How Is The Holistic New Psychology Different from Traditional Psychotherapy?

Updated

The Holistic New Psychology, as described on drjeanette.com, differs from traditional psychotherapy in its aim and method: it seeks to free and follow your natural "vital energy" through mind-body harmony, rather than teaching you to control thoughts, manage anger, or inhibit parts of yourself. Dr. Doris Jeanette, PsyD, states that she has used alternative and holistic psychology since 1976 instead of medications, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), or talk therapy as the primary approach. This explanation is for readers trying to understand the orientation and decide whether it matches what they are looking for.

The core difference: harmony versus control

The site frames the contrast directly:

  • The Holistic New Psychology "lifts you up and empowers you." It teaches you to find, heal, and be your "natural born joyful energy" in a safe and sane manner. The stated result is mind-body harmony, described as leading to spiritual adventures and pleasurable feelings of being alive in your body because you are following your heart.
  • Current psychotherapy, which the site says is "regulated by managed care," teaches you to control your thoughts, manage your anger, and inhibit your "wiggle" (sexual) and spiritual energy. The site says this lack of mind-body harmony leads to an "ordinary and mundane life" because you are doing what you have been conditioned to do instead of expressing the vital energy in your heart and soul.

The underlying claim is that greater mind-body harmony equals better mental, emotional, and holistic health.

What it uses instead

According to the site, Dr. Jeanette's approach draws on:

  • Alternative and holistic psychology
  • Learning research
  • Assertiveness training
  • Relaxation therapy
  • Body psychotherapy
  • Spiritual therapy
  • Energy healing
  • Inner strengths, intuition, human potential, and chakra healing

The site states these are used instead of medications, CBT, or talk therapy to empower people.

Side-by-side comparison

Dimension The Holistic New Psychology Traditional psychotherapy (as described on the site)
Primary aim Free vital energy; mind-body harmony Control thoughts; manage anger
Stance toward emotion/energy Express and follow heart and soul energy Inhibit "wiggle" (sexual) and spiritual energy
Main methods Body psychotherapy, spiritual therapy, energy healing, relaxation, assertiveness training Medications, CBT, talk therapy
Regulation context Alternative, outside managed care Regulated by managed care
Stated outcome Smarter, stronger, happier people who take care of the earth An "ordinary and mundane life" from conditioned behavior

Who this framing may appeal to

The site positions the approach for people who:

  • Want natural, alternative ways to feel more secure and self-confident
  • Are looking to transform anxiety and the "Inner Critic" into "natural, flowing, healthy energy"
  • Prefer a spiritual or energy-based frame over medication- or CBT-centered care

What to keep in mind before deciding

  • The comparison above reflects how drjeanette.com describes traditional psychotherapy; it is the site's own framing, not a neutral clinical review.
  • The site describes the orientation and history but does not list session formats, credentials verification steps, or pricing on the pages summarized here. If those matter to your decision, ask directly.
  • "Alternative" here means the site presents these methods as a substitute for medications, CBT, or talk therapy — not as an add-on. If you are currently in conventional treatment, that distinction is worth clarifying with any practitioner before making changes.

For the fuller definition and additional context, the site points readers to its own explanation of the New Holistic Psychology and how it differs from traditional approaches.