used for the treatment of schizophrenia.  Retrieved: July 2016. Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0014192/

Homeopathy: Homeopathy, or homeopathic medicine, is a medical philosophy and practice based on the idea that the body has the ability to heal itself. Homeopathic medicine views symptoms of illness as normal responses of the body as it attempts to regain health. Source: http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/homeopathy-topic-overview

Naturopathy: Naturopathic medicine (or naturopathy) is based on the belief that the body can heal itself. It aims to improve health, prevent disease, and treat illness through the use of organic foods and exercise; a healthy, balanced lifestyle; and the use of treatments from other areas of complementary medicine. (These treatments include ayurveda, homeopathy, and herbal therapies.) http://www.webmd.com/allergies/tc/naturopathic-medicine-topic-overview

Osteopathy: Osteopathic medicine emphasizes overall health and the relation among the body's nerves, muscles, bones, and organs. Osteopathic physicians (also called doctors of osteopathic medicine, or DOs) base diagnosis and treatment on the idea that the body's systems are interconnected. Instead of treating specific symptoms or illnesses, DOs regard and treat the body as an integrated whole. Osteopathic medicine focuses on disease prevention and health maintenance. http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/tc/osteopathy-topic-overview

Manipulation/Chiropractic: Chiropractors use hands-on spinal manipulation and other alternative treatments, the theory being that proper alignment of the body's musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine, will enable the body to heal itself without surgery or medication. Manipulation is used to restore mobility to joints restricted by tissue injury caused by a traumatic event, such as falling, or repetitive stress, such as sitting without proper back support.

Nutrition: Recent evidence suggests that good nutrition is essential for our mental health and that a number of mental health conditions may be influenced by dietary factors.  Evidence indicates that food plays an important contributing role in the development, management and prevention of specific mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/d/diet-and-mental-health.

Exercise/Fitness: Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function. Exercise has also been found to alleviate symptoms such as low self-esteem and social withdrawal. Health benefits from regular exercise include the following:

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1470658/