Elena is no stranger to pain. A foot injury she experienced during an exercise carried over after her time in the Army, making it difficult for Elena to establish a life and career for herself post-service. The debilitating pain she experienced, complicated by a host of other conditions — from insomnia to sinus issues — affected Elena’s mood and relationships and prevented her from getting a grip on her health care. But that was before she turned to Whole Health. By instilling mindfulness in Elena, Whole Health enabled her to see the bigger picture of her health and well-being. She got moving again with the help of tai chi. Other approaches, such as acupuncture and nutritional therapy, combined to encourage Elena to take control of her mental and physical health. Whole Health supports your health and well-being. Whole Health centers around what matters to you, not what is the matter with you. This means your health team will get to know you as a person, before working with you to develop a personalized health plan based on your values, needs, and goals. Experience Whole Health today at www.va.gov/wholehealth/experience or find a local Whole Health Point of Contact to get started. www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/whole-health-facility-contacts.asp #WholeHealth #VA #Healthcare

Strength at Home is a trauma-informed group program for those who struggle with conflict and anger in relationships and may be at risk for intimate partner violence. The Strength at Home mobile app is a free and publicly available app for people participating in the Strength at Home program. It was created by a team at the National Center for PTSD, Department of Veterans Affairs. The app can help you manage your sessions, handouts, and assignments; give you tools to help relax; and track your progress. This app is not intended for self-care. #strengthathome #intimatepartnerviolence #ipv

When Kris medically retired from service, he found himself going through the motions. The Army Veteran, who saw combat in Iraq, sought treatment for PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and knee and back pain — though he wasn’t getting anything out of the experience so much as he was checking boxes. Then, in 2020, his health further deteriorated due to a severe bout of COVID-19. That’s when Kris made a life-changing — and lifesaving — decision to adopt a Whole Health mindset. Not only did his newfound approach help him overcome COVID-19, but it also empowered him to address another aspect of his health: his weight. With a Whole Health philosophy on-board, Kris lost over 60 pounds on his way to becoming a happier, healthier husband and father of two. Whole Health supports your health and well-being. Whole Health centers around what matters to you, not what is the matter with you. This means your health team will get to know you as a person, before working with you to develop a personalized health plan based on your values, needs, and goals. Experience Whole Health today at www.va.gov/wholehealth/experience or find a local Whole Health Point of Contact to get started. www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/whole-health-facility-contacts.asp #WholeHealth #VA #Healthcare

PTSD Coach is a free and publicly available mobile app for people with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and those interested in learning more about PTSD. It was created by a team at the National Center for PTSD, Department of Veterans Affairs. This app provides users with education about PTSD, information about professional care, a self-assessment for PTSD, opportunities to find support, and tools that can help users manage the stresses of daily life with PTSD. Tools range from relaxation skills and positive self-talk to anger management and other common self-help strategies. Users can customize tools based on their preferences and integrate their own contacts, photos, and music. This app can be used by people who are in treatment as well as those who are not.

What happens when healthcare stops asking “what’s wrong with you” and starts asking “what matters to you?” That’s the Whole Health Experience — VA’s approach to care that meets Veterans where they are and helps them rediscover the life they want to live. For many Veterans, healthcare can feel like it’s about checking boxes. With Whole Health, it’s an experience where VA health care is built around you — your story, your values, and what gives your life meaning — and for the Veterans in this video, it changed everything. For these Veterans, it meant more than managing symptoms — it meant rediscovering purpose, rebuilding strength, and taking charge of their own health. In this video, Ray, Lisa, Elena, and Kris share their personal stories of transformation through Whole Health — a holistic approach to care that goes beyond traditional medicine to ask what matters most to you. Whole Health supports your health and well-being. Whole Health centers around what matters to you, not what is the matter with you. This means your health team will get to know you as a person, before working with you to develop a personalized health plan based on your values, needs, and goals. Experience Whole Health today at www.va.gov/wholehealth/experience or find a local Whole Health Point of Contact to get started. www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/whole-health-facility-contacts.asp #WholeHealth #VA #Healthcare