Holistic refers to the whole of the body – but it is not limited to the physical body.
A holistic treatment works with the individual as the main focus, rather than a symptom or disease.
The concept of an individual includes very much the physical body as well as the mental and emotional processes that make up the whole person. Therefore, holistic therapy looks for root causes, issues, and challenges that may be involved in an illness in a way that extends beyond the physical body alone.
The goal of such an approach is for the individual to ultimately have a more comfortable and enjoyable experience within their body, but furthermore to be in better alignement with their thoughts and the choices they make in everyday life.
The stress we are facing on a daily basis, has an impact on our mood and our overall health. We often feel this stress settling in our bodies. So something that was initially mental or emotional fatigue can end up manifesting as a symptom or pain in the physical body.
And vice versa. In a similar way, physical pain and illness can significantly affect our overall wellbeing and, consequently, the way we think and deal with circumstances, people, and situations on a daily basis.
By getting to know and by understanding the person who is experiencing a symptom, we can very often better facilitate the overall course of a treatment.
So, from this point of view, the whole is important. And yes, clearly, in my approach, the starting point is always fascia and tissue behaviour. The body is the one that is guiding the treatment course. However, in many cases it is helpful and useful to also listen to the individual, while listening and evaluating the musculoskeletal system.
This of course, is not to imply that this is always the only way to approach a treatment. It is one of the ways. It is better suited for some people and some cases. It is also the way I personally prefer or choose to work in this field we call physical therapy.