Explain the alternative treatment possibilities to psychotherapy. How does rehabilitation of the mentally ill improve the quality of their life?

There are many alternative therapies such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, herbal remedies and so on. 

1. Yoga - today refers to only the asanas or body posture component or to breathing practices or pranayama, or to a combination of the two.

2. Meditation refers to the practice of focusing attention on breath or on an object or thought or a mantra. 

3. In Vipassana meditation, also known as mindfulness-based meditation, passively observes the various bodily sensations and thoughts that are passing through in her or his awareness. 

4. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is found to be beneficial for stress, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, stressrelated medical illnesses, substance abuse etc. 

5. Kundalini Yoga is effective in treatment of mental disorders like obsessive- compulsive disorder. Kundalini Yoga combines pranayama or breathing techniques with chanting of mantras help the patients to process emotional stimuli better. 

• The aim of rehabilitation is to empower the patient to become a productive member of society to the extent possible and be self sufficient 
• Occupational therapy, vocational therapy and social skills training

OR

Cognitive therapies locate the cause of psychological distress in irrational thoughts and beliefs. 

• Rational Emotive therapy- Albert Ellis- ABC analysis 
• Irrational beliefs assessed through questionnaires and interviews, nondirective questioning. 
• The rational belief system replaces the irrational belief system and there is a reduction in psychological distress

Cognitive therapy- Aaron Beck- core schema; dysfunctional cognitive structures.

• The therapist uses questioning, which is gentle, nonthreatening disputation of the client’s beliefs and thoughts. 
• whereby she gains insight into the nature of her dysfunctional schemas. Cognitive restructuring.