Mind-Body Connection

The Mind-Body Connection refers to the relationship between our mental health and physical health. This relationship can help us gain a better understanding of many other issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic illness, and stress, to name a few. At The Growth and Wellness Therapy Centre, we are prepared to provide holistic care that supports your mind and your body.

What is the Mind-Body Connection?

The Mind-Body Connection encompasses how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are linked to our physical health. This is sometimes described as a feedback loop, meaning that physical responses such as pain influence how we think and feel, and vice versa. Sometimes we see our emotions manifest as physical reactions, such as anxiety resulting in sweaty palms and increased heart rate. 

The Body involves our physical abilities and reactions. We rely on physical functions such as walking, digestion, and fine motor skills to complete our daily routines, thus having a healthy body is important. Underlying these functions are many important systems, including the nervous system and endocrine system. These allow us sense what is happening internally and in the world around us. For example, when you touch a hot stove you experience pain, pull your hand away, and may have a burn. This reaction keeps us safe physically, but it also elicits an emotional response such as fear or anger. We also learn to be careful around the stove from this experience. This is where the mind comes in. 

The Mind includes aspects that make us unique, including, our personality, spirit, and belief system. These influence our perception of the world around us. As we experience events in life, big or small, our mind and body respond. A particularly difficult experience may result in trauma which manifests in many ways. 

As science progresses, we see more and more how the mind and body are interconnected, making it difficult to separate one from the other. As a result, it is necessary to treat the mind and body as a whole when considering both mental and physical health issues.

Types of Therapy and Support

Many types of therapy and support consider and support the Mind-Body connection. At The Growth and Wellness Therapy Centre, we offer a variety of services that support your mental and physical health including:

Working with a Practitioner

Often times we find ourselves running on “auto-pilot” so we lose touch with what our body is telling us. Working with a clinician can help you tune back into your mind and body to understand what they need. Our office has a number of practitioners who integrate the mind-body connection into their work, all of whom you can view below. Once your professional has met with you and learned about your experiences, they will work with you to develop a plan that supports your physical and mental health. Support is most effective when there is a strong connection between the practitioner and client, and because of that, we encourage you to connect with as many practitioners as you need to ensure the best fit. All of our clinicians who work with mind-body connection can be seen below.