holistic pathways

What is Holistic Pathways?

Holistic Pathways is a program that provides a gentle integration of holistic therapies, which are supportive to patients, their families and caregivers. Holistic therapies are soothing treatment interventions. They have been clinically proven to produce positive emotional & psycho-physiological responses while supporting “quality of life.”

What are Holistic Therapies?

Also known as “integrative” or “complementary,” holistic therapies do not replace current treatments but are provided as supportive measures. The benefits and use of these therapies are as unique as each individual.

How Does It Work?

In determining the use of holistic therapies, we apply nursing assessment, individual preference and choice. We address the concerns and questions regarding the use of different therapies. In our desire to provide more meaningful care, our professional healthcare team is concerned with the appropriate use of holistic therapies and ensure that all therapies are founded on clinical research, knowledge, ethics, nursing standards of practice, nursing theory and more importantly, expertise. These integrative therapies are incorporated into our patient plan of care, signed and approved by a physician.

Available Therapies

We offer a variety of holistic therapies as part of the plan of care. Please call and ask us for more information regarding our therapies or for a therapy you do not see listed.

Guided Imagery
Verbal guidance toward a peaceful, inner journey where one can feel safe, comforted, relaxed and peaceful. It can be done in person, with tapes or learned as a self-care tool. Guided Imagery can also be used with other integrative therapies. Imagery is tailored to suit each individual’s choice for the purpose of reaching positive outcomes.

Meditation
Involves teaching the individual to use meditation as a coping mechanism for discomfort and stress. For those that choose this therapy, meditation can become a comforting technique for self-care.

Honoring the Soul
Our trained professional staff of spiritual counselors, chaplains and holistic nurses are accessible to provide support in ways that are comforting and respectful to each individual’s beliefs. We have many spiritual support programs and resources available.

Stress Reduction
Physical and emotional states are negatively impacted by stress. Cognitive Therapy is assisting the individual’s ability to reduce stress by learning healthy coping mechanisms that relate to our thoughts. This in turn influences the psycho-physiological states and emotional well-being.

Breathing as Therapy
How we breathe influences our psycho-physiological systems both positively and negatively. Trained, conscious breathing techniques can assist with reduction of anxiety, pain, emotional, psychological and physical stress. We provide education on breathing techniques as a supportive measure that can contribute positively to an individual’s overall experience.

Tranquil Footbath
A relaxing therapy that can be used with or without essential oils. This therapy includes a warm foot soak, gentle massage and caring touch.

Aromatherapy
The use of natural, essential oils extracted from plants and flowers to promote well being and relaxation while reducing stress. Essential oils can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin. This enables the oils to travel to the olfactory nerve and access the limbic system (the part of the brain associated with memory and emotion) which in turn communicates with the nervous, endocrine and immune systems to promote relaxation and positive physiological responses.

Music Therapy
Music therapy has been clinically show to have positive affects on psychological, emotional and physiological states when used to promote relaxation. This integrative therapy is a soothing way to enhance well-being in the midst of physical and related stressors, and can be used in conjunction with any of our other holistic therapies.

Touch Therapy
Touch, as a means of therapeutic application, is an important element to meaningful comfort and care. All of our touch therapies are used to enhance the relaxation response, which is connected to all of our major physical systems. Heart rate, blood pressure, respirations, nervous systems, anxiety and pain all respond positively to relaxation. It can also assist and individual in achieving emotional and psychological states of well-being, while increasing coping skills. Touch therapies include gentle massage, Reiki, therapeutic and healing touch.