A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO HOLISTIC WELLNESS
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
-Aristotle
What is holistic wellness?
Holistic wellness means the treatment of the whole person, who is made up of interdependent parts.
The term holistic stems from the theory of holism, which states that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts; that parts of any whole cannot be understood unless it’s in relation to the whole.
Wellness is an optimal state of wellbeing. It is an ever-changing pattern of actions and lifestyle choices that help us function optimally. Wellness spans across a continuum ranging from illness to optimal health and wellbeing. Holistic wellness is an individual’s state of wellbeing within various facets of his or her life. The theory of holistic wellness posits that when we are struggling in one area of our life, it impacts all other areas.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) outlines eight dimensions of wellness: emotional, physical, spiritual, intellectual, financial, occupational, environmental, and social.
What are the dimensions of wellness?
Emotional wellness means coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships.
Physical wellness is recognizing the need for physical activity, proper nutrition, and sleep and preventing illness and injury or managing chronic health conditions.
Spiritual wellness is finding a sense of purpose and meaning in life, including morals and ethics. It may or may not involve religious activities.
Intellectual wellness is recognizing one’s creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills.
Financial wellness is satisfaction with current and future financial situations.
Occupational wellness is preparing for and participating in work that provides personal satisfaction and life enrichment that is consistent with your values, goals, and lifestyle.
Environmental wellness is occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being.
Social wellness is developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system.
Why try a holistic approach?
Holistic approaches deviate from the traditional medical model from which our healthcare system operates and, thus, from what we’re probably familiar with. The medical model treats the disease or symptom(s), whereas holistic approaches focus on the whole person.
Holistic healthcare treatment has become more popular recently because of its integrative nature. We are complex and multifaceted, so our difficulties are rarely due to one “problem,” but rather a combination of multiple imbalances. Thus, treating one “problem” independently doesn’t adequately address the difficulties that one may be facing.
In the coming weeks, we will post in-depth blog posts about each of the dimensions of wellness and suggestions for optimizing your wellness within each dimension. Stay tuned!
At Embodied Wellness Center, we take a holistic approach to mental health treatment. Interested in a holistic approach or want to learn more about it?
*Disclaimer: The content posted on this website is for marketing and educational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, psychotherapy or a replacement for mental health treatment. Please seek the advice of your licensed medical or mental health professional, and do not avoid seeking treatment based on anything read on this website.
