Holistic Therapy: What is it?

Holistic Therapy

Holistic therapy. Holistic therapy. No matter how many times I say it, it still sounds strange in my mind. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, holistic means comprehensive and all-inclusive, so let’s talk about what holistic therapy is and who could benefit from it.

As a therapist who practices holistic therapy, I still wanted to hear Google’s definition (does not going straight to ChatGPT make me not with the times?).

Google states, “Holistic therapy is a comprehensive approach to healing that addresses the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – rather than just symptoms or a specific illness.”

We are spiritual, physical, and emotional beings

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (ESV) states, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Note in this verse it says may your whole spirit, soul, and body.

Our very being is triune, just like our triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). I want to talk about the theology of the Trinity for a moment. In the Bible, the word “trinity” is not specifically termed, but the implication is found throughout the text. The word “trinity” was coined later to describe the relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Genesis 1:26 (ESV) reads, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’” Note that this verse says “our,” meaning there is already a derived relationship happening as God created humankind. According to the Master’s University and Seminary of California, the title of God in this specific verse in its original language, Hebrew, is “Elohim.” The title of Elohim is a plural noun that implies multiplicity.

One of my favorite theological books, Delighting in the Trinity, points out that Jesus in John 17:24 (ESV) says “Father,” (and then Jesus makes his request) “because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” Jesus explicitly states that God already loved him before the world began.

Michael Reeves writes, “And that is the God revealed by Jesus Christ. Before he ever created, before he ever ruled the world, before anything else, this God was a Father loving his son.”

John 14 in the Bible is a chapter that speaks about the Holy Spirit being our helper on Earth after Jesus ascended into heaven.

Mathew 28:19 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”

Looking at Isaiah 48: 16 and 61:1, these verses show all three divine persons at work.

So, what does this matter? The point is that we are humans created in the image of God. Our God is triune, and we reflect that in our trinitarian makeup of spirit, soul, and body. There is much more to say about the holy and divine Trinity, and I highly encourage you to do your own prayerful research, but let us get back to holistic therapy (the original reason you are reading this article).

Holistic Perspective

With a holistic perspective, in counseling sessions, we look at the health of the spirit, soul, and body together because they are interwoven in relationship by God’s glorious design.

“Spirit” and “soul” are often used interchangeably, so I will define them for the purposes of this article. Spirit is our inner being that directly communes with God; our spiritual self that interacts with the divine. Our soul encompasses the mind/intellect, will, and emotions.

According to Peter Scazzero, author of “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality,” our God-bearing image includes physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and social dimensions, and when any of these parts of the whole are ignored, the results will always lead to destructive consequences.

That is why I believe a holistic approach is significant. How can we only look at one part when we are a whole being, and each part affects the others? It would not make sense according to how we were created.

Spirit

Looking at our spirit, as Christ followers, we are called to employ spiritual disciplines and holy practices to keep our spirit aligned with God. According to John Mark Comer, the practices of Jesus include keeping the Sabbath, prayer, fasting, seeking solitude, practicing generosity, getting in the Scriptures, providing community service, and witnessing.

Since Jesus employed these practices, so should we. As we practice these disciplines, our spirit will draw near to the Lord.

Other practices, to name a few, that we are called to as Christians include walking in the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), repentance and forgiveness, and abstaining from sin (anything that hinders us from drawing near to the Lord).

James 1:15 says that “Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” God does not call us to these practices to dominate us, but rather to protect us and so that we may be close in relationship with Him.

These practices edify Christ’s body to bring about spiritual growth, maturity, and healing. We must look at our spiritual health as intimacy with Jesus, alignment with the Holy Spirit, and knowing God will lead us into wholeness and freedom with Him.

Soul

Our soul encompasses the mind/intellect, will, and emotions. Often, therapy sessions in a secular setting focus solely on the soul (no pun intended). Although looking at the soul is a significant part of processing and healing, the spirit and soul are interconnected, and both need to be tended to.

Typically, our emotions go hand in hand with relationships. Relational wounds are consequential. Maybe you grew up in a family where you learned to suppress your emotions to protect yourself from the wrath of others, or you were in a romantic relationship that taught you that you will never be enough. Whatever your experience, emotional pain can often be tied back to relational tears.

When it comes to the mind, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a common therapy modality that is used across the globe. According to the American Psychological Association, CBT treatment involves changing thinking patterns.

The philosophy of this therapy is that psychological problems are based on unhealthy thinking patterns. When we think a thought repeatedly, neural pathways are created in our brains. If I repeatedly think “I am not good enough,” a pathway is created, and my feelings and actions will follow suit in operating from this belief.

Philippians 4:8 (ESV) reads, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

God knew exactly what He was doing when He commanded this of us in His Scriptures.

When examining the soul, beyond relational wounds and thought patterns, we can also consider recognition and expression of emotions, logic, personality, strengths and weaknesses, values, and various other aspects.

Body

We can go about taking care of our bodies, the temple in which the Holy Spirit resides (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), in many ways. Some key areas to explore include food intake, physical activity, and sleep.

According to the CDC, eating healthy, getting enough sleep (seven or more hours per night), being physically active, and limiting substance use are all significant ways to maintain your physical health.

There are many ways to “eat healthy” and various schedules and specific “diets” you can follow. A common suggestion is to limit unhealthy fats, salt, added sugars, alcohol, and other substances and to increase fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.

Some people do well on a whole food diet, an intermittent fasting regimen, a carnivore diet, a keto diet, a vegetarian diet, or a vegan diet. I suggest talking with your primary health care physician, researching, and paying attention to what your body is telling you. According to Dr. Jolene Brighten, the food you ingest can have a significant impact on your hormones and can affect not only your physical health, but also your mental health.

When it comes to physical exercise, there is a high amount of research on the positive effects of movement. To name a few, the Mayo Clinic reports that exercise combats health conditions such as stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety, cancers, and arthritis. It increases both mood and energy and promotes better sleep.

Bessel Van Der Kolk, in his book The Body Keeps the Score, also reported that movement has a positive impact on those who have experienced trauma.

The implications truly are endless when it comes to caring for our spirit, body, and soul well, and they are all interwoven with one another.

With all that said…

As God created us to be a people that walk in wholeness with Him, He created our beings to be able to heal physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Our God is triune, and as we are formed to reflect His image, I believe we must take a holistic approach to healing, examining the health of spirit, soul, and physical body.

If you believe that you are misaligned in any of these areas or simply need help discerning what next, I encourage you to make an appointment today.