Mind Body Control: Alternative Medicine Resources

Exploring the mind's capacity to affect the body, based on tradional medical systems that make use of the interconnectedness of mind and body includes: art therapy; biofeedback; counseling; dance therapy; guided imagery; humor therapy; meditation; music therapy; prayer therapy; psychotherpay; relaxation techniques; support groups; yoga.

• American Art Therapy Association: "inform art therapists about legislative activities and issues affecting the practice of art therapy on the federal level and in each state"
• The American Association of Professional Hypnotherapists : "promotion and development of ethical methods, techniques, and standards in the field of hypnotherapy"
• American Dance Therapy Association: "works to maintain high standards of professional education and competence in the field of dance/movement therapy"
• American Holistic Nursing Association nurses healing the whole person the bio-psycho-social-spiritual dimensions of the person
• The American Horticultural Therapy Association: "promote and advance the profession of Horticultural Therapy as a therapeutic intervention and rehabilitative medium"
• American Music Therapy Association
• American Psychosomatic Society : "promote and advance the scientific understanding of the interrelationships among biological, psychological, social and behavioral factors in human health and disease"
• The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA): "representing the interests of recreational therapists-these therapists are health care providers using recreational therapy interventions for improved functioning of individuals with illness or disabling conditions
• Art Therapy Credentials Board: "an independent organization, grants postgraduate registration (ATR) after reviewing documentation of completion of graduate education and postgraduate supervised experience. The Registered Art Therapist who successfully completes the written examinationadministered by the ATCB is qualified as Board Certified (ATR-BC), a credential requiring maintenance through continuing education credits"
• The Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy, (AAGT): "non-profit organization committed to the advancement of theory, philosophy, practice and research in Gestalt Therapy and its various applications"
• The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB): "to advance the development, dissemination and utilization of knowledge about applied psychophysiology and biofeedback to improve health and the quality of life through research, education and practice"
• The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor: "educate health care professionals and lay audiences about the values and therapeutic uses of humor and laughter"
• Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts
• The Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA): "to establish and versee standards for practitioners who use biofeedback and to certify those who meet these standards
• Bibliotherapy and Reading, Special Interest Group, International Reading Association: "provide current information about the various aspects of bibliotherapy as well as an open forum on the various strategies and techniques for using this approach"
• BioWeb: Biorhythms on the Web: "body cycles can influence things such as: coordination, immunity to disease, strength, mental stability, moods, logic thinking, ability to learn, memory recall, instincts, etc."
• Canadian Association for Music Therapy
• Center for Information Therapy: :Information therapy is the prescription of the right information to the right person at the right time to help people make wise health decisions."
• "A l'écoute de ..." a.s.b.l. Healing music and music therapy: Belgian non profit-making organizationpromoting therapeutic music
• Center for Journal Therapy "education and training on the power of writing to heal body, psyche and soul"
• The Center for Mind-Body Medicine , James S. Gordon, Director, Washington, D.C.
• Certification Board for Music Therapists
• A Guide to Therapeutic Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Bassett Aromotherapy.
• IARRT International Association for Regression Research & Therapies Inc.: "non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the acceptance and use of professional and responsible past-life therapy"
• The International Association of Reiki Professionals (IARP)
• ISSSEEM (International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine ) Home Page : supports experimental exploration of the phenomena long associated with the practice of energy healing.
• The International Board for Regression Therapy (IBRT): "independent examining and certifying board for past life therapists, researchers, and training programs"
• International Society for Neurofeedback and Research: "international membership organization of professionals doing neurotherapy, neurofeedback training and research"
• National Animal Assisted Therapy Programs links to national and regional animal assisted therapy programs from Alternative Solutions in Long Term Care
• National Association for Drama Therapy (NADT): "systematic and intentional use of drama/theatre processes and products to achieve the therapeutic goals of symptom relief, emotional and physical integration, and personal growth"
• National Association for Poetry Therapy: " use all forms of literature and the language arts such as poems, stories, journals, fairy tales, folk tales, memoirs and songs, to help in the healing process"
• National Board for Certified Clinical Hyponotherapists (NBCCH): "developed a certification program based upon the education and experience of mental health, counseling and healthcare practitioners in hypnotherapy
• The National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT) includes "Hippotherapy is a specialized form of physical therapy which uses the horse as a therapy tool to address the movement disorders associated with various neurological and neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy, cerebral vascular accident (CVA), multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury"
• The National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Associations (NCCATA): "alliance of professional associations dedicated to the advancement of the arts as therapeutic modalities. NCCATA represents over 8000 individual members of six creative arts therapies associations"
• The National Expressive Therapy Association: "dedicated to the advancement of expressive therapy and expressive arts therapy in general, and to the increasing welfare of practitioners and the public"
• National Qigong (Chi Kung) Association, USA: "embraces and supports equally all schools, traditions, teaching styles, and philosophies of Qigong & Tai Chi"
• Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, National Institutes of Health
• Pets are Wonderful Support (PAWS), San Francisco, California: "volunteer-based organization improving the quality of life for persons with AIDS and other disabling illnesses by offering the emotional and practical support to keep the love and companionship of their pets, and by providing information on the benefits and risks of animal companionship"
• Pittsburgh Mind-Body Center, joint center administered by the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University funded by the National Institutes of Health, with additional support from the two participating Universities. It is dedicated to promoting scientific excellence in understanding mind-body interactions as they determine health.
• Qigong Contacts/Resources provided by the Qigong Association of America
• The Reiki Page: form of healing through direct application of Chi. This page is intended to be a resource collecting information about Reiki, its practice, benefits (both proven and otherwise).
• Self-Help Group Sourcebook Online, American Self-Help Clearinghouse
• Society for the Arts in Healthcare (SAH): "dedicated to pursuing qualitative and quantitative evidence to support the development and maintenance of arts in healthcare programs"
• Society of Behavioral Medicine "Changes in behavior and lifestyle can improve health, prevent illness, and reduce symptoms of illness....Behavioral medicine is the multidisciplinary field concerned with the behavioral and social aspects of medical conditions"
• SupportPath.com: "allows people with health, personal, and relationship issues to come together and share their experiences through IRC chat and Bulletin Boards."
• World Wide Essence Society Homepage: essence educators, practitioners, manufacturers, and distributors goals are to educate both the general public and health care practitioners about essences and thier relationship to holistic health care.

Revision: January 2008.

For additions or comments please respond to "The Alternative Medicine Homepage" ©1994-2008. Charles B. Wessel, M.L.S., cbw@pitt.edu - Falk Library of the Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261

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