This research reviews the concept of holistic healing. The concept of healing is relevant in a variety of contexts. As an example, people referred to a need for healing at both personal and societal levels in the United States after the terrorist attacks occurred in September 2001. Healing also is relevant in much more personal psychological situations when losses occur or when oneÆs life is disrupted. The most common application of the concept of healing is in relation to recovery from severe illness or severe injury in situations where the loss or risk of loss involves both physical and psychological dimensions. It is in this latter context that the concept of holistic healing is reviewed. The review begins with a consideration of holism and proceeds to the application of holism in the healing process in relation to personal health issues.
Changing social structures are leading to evolving approaches to the delivery of health care. The roles of the various professional providers of health care also are in a state of transition. Societal changes also are occurring that impact the ethical bases of the functioning of health care delivery systems. Throughout American society, such transitions are leading to a growing expression of a desire for holism. Holism refers to a totality in perspective, with sensitivity to all levels or parts that constitute the whole and to their interdependence and relatedness. In this context, an individual may not be separated from her or his external environment. The individualÆs internal environment is viewed within a holistic perspective as providing the regulators necessary to permit the individual to cope with both internal and external disturbances. Body, spirit, and mindùthe internal environment, and the external environment are all interdependent (MacIntyre, Holzemer, and Philippek 25).
In the human services area, holism refers to a totality in perspective, with sensitivity to al...