The Importance of Whole-Person Healing for Veterans

Key Takeaways

• Military veterans are at a greater risk for mental health issues, facing a suicide rate that is 5 times higher than non-veteran populations (Ruiz et al., 2022).
• Much of our treatment focus for today’s veterans centers on post-traumatic stress syndrome, but veterans need holistic treatment that addresses the whole person, including their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
• Options like Defining Wellness Centers’ Rally Point veterans’ program offer integrated, trauma-informed care that addresses the whole person, while taking into account their military experience. This integrated mind-body-spirit approach features team-based treatment that incorporates therapy for mental health, co-occurring disorders, substance use, and sleep issues or stress.

We honor our military veterans with parades on the 4^th of July, we celebrate them on Veterans’ Day each fall, and we remember the fallen on Memorial Day, but those of us who haven’t served can never truly understand the sacrifices veterans have made to keep our country safe.

Long after they leave military service, these brave men and women face ongoing mental health issues while, veterans’ suicide risk continues to outpace that of non-veterans, as noted in the 2022 Public Health Reports study.

The focus of veteran treatment today is often on post-traumatic stress syndrome, but that is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle: We need to offer veterans holistic treatment with a goal of whole-person healing.

The Urgency: Why Veteran Wellness Demands More than PTSD Treatment

The time away from family, the danger veterans willingly face, the difficult memories they bring home with them from deployments — it all takes a toll, impacting them physically, mentally, and emotionally, as the numbers show. Combat stress and PTSD are just part of the picture.

• In 2022, there were 6,407 veteran suicides — that’s 17.6 per day. (U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, 2024)
• PTSD is common among veterans, but it often co-occurs with other conditions like depression, substance use, and chronic pain. (National Center for PTSD, 2025)
• Among veterans seeking PTSD treatment, roughly 20% also have a substance use disorder (SUD). (Veterans Place USA, n.d.)
• Lifetime PTSD is linked with a 6% co-occurrence with SUD or an alcohol use disorder. (National Center for PTSD, n.d.)

What Is Integrative Care for Veterans?

Integrative care is a coordinated approach that treats the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—rather than focusing on a single diagnosis. For veterans, this means addressing emotional and psychological challenges, physical health, and spiritual well-being together.

At Defining Wellness, integrative care combines evidence-based therapies with holistic practices so every aspect of a veteran’s recovery supports the others, leading to lasting, whole-person healing.

Whole Healing Happens When the Mind, Body, and Spirit Work Together

Why is mind-body-spirit care so important for veterans? This integrated approach to address vets’ mental and physical health leads to more comprehensive healing. Chronic pain and PTSD can amplify each other, and substance use may be a form of self-medication to try to alleviate the unwanted symptoms of trauma. Moral injury may demand spiritual or existential interventions, not just exposure therapy.

We can’t fully address one issue without understanding the other issues that may also be having an impact. That’s why adding a veterans’ spiritual wellness program, holistic rehabilitation services, and family support for veteran wellness makes whole-person healing possible, leading to better long-term outcomes for America’s veterans.

Therapies That Work: Where Science Meets the Human Spirit

• Psychotherapeutic therapies: CBT, DBT, EMDR, plus trauma-informed individual and group therapy.
• Experiential and body-based options: art therapy, music-assisted therapy, equine therapy, outdoor adventure and movement activities.
• Holistic wellness supports: structured fitness & nutrition programs, sleep/healthy-living focus, and the campus Wellness Lab with advanced recovery technology.
• Spiritual and meaning-oriented support: a dedicated Spiritual Center, meditation gardens, labyrinth and outdoor reflective spaces.

Community and peer engagement: peer groups, alumni network, family education, and community-based connection embedded across the program.

Supporting Veterans’ Families, Communities & Systems

Veterans don’t heal in isolation — families, communities, and social support can make a big difference in treatment outcomes. This doesn’t mean that if you don’t have the support of blood relatives, you’re at a disadvantage, but support from loved ones, close friends, and peers is key. That support may take several forms, including:

• Family therapy, caregiver support, relational repair
• Community programs, veteran peer networks, reintegration support for vets
• Social determinants of health (housing, employment, financial stability)

Defining Wellness’ Family Program helps loved ones understand the recovery process and rebuild trust through education, counseling, and shared healing experiences. By engaging families alongside veterans, we strengthen connection, improve communication, and create a foundation for long-term wellness together.

Common Barriers to Integrative Care

Veterans and healthcare providers can face roadblocks when trying to address the whole person. These may come in the form of:

• Fragmented health systems – Behavioral healthcare, medical care, and spiritual care are often provided separately, resulting in siloed services.
• Insurance/reimbursement limitations – Many holistic modalities may not be covered in the same way as traditional treatment methods.
• Provider training gaps – Newer methods may mean fewer clinicians are trained in integrative or somatic modalities.
• Veteran skepticism/stigma – Some veterans and/or their loved ones may have preconceived biases about nontraditional care, questioning its efficacy.
• Access challenges – Veterans in rural areas, those facing transportation challenges, and telehealth limitations can all hinder access to treatment.

Integrated, Trauma-Informed Care for Veterans

Defining Wellness Centers’ Rally Point veterans’ program offers trauma-informed, integrated treatment designed to help veterans heal on every level—mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. Our multidisciplinary team understands military culture and provides coordinated care for PTSD, addiction, and co-occurring disorders in a safe, supportive community.

With veteran-led groups, peer mentoring, and holistic wellness resources, Rally Point helps veterans reclaim health, connection, and resilience.

To learn more or begin treatment, contact our Admissions Team or call 855-790-9303.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does integrative or “whole-person” care help veterans recover?
  • Integrative care addresses the full spectrum of wellness — mental health, physical recovery, and spiritual balance. For veterans, this means trauma therapy, medical support, and wellness practices work together under one coordinated plan. The goal is not just symptom management, but long-term healing and restored purpose.
• What kinds of therapies are used in integrative or “whole-person” care?
  • Integrated, whole-person treatment includes proven therapies such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT, EMDR, and trauma-informed counseling, alongside holistic modalities like equine therapy, music and art therapy, fitness and nutrition support, and mindfulness practices.
• Is holistic care just “alternative medicine”?
  • Holistic care looks at the whole person — body, mind, emotions, and spirit — and how each part affects overall health, while alternative medicine generally refers to treatments that are used instead of standard medical care (like herbal remedies, acupuncture, or homeopathy). A holistic approach can include both conventional (Western) medicine and complementary approaches.
• Does whole-person mean I have to do everything?
  • A whole-person approach takes into account all aspects of a person, but that doesn’t mean treatment is needed in all of those areas. At Defining Wellness, clinicians work with each client to determine their treatment needs and goals then create a plan that focuses on those areas.
• Will insurance cover holistic interventions?
  • Holistic interventions are part of a comprehensive treatment process that includes evidence-based modalities, clinical care, and medical support. Our team is experienced at working with Tricare and VA Community Care, as well as other major insurance providers, to help you get the most out of your benefits.
• Does spiritual care alienate nonreligious veterans?
  • Spiritual care is a term that goes well beyond religion or spirituality. It’s about finding meaning and purpose in life, whatever that looks like for each individual client. This approach can include or exclude organized religion, depending on the client’s preferences and beliefs.
• How do you prioritize what condition to treat first?
  • Our clinical assessment process helps our highly skilled clinicians determine primary and secondary diagnoses, as well as any other underlying conditions, in order to ensure a client’s treatment plan addresses the most serious issues first. That doesn’t mean we have to heal one area before looking at another. Since many issues are interrelated, we believe our integrated approach is the best way to achieve lasting, whole-person healing.

Sources

1. Ruiz, Frank; Burgo-Black, Lucile; Hunt, Stephen C.; Miller, Matthew; Spelman, Juliette F.
   “A Practical Review of Suicide Among Veterans: Preventive and Proactive Measures for Health Care Institutions and Providers.” Public Health Reports, vol. 138, no. 2, April 2022, pp. 223–231. DOI: 10.1177/00333549221085240.
2. S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
   “VA Releases Annual Veteran Suicide Prevention Report, Analyzing 2001–2022 Data.” VA.gov, December 19, 2024.
3. National Center for PTSD (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).
   “Treatment of Co-Occurring PTSD and Substance Use Disorder in Veterans Affairs.” va.gov, 2025.
4. Veterans Place USA.
   “The Connection Between PTSD and Substance Use Disorder in Veterans.” Veterans Place USA, n.d.
5. National Center for PTSD (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).
   “PTSD and Substance Use Disorder in Veterans.” va.gov, 2025.