Experiential Therapy in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a city of bustling activity, sunshine, and beaches - all it takes for an immersive experience. In other words, it becomes the readymade backdrop for experiential therapy. If you are wondering what that is, experiential therapy is a different kind of psychotherapy, in that it is hands-on in using objective therapeutic exercises, like acting, role-play, arts, music, and the outdoors, to relive emotions and experiences. By reliving these moments in time, you will identify and process your emotions in a healthy manner.

Experiential therapy is based on humanistic principles in that it focuses on you, rather than a list of symptoms or conditions. If this feels aligned with your recovery and personal growth, we will dive deeper into what this therapy looks like and how you can begin your healing journey in Los Angeles.

Experiential therapy is a hands-on, immersive therapy that uses techniques like role-play, arts, and music, among others, to uncover and process buried thoughts and emotions toward healing and personal growth.

It evolved from existential and Gestalt therapies of the 20th century - existential in that its goal is for you to realize your full potential, and Gestalt in that it is focused on you and your mental health as a whole rather than a list of problematic emotional or behavioral patterns.

Linda Whiteside, Clinical Supervisor at the NuView Treatment Center, says, “Experiential therapy gives clients a safe space to express themselves - through art, movement, and other hands-on activities. These experiences help you uncover your subconscious emotions and process them in a non-judgmental setting.”

There is not one, but different types of experiential therapy. You can collaborate with your therapist to understand the type of therapy you want to go forward it - it depends on your needs, goals, and personal preferences.

The commonly recognizable types of experiential therapy are:

Psychodrama

Psychodrama, or drama therapy, is a technique that uses storytelling through role-play and movement. Psychodrama allows you to dramatize your problematic emotions or behaviors, as you role-play these dramatizations and get the chance to observe yourself in the context of the events around you from the outside or a third person’s perspective.

Art Therapy

Art therapy uses creative media to help you process your emotions and heal. For instance, writing, painting, sculpting, and other kinds of creative expression to encourage self-reflection, build self-awareness, and reduce negative thoughts and impulsive reactions.

Music Therapy

Music therapy utilizes the power of music for healing and personal growth. The activities involved can range from listening to music to lyrics analysis and songwriting. In doing so, it becomes a creative medium for you to listen, move, and create music as you reflect on emotions and grow.

Animal-Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy involves spending time with or training a pet as therapy. There is a saying, “Happiness is a warm puppy” - animals can help you cope with and recover from physical and mental health conditions. For instance, equine-assisted therapy is a very popular form of animal-assisted therapy that uses horses to re-learn and reconnect with yourself and the world.

Adventure Therapy

Adventure therapy uses outdoor activities for healing. This can be anything from immersing yourself in the wilderness to adventure-laden activities like hiking, surfing, or kayaking. Adventure therapy builds emotion regulation and resilience as you push yourself through these tasks to achieve a sense of growth and purpose.

Play Therapy

Commonly used with children between the ages of 3 and 12 years, play therapy uses playtime to observe and gain insight into children’s minds, as they are not able to communicate their concerns as adults do. This can be used to facilitate healing, integration, and growth.

Substance use and mental health disorders treatment focuses on a whole person healing experience - healing you from the mind, body, and spirit. Experiential therapy helps with emotional and spiritual healing by making you more conscious of your internal thoughts and emotions. It teaches you about yourself, uncovers the buried feelings, and paves the way for change and a positive outlook toward yourself/the world.

As you engage in therapeutic exercises/activities to heal, you become more authentic, even as you learn new ways to make better decisions and solve your problems.

Yes, experiential therapy is effective. It may not be for all, and its efficacy can vary depending on your goals and preferences.

However, studies have indicated that therapies such as experiential therapies can reduce denial, avoidance, and promote introspection and insight. It is also effective in reducing mental health symptoms and promoting overall well-being.

The proactive nature of experiential therapies can build self-efficacy and self-esteem, as these practices have been able to enhance physical and mental health to a great extent.

Experiential therapy is used for:

• Substance use disorders
• Anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and phobias
• Mood disorders like major depressive disorder
• Trauma-informed care
• Eating disorders
• Compulsive behaviors (like OCD)
• Developmental disorders (like ADHD)
• Interpersonal relationships and conflicts
• Stress management purposes

Linda Whiteside says, “At NuView, we use experiential therapy to help you heal in ways that traditional talk therapy cannot always speak to. When someone is creating, moving, or engaging with their environment, you see their emotional and behavioral patterns surface. As therapists, we safely guide them through those moments, as they transform that pain into growth.”

The benefits of using experiential therapy can vary depending on the type of therapy used and your needs and goals, but the common ones are:

• Emotional Processing: It provides an authentic setting where your real emotions can show, so that you can process them to build self-awareness.
• Creative Expression: It allows you to explore activities that bring out your creative side and build a sense of self-worth and self-esteem.
• Resolving Past Conflicts: As you relive experiences and moments, you can uncover and resolve conflicts and trauma in a safe, non-judgmental environment.
• Reduced Denial and Avoidance: It helps you uncover and cope with thoughts and emotions you have buried deep within.
• Increased Resilience: As you push through the therapeutic exercises and activities, you build emotion regulation and resilience from within.
• Positive Perspectives: It allows you to understand personal experiences from an outside view and build alternative, positive perspectives toward yourself and the world.

Experiential therapy combines a range of hands-on experiences and activities with more traditional modes of therapy. Here is what you can expect:

• Person-Centered: Experiential therapy is tailored to your diagnosis, needs, and preferences – this ensures that you are always the focus.
• Customized Interventions: The experiences and activities can blend different interventions to customize your healing journey – for instance, therapeutic sessions can involve the combined approach of psychodrama and art therapy/music therapy.
• Active Participation: You will be involved in an active, intentional healing journey, as you will be consciously participating in activities that are centered around your recovery.
• Reflection and Conversation: Following your experiential activities, you and your therapists will focus on the emotions and behaviors that have come up, review insights, and work on applying them to your life.

Linda Whiteside says, “In our Los Angeles treatment center, we see that healing happens best when it does not stay inside a therapist’s clinic. Experiential therapy invites you to engage with your environments, emotions, and strengths - creating real change through meaningful, lived experiences.”

Oftentimes, talking about your struggles is not enough. Experiential therapy provides a safe, intentional setting to go beyond conversation and proactively engage with your thoughts and emotions. With art, role-play, movement, or outdoor activities, these immersive practices allow you to explore your inner world in new ways. Instead of staying trapped in old patterns, you learn to step into healthier ones - choosing actions that foster resilience, growth, and real change.

NuView Treatment Center in Los Angeles blends psychodrama, art, movement, and outdoor-based interventions to provide a meaningful healing experience, where you reconnect with yourself and build healthier coping skills. These immersive experiences are designed to engage with your inner thoughts and emotions for a transformational recovery journey.

Reach out to us at (323) 307-7997 to connect with experiential therapists in Los Angeles today!

1. How is experiential therapy different from other therapies?

Experiential therapy uses immersive experiences and hands-on activities, such as psychodrama, art, movement, play, outdoor activities, and animal-assisted therapy, to facilitate healing.

2. What is an example of experiential therapy?

One example of experiential therapy is psychodrama, where you re-create and re-live significant life events in a safe setting to explore and process emotions.

3. How long does experiential therapy last?

The duration of experiential therapy can vary depending on your diagnosis, needs, goals, and preferences. Even the number of sessions can vary. While standard sessions are typically 50–60 minutes long, some activities are conducted for longer - over multiple-day workshops and retreats.

4. Is experiential therapy covered by insurance?

If experiential therapy is integrated into your rehab, it is covered by insurance. Otherwise, it depends on your insurance policy and provider.

5. How to get started with experiential therapy in Los Angeles?

If you are in Los Angeles, contact your primary healthcare provider or trusted family and friends for references. You can also contact NuView at (323) 307-7997, and we can match you with qualified and experienced therapists who can tailor your experiential therapy to your needs and preferences.