How Can a Whole-Person Approach Help with Learning?
Learning isn’t just about books and brains—it’s about how our bodies, emotions, and environment work together. A whole-person (or holistic) approach to therapy looks at an individual's potential and ability to learn and thrive; from their physical skills to their emotional well-being and even their relationships and surroundings.
Why Use This Approach?
Challenges like anxiety, depression, trauma, or “learning stress” (yes, it’s real!) often get in the way. Learning stress happens when the brain and body aren’t in sync.
Think: Struggling to sit upright or focus makes it harder to process information.
Be: Feeling stuck leads to frustration, sadness, or anxiety.
Do: Fidgeting or moving is the body’s way of finding balance.
By addressing the whole person, you bring light to the learning challenges - making learning feel more natural and less overwhelming.
What Therapies Can Help?
Therapies that support learning holistically include:
Brain Gym®Instructors: Simple movements that help the brain and body work better together.
Developmental Educators: Specialists who may focus on sensory, behavioral, and independent living skills
Traditional Therapists: Psychologists, speech pathologists, or OTs who address specific needs according to their discipline.
Why It Works
A Big-Picture (Whole Person) Approach
Using collaboration is key. Whether it’s a therapist or educator, working with the individual—they and their network of significant others is equally important this ensures their unique needs are understood and being met.
By honoring the sum of all their parts, a whole-person approach helps individuals “move forward” with greater confidence and even resilience.
Whether the goal is academic success or personal growth, an integrative method creates a pathway to meaningful outcomes.
