06/28/2025
Contrast Therapy for Mental Clarity & Emotional Resilience
As a therapist and endurance athlete, I’m always exploring ways to support mental health through both traditional and holistic approaches. One method that’s made a powerful impact in ny life is contrast therapy, the practice of alternating between heat (like a sauna) and cold exposure (like a cold plunge or ice bath).
While it’s often associated with athletic recovery, the mental health benefits are just as profound:
Improved Mood & Emotional Regulation
Contrast therapy activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress hormones and increasing endorphins and dopamine. It’s like a nervous system reset; especially helpful for those managing anxiety or burnout.
Increased Resilience to Stress
The intentional discomfort of cold and heat exposure builds mental toughness and trains the brain to stay calm under pressure. Over time, this translates to greater resilience in everyday life. Note the attached HR from today, one of the spikes is from my daily run, the other is from a contrast therapy session, can you figure out which is which?
Better Sleep & Recovery
The post-sauna “chill” isn’t just a vibe; it’s physiological. By supporting deeper rest and physical recovery, contrast therapy helps you show up clearer and stronger the next day.
Enhanced Mind-Body Awareness
Taking time to be still in the heat or breathe through the cold creates a meditative space.
As someone who works with people navigating trauma, addiction, and life transitions, I’ve seen firsthand how intentional physical practices like contrast therapy can help restore connection to the self.
If you’re curious or already using sauna + cold plunge in your routine, I’d love to hear your experience. How has it helped you mentally, emotionally, or spiritually?
Note: If anyone knows of Sauna companies that may want to partner to help me conduct psychometric research on sauna and anxiety, depression, cravings, and sleep, please reach out.
