Introduction to USA VA Whole Health: A Person-Centered Approach

Why We Share This Resource

At Nepute Wellness, we believe that great health education comes from many sources. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs developed the Whole Health program as a comprehensive approach to person centered care, and its principles closely align with what we believe: health is more than the absence of disease, and selfcare is a powerful foundation for wellness.

The Whole Health Model

The Whole Health approach is built around the “Circle of Health,” which identifies key areas that contribute to overall wellbeing: working your body, food and drink, recharge (sleep and renewal), surroundings, personal development, spirit and soul, relationships, and the power of the mind.

This model reflects what functional and integrative practitioners have long understood: health is not just about managing one condition at a time. It is about supporting the whole person across multiple dimensions of life.

Selfcare as Healthcare

One of the core messages of the Whole Health program is that selfcare is not optional; it is foundational. This aligns directly with our own principle of “Selfcare as Healthcare.” When you actively participate in your own health through mindful choices about nutrition, movement, stress management, and rest, you create a foundation that supports everything else.

Root Cause Thinking

The Whole Health approach encourages asking “what matters to you?” rather than “what is the matter with you?” This shift in perspective is at the heart of root cause thinking. Instead of focusing only on symptoms, it asks what the person needs to thrive as a whole.

Download the VA Introduction to Whole Health document below. It is a public domain resource provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Whole Health Program. Public domain material used with attribution.