The term holistic seems to mean a lot of different things to different people. Over the years, I’ve noticed just how varied interpretations of this term can be, so I want to talk about what holism means in my work.
Holistic is defined as “the belief that the parts of something are interconnected and can be explained only by reference to the whole” (Google). Providing holistic care means I am dedicated to seeing and treating the whole person, including social and societal factors, rather than just presenting symptoms.
Holism also emphasizes the interconnectedness of a person’s physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. That’s why my work has an incorporates somatic (aka body) awareness, practices and the mind-body connection.
If a person comes to therapy wanting to reduce overthinking, we aren’t treating the symptoms of the mind in isolation. Holism is the recognition that this symptom, a learned pattern of overthinking, is the tip of an iceberg. Beneath this symptom, we may find relevant family of origin dynamics, learned rules from a particular culture (implicit or explicit rules), and wise sensations in the body.
We won’t work just with how you think, but how you breathe, sleep, move in the world. Daily habits such as eating and drinking can also be valuable information about your wellness as a whole.
In my work, dedication to providing holistic care means I will guide therapy clients to explore a variety of influences that have co-created their current patterns. One example would be working on body image within the context of our patriarchal culture (assuming the client is, in fact, of this culture). Mindset work alone does not represent holism and would be incomplete. The focus on intersectionality of privilege and oppression may also come into play (this something I continue to deepen my knowledge of, personally and professionally. More on that later).
Holistic body image work might sound like: what are your early memories of your body? What were conversations around food or body in your home growing up? What messages are you aware of in our bigger culture as it relates to body size? Have you faced oppression in our culture due to body size?
What does holistic health look like to you?