What is it: Therapeutic Touch is a form of healing which is centered on the principle that the human body is comprised of layers of energy fields, which often become imbalanced, causing the body’s natural healing ability to be weakened. I will place my hands on or near her patient's body with the intention to help or heal. In doing so, I believe that I'm consciously directing or modulating an individual's energy by interacting with his or her energy field. The focus is on balancing the energies of the total person and stimulating the body's own natural healing ability rather than on the treatment of specific physical diseases. Therapeutic Touch is based on the following assumptions:
- The human being is an open energy system composed of layers of energy that are in constant interaction with self, others, and the environment.
- Illness is an imbalance in an individual's energy field.
- Clearing or balancing the energy field promotes health.
- All humans have natural abilities to heal and enhance the healing in others.
How it works: My sessions will last approximately 15 to 30 minutes. I will sit her client in a comfortable chair and lie down fully clothed. I will begin by discussing my client’s goals for healing. I will then use light touch and sweeping hand motions above the skin surface to assess and balance the energy in and around the body. In general, I will be following these steps:
- Center myself in the present moment and bring myself to a calm, quiet state of consciousness
- Assess the client's energy field
- Clear and mobilize the client's energy field, direct energy to achieve wholeness, and balance the field
- Evaluate and close the treatment
- Ask for feedback and answer client questions
The goal of Therapeutic Touch is to assist the recipient in tapping into their own healing process and to restore wholeness and wellbeing at the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels of the person. Therapeutic Touch does not attempt to cure disease, but rather to stimulate the body's natural healing process. According to Therapeutic Touch texts, the major effects of Therapeutic Touch are a deep relaxation response, reduction of pain and anxiety, and faster wound healing. Practitioners believe that this therapy promotes health and wellbeing and eases the dying process. According to the researches, patients who are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation have found it helpful in reducing side effects of treatments, such as nausea, vomiting, weakness, or fatigue. Others have seen reduced feelings of anxiety or grief. Therapeutic Touch can benefit people of all ages and all states of health or illness, as well as plants and animals.
This therapy is generally very safe, but precautions need to be taken with pregnant women (since there is more than one energy field), and people with some forms of mental illness. The popularity of Therapeutic Touch in the nursing profession has encouraged research in this area.