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Old 12-04-2008, 10:29 AM   #13
Jeremy Hulley
Dojo: Seattle School of Aikido Shinto Ryu/Seattle Icho Ryu
Location: Seattle
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 148
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Re: Using martial arts as depression therapy?

Quote:
Marc Abrams wrote: View Post
2) A dojo is NOT a mental health treatment center and should never be treated as such. Exercise has been substantiated as an important component in helping one's body to develop and maintain levels of neuro-chemicals that lead to feelings of well-being. It has been substantiated to be an important factor in helping people to come out of a depression. THERE ARE NO GOOD SCIENTIFIC STUDIES DOCUMENTING MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING IN HELPING PEOPLE WITH DEPRESSIONS! MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEPRESSIONS!

Martial arts training, as part of a healthy lifestyle, can be helpful in many different arenas. To go the next step and say that it is a form of therapy is potentially dangerous for all involved. This position is similar to people who look to send children with attention-deficit, hyperactivity disorders to martial arts schools in order to treat their attention problems! Just because something can be helpful does not equate with being an effective form of treatment.

Marc Abrams

ps.- I am also a licensed psychologist
Thanks for that Marc.

Jeremy Hulley
Shinto Ryu Iai Battojutsu
Tuesday Night Bad Budo Club
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