A Physical Therapist's Role in Providing a Trauma-Informed, Whole-Body, Holistic Approach to Address the Spiritual and Mental Health of Patients

Abstract

It is well documented that patient outcomes improve when providers address the patient's mental and spiritual needs in addition to their physical needs. There is currently a shift from the biomedical model to the biopsychosocial model and now a focus on the dynamic biopsychosocial model. Trauma is known to have spiritual, cultural, mental, and physical implications, and people who have experienced trauma want their providers to address it. Transitioning to a biopsychosocial model can be challenging, but the physical therapist is in a unique position to provide quality care within their scope of practice, while addressing the complexity of the whole person. Physical therapists must look introspectively at their own beliefs and practices to provide improved holistic, trauma-informed care. Through personal experience and literature reviews, a case is made for addressing both spiritual beliefs and mental health needs in the clinical setting (see Supplemental Digital Content Video Abstract, available at: http://links.lww.com/JWHPT/A130).