Have you ever noticed that when you experience stress, it can take a physical toll on your body by giving you symptoms like a headache, achy muscles, or an upset stomach? This is a simple example of how the mind, emotions, body, and spirit are all interconnected.
A holistic approach to counselling appreciates the fact that physical symptoms, emotional difficulties, or mental health challenges may be the result of larger issues. (Schneider, 2011). These issues can take a toll on clients and manifest themselves in many different ways. By using holistic counselling, counsellors and clients work together to identify challenges, work through them, and diminish the effect they have on the client.
Do you want to learn more about holistic counselling? Read on to learn how this approach can benefit your future clients.
Using a Holistic Approach Assists You to Identify Problems in a Comprehensive Way
The road to happiness and wellness can be challenging for individuals who may have experienced traumatic events, self-esteem issues, health problems, or other negative life experiences. In many instances, when a client seeks the help of a counsellor, they are struggling with the lasting effects and consequences of a deeply-seated issue. These root issues can be hard for the client to identify on their own, because they will often show up as physical pain, spiritual challenges, or other behavioural issues that seem unrelated to the root cause. However, after earning a professional counsellor diploma, you’ll have the skills and tools necessary to help clients identify the root of difficulties they may be experiencing and help those clients overcome them.
Using a holistic approach to therapy, the counsellor identifies the root issue that may be affecting physical health or creating emotional and spiritual problems (Schneider, 2011). Then, the counsellor and client work together to overcome the issue by using various approaches that could include using psychotherapy methods, meditation, yoga, nutrition counselling, spiritual wellness techniques, and more (GoodTherapy, 2017).
Holistic counselling can include yoga, meditation, and other strategies to heal mind, body, and spirit
Adopting a Holistic Approach Improves Your Client’s Overall Wellbeing and Health
Clients really soar when counselling not only addresses their specific challenges, but also impacts their health, wellness, and attitude in a positive way. According to the World Health Organization, health is defined as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (World Health Organization, 2017).
Many traditional counselling techniques only focus on working through obvious key issues, but holistic counselling helps to improve a client’s overall wellbeing, promoting fulfillment and happiness. Since wellness is achieved by having a healthy mind, emotional states, body, and spirit, employing a holistic approach once you become a counsellor can make the biggest and most significant impact in your clients’ lives (GoodTherapy, 2017).
Holistic counselling contributes to overall wellbeing
Using a Holistic Approach Once You Become a Counsellor Facilitates Lasting Results
In order for your clients to truly heal from painful pasts, a holistic approach that treats a client’s physical, spiritual, emotional, and cognitive challenges, ensures they are properly prepared to move forward with their lives (GoodTherapy, 2017).
Are you considering enrolling in counsellor training in Vancouver?
Contact Rhodes Wellness College today to learn more!
Works Cited
GoodTherapy. (2017, April 11). Holistic Psychotherapy. Retrieved from http://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/holistic-psychotherapy
Schneider, R. (2011, August 8). What is Holistic Counselling? Retrieved from http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/what_is_holistic_counselling
World Health Organization. (2017). Constitution of WHO: principles. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/about/mission/en/
