A Practitioner’s Guide to Breathwork in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Journal of Mental Health Counseling January 1, 2020 Babatunde Aideyan, Gina C. Martin, Eric T. Beeson 19 citations
Breathwork techniques are practical interventions that clinical mental health counselors can use to integrate physiological sensitivities into treatment through the relaxation response. Three broad categories are identified: deep relaxation breathing, mindfulness breathwork, and yogic breathing, each with distinct respiratory patterns and applications. Research findings indicate that breathwork may be efficacious for treating anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. However, more research is needed to evaluate its utility for a wider range of mental illness. Counselors are encouraged to incorporate breathwork techniques but must appraise each technique individually.