Holistic Mental Health

Holistic medicine looks at the individual as a whole person, rather than just a list of symptoms to be treated. As part of this approach, practitioners of holistic medicine address both the physical and mental/emotional health of the individual. In addition, holistic practitioners provide support not only to the individual, but also to their friends, family members, and their community.

Holistic practitioners will often present alternative solutions to mental health issues before suggesting a patient take the pharmaceutical approach to treatment. Changes in one's lifestyle, such as consuming a healthier diet, using nutritional supplements, and incorporating time for exercise into one's schedule, allows for the individual to attempt multiple avenues for coping with the symptoms of the individual. Therapy - formal or otherwise - can also be seen as invaluable when coping with stressors that impact a person's ability to function fully in society.

It becomes clear that there is no one universally appropriate way to carry out a holistic approach to mental health, and the necessary course of action is one that multiple individuals play a role in helping to shape and implement. By combining the various therapeutic approaches of holistic medicine with the techniques espoused and practiced by more traditional mental health professionals, the individual is able to determine the best possible treatment combination to provide the highest quality results for their unique circumstances.