Since the 1860s, the Veterans Administration (VA) has worked to serve the health-related needs of those who have fought for our country. Yet, it hasn’t always been an easy path for veterans to access the healthcare and wellness services necessary to treat their various issues. In 2017, a VA directive formally recognized acupuncture and other holistic, alternative treatments, opening the door for holistic practitioners to serve veterans under the banner of VA coverage.
One such practitioner is Crystal Bethea. Bethea, an Army veteran and owner of C3 Wellness Spa, has found that approaching veteran wellness more holistically has helped ease some of the issues veterans face in accessing top-notch care.
“Stagnation of muscles, vessels, and energy can cause a host of health issues and conditions that spiral into a weakened physical and mental state,” explains Bethea. “The benefits of treating the body as a whole, and not the condition itself, absolutely promotes self-healing and an overall wellness boost.”
Serving Physical and Mental Needs
Bethea understands well the impact the holistic services — such as those she renders through her business, C3 Wellness Spa — could significantly help the veteran community. “We completely understood our service facilities’ impact on our community and wanted to reach the veterans to diversify their health regimen.”
Veterans often have unique healthcare needs that a holistic approach could address in a way that reaches deeper than traditional healthcare approaches. Environmental and toxic chemical exposure, PTSD, drug dependency, and pain management are just some of the common issues that veterans face. Their care plans can often be complicated, and access to specialists can be a daunting task through the VA.
The holistic approach that is Bethea’s specialty works to improve not only the physical well-being of her patients, but taps into their mental well-being needs as well. “The great thing about holistic treatments is that they keep the body moving inside and out,” says Bethea.
Bethea’s spa offers a wealth of whole-body-focused treatments such as acupuncture, massage, holistic physical therapy, and Tai Chi. C3 offers membership and VIP plans and different service tiers to fit the multitude of needs of their clients. Coming from a military background allows Bethea to tap into that population’s specific needs and offer the most helpful and targeted treatments and services.
VA Approved
The VA has recognized the importance and efficacy of holistic health, and Bethea’s C3 Wellness Spa fits right into the VA’s recommended holistic care plan for veteran patients. The VA has even promoted a #LiveWholeHealth program that dives into holistic health options and why a whole-body healthcare approach may be the best option for veterans.
Bethea has focused on giving a helping hand to those veterans who are interested in taking charge of their own healthcare through consideration of holistic wellness. Her services are VA-approved, and C3 Wellness Spa is considered a government vendor, allowing veterans to have their holistic options covered.
“I feel that devastating events such as the opioid crisis plagued this country because of a lack of acknowledgment of alternative care,” Bethea explains. Issues that disproportionately affect veterans — including the opioid crisis — are the same ones that Bethea hopes her holistic approach will address the most.
Bethea’s holistic path to wellness considers the veteran’s unique needs while working within the government system that has supported veteran health since the Civil War. Going forward, Bethea has franchised C3 Wellness Spa and will bring her particular brand of veteran care to other cities and states outside Central Florida.
Whether veterans are seeking to treat physical pain, PTSD, anxiety or simply explore holistic options to work in tandem with their more conventional treatments, Crystal Bethea and C3 Wellness Spa are here to lead the way for veterans’ focused holistic health.
