Why therapists are natural champions of whole person care

Many therapists operate with a powerful, holistic view of their clients, seeing the intricate connections between mind, body, and environment. Yet, when it comes to leading the charge for whole person care within the broader healthcare landscape, hesitation arises. But what if this hesitation is based on a misunderstanding of both the challenges and the therapist’s unique strengths? What if therapists are not only well-suited for this role but are actually natural champions waiting to be fully recognized?

Mental health doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

When a client walks into your office, they bring their entire world with them—their physical health, social circumstances, and emotional well-being are all intertwined. You already practice whole person care by asking about sleep, appetite, family dynamics, and cultural context. You see what many healthcare providers miss: how sleep affects mood, how job stress triggers anxiety, how chronic pain deepens depression.  This comprehensive view makes you uniquely positioned to champion whole person care.

What is whole person care?

Whole person care means you have access to information about the whole client, including physical, mental, and social determinants of health, as well as their preferences and values, and the ability to act on the information to help your client holistically and preventatively.

Why traditional healthcare falls short

Most healthcare systems treat people in a very fragmented way. The primary care doctor manages diabetes. The psychiatrist prescribes antidepressants. The social worker helps with housing applications. Each professional works in their own silo, often unaware of what the others are doing.

You’ve seen what happens when these systems don’t talk to each other. Clients fall through the cracks. Important information gets lost. People feel frustrated repeating their story to every new provider. The very structure meant to help them becomes another source of stress. Allison White, ACSW, LCSW, CCDP-D, offers painful proof of that in her blog post “Treating the Whole Person”, where she recounts her mother’s lung cancer being diagnosed too late because her symptoms got dismissed as “simple anxiety” by physicians.

In contrast, your therapy practice is positioned to offer a cohesive view. You have the time to listen, build lasting relationships, and understand how all the pieces fit together. This continuity makes you ideally suited to support whole person care.

Why you’re perfectly positioned to support whole person care

Your initial hesitation might stem from the challenges of this fragmented system. However, your very presence within it gives you a unique advantage. You’re often the most consistent presence in someone’s healthcare journey. This gives you context that quarterly medical appointments can’t capture. You notice when anxiety spikes before doctor visits, when depression lifts after addressing sleep issues, or when social isolation worsens physical symptoms. You’re already tuned into social determinants of health and their impact on your clients.

The National Institute of Mental Health reports 85% of the premature deaths in people with serious mental illnesses (SMI) “were due to largely preventable conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease”. Every time you ask about sleep, explore family dynamics, or consider cultural context, you’re leading the way in whole person care. When you suggest someone see their doctor about persistent headaches while exploring stress patterns, you’re thinking holistically.

Your therapeutic skills—active listening, empathy, systems thinking—are exactly what whole person care requires. You understand trauma’s far-reaching effects, recognize social determinants of health, and see the mind-body connection in action daily.

When you support someone through medical appointments or help them access community resources, you’re modeling integrated care.

Obstacles to whole person care in therapy: Myths vs Facts

Myth 1: Therapists can’t lead whole person care because they aren’t doctors, so it’s outside their scope.

Fact: You might worry about overstepping professional boundaries. Remember, you’re not diagnosing medical conditions or performing medical procedures. You’re noticing patterns and encouraging appropriate care. You’re helping clients advocate for themselves in medical settings.

Myth 2: Medical providers won’t value my input because I’m stepping on their toes.

Fact: Some medical providers might not value your input initially. Keep communicating anyway. Send brief, professional notes about relevant observations. Over time, they’ll recognize the value of your perspective. Your consistent presence in clients’ lives gives you insights others lack. Focus on building relationships with receptive providers.

Myth 3: Whole person care is too time-consuming and will overburden my practice.

Fact: Time constraints are real. You can’t add hours to your day. But whole person care doesn’t require longer sessions. It means asking different questions, paying close attention to signs, and thinking more broadly about what you observe. A two-minute check-in about physical health can reveal important information. 

Take your impact further

You already have the insight. How can you more intentionally champion whole-person care without burdening your practice? As with most things, small changes can make a big difference.

Fittingly, you can start with your intake process. Add questions about recent medical visits, current medications, physical symptoms, sleep patterns, and support systems. This helps you understand what might be affecting mental health beyond psychological factors and makes referrals more informed.

When you deepen your intake process, focus on areas you’ve already seen affect your clients. This helps you get a fuller picture without overburdening your practice.

Develop relationships with medical providers who listen well, psychiatrists who collaborate effectively, and social services that follow through. Your recommendations carry weight because clients trust you. A warm handoff can transform someone’s healthcare experience.

With client consent, share relevant data with their doctors or specialists. When you notice connections between mental and physical health, document them. These observations build evidence for integrated care.

Use your voice for advocacy. You see the gaps in the system. You see how policies affect real lives. Consider how you can advocate for your clients’ needs, whether it’s helping them navigate a complex system or contributing to broader conversations about health equity.

Educate and share. Talk with your peers about the importance of looking at the whole person. Share your experiences and insights. Help others in the healthcare field understand the vital role of mental health within overall well-being.

While mental health providers are essential for whole-person care, the government and private insurers do not pay for key components like care coordination, interdisciplinary team communication, community resource navigation, or client education. This lack of reimbursement creates a systemic barrier to providing truly integrated care. Pushing for whole person care as the norm could help change payment models to reflect the importance of these services, and help therapists get paid for all the work they do to bridge the gaps.

Why whole person care is worth it

Whole person care has been proven to work time and time again. In “Valuing America’s Health”, a book written by the National Academy of Medicine, there’s an entire chapter filled with case studies that shows the impact of whole person care, applied in various ways and models: reduced hospitalization rates. Fewer emergency room visits. Lower rates of substance use, better chronic illness management, lower healthcare costs… The list goes on.

Every time you help someone understand how their physical and mental health connect, you’re teaching whole person thinking. When you support someone through medical appointments or help them access community resources, you’re modeling integrated care. These actions create systemic change, one interaction at a time.

The healthcare system needs professionals who see the complete picture. You already have this vision—now it’s time to share it more intentionally.