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NeuroBeautiful Offline
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Re: yoga for depression? - August 26th 2016, 02:29 PM

Hello Lin_12. Welcome to Teenhelp. I hope you're finding your way here well.

To move onto your question, this may be a complicated answer than what is expected but I will try my best to explain it. Please bear with me and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.

So there is a difference between doing something as a hobby and clinical therapy by a practitioner. I am not familiar with the venue you plan to take your son, but it sounds like a studio for regular yoga goers. This does not mean it cant be helpful for him. Does he enjoy or used to enjoy doing yoga? Sometimes getting into an activity can lift his spirit, allow him to meet new people in a supportive environment and as a distraction. However, it may not treat clinical depression and the yoga instructor would not be addressing his problems or what he's going through, just provide a workout.

Now, if this is yoga therapy, which I've heard of as a clinical practice, yes it's a something people try. It is considered "alternative" or "experiential" and you may see it with the words "holistic" or "person-centered". There are other options to explore that are alternatives to traditional talk therapy. This can be Art therapy, Music therapy, Drama therapy, and nature therapy. Sometimes this is the only therapy but other times, it is a "supportive therapy" in conjunction with talk therapy. Other times, a talk psychotherapist would incorporate aspects of different therapies but not be a certified practitioner.

May I also ask how old your son is and if he has a history of mental health concerns? Different therapies work for different people but sometimes it has to do with feeling unable to speak due to a history of not speaking about emotions and that's where these alternatives may come into play. These alternatives allow the person to express themselves and heal in nonverbal ways. In the instance of yoga therapy, it would be focused on breathing and different body positions. The downside to this is that depending where you live and how your healthcare system works, you may not have it medically covered and it can be quite expensive.

Does your son have a guidance counselor? Maybe that's someone you can reach out to and then after discussing it with them, you can decide what will be the best thing for you and your son.


edit: this is more clinical than I thought. I researched the program and it says it will treat



Quote:
athletic injuries, especially from asymmetrical sports
overuse, or repetitive injuries
asthma
arthritis
stress
insomnia
fatigue
performance anxiety
depression


Since depression is included, you can give it a shot. Just keep in mind your son's preferences too though. Ask him if he is willing to try this out and listen to what he says. Keep in mind that while this had worked for the person who suggested this, it may or may not work for him.

Last edited by NeuroBeautiful; August 26th 2016 at 02:59 PM.