Healing the Whole Person: One Approach to Holistic Wellness

1.5 CECs offered by NASW-CT via Zoom, 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on October 14, 2026.  Click here for more information or to register.

A holistic approach integrates physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being to support balanced, fulfilling lives. This workshop explores how nutrition, mind–body wellness, and community connection work together to foster healing. This session includes education, demonstration ofactivities, facilitated dialogue, and experiential practices including a guided sound healing session. The workshop will examine how a psychiatric hospital implemented healthy food, holistic healing and recovery support specialists to compliment the rigor of psychotherapy. The course will dive into the role of advocacy, community healing, and accessibility to enhance the healing of individuals with mental health concerns.

After participating in this presentation, it is expected attendees will be able to:

1. Explain how physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being interact to support whole-person wellness and identify at least three factors that influence holistic health.
2. Describe the connection between nutrition, brain function, and mental health, and apply Food-4-Health strategies to support individuals experiencing food insecurity and mental health challenges.
3. Demonstrate at least two mind–body wellness techniques (e.g., breathwork, grounding, or sound-healing practices) that can be integrated into daily routines or client services to promote regulation and stress reduction.
4. Apply trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches when facilitating or participating in community healing conversations or support groups. 
5. Identify practical ways to incorporate holistic wellness practices—including healthy food access, body-mind wellness sessions, and peer-led healing spaces—into programmatic or community settings.