Whole Health

Vietnam Veteran Robert GoVan with three of his paintings. Health and Wellness Coach Sophie Brown, right, supported GoVan in setting goals and working toward them, including an ambitious goal of completing 100 paintings.

After decades of living life as a self-described loner, Robert GoVan, a Vietnam Veteran, found a renewed sense of purpose and connection through Central Virginia VA’s Whole Health program and the compassionate guidance of Health and Wellness Coach Sophie Brown. What started as a simple conversation about goals became a life-changing journey back to creativity, community, and self-expression.

From Isolation to Inspiration

“I reached a point where I just needed to be in contact with people,” GoVan shared. For years, he had relied on therapy and counseling to manage the lingering effects of his service. But after moving to Richmond, he lost touch with his support system. Friends were scattered across the country, and the sense of connection he once had was gone.

“I don’t have any friends here,” he said. “I have a lot of friends, but not here in Richmond. All my friends are up in D.C. or throughout the country.”

He had heard about Whole Health before but hadn’t pursued it. When the opportunity came around again, he decided to give it another try. And this time, it made all the difference.

Reconnecting With What Matters Most

Whole Health is VA’s approach to care that begins with what matters most to Veterans: their values, goals, and priorities. For GoVan, that meant rediscovering his lifelong passion for art.

“I had stopped painting 22 years ago and hadn’t had an exhibit in 34 years,” he said. “But I started back, and it brought me back to who I used to be.”

Painting had always been his way of coping and expressing himself. “I didn’t study art. I didn’t go to school for it. It’s just my way of dealing with reality, creating a world where nothing else matters. This is me right here.”

With Sophie’s support, GoVan began setting goals and working toward them. One of those goals was ambitious: complete 100 paintings. “I bought a ton of canvases and paint,” he said. “I wasn’t rushing. No deadline. Just whenever I could get it done.”

From Canvas to Community

As his confidence grew, Sophie helped him explore opportunities that aligned with his interests. When he expressed a desire to share his work, she connected him with Central Virginia VA’s art exhibition for Whole Health month. At first, he hesitated. “I was leery about it,” GoVan admitted. “I hadn’t done that sort of thing in a long time.”

The experience proved transformative. “When I saw that the other artists were painting from the heart, I thought, ‘I can do this,’” he said. “Since then, spiritually and artistically, I’ve been thriving. I’m living my life in art.”

That exhibit opened doors. Today, GoVan’s work is displayed at a local gallery in Richmond, and he’s even become a vendor at the Richmond VA Medical Center. To do that, he had to take the unexpected step of incorporating his art business. “I didn’t plan on being a businessman,” he laughed. “But Sophie helped me with the forms and said, ‘Here’s what you need to do.’ She’s been like a guardian angel.”

Art as Healing and Self-Expression

For this Veteran, art is more than a hobby. It’s a voice and a source of healing. His paintings reflect decades of lived experience, emotion, and resilience. “Art is how I deal with reality,” he said. “It’s my way of staying grounded and expressing what words can’t.”

Advice for Fellow Veterans

His message to other Veterans considering Whole Health? “Talk to someone about it,” he said. “It doesn’t hurt. Especially if you’re a loner. Whole Health gave me a way back to myself.”

GoVan knows the power of conversation and the importance of finding the right person to listen. “Over the years, I’ve learned that talking to someone can make a big difference,” he said. “Now, programs like Whole Health give Veterans a place to explore their passions. If you’re struggling, seek out resources like this. It can change your life.”

Visit His Work:

Artworks Inc. Gallery

320 Hull Street, Richmond, VA 23224

Phone: (804) 291-1400

Whole Health is about what matters to you, not what is the matter with you. Learn more about VA Whole Health programs and how they can help you connect with what matters most: VA Whole Health.