About Healing Touch

What is Healing Touch?
Healing Touch is a therapy that helps to restore and balance energy that has been depleted due to stress, illness, injury, grief, medical conditions, surgery or medical treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. The goal of Healing Touch is to restore harmony and balance in the human energy system by creating an optimal environment to enable the body's innate tendency for healing to occur.

What happens when our energy system becomes depleted or imbalanced?
When our energy system is depleted we feel tired, we have difficulty coping and it is difficult for our immune system to function properly.

When our energy system is off balance, the energy that usually flows through and around our bodies becomes congested. For example – pain is congested energy. When an individual has pain, the practitioner focuses on removing the energy congestion so that the pain level is reduced. Think of times when you have been stressed and how it affected your body. You may have experienced muscle tightness in your neck and shoulders, developed a headache or had discomfort in other parts of your body. Stress causes congestion in our energy system. Healing Touch techniques help to relieve that congestion.

How does our body respond to energy therapy such as Healing Touch?
Healing Touch promotes relaxation. When your body relaxes endorphins are released from the brain, which helps the muscles to relax. When the muscles relax circulation is improved and the increased blood flow elevates oxygen levels throughout the body. This in turn allows nutrients to be absorbed more efficiently, enzymes are built to aid digestion, hormones are regulated, and toxins are released from the body. This allows healthy cells to regenerate and promotes a sense of well-being which then supports healing and regulates the immune system.

Why do you say that Healing Touch effects body, mind, emotion and spirit?
We are integrated beings and we cannot separate the physical from the emotional, mental or spiritual aspects of ourselves. When we are physically ill, we are also affected emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Likewise, when we are stressed or emotional about something we often feel it in our physical body such as developing a headache or we have a change in digestion or have difficulty sleeping. Our body, mind, emotion and spirit are who we are as a whole person and we need to take care of that whole person. Healing Touch effects the whole person.

What Research is available on Healing Touch?
Healing Touch (HT) is one of many energy-based modalities that is being increasingly studied. Many science disciplines are turning to the study of subtle energies in their quest to understand the phenomena of energy-based therapies. The Healing Touch Research website is available to provide documented research on Healing Touch and related modalities.

How Healing Touch Can Help

What are some of the benefits of Healing Touch therapy?

  • Reduces pain
  • Reduces anxiety
  • Enhances recovery from surgery
  • Improves mobility after surgery
  • Relieves tension, stress and depression
  • Provides support during chemotherapy and radiation therapy
  • Strengthens the immune system
  • Reduces the effects of trauma and chronic pain
  • Supports the dying process
  • Deepens spiritual connection
  • Reduces the length of hospital stays

Do I have to believe in this for it to work on me?
No, you can keep your skepticism and it will still work! Your body's intuitive wisdom will process and benefit from what it knows is for your highest good, whether or not your conscious mind thinks it's "a little out there". And remember, your Spirit will automatically "veto" anything that it deems is not in your best interest.

Do you recommend that Healing Touch be used in place of traditional medical care?
Absolutely not. Healing Touch should be used in conjunction with – not instead of – traditional medical care.

Do you have to be a certain age to receive Healing Touch?
You can be any age to receive Healing Touch – from newborn to the elderly.

Is Healing Touch for everybody?
Healing Touch is beneficial to everyone and works as a complementary therapy to conventional medicine and other therapies.

Where does the Healing Touch session take place?
Healing Touch can be performed almost anywhere – in the home, hospitals, nursing homes and hospices.

How Can I find a Healing Touch Practitioner in my area?
Search the Healing Touch Practitioner Directory by clicking here.

Do I need a referral?
You do not need to be referred by a physician or other medical professional to receive a Healing Touch treatment. However, because Healing Touch is complementary to conventional medicine, medical professionals will often recommend that you receive Healing Touch treatments to improve your overall health and healing.

Is it expensive?
Healing Touch fees are on par with local massage therapy sessions.

About Healing Touch Treatments

How many sessions are recommended?
The number of sessions for Healing Touch is dependent upon the needs of the client. Often for a new client, three treatments are scheduled. After each session, the client's needs are reassessed to plan the care appropriately. This will include the need for further treatments, referrals to other professionals, and instruction in self care as needed and in collaboration with the wishes of the client.

How often would I have to be seen?
If you have an acute condition such as recent surgery or a recent injury, more benefit is derived by a Healing Touch treatment daily or every other day for three to five visits.
If you have a chronic condition, the practitioner will suggest that you be seen once a week for three to five weeks as it sometimes takes up to three visits for there to be a noticeable benefit.

How soon will I notice results?
The energy shifts immediately with the integration, like a light being turned on in a dark room. The overall feeling of relaxation is commonly experienced. Pain relief is often reported after one session. Most people report that they feel much "lighter" after the session. That is because they literally are! Emotions such as depression, anger, guilt, etc. are often released. Once released, the void where those emotions were formerly held may be automatically filled with light, truth, love, forgiveness, and joy. With some issues, you will immediately notice they are no longer there because you are not worried about them anymore. That worry is replaced by peace. With other issues, although the energetic changes are in place, you may not recognize the change right away.

What to Expect During Your Healing Touch Session

How long does a treatment/session last?
A Healing Touch session can run from 15 to 60 minutes depending on the clients needs.

Do I have to undress to receive a session?
No, you do not need to undress to receive a session.

Is Healing Touch like getting a massage?
The only way Healing Touch is like massage is that you lie on a massage table for the treatment, if you choose. You can also sit on a chair to receive a treatment. Either way, you stay fully clothed but may be asked to remove your shoes. With massage, muscles are manipulated and pressure is applied. When doing Healing Touch the practitioner uses very light, gentle touch and/or makes sweeping movements with his/her hands near the body.

What if I do not like to be touched?
All the techniques can be done without the practitioner directly touching you and will be just as effective. What if I do not feel comfortable during a Healing Touch session? Feedback is always encouraged and welcome. Please speak up. If you do not feel comfortable, your practitioner can (may increase/decrease pressure, provide you with blanket,) stop working on the part of your body that is giving you discomfort.

Can I talk to my practitioner or listen to music during a session?
That is up to you. When the environment permits, soothing music may be played during the session. A session is your time to relax and the goal is to provide you with an environment that helps you do just that. You may also feel free to speak with your practitioner during a session. This is your time, however, and many times patients choose to simply lie quietly and receive a treatment.

How young of a child can these techniques be used on?
Because Healing Touch techniques are so gentle, and can do no harm, there is no age limit. Healing Touch can even work on babies still in the womb.

Can Healing Touch be done long-distance?
Yes, because energy is not limited by time or distance, Healing Touch works just as powerfully whether working with someone one-on-one or at a distance.

How Can I Learn Healing Touch

Who can learn Healing Touch?
Healing Touch classes and the Healing Touch Certification Program is open to anyone who has a desire to offer comfort and relief to others. Janet Mentgen, a nurse and the founder of Healing Touch, believed that anyone could learn how to facilitate healing in others.

What does learning Healing Touch involve?
Taking a Healing Touch Level 1 class involves attending a two day workshop. The 16 continuing education contact hours that are offered can be applied by nurses and massage therapists toward their licensure requirements. Healing Touch Program is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s COA.

If you are interested in learning Healing Touch click here.

What will I learn at a Healing Touch Level 1 class?
Twelve techniques that you can use immediately and more:

  • How to use your hands and heart to foster healing in others and in yourself
  • How to open your heart and spirit in a healing way to everyone you know
  • What forms the energy system
  • How your energy system is connected with your body, mind, emotion and spirit
  • How other people’s energy feels
  • How to relieve pain and calm emotions in yourself and others
  • How to clear up energetic blockages that affect us negatively
  • How to maintain balance in your own energy system so that you can thrive instead of just survive
  • Skills that will foster your personal and professional growth
  • How to share this exciting work in your community, especially with health care professionals
  • How to tap into resources that you can share that demonstrate the scientific validity of Healing Touch
  • Healing Touch Program’s Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics

Is there just one level of Healing Touch?
No, Healing Touch is a five-level program. When the five levels are completed, you may apply for certification from the Healing Touch Program via an autonomous certification panel.

Is each level a two day workshop?
Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 are two day workshops. Level 4 and Level 5 are four day workshops usually held in a retreat setting.

Can I get CE credits for taking a Healing Touch Class?
Healing Touch provides accredited Continuing Education for nurses and massage therapists. Based on the nursing process, and supported by scientific research, it is rooted in the concepts of compassion, energy medicine, positive intention, touch, self empowerment, the mind-body-spirit triad, and the body's innate tendency toward healing.

About Healing Touch for Animals®

Can these techniques be used on animals?
Absolutely! Animals are very easy to work on, because their Spirits are so open.

How does it work?
Just like a person, when an animal is injured or ill, the energy system becomes out of balance. Healing Touch helps restore the balance, which in turn assists their body's natural capacity for healing itself.

How can Healing Touch for Animals® (HTA) benefit my animal?
The energy-based techniques of Healing Touch for Animals® and the Komitor Healing Method, Inc. can help with:

  • Preventative Health Care
  • Veterinary Care Support
  • Injuries/Illness
  • Physical Trauma
  • Recovery from Surgery
  • Birthing Process
  • During Euthanasia
  • Behavioral Issues
  • Emotional Trauma
  • Abandonment/Abuse
  • Stress Management
  • Connecting/Bonding
  • Training
  • Focus for Competition

Will I still need veterinary care for my animal?
Healing Touch for Animals® Techniques are designed to enhance the healing process and do not replace traditional veterinary medicine or veterinary healthcare. These techniques promote a beneficial way to blend holistic healthcare and traditional medicine.

How does HTA compare to Healing Touch?
The difference between Healing Touch and Healing Touch for Animals® is the difference in the energy fields between humans and animals. The Healing Touch for Animals® techniques allow for the difference in the animal’s energy structure. All of the techniques presented are taught to adapt to the animal’s energy field to assist in optimum healing.

How can I learn more about Healing Touch for Animals®?
Visit their website by clicking here.