Complementary and Integrative Health

Biofeedback is an individualized mind-body intervention that uses equipment to monitor bodily information (e.g., heart rate, breathing, muscle tension, sweat gland activity, and temperature) to enhance awareness and help train for improved self-management of symptoms. Biofeedback is well-suited for Veterans who want to learn how to better manage their stress response and its impact on symptoms such as pain and anxiety. 

Biofeedback is especially suited for Veterans who are motivated to increase awareness of how their physiology is affected by their presenting symptoms, and to develop a self-management routine of skills that are generalizable to daily life. Clinical biofeedback sessions involve interaction between a provider, a client wearing surface level electrodes, and a computer providing feedback from body-derived signals.

Clinical hypnosis can promote positive change by helping you learn to relax your body and focus your mind, while opening up to useful suggestions for better physical and psychological health. Clinical hypnosis may assist in managing conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, smoking cessation, and weight control. 

Guided imagery is a mind-body practice that used your imagination and senses to create positive changes to your health and well-being.  Guided imagery services may begin with relaxation techniques or instruction on active imagination with the option to formulate a self-guided practice.

Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment, on purpose, without judgement. Mindfulness meditation may include practices such as focusing on the breath, the body, or your surroundings with awareness, acceptance, and kindness, CIH offers mindfulness-based interventions, as well as classes that incorporate mindfulness-based interventions, as well as classes that incorporate mindfulness into creativity, nature, and relationships. 

Check out these mindfulness & meditation exercises.

Tai Chi is often described as energy in motion, combining slow-flowing intentional movement with breathing, awareness, and visualization. Rooted in the Asian traditions of martial arts, and Chinese medicine. Tai Chi is commonly practiced as a means of enhancing health, vitality, and inner peace. 

Qigong is an ancient Chinese healing art and wellness practice. The focus is cultivating the body’s qi (pronounced chee) through mindful and meditative movement, along with breath, posture, awareness, and visualization.  

Yoga is a mind-body practice with origins in ancient Indian philosophy. The various styles of yoga typically combine physical postures, breathing techniques, meditation or relaxation, and discussion of applications to daily life.

Yoga therapy involves posture, breathwork, meditation, lifestyle, and mindfulness education to address an individual’s unique physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. Yoga therapy can include both individual and group classes.