Try choosing among the over 1000 alternative therapies and treatments for mental illnesses. Not to mention the therapists and their adaptations. Nightmare
Just as there is confusion in defining consciousness and mind, so there is with alternative therapies when something goes wrong. Unfortunately, it’s normal. If you took your car to a garage for repair and the mechanic told you, “I’ve never seen that before and don’t know what it is, but leave it with me, and I’ll fix it.” Would you be inclined to have confidence? I doubt it.
(Transform Your Mind, Upgrade Your Life – Chapter 23)
Alternative Therapies to be Very Careful With, Better to Avoid
There are severe mental disorders that affect the subconscious, where there’s a disconnection from reality. First of all, we should avoid all practices that would put us in such a state. Psychedelic drugs and practices like Kundalini yoga or cleansing are not a way to meet God; they are precisely the opposite. Hypnosis and practices where you lose control of your mind can be dangerous. Out-of-body experiences, voices in your head, and ouija boards, despite their reputation, will lead you away from Divine direction.
Eastern philosophic practices include meditation, mindfulness, visualization, manifesting, mind cleansing, or other activities that focus the mind on repetitive, rhythmic sounds, words, mantras, and music to explore your soul. They come short in at least two areas.
Meditation
Bible meditation, including Proverbs, is the best and only meditation you should engage in.
Bible meditation is outlined in the book of Psalms; King David gives us the perfect example. Search for meditate at UnlockBibleMeaning.com. We are to meditate on physical and spiritual realities: the works of God’s hands, His Creation, law, precepts, statutes, and God’s Word. When we understand God’s Plan for us and humanity, what the tumultuous present portends, how to balance faith in God and the confusion of this world, and what God has prepared for us and all of humanity, it all lends to mental health. It beats all alternative therapies, hands down.
Human Conduct
Most alternative therapies tell you wisdom is already within you; you just need to access it. These methods do exactly what the Serpent told Eve, “…your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). You can know and make the rules. No.
Let’s put the cards on the table; humans alone cannot know Divine Spirituality. God Himself says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). With wisdom, we can only receive from God can we know the heart. That’s the first step in Conduct, realizing we’re two-faced. Any alternative therapy that side-steps this fundamental Biblical knowledge is to be avoided.
Demons
Biblically, demons are genuine and are not to be invoked or sought out. This book does not broach these dangerous subjects that need experienced handlers. This book also does not touch on Biblical Spirituality and the Holy Spirit. Please see Mind-Body Problem Solved for the harmful effects of wrong mind practices and the correct form of Biblical Spirituality.
The Foundation for Mental Health Therapy
Nobody knows what consciousness and mind are, and yet we blindly have faith in therapists who treat our most precious commodity. Unfortunately, without that basic knowledge, it’s no wonder that alternative therapies are plethoric. Everyone can imagine a solution to fix your mind, and many do. Here’s a list of alternative therapies and cognitive behavioral therapies. I’m not trying to confuse you, but you need to realize that the most important human domain is in tohu va bohu – darkness and turmoil.
I want to Uncover the Nakedness Mystery
I could evaluate each of the alternative therapies and rate them from 1 to 10, but I don’t want to waste my or your time. Let’s proceed another way. The Explanation will give you the criteria to identify the proper psychotherapy you need. This book has already pinpointed those values. Here they are once again.
The key to consider is that all the values in the diagram below must be based on the Bible. God created and infused in each of us consciousness and mind, neshama and ruach. He knows how they work, and He gave us His Word in which He gives us those instructions.
Which alternative therapy is closest to these values?
- Teaches finding a Proverb or Bible verse (this is Bible Talk Therapy)
- Upgrades your life (improving your conduct and thought processes)
- Transforms your mind and actions (The reality of daily life)
- Coincides with Biblical instruction (God’s Word is the foundation of all knowledge)
The psychological therapy that comes closest to applying these criteria is the best. Beware of alternative therapies that deviate from these guidelines; the more, the worse they are.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
I’m hesitating whether to refer to CBT here. That’s Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Here’s what Wikipedia says:
CBT is a common form of talk therapy based on the combination of the basic principles from behavioral and cognitive psychology.
CBT is a “problem-focused” and “action-oriented” form of therapy, meaning it is used to treat specific problems related to a diagnosed mental disorder. The therapist’s role is to assist the client in finding and practicing effective strategies to address the identified goals and to alleviate symptoms of the disorder.
CBT is based on the belief that thought distortions and maladaptive behaviors play a role in the development and maintenance of many psychological disorders and that symptoms and associated distress can be reduced by teaching new information-processing skills and coping mechanisms.
This statement has pros and cons, starting with the name Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:
- In traditional psychology, cognitive refers to the “scientific study of mental processes.” We’ve seen that confusion. In the above diagram, under Purpose, we have Consciousness and Mind. Genesis 2:7 and neshama, with Job 32:8 and ruach, the “spirit in man.” That is Biblical cognitive.
- In psychology circles, behavioral refers to a systematic approach to understand the behavior of humans and other animals. Again, there’s confusion about how humans should behave, and since we’re not descendants of animals, they shouldn’t be considered. In the above diagram, we have Conduct with the seven major phases of behavior according to God’s Word. Taken together, that is Biblical behavior.
Bible Proverbs Therapy
Note that we’re not using the term Christian psychology because this therapy is not limited to Christians; it’s for everyone worldwide. Psychology therapy must be based on Biblical understanding:
- Cognitive is neshama and ruach, possessed by everyone
- Behavior involves good and evil, with ethics (rules) to be obeyed. Disobedience brings justice, leading to self-reproach, rehabilitation, and forgiveness. This behavioral pathway is valid for everyone.
These two criteria (cognition and behavior) should be the standard measure for all mental health alternative therapies. I know that most carers propose mental health services because they innately feel they’re helpful, and many do have certain benefits. But the further mental health alternative therapies are from this foundation, the more dangerous they become.
The Explanation thinks a good name for the proposed therapy is Bible Proverbs Therapy – BPT.
- The Bible is where we must go to define cognition, the mental action of acquiring knowledge. That’s why we had to start this book with the Biblical origin of neshama and ruach and explain why only humans possess the former. I realize I did not explain the chasmic difference of ruach in animals and humans. Please see Mind-Body Problem Solved. The essential is ruach in animals allows them to accomplish their particular species’ one and only way of life. A dog will always have a dog’s life. A buffalo will always have a buffalo life. But human life is a person’s choice; no two lives are identical. With humans, ruach activates our personality, character, skills, and choices. We are one in eight billion. The Bible alone explains this, hence Bible Proverbs Therapy.
- Proverbs is where we must find the behavior within the conduct that characterizes all human beings. Behavior is the third of the seven phases of human conduct: Two-faced, free will, behavior, ethics, justice, self-reproach, and forgiveness. Those foundational elements of conduct must be dealt with equitably to produce mental health. Alternative therapies may recommend some of them, all the better, but none practice all of them. They are incomplete.
In the last chapter, The Explanation detailed the Bible Proverbs Therapy in action exercises to develop and heal mental health. This book will end with 12 practical exercises and instructions to personalize them and create new ones specifically for your mental health.
Today, many Judeo-Christian organizations, caregivers, and life coaches integrate Eastern philosophical concepts and practices for their congregations, patients, and members; I’m not saying there are no benefits. However, it is not a Divine procedure. Bible Proverbs Therapy is a Biblical practice that will help all with mental health.
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