If you’ve got a client who frequently oversleeps, binges on junk food and alcohol, and passes up fresh air for hours in front of the television, there’s a good chance these bad habits will hinder any progress you make in therapy sessions.
According to Rubin Naiman, an expert in integrative medicine, therapists don’t often inquire about lifestyle habits. But by asking the right questions about diet, sleep, and exercise practices, you can uncover psychological states in your clients that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Maybe you’ve got a client who’s feeling depressed or anxious, but doesn’t know why. Or maybe one of your clients refuses medication and wants a more natural remedy. Rubin’s expanded mind-body approach could be the answer you’re looking for.
Watch this short video clip to find out why adjusting lifestyle habits isn’t just a complementary aspect of treatment—it’s the tactic therapists should be using first and foremost.
Rich Simon
Richard Simon, PhD, founded Psychotherapy Networker and served as the editor for more than 40 years. He received every major magazine industry honor, including the National Magazine Award. Rich passed away November 2020, and we honor his memory and contributions to the field every day.
Rubin Naiman
Rubin Naiman, PhD, is a psychologist, sleep specialist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at the world-renowned University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, directed by Dr. Andrew Weil. Dr. Naiman is a leader in the development of integrative approaches to sleep and dreams whose approach is now taught in dozens of medical schools around the U.S. His approach weaves medical and neuroscientific perspectives with depth psychological and transpersonal views. Dr. Naiman is also founder and director of NewMoon Sleep, LLC, an organization that offers a range of sleep and dream related services, trainings and consultation internationally. He is the author of several groundbreaking works on sleep, including Healthy Night, Healthy Sleep (with Andrew Weil), To Sleep Tonight, The Yoga of Sleep and Hush: A Book of Bedtime Contemplations. His work has been featured in major magazines, newspapers, as well as on radio and television programs in the U.S. and abroad.
