Experiential Therapy: A Form Of Mental Health Treatment
There are many types of experiential mental health therapies
What is experiential psychotherapy?
Experiential therapy can help treat eating disorders, depression, and more
Experiential therapy involves experiencing tangible moments in the present. However, taking part in this treatment may also bring up intense emotions from the past. You may confront fears, feelings of failure, or sadness from the past that might still impact you today.
Experiential therapy: Who can benefit from it?
Clients may benefit from experiential therapy when experiencing immense emotional distress, struggling to move on from the past, or living with a substance use disorder. It might also be used in the treatment of abuse recovery for those who have experienced a traumatic relationship or dynamic. In addition to substance use disorders, it is also good for mental health conditions like anxiety disorders, personality disorders, depression, and eating disorders.
Experiential therapy can also benefit individuals experiencing grief, as it addresses the past emotions of loss and how they connect to current realities. In addition, individuals with patterns of unhealthy relationships may gain self-awareness, arrive at the root of a problem, and discover the causes of interpersonal conflicts. Through experiencing their emotions, sensations, and roleplaying, they can fully immerse themselves in the experiential therapy session and within their experiences to potentially heal them.
How does experiential therapy work?
Experiential therapy is an approach that might be used alongside other approaches. For example, it might be used in conjunction with talk therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). When beginning an experiential exercise, your therapist can introduce the activity along with instructions. During the activity, a mixture of emotions might emerge, allowing you to explore the memories surrounding them.
Seeing you in unguarded moments as you partake in activities in everyday life may give your therapist a clearer picture of who you are and how you respond to adversity or challenges. As they observe you and talk to you about your symptoms, they can start to develop a treatment plan personalized to who you are.
The therapist may work alongside you in the activity or talk to you as you complete it. As you receive experiential therapy treatment, you may delve into emotional issues that stem from childhood or recent trauma, abuse, grief, loss, substance use issues, or anger concerns. When you're faced with a challenge that evokes feelings you felt in the past, you can learn to address cognitive-behavioral responses in the moment. After addressing emotions and memories, you may have richer experiences and more profound positive feelings of happiness, joy, safety, self-esteem, and love.
If you are facing or witnessing abuse of any kind, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 for support. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text "START" to 88788. You can also use the online chat.
How can I find this type of support?
Any therapist may use experiential techniques during mental health counseling. Standard techniques utilized include roleplay, puppetry, guided imagery, play therapy activities, and other forms of treatment that can take place within the confines of a traditional talk therapy session.
How to find experiential therapists
Several allied health professionals have additional training and are certified to provide experiential therapy in other ways. These providers include occupational therapists, art therapists, music therapists, and animal-assisted providers. They often receive extra training or licensing in their therapy method of choice, and sessions may be longer or differently structured.
Where do experiential therapy sessions take place?
Experiential therapy often occurs in your therapist's office or an outpatient treatment center. If your therapist is trained in using experiential therapy techniques, they may add them to your therapy sessions to help you address present feelings based on past experiences.
Some experiential therapy facilities may have facilities specifically structured to these types of therapy, such as an occupational room, craft center, bowling alley, swimming pool, or equine center. Therapy might also occur in a resort, retreat center, rehabilitation program, or recreational facility.
Different types of experiential therapy: Art therapy, music therapy, & more
Interventions in experiential therapy do not only come in just one form. The types of activity that therapists choose for experiential therapy range from roleplaying exercises to challenging physical activities. Below are a few techniques you might try.
Psychodrama
Psychodrama is an experiential therapy in which a client acts out the role of a character while other clients take on supporting roles. The subject of the acting exercise is an unresolved conflict that the main character might want to address. For example, the client might act out a child talking to their parents about their needs while the group pretends to be their parents or other family. The therapist can guide the process to allow the client to find healing or restructure an event in a way that feels like closure to them.
Role-playing
Therapists often use role-playing exercises to help individuals practice social skills, rehearse a conversation, or see how another person might feel. For example, a parent and child trying a roleplaying exercise might pretend to be each other, saying what they might say during a conflict or conversation. Afterward, the therapist can ask the individuals what they felt about the exercise and how it gave them unique insights into the other person's role.
Guided imagery
Your therapist may use guided imagery to recreate experiences from your past. This type of exercise consists of the therapist describing a scene while you picture what the therapist describes. Afterward, you can talk to the therapist about what you experienced and how it made you feel. The therapist can use this information to guide you in discussing how this affects your life in the present.
Art therapy & crafting
Expressive art therapy allows clients to address painful emotions or symptoms through the expression of art and creation. Arts therapy may involve talk therapy, or the therapist and client might work on art simultaneously in silence. After the client has created a piece, they might talk to the therapist about its meaning or discuss their creative process. Types of art used in experiential therapy may include drawing, painting, sculpting, or making collages.
Music therapy
Music therapy can have many therapeutic benefits. For example, it is often utilized in treating clients living with dementia to increase cognitive function and memory. As music can be deeply connected to emotions, it may allow clients to understand their past experiences and connect to them more profoundly. Music therapy can consist of listening to and rating different songs, playing percussion instruments while listening to a recording, making art while listening to music, or watching someone play an instrument. The music therapist may do talk therapy between songs or at the end of the session.
Animal care
When people interact with animals, they may feel less guarded against emotions and empathetic feelings. As they take care of a living being, they may also begin nurturing themselves. Many clients feel connected with animals, as they can see them as innocent creatures that love them regardless of their concerns. This sensation may put them in touch with their inner child, who may be wounded from adverse childhood experiences. It is a commonly used technique for those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Play therapy
Play therapy is a type of experiential therapy often used for children, in this kind of age group. However, teens, adults, and individuals in groups might also utilize it. It can feel silly to play as an adult, but this type of therapeutic play may help you connect with your inner child. As you engage in a game of make-believe, storytelling, sand play, or any other play activity, you may be able to confront the part of yourself that edits your words before you speak. That open, honest child within you may have room for expression and emotional growth.
Challenge courses
Many inpatient hospitals, treatment centers, rehabilitation facilities, or outpatient mental health clinics include challenge courses or physical activity courses on their grounds. For example, there may be a ropes course, volleyball court, bowling alley, or obstacle course. Challenge courses give you intense physical activities to engage in that keep you grounded while presenting you with challenges. This type of experiential therapy done in individual and medical settings may prove beneficial for those who like to express emotions through physical activity. In addition, physical exercise can improve mental health.
Experiential family therapy
Experiential family therapy is a group therapy in which families interact while doing an activity. Each individual may reveal more about themselves with each session. As conflict and problem-solving difficulties might arise during the team-building activity, the therapist can stop an activity to help families discuss their concerns and determine the reason for the conflict.
Mental health counseling options
Experiential therapy has various forms and can be practiced in a variety of environments including individual, clinical, and medical settings. If you like the sound of this type of therapy but aren't sure you can afford it in your area, you can also take part in it online.
Online experiential therapy
Therapists can conduct experiential therapies through video conferences. The clients are guided in an activity such as roleplaying or sculpting as they discuss their symptoms with their therapist.
In a study involving six participants in online occupational therapy, researchers found that the participants felt communication was more convenient than traditional therapy. Participants also reported that the software used was straightforward and posed few problems. Overall, participants rated their experiences positively.
Experiential therapy & other forms of online mental health treatment
If you're ready to get started, an online platform like BetterHelp can work with you to find a therapist specializing in experiential therapy or another type of treatment. You can engage in fun activities in the comfort of your own home or wherever you have an internet connection at a time that works for your schedule.
Takeaway
Experiential therapy allows individuals, groups, families, and couples to try in-the-moment activities to address past distressing symptoms, adverse events, or suppressed emotions. If you're interested in trying experiential therapy, you can get started through an online platform or in person with a specialist in mental health and expressive activities.
Is CBT an experiential therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is not a type of experiential therapy but rather a type of talk therapy. The primary difference between cognitive therapy and experiential therapy lies in focus and approach. Here are some more specific examples of how CBT and experiential therapy are different:
- CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to mental health issues. Experiential therapy, on the other hand, focuses on exploring and processing emotions.
- CBT is a structured, goal-oriented approach emphasizing the importance of understanding and challenging distorted thought patterns. Experiential therapy emphasizes engaging in experiential activities to gain insight into emotions and behaviors.
- CBT is typically more focused on the present and future, while experiential therapy might involve exploring past experiences and trauma. Experiential therapy uses therapeutic interventions to help individuals re-experience emotional situations from the past.
- CBT often employs talk-centric techniques like cognitive restructuring, guided discovery, exposure therapy, journaling exercises, activity scheduling, and stress reduction techniques. Forms of experiential therapy are typically more action-oriented (though experiential psychotherapy features talk features, too) and include equine therapy, psychodrama, play therapy, and creative outlets like art therapy and music therapy.
What is the focus of process experiential therapy?
Process experiential therapy (PET) focuses on emotions and the therapeutic relationship as critical components of the therapeutic process. It aims to help individuals identify, experience, and healthily express their emotions, leading to greater emotional awareness, emotional regulation skills, and personal growth. In PET, the therapist may use empathic reflection, empathic attunement, and validation techniques to help clients explore and process their emotions in a safe, supportive environment.
Is EMDR experiential therapy?
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of experiential therapy aimed at helping individuals heal from symptoms of trauma and severe emotional distress. It is an eight-phase experiential therapy treatment involving lateral stimulation techniques like side-to-side eye movements, hand tapping, or audio stimulation as the client recalls distressing memories and experiences. The stimulations are thought to help the brain process such memories and emotions more effectively, leading to decreased emotional distress and increased mental clarity.
What are the disadvantages of experiential therapies as mental health treatment?
While it can be helpful for many, experiential therapy has a few possible disadvantages or limitations. These include:
- It can be costly: Experiential therapy may be less affordable than other types, and because it’s considered a holistic approach, insurance may not cover treatment.
- There’s limited evidence-based data on its effectiveness: Studies on the efficacy of experiential therapy are few, and the results are mixed.
- It can be emotionally uncomfortable: Exploring deep emotions through experiential therapy can be intense and overwhelming for some. This may be a disadvantage for some people who aren’t ready to confront complicated feelings or experiences.
- It can be time-consuming: Although frequency and duration might vary, experiential therapy may take longer than traditional talk therapy sessions. This might be a disadvantage for individuals with limited time or resources.
- It isn’t necessarily suitable for all issues: Experiential therapy may not be the best approach for everyone or all mental health conditions. Some may benefit more from other types of therapy, focusing on behavior modification or cognitive restructuring.
Who is the founder of experiential therapy?
Experiential therapy has been developed over time by several therapists and researchers; however, the most influential figures in the development of experiential therapy are Carl Rogers and Fritz Perls.
Other therapists and researchers, such as Virginia Satir and Carl Whitaker, Salvador Minuchin, and Eugene Gendlin, have also made significant contributions to the development of experiential therapy through their work in family therapy, body-centered therapy, and focusing-oriented therapy.
What is experiential psychotherapy good for?
While research is still somewhat limited, studies suggest that some forms of experiential therapy can be effective in some instances. For example, studies on music therapy show it can be beneficial for people with anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, as well as improve physical symptoms like heart rate, motor skills, stimulation of the brain, and enhancement of the immune system. Older research indicates that art therapy may also help people with eating disorders, personality disorders, and PTSD manage their symptoms. This particular therapy is also good for improving emotional processing, increasing self-awareness, developing coping mechanisms, and understanding inner thoughts.
What are the experiential exercises that experiential therapists utilize?
Experiential psychotherapy exercises help clients explore and process emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in a direct, active experience. Types of experiential therapies include, but aren’t limited to:
Psychodrama
In these exercises, clients “act out” past experiences or conflicts in a safe, supportive environment to gain insight, process emotions, and shape new behaviors. This type of drama therapy allows individuals to re-enact or re-experience past situations to work through psychological difficulties. Both drama therapy and psychodrama are good therapeutic interventions to help people explore issues with the help of creative artistic processes.
Expressive therapy or art therapy
Expressing oneself through art such as painting, drawing, and crafting allows clients to release emotions subjectively in the moment, in a type of expressive therapy commonly called “art therapy.” In this exercise, the therapist may guide the client in interpreting their artwork and exploring underlying themes or feelings. Expressive tools in therapy such as creating art can help with accessing unconscious emotions, increasing self-awareness, and emotional release which can help in achieving positive changes.
Nature therapy
Clients participate in activities that connect them with nature, such as hiking, bird watching, and gardening, to decrease stress, anxiety, and depression. It is also good for individuals who are recovering from substance use disorders for them to experience feelings of pleasure naturally. Some substance use disorders that can benefit from nature therapy include cigarette, alcohol, & drug addiction.
Equine or animal therapy
Animal-assisted therapy or equine-assisted therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses animals like dogs, cats, rabbits, and horses to help improve the physical and mental functioning of individuals. Interacting with and caring for animals can help relieve symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and chronic stress. Animal therapy can also help clients cultivate empathy, impulse control, and better coping skills. It is important to consult a mental health professional to assess whether animal-assisted therapy or equine-assisted therapy is suited for you.
Movement therapies
Body-centered activities like dance, yoga, and breathwork can help clients explore and release emotions and promote self-expression and relaxation.
Music therapy
In music therapy, clients may listen to or actively create music to explore memories and feelings and to provide a means of catharsis.
As an individual, you can try and learn more about these various forms of therapies under experiential therapy. There are resources online to know more about the process, and benefits of each. You can also refer to books such as The Current Psychotherapies by clinical psychologists Danny Wedding and Raymond Corsini, which is a comprehensive handbook about innovative therapies.
Is experiential therapy person-centered?
Yes, experiential therapy is considered a client-centered therapy. Person-centered methods often influence experiential therapy. Like person-centered therapy, experiential therapy highly values the therapeutic relationship and the client’s subjective experience. Both types of treatment can be helpful in a supportive, non-judgmental environment where the client can explore and express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
What is the problem with experiential learning?
Experiential learning is highly effective for some people, but the method has some potential challenges and limitations. These include:
It can be time-consuming
Experiential learning activities might require considerable planning, preparation, and implementation time, presenting challenges for individuals or organizations with limited time or resources.
It may require extra resources
Experiential learning often requires additional resources like facilitators, materials, and equipment, which can be costly. This might present an obstacle to the accessibility of experiential learning opportunities for some. You may look for other types of therapeutic approaches such as gestalt therapy, dynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, and more depending on what’s accessible and good for your budget. You can also talk to your insurance company to see the types of therapy and services included in your insurance coverage.
It may have limited transferability
While it can be effective in promoting skill development and knowledge acquisition in some contexts, some people have difficulty transferring those skills and knowledge to different settings or situations.
There might be some safety concerns
Some experiential learning activities like physical challenges or outdoor activities may involve risks or raise safety concerns that must be carefully managed.
It isn’t always accessible or inclusive for everyone
Experiential learning activities might not be accessible to people with physical disabilities or other limitations. It can also be too overwhelming for some people, especially those who are not comfortable with active participation.
What types of client problems might be best suited for experiential family therapy?
Experiential family therapy can be beneficial for addressing various issues associated with emotional, relationship, and interactional challenges within the family unit. Some client problems that might be well-suited for experiential family therapy include:
- Conflict resolution and problem-solving: Experiential family therapy can help families address and resolve conflicts and problems in an environment promoting understanding, empathy, and collaboration.
- Communication challenges: Experiential family therapy can be effective in improving communication patterns and helping members express their thoughts and feelings more openly and constructively which are essential for current and future relationships.
- Attachment issues: Experiential family therapy may help address attachment issues such as insecure attachment styles or disruptions in parent-child bonding.
- Behavioral challenges: Experiential family therapy can help address behavioral issues in children or adolescents.
- Abuse and trauma: Experiential family therapy can be effective in addressing and processing the impact of trauma or abuse within the family system.
- Grief and loss: Experiential family therapy can assist families in navigating the emotional challenges of grief and loss.
- Blended family challenges: Experiential family therapy can benefit some blended families facing challenges associated with communication, adjustment, and establishing roles.
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