A Whole Lotta Holistic Healing
Someone who has looked through my website may wonder, “what is this lady talking about ‘holistic?’” Why is there so much emphasis? I’m here to give you the “why,” “what,” “how” and “who” in regards to holistic health and the way I integrate it into my practice. Continue reading for the tea!
Why Holistic Healing?
Plain and simply put, it works and challenges Westernized medicine, and I love to challenge the colonizers’ practices. Holistic wellness can be traced back to such an array of cultures and ancient practices, naturally making it diverse and hella inclusive. As a Black therapist and social worker, I need that and I want that when I practice mental health therapy. This way of practicing also allows me to respect cultural differences and people who came before me from Indigenous people, South and East Asian folx, and even my own ancestors back in Cameroon and throughout West Africa. It is my goal to practice equitable practices and I can not do that without executing a tailored approach that has been proven to work on diverse populations. Holistic wellness also affirms individual autonomy by encouraging folx to play a more active role in their own health by choosing the lifestyle they feel gives them balance and harmony.
What is it?
Holistic health care is a wellness approach that examines and nurtures the body, mind, spirit, and emotions. This approach looks at the WHOLE person, not a half or a quarter, and is a very effective approach for your overall well-being. It focuses within an expanded view on how your internal health may be connected to various aspects of your lifestyle including: the way you eat, your mental and emotional well-being, relationships, and your environment.
How is it practiced?
Holistic healthcare aims to address the root causes of health issues rather than throwing a band-aid on the symptoms. This practice combines alternative therapies (no I’m not just talking about Mary Jane, although I stand by ethical CBD use) that consider the individual's unique circumstances and preferences. America has become too comfortable grouping people together in order to increase time efficiency instead of the quality of care. The objective is to support your body’s natural healing abilities through progressive harmony.
As a social worker and therapist, I think it is essential to understand my client’s daily habits outside of the confines of your mind. I, too, am also interested in your habit of uber eating a quarter pounder with extra cheese daily while experiencing knee pain. I care and encourage you to also consider those things when thinking about your mental well being, even though I’m not a nutritionist or a doctor.
Who can engage in it?
You may wonder, who could benefit from holistic practices. “Me and you, yo mama, and yo cuzzin too,” as Outkast clearly stated in “Elevators.” That’s right, all ya’ll can get you some holistic healing! So go ahead and make that acupuncture appointment, instill that mindfulness practice for your mornings, or even take a few deep breaths to get grounded before taking the next step of the day.
