Written by Marin Campbell, PT, DPT

The word holistic gets tossed around quite a bit in the world of health and wellness. You might also see the words integrative and functional used the same way. So what do they all mean? Holistic healthcare is an approach that sees your health as multidimensional and believes that the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of you should all be taken into account; holistic healthcare treats the whole person.

4 Reasons to Find a Holistic Healthcare Provider

1. This style of care empowers the patient to be an active participant in their healthcare decisions. Holistic providers include you in the conversation so you can make the best decisions for your health. There is no one-size-fits-all answer in holistic care and you will work with your provider as partners to find the solutions to your health challenges.

2. They work with you to formulate your own health goals and help you create a map to guide you toward those goals. Most of us know what we should be doing to be healthier, but we're often left struggling to find the time, motivate ourselves, and figure out exactly how to exercise more, sleep better, and eat healthier. A holistic provider will work with you to create strategies that fit into your life.

3. Holistic providers will help you cultivate wellness through lifestyle choices. In addition to treating your existing health conditions, they will teach you how to use nutrition, stress, sleep quality, physical activity, and more to prevent future disease.

4. They will connect with your other healthcare providers. Holistic practitioners are more interested in a collaborative care model. Working as a team with your other providers results in better outcomes, more cost effective care, and higher levels of patient and provider satisfaction.