A Holistic Wellness Approach to Mental Disorder Diagnosis: A Collaborative Process for Wellness and Recovery

In this course, Dr. Robert Shwartz, Ph.D., PCC-S, coordinator of the clinical mental health program at Ohio’s University of Akron, notes that the rapid increase in competitiveness in the health field over the last two decades has meant that diagnosis has become a watchword. He argues that adopting a holistic diagnostic stance is a vital countermeasure in order to avoid diagnosis becoming merely a process of labelling people. Distinguishing between medical model approaches, which merely attempt to eliminate symptoms, and holistic ones - which also help clients learn how to lead happier, more fulfilling lives - Dr Shwartz discusses the characteristics of a holistic perspective for mental disorder diagnosis.