Healing Touch is an energy-based therapeutic approach to healing, with the intent to restore balance and harmony in the human energy system. It treats the whole person. The body, mind, emotions, and spirit are touched, empowering the person to self-heal.

Healing Touch was developed by Janet Mentgen, RN, BSN, who started practicing energy-based care in 1980. She studied with many energy healers, creating a curriculum to reflect an eclectic blend of techniques. This certified educational program, taught internationally, is endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses' Association.

The Healing Process

Stress, pain, any illness are signs of disruption or blockage in our energy system, which is out of balance - physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. These four levels of our being make up our energy field and influence each other. Thus, the health of our energy system affects all aspects of our well-being. For example, emotional stress can disrupt our energy flow, affect the immune system and cause physical illness. Therefore it is important to restore balance in the energy system for healing to occur.

All healing is essentially self-healing. A physician can set a bone fracture, but the body itself heals the split; the physician simply facilitates the process. Similarly, with Healing Touch, the therapist facilitates the healing process by connecting with the client and drawing on the life force energy to clear, energize and balance their system. This energy has a wisdom of its own bringing harmony where healing is needed - thus, restoring balance to the body, mind, emotions & spirit.

Healing Touch is a language of the heart - it is from compassion that it draws its power, helping us to remember our wholeness and freeing our potential to heal.

Who Can Benefit?

Healing Touch can help to heal any condition - from mental stress to emotional trauma to physical disease - by restoring balance to the energy system and promoting self-healing in body, mind & spirit. It is appropriate for anyone, of any age, seeking improvement in health and well-being.

Many benefits may be experienced, such as:

• Reduced pain & anxiety
• Calm & relaxation
• Lower blood pressure
• Restful sleep
• Release of emotional trauma
• Sense of stability in times of transition
• Prevention of illness
• Restoration of health
• Acceleration of wound & fracture healing
• Reduced need for pain medication
• Ease of pain in childbirth
• Peace & comfort in the dying process

What Is A Session Like?

Healing Touch sessions are given with the client fully clothed, typically lying on a massage table. However, the flexibility of the therapy allows it to be received in almost any situation, such as a chair or hospital bed. A variety of techniques may be used with a light physical touch or hand movements away from the body, within the person's energy field. Every session is unique, with varying responses. Some may enter into a meditative state, feel energetic sensations, or even fall asleep. However, most do feel a deep sense of relaxation.

For those living too far away for personal visits, sessions can also be given remotely. In the same way as prayer is effective for someone living across the country, healing works beyond the conventional restrictions of time and space. A long distance session involves an initial discussion over the phone. Then with the client getting comfortable lying down or sitting in a chair, I give the treatment remotely as if you were in my therapy room. We would then follow up with another phone conversation. This can be very convenient for those having difficulty leaving their home, with a challenging schedule, or wishing to maintain greater privacy.

Healing Touch in Health Care

A growing awareness of the benefits of Healing Touch has led to widespread use in the medical field. It is complementary to mainstream medicine and other healing arts. Healing Touch is now used extensively in hospitals, medical and dental practices, body therapies, and counseling.

Research

Much research has been done to show the effectiveness of Healing Touch. Documented studies have shown, for example, that with Healing Touch:

• Surgical wounds and sutures heal faster
• Burns clear up significantly sooner
• Circulation/breathing improve post-surgically
• Premature infants have enhanced growth rate