Holistic OT is Going Strong!

It has been 4 years since I first wrote about what I believe Holistic OT is and can be. Since then, I have had the good fortune of meeting and connecting with many OTs around the world who are embracing Mind-Body-Spirit Medicine, Prevention and Wellness in OT practice. When I wrote that first post I had no idea how quickly this would all get embraced. I now fully believe that holistic and integrative health care is here to stay.

Dedicated professionals who know there are more and sometimes better ways to help their clients are the one of the reasons that holistic care will continue to grow and expand. There are also many people who have and are looking for ways to recover from or prevent illness and stay well that can complement current mainstream health care methods. In addition, there are now thousands of research studies showing efficacy of what is often referred to as Complementary/Alternative Medicine. So much so that the term alternative won’t be used as much anymore.

Many health care professionals are seeking education in the holistic realms. We will likely see these approaches taught more at the university level and probably integrated into every professional health care education program in the coming years. We need this, because while mainstream health care has made great advances it often focuses on drugs and surgeries as remedies after a person becomes ill. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Preventative care will likely become the norm and our health care system will have available all beneficial approaches.

I am grateful to be a part of the educating people in Mind-Body-Spirit Medicine, and Prevention and Wellness approaches. I have now taught hundreds of students. I offer several holistic courses and look forward to teaching more. I am providing Holistic Practice Consulting to any health care practitioner who would like support integrating holistic approaches into their practice.

Holistic OT continues to grow. I hear from dozens of OTs each month who are currently practicing with holistic techniques or would like to from around the world. The Holistic Occupational Therapy Facebook Page receives 30+ new likes each week. We continue to meet for the monthly Holistic OT Conversations covering various holistic interventions to enhance health and healing. Many students would like to integrate these approaches into their practices and several have already had careers with holistic care and would like to bring it to mainstream health care.

I see it continuing to grow and expand. Practitioners want it. People want it. Hospitals and facilities want it, because their customers want it and are looking for it. Holistic approaches are not only good for the “patients” or “clients” it is good for the practitioners, too. In fact, it is even smart for businesses and organizations to support their employees with these approaches – it boosts productivity and the bottom line. Read the article Mindfulness, Meditation, Wellness and Their Connection to Corporate America’s Bottom Line. 

It will be fun to see what the coming years bring for holistic care. Thanks to all who continue to have passion and are helping it thrive!