02 November,2025 08:59 AM IST | Mumbai | Junisha Dama
Art, dance, and sound baths help release pent-up trauma and emotions, say experts. Pic/iStock
Picture this: you're lying on a yoga mat as gongs and bowls reverberate in a sound bath. The practitioner guides you through, and by the end, you're in tears. "I still don't know why I teared up in the session. It was healing⦠an unexpected release," says entrepreneur Priyanka Mehta, who tried sound healing while holidaying in Bali.
Across Indian cities, people are paying to cry, smash crockery, or for tarot and astrology - all in the name of wellness.
At Breakfree Club, which offers waterfall treks, expressive art therapy, sound healing and more, founder Savr Kumar sees steady sign-ups. "People sign up for different reasons; it's either stress, burnout, to meet new people or have novel experiences. Often, I see people reach out as late as 11 pm," he says, pointing to the need for release.
The expectation is often just to disconnect, but catharsis can follow. Yet while many readily pay for these experiences, the word "therapy" still creates hesitation. Kumar notes, "I don't think therapy and these experiences are mutually exclusive. But it's difficult to find a good therapist, or people have no time, or find it expensive."
Why is it easier to pay for forest bathing, or to cry with strangers, than to see a psychologist? Perhaps because wellness feels light, experimental, even Instagrammable, while therapy feels heavy, clinical, and still weighed down by stigma.
People keen on improving their emotional and mental health try out alternative methods that promise to heal their inner child or provide relief from anxiety. Dr Rajas Shah, a physiotherapist and forest bathing guide says, "For some, it's a status symbol; some others fall for false marketing. But some people are curious to understand what these methods are, and how they can help."
An art-based therapy facilitator and communications specialist, Alisha Bhimani, says that a lot of people aren't aware of their underlying issues. "Your body stores trauma and emotions. Practices such as art and dance movement therapy or breathwork and sound baths interact with the body on a subconscious level, facilitating the release of these stored emotions," she says.
Shamanism practitioner Barkha Punjabi adds that many turn to her when nothing else is working. "There's a lot of analysing in clinical therapy. So people come to me when they are feeling emotionally stuck," she says. Her methods - seeking guidance from spirit or power animals - are rooted in centuries-old practices; they can feel spiritual and deeply personal, though not always logical. "Some people need evidence of logic. In shamanic healing, you may be talking to an animal. That's not for everyone," she admits, noting her work isn't suited for severe mental disorders.
Even so, alternative healing isn't an easy shortcut. "If you go once, I call that a âsoul spa'," says Anoopama Mukerjee Lohana, an internationally accredited sound and somatic healing practitioner. "But to begin a reset with sound healing, you need at least five sessions of one-and-a-half to two hours. We do work with deep-rooted issues, but no one from the alternative healing tribe is against medical science," she explains.
So, where does one draw the line between alternative healing and clinical therapy?
For Mehta, a self-confessed type A personality, the idea of letting go of control has always felt uncomfortable, but she never felt the need to consult a therapist. In Bali, she joined the sound healing session to simply try out a new activity. "I'm not someone who believes in all this," she admits, "But I did feel that tingling sensation everyone talks about."
It wasn't an overnight transformation, but it did spark small shifts. She began dedicating five minutes each night to breathwork and grounding practices. Four months later, the routine has stuck. "It's subtle, but it's a strong transformation," she says.
As for independent writer Shirin Mehrotra, who has tried both alternative and clinical approaches, chakra healing felt like a natural first step to taking care of her mental health. "At that time, I lacked clarity and didn't know whom to go to. Since my friend was a chakra healer, I trusted her," she recalls. Over eight to 12 sessions, she found the process helped her navigate immediate challenges.
A few years later, when anxiety surfaced, she turned to therapy. "I had very distinct reasons for both," she explains. "With therapy, it was about deep-rooted issues that stem from trauma or childhood. But it's not like I chose chakra healing first because I was against therapy."
Mental health professionals point out both the appeal and the limitations of wellness fads. "Therapy is more long-term, but rage rooms or cry clubs offer instant gratification. Besides, there is stigma around mental health services. Wellness feels more in your control," says Shruti Padhye, senior psychologist at Mpower, Aditya Birla Education Trust initiative.
Still, she doesn't dismiss these alternative practices outright. If a patient tried any, "I would instead try to understand how it made them feel and try to bring those tools into our sessions," she adds.
The concern, however, is when these practices are mistaken for complete solutions. "Healing practices serve as a temporary step for catharsis, there's some benefit for sure. But the risk is when people look at it as the only solution," says Dr Fabian Almeida, consultant psychiatrist, Fortis Hospital Kalyan. He warns that these methods may ease the surface tension, deeper psychological causes and psychiatric outcomes of distress, can go unaddressed.
That distinction - root versus relief - is where professionals draw the line. "It's not a replacement for clinical therapy; these are only preventive measures," says Dr Shah. In his sessions, he helps people "tap into their emotions," not treat mental illness. "Use these [healing methods] as a supplement," he adds, though he worries about misleading marketing that over-promises results.
Some practitioners see value in bridging the two. Bhimani notes that even trained psychologists often recommend practices like yoga, breathwork or journalling as complementary tools. "People should consider an integrated approach to uncover the root cause of discomforting feelings and support cathartic healing," she says.
Dr Almeida, whose own psychiatric daycare centre includes yoga, zumba, and meditation alongside therapy, echoes this integrated model. "It's all done in the supervision of their psychologist and psychiatrist," he says. But he also stresses the importance of informed choices: "In an era where life coaches and therapy centres are dime a dozen, thanks especially to active social media marketing, caregivers and seekers, both... I emphasise, it should be mandatory for all wellness centres or clinics to provide a background of their services and certifications, so that people can make informed choices."
If there's a silver lining, it's that alternative healing is a gateway to mental health care, even if indirectly. "I know healing has become a trendy word now⦠but if one wants to pursue it, do it with trained and certified coaches. Take it like going to the gym," says Surabhi Dand, psychotherapist and mindfulness coach.
Her advice: make mental wellness part of your routine - meditation, guided art, journalling - but don't overlook the value of talking it out. "That's how a lot of issues get resolved. Everyone wants to be heard."
. âSeeing the need for a 24x7 emotional wellness platform, Tarun Katial launched coto. His app connects users with verified experts across 10+ modalities: tarot, astrology, relationship coaching and spiritual services, along with clinical psychologists and psychiatrists.
. âThe founder and CEO says they decided to add non-clinical modalities as it's "easier for users to adjust and transition between them seamlessly". He points out that there is no one path to discovering what works for you. He adds, "Clinical approach works better for a percentage of the population; for others, alternative healing is more acceptable," and reasons that mental health is still stigmatised.
. âInsights from coto also reveal that the urban youth seek mental health experts, tarot readers, and energy healers, while those from
small towns opt for astrology.
