HT includes specific healing interventions which address general health and well-being, stress and tension, disease prevention, grief management, pain control, neck and back problems, anxiety, wound and fracture healing, HIV/AIDS, hypertension, pre/post-surgery, headaches, migraines, cancer, arthritis, and many other diseases and symptoms.

    HT is also an ideal introductory energy-based healing modality for several reasons.  First, there is usually at least one HT intervention that specifically addresses most diseases or symptoms.  For example, if a client comes to a HT Practitioner with a migraine headache, there is a specific intervention technique ("Pain Ridge") which has been shown to be very effective in lessening the severity of migraines.

    Secondly, there is a comprehensive training program available from the beginner level to advanced levels.  This program allows the student of energy-based healing to develop his knowledge of the human energy system; to be able to sense and correctly manipulate the higher energy bodies; and to develop himself mentally, emotionally, spiritually and energetically with increasing knowledge of the more advanced healing techniques.  The 30 or so individual techniques include several which involve physical contact with the client's body.  Others involve manipulation of only the client's higher energy bodies, and some techniques include both physical contact and energy body manipulation.

    Third, HT can be performed nearly anywhere anytime.  Most HT techniques are performed with the client resting on a healing table; however, several techniques can also be performed with the client sitting in a chair.  HT can also be performed very effectively on bed-ridden clients.

Core HT Techniques.  The thirty or so core HT techniques are taught in a series of three workshops (Levels 1, 2 and 3) with 15 or more clock hours of experiential instruction each.  Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are provided for each HT workshop.

    Level 1 is the introductory level workshop, and is open to all persons, regardless of their background and training.  The only prerequisites are a desire to help others and a strong commitment to further develop concepts and skills in energy-based therapy.  In Level 1 the concept of the Human Energy Field is described as it relates to modern scientific principles.  The student will apply these principles as he or she learns the basic concepts and demonstrates the sequence of steps in each of eight individual healing techniques discussed.  The Level 1 student is also taught when and how to apply these specific intervention techniques used in HT.  Each technique is taught to the students, and then the students demonstrate the technique on each other under the supervision of a trained instructor.

    Level 2 workshops are provided for those who have completed Level 1 and now wish to increase their depth and breadth in the study of HT.  This level incorporates several additional healing techniques necessary to become an advanced practitioner.  Emphasis is on developing healing sequences for specific client needs.  Neck and back techniques are introduced, and therapeutic interventions for specific emotional and physiological problems are discussed and practiced.  Objectives at this level are to review all Level 1 techniques, introduce additional healing techniques, develop the healer's assessment abilities with both the pendulum and hand scan, and to develop client interviewing techniques.  In addition, the student is introduced to a one hour healing sequence for specific client problems, and given an understanding of energetic healing principles by describing specific techniques of various healers and healing modalities other that HT.

    Level 3 workshops provide the forum to further develop the healer's Higher Sense Perception and the ability to work intuitively in response to higher guidance.  Several additional advanced healing techniques are taught for working with the client's higher energy levels.  Self-healing and the healer's self-development are also discussed.  The student will learn and discuss advanced studies of the human energy system and perceptual tools of the healer, view healing from three separate perspectives (practitioner, client, observer), demonstrate and implement a full healing sequence, and demonstrate skill in the several advanced techniques taught.

Certification Training.  Level 4 is for students who have successfully completed Levels 1, 2, and 3, and who now desire to proceed into the HT certification process and become Certified Healing Touch Practitioners.  This two-segment practicum (Levels 4 and 5) teaches the student how to establish and conduct a professional Healing Touch practice.  30 continuing education credits are provided for each of the two levels.  A Certified Healing Touch Practitioner or Instructor is assigned to each student as a mentor to oversee and guide the student in meeting the certification requirements.  

    Level 4 focuses on business concepts, ethics, client/therapist relationships and ways to integrate activities into community health care programs.  In addition, the student is monitored by the mentor in the application of healing techniques and healing disciplines.  For certification, the student will be required, within the next year or two, to conduct and document 100 Healing Touch sessions, to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of energetic healing principles and concepts, and to experience and describe ten complementary healing techniques other than Healing Touch.  

    In addition the student must document their own self-development and prepare a detailed Case Study which documents a client's progress from initial interview through therapeutic addressal of his or her condition.  All documentation will be assembled into a journal for review by peers, instructors, other mentors and, eventually, the certification committee.   Upon satisfactory demonstration and performance of all requirements, the student is then recommended to the HT Certification Committee that independently reviews the submitted documentation.  Upon acceptance of the documentation by the HT Certification Committee, the student is officially designated as a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner (CHTP).

Instructor Training.  After becoming certified, the HT Practitioner can attend a Level 6 workshop at which the student will be trained in the procedures to conduct Healing Touch workshops as the instructor.  The emphasis here is on group dynamics, setting up programs, and principles and methods of teaching and learning.  All instructors of HT workshops are required to first become a Certified HT Instructor by Healing Touch International in order to teach the official program of Healing Touch.

Advanced Energetic Healing Techniques.  Upon completion of Level 3, the student is eligible to attend advanced Energetic Healing workshops.  This is a five-part series taught by selected senior Certified Healing Touch Instructors.  Each workshop provides 8-16 contact hours and can be taken as one or two day workshops, or in a shorter one-day intensive workshop.  Courses are offered by Healing Touch Partnerships, Inc., throughout the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

HT Spiritual Ministry (HTSM)
    The HT Spiritual Ministry program was established in 1997 and is a continuing multi-level education program for nurses in parish and other ministry settings, and ministers in parish and pastoral ministries.  It is also made available to the lay community and those who seek to explore a spiritual healing ministry involving the laying on of hands and other energy based healing therapies from a Judaeo-Christian perspective.  It uses an ecumenical approach combining Healing Touch techniques with prayer.  Healing and anointing services are designed within the program, and every effort is made to utilize a particular denomination's healing rituals.

    Prior to instruction in the core Healing Touch techniques described above for Levels 1, 2, and 3, an additional introductory workshop is held before Level 1.  This Introduction to Healing Ministry workshop is an 8-hour introductory workshop that concentrates on related scriptures for healing work, the principles and practice of the laying on of hands and centering meditation.  The HT Spiritual Ministry Levels 1, 2, and 3 workshops teach the same healing techniques as taught in the Healing Touch Levels 1, 2, and 3 workshops.  Each HT Spiritual Ministry workshop following the introductory workshop provides 15-20 contact hours of training and instruction.

    HT Spiritual Ministry utilizes a spiritual focus to teach basic and advanced intervention methods to help with specific needs.  The primary emphasis is on personal development of those desiring to be ministers of healing.   Additional focus is on models of healing within present day church and ministry settings, and ways to integrate Healing Touch into a church/parish healing ministry. 

    This program has wide appeal for nurses, especially for those in parish and hospice nursing.  It is also for ministers and lay healers interested in exploring a healing ministry through the laying on of hands.  Those trained in HT Spiritual Ministry principles can be effectively used for church-associated healing services in administering to those in need of healing.  This includes the sick, shut-ins, to those in nursing homes, hospitals and hospices.  Parish nurses, prayer teams and clergy alike are using this work to bring about God's healing compassion.

    Visit the Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry website at www.htspiritualministry.com.

Healing Touch For Animals (HTA)
    Veterinarians for both large and small animals are now beginning to adopt energy based healing techniques in growing numbers.  This is due simply to the fact that not only humans, but animals as well, show marked improvement and accelerated healing of wounds with less pain when energetic healing techniques are used.  Several Healing Touch techniques have been modified and adapted for use on animals, and other newly developed techniques have been devised to work with both small and large animals.  The first formal Healing Touch For Animals workshop was held in March 1996 with a horse, a dog, a pot-bellied pig and a small burro as the subjects.  The different energy fields of the various animals were experienced and tailored techniques were devised to facilitate each animal's healing process.  Periodic Canine and Equine workshops are regularly scheduled for small and large animals, respectively.

    Visit the Healing Touch for Animals website at www.healingtouchforanimals.com.

Healing Touch For Babies (HTB) 
   Healing Touch For Babies was developed for and is used in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) to aid those babies who are born prematurely or who are critically ill.   The purpose of HTB is to teach both medical personnel and parents specific techniques of healing that are geared toward "new life".  HTB workshops include providing information on the difference between the adult and infant energy fields and hand scanning techniques, and to describe and demonstrate specific Healing Touch interventions that are appropriate for infants.  In addition, neonatal development of  consciousness and the impact of intentional communication with infants is stressed.  Parental guidance in holistic newborn care is also provided for use by parents at home after the infant is released from the hospital.  Based on very positive preliminary results, in 2002 the National Institutes of Health awarded a substantial grant for a two-year clinical study to document the effectiveness of Healing Touch on infants that require the intensive monitoring and care provided by a NICU after birth.

    Visit the Healing Touch for Babies website at www.healingtouchforbabies.com.

What To Expect In A Healing Touch Session
    One of the first things that will be done is to obtain a brief medical and general lifestyle history.  The HT practitioner will want to know, "What brought you here today?"  It is important for the practitioner to know if the client has received prior bodywork (e.g., massage, chiropractic adjustments, etc.) or energy-based healing treatments (e.g., Healing Touch, Reiki, Bioenergy, etc.).  It is also important to inform the HT practitioner of any medical appliances (e.g., pacemaker, insulin pump, etc.) that are being worn.  

    Your HT practitioner will then discuss with you one or more specific treatment techniques to best meet your needs for this session.  When you understand and agree with the technique to be used, you will be asked to remove your shoes prior to lying down on the table.

    To begin the HT session, the HT practitioner will center himself/herself, and will then begin an assessment of your energy field.  This assessment is normally done both with a pendulum held a few inches over each of the seven main energy centers (chakras) and by running the hand slowly through the client’s energy field a few inches off the body.  These assessments provide the HT Practitioner with information on the current state of your energy system.  When the HT technique is begun, the client normally enters a state of deep relaxation within a few minutes.  In deep relaxation, the brain produces alpha waves which allow for rapid and deep healing within the body.  During the Healing Touch treatment, the practitioner will be in sync with and sensitive to the client’s energy field while observing changes or shifts in either the energy field or physical body.

    Upon conclusion of the HT session, the practitioner will gently "ground" you, bring you back to full alertness, and encourage you to remain on the table for a short time.  Then when you are ready, the practitioner will assist you from the table, review the session with you, obtain feedback, and discuss follow-up.  This may include some self-care techniques such as reading, diet, exercise, meditation or journaling.  

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