Whole-person care (sometimes called integrative care, whole-health, or person-centred care) approaches patients as complex beings with interconnected physical, emotional, social, and, increasingly, existential or spiritual dimensions. Instead of treating single conditions in isolation, it considers:

• Physical health
• Mental and emotional wellbeing
• Social determinants of health (housing, community, support networks)
• Lifestyle and behaviour
• Spirituality, meaning-making, values, and cultural context
• End-of-life preferences and dignity

Spiritual care is a key component of whole-person care and the focus of the resources I offer here in The Soul Garden.

Spiritual care is defined as the support offered to patients to help them find meaning, connection, and inner resources when facing illness, suffering, or end-of-life. It recognises that a person’s beliefs, values, and sources of hope can influence their wellbeing and how they cope with health challenges.

A focus of my work is to help health practitioners across a range of clinical settings feel comfortable and confident with assessing the spiritual wellbeing of their patient or client.

The case for a whole-person approach in healthcare is becoming clearer. Patients report wanting to feel seen, heard, and treated as individuals rather than diagnoses or data points. Patients receiving whole-person care show:

• Lower rates of anxiety and depression
• Better coping strategies
• Reduced trauma reactivation
• Improved resilience in long-term illness