Balancing psychotherapy: A comprehensive review of clinical applications, efficacy, and innovations

Balancing psychotherapy (BPT), rooted in the oriental philosophical system, applies the theory of balance to achieve harmony between mind and body by focusing on “mastery of degree” and “coordination of relationships.” Recent clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of BPT in various formats – individual BPT, group BPT, and virtual reality-based BPT – for treating major depressive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy of BPT across different psychological disorders by analyzing existing clinical studies. It also seeks to contribute to the theoretical refinement and practical enrichment of BPT as a distinctive and culturally rooted psychotherapeutic approach.
- Lu J, Zhou S, Liu N, Sun Y. Comments on typical schools of localized cognitive behavioral therapy in China. Med Philos. 2021;42(22):28-31. doi: 10.12014/j.issn.1002-0772.2021.22.06
- Lu S, Li H, Lv W. Research on the localization of rational emotional therapy under the system of psychosocial theory. J Youth Stud Pract. 2020;35(4):25-32. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-9303.2020.04.005
- Yuan Y, Huang H, Zhang L, et al. Balancing psychotherapy and psychosomatic disorders. Pract Geriatr. 2017;31(10):906- 909. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-9198.2017.10.003
- Yuan Y. Balancing Psychotherapy. Nanjing, Jiangsu: Southeast University Press; 2018.
- Ge C. Balance Studies. Wuhan, Hubei: Hubei People’s Press; 2013.
- Ge C. Balance - The Way of Human Survival. Wuhan, Hubei: Hubei People’s Press; 2013.
- Zhang W, Yuan Y. A case report on effects of balancing psychotherapy on an adolescent patient with major depressive disorder. Med Philos. 2018;39(20):67-69. doi: 10.12014/j.issn.1002-0772.2018.10b.19
- Fu P. Spiritual Teacher: The Way of Body and Mind Integration. Shanghai: Shanghai Sanlian Bookstore; 2009.
- Chen L. Human Model of Body and Mind: Chinese Culture and Group Psychological Counseling. Beijing: China Light Industry Press; 2009.
- Xu X, Qin J. The influence of traditional culture on the localization of psychological counseling and treatment. HLJSTI. 2008;1(1):119. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-1328.2008.01.120
- Li Q, Chen Z. The effect of mean thinking on social adjustment: The mediating role of mental resilience and emotional regulation. Ergonomics. 2016;22(1):11-15.
- Zhang M. The Effect of Balancing Psychotherapy on Adolescent Patients with Major Depressive Disorder. Nanjing: Southeast University; 2019.
- Du W. East Asian Values and Pluralistic Modernities. Beijing: China Social Sciences Press; 2001.
- Cheng Z. The Way of Harmony between the Outside and the Inside: Confucian Philosophy. Beijing: China Social Sciences Press; 2001.
- Cao H. Research on the Theory and Family of Psychological Counseling and Therapy From the Perspective of Traditional Culture. Suzhou: Suzhou University; 2013.
- Sheng G. The meaning of harmony and its embodiment in traditional Chinese medicine. J Tradit Chin Med. 2006; 47(6):410-411. doi: 10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2006.06.004
- Liu Y. Establishment of Information Balanced Psychotherapy Resource Base. Zhengzhou: Zhengzhou University; 2011.
- Guo K, Zen W. The role of mediocrity thinking in emotion regulation and emotion in college students. Chin J Health Psychol. 2012;20(7):1101-1103. doi: 10.13342/j.cnki.cjhp.2012.07.034
- Jing H. Enlightenment of confucianism to modern psychological counseling. Acta Psychol Sin. 2007;39(2):371-380.
- Zhang J, Fan X. Clinical experience of balanced psychotherapy from psychosomatic diagnosis and treatment of heart failure. Chin Med Inf Herald. 2024;1(14):90-91. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1000-8039.2023.06.124
- Sun S, Chen X, Wang Y. Analysis of rehabilitation effect of group balanced psychotherapy on patients with post-traumatic brain syndrome. Psychol Monogr. 2024;19(9):177-179. doi: 10.19738/j.cnki.psy.2024.09.052
- Sun J. The Effect of Balancing Psychotherapy in Inter Ventions for Middle Aged Depression. Nanjing: Southeast University; 2023.
- Wang C. The Effect of Group Balancing Psychotherapy on Patients with Panic Disorder. Nanjing: Southeast University; 2017.
- Liu Q. The Auxiliary Curative Effect of Group Balancing Psychotherapy on Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Nanjing: Southeast University; 2021.
- Gao Y. Differences in Efficacy of Group Balancing Psychotherapy and Group Cognitive Behavior Therapy in Inter Ventions for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Nanjing: Southeast University; 2022.
- Gu Y. The Effect of Virtual Reality-Based Balancing Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Nanjing: Southeast University; 2023.
- Zhu J. Study on the Effect of Virtual Reality-Based Balancing Psychotherapy in the Adjuvent Treatment of Panic Disorder. Nanjing: Southeast University; 2021.
- Zhang Y. The Effect of Allostatic Load on the Efficacy of Balanced Psychotherapy Based on Virtual Reality Technology in the Treatment of Depression. Nanjing: Southeast University; 2022.
- Huang H, Yuan Y. Theory and practice of balancing psychotherapy. Chin Med Inf Herald. 2022;37(12):17. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1000-8039.2022.12.126
- Leahy RL. Cognitive Therapy Techniques: A Practitioner’s Guide. Beijing: China Light Industry Press; 2005.
- Jesse H. An Illustrated Guide to Learning Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House; 2010.
- Stefan G. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Coping Strategies for Mental Health Problems. Beijing: Electronic Industry Press; 2014.
- Guo Z. Introduction to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Beijing: People’s Posts and Telecommunications Press; 2020.