Experiential therapy
Experiential therapy teaches people to explore their thoughts, feelings, and emotions through expressive activities and interventions.
How is our approach to experiential therapy different?
Hands-on activities
Personalized practices
Entirely virtual
Supportive groups
Holistic healing
Benefits of experiential therapy
Insightful treatment
Facilitates personal discovery and understanding.
Interactive
Encourages open communication of feelings through interactive activities.
Promotes growth
Focuses on emotional and personal development.
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Other types of creative therapy
Experiential therapy is just one of several forms of creative therapeutic techniques used to help people find happiness, healing, and improved mental wellbeing. Other examples of expressive therapy methods that are part of Charlie Health’s Intensive Outpatient Program include:
Art therapy
Art therapy uses non-verbal practices like coloring, collaging, and pottery to strengthen a person’s mental, physical, and emotional health.
Music therapy
There are two categories of music therapy that are used to promote healing. Active music therapy consists of things like composing, singing, or playing an instrument, and receptive music therapy focuses on listening or responding to music.
Movement therapy
Dance/movement therapy uses movement to improve overall well-being through mental, emotional, physical, and social integration.
FAQs about experiential therapy
See All FAQsWhat is experiential therapy?
Experiential therapy is a multi-sensory approach that uses out-of-the-box tools and interventions to support a person’s healing process. It’s a broad term that encompasses a wide range of methods—such as music, props, and animal care therapy—in addition to talk therapy.
The idea behind experiential therapy is that a person’s perception determines their behavior. With experiential therapy, people have a chance to reenact or otherwise engage with past experiences to help them overcome any negative or buried emotions that are associated with those experiences.
With the support of a trained experiential therapist, experiential therapy can help people resolve past conflicts and pursue healthy relationships going forward. Experiential therapy can lead to countless benefits, including improved:
- Confidence
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Self-esteem
- Motivation
- Ability to overcome emotional distress
- Ability to focus on the present
Who should try experiential therapy?
Experiential therapy can be used to help anyone who wants to release painful memories, improve current or future relationships, or live a more balanced and fulfilling life. It’s considered to be an effective form of treatment for a variety of mental and behavioral health conditions, including:
- Trauma
- Substance use disorders
- Anger management
- Grief and loss recovery
- Relationship and family conflicts
- Phobias
- Panic disorders
Can I practice from home?
You may be wondering how to experience experiential therapy from the comfort of your home or designated safe space. Charlie Health’s virtual Intensive Outpatient Program is designed to help people understand and overcome their mental health struggles using a multi-pronged approach to care—including with experiential therapy.
While equine-assisted therapy or martial arts may be challenging to conduct remotely, there are countless ways to work with your therapist from home. For example, virtual sand tray therapy allows a person to create a narrative with virtual sand and small objects while sharing a story with their therapist. Music, meditation, journaling, and art are also all feasible activities that enable a person to stay engaged while sharing their thoughts and feelings with their therapist.
You can connect with nature by simply observing what’s going on outside of your bedroom window, or by taking a guided walk with a virtual group.
