FAQs About
Healing Touch
By Kathy
Edstrom
What is Healing Touch?
As defined by
the Colorado Center For Healing Touch, Inc.: “Healing
Touch is an energy based therapeutic approach to healing.
Healing Touch uses touch to influence the energy system thus
affecting physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health and
healing.”
When was
the Healing Touch Program
developed?
Healing Touch
was developed by Janet Mentgen, R.N., B.S.N. who has been practicing
energy based care since 1980. In 1988 Mentgen was honored as the
Holistic Nurse of the Year by the American Holistic Nurses'
Association (AHNA) for her outstanding
work.
Healing Touch
was first offered as a pilot project at the University of Tennessee
and in Gainsville, FL in 1989. It became a certificate program of
the AHNA in 1990, and certification of Healing Touch practitioners
and instructors began in 1993. In 1996 due to its tremendous growth,
Healing Touch International was formed to house the program to meet
the expanding needs of Healing Touch practitioners and instructors
worldwide. (Information provided from Healing Touch 1996 Level I
Notebook)
How does Healing Touch
work?
Healing Touch is a complementary modality
that works in conjunction with traditional methods of healing. It is
NOT a substitute for them. Each session is personalized for the
individual person or animal. The Healing Touch
Practitioner works to align the energy that surrounds the
physical body and the energy that flows throughout the inner
body. This process reactivates the body, mind, and spirit connection
to help eliminate blockages to facilitate the healing process
through energy rather than a physical means. There is no
manipulation done to the body's tissues, muscles or
bones.
What is Healing Touch for
AnimalsTM (HTA)/Komitor Healing Method,
Inc.?
As
defined by the Healing Touch for AnimalsTM Founder,
Carol Komitor, "Healing Touch for Animals is a bio-field energetic
training modality combining philosophies, techniques and
applications to promote energy balance and healing of our animals.
This program introduces holistic concepts to assist with injuries,
illnesses, and surgery, wound healing, behavioral problems and
stress related issues. The HTA/KHM techniques are largely based on
the Healing Touch for humans - the energy-based modality of Healing
Touch that has been recognized throughout the human medical
community since 1989. The concepts taught in HTA apply to every
animal - large or small, pet or exotic, bird, mammal, reptile or
aquatic."
Is there
documented research showing the benefits of touch
therapy?
Yes. The worlds'
first Touch Research Institute has been founded at the University of
Miami's Medical School to further explore and document the benefits
of touch therapy.
How can my pet benefit
from Healing Touch?
These
are just a few examples of
how Healing Touch can help animals with a variety of issues.
-
HTA is a
"cooperative" method that works with your pet's veterinary
care
-
There is
a reduction of anxiety and stress (especially beneficial for
overly anxious pets and for pets with behavioral
issues)
-
Relaxation takes place (excellent for animals that just
“can’t settle down”)
- It assists with grief
management and emotional traumas
-
HTA aids
in preparation for medical treatments and with follow-up care
after medical treatments and procedures
-
It's
helpful with dogs and horses going into competition
-
HTA is
wonderful for animals that suffered abuse or abandonment
-
It
energizes the energy
field (helpful with pets that appear disinterested with
life)
-
Overall well-being is
achieved
Healing Touch is appropriate for people
and animals of all ages.
Animals that can benefit from HTA are dogs, cats, horses and
caged pets.
Who endorses Healing
Touch?
The
American Holistic Nurses’ Association, and Healing Touch
International, Inc. endorse Healing Touch.
What can I expect at a Healing Touch
session?
Some of
the techniques are done without touching the physical body. The
practitioner focuses on the energy field. However, there are
techniques that involve a very light, gentle touch directly on the
body. There is no manipulation done to the tissues, muscles or
bones. Healing Touch
is not considered a treatment for any form of
illness.
How long does a
session last?
Sessions generally last 60 to 90 minutes. A thorough
consultation is done before doing any Healing Touch
techniques. The actual Healing Touch for AnimalsTM session is 15 to
45 minutes for animals depending on how accepting the pet is of the
HTA techniques.
How
does National Institutes of Health classify this form of cooperative
care?
According to
NIH, "Energy therapies are of two types: One, biofield therapies
(e.g., Qi gong, Reiki, and Therapeutic Touch), which are intended to
affect energy fields that purportedly surround and penetrate the
human body, and two, bioelectromagnetic based therapies that involve
the unconventional use of electromagnetic fields such as pulsed
fields, magnetic fields, or alternating current or direct current
fields." Healing Touch is considered to be a biofield
therapy.
NOTE: Healing Touch has
profound relaxation effects. A relaxed animal is a focused animal. A
focused animal is an animal that can learn. If you have a
non-focused animal, the animal can not learn. Healing Touch for
AnimalsTM is
excellent for helping an animal to relax and focus so that it
can be in a learning state.
Disclaimer:
Healing Touch for AnimalsTM is
not a substitute for veterinary care. If your pet is
experiencing health related issues, take your pet to a veterinarian
immediately. Kathy Edstrom does not diagnose or treat medical
illnesses. Her services are considered "cooperative" care, meaning
they work with the treatment and advice provided by your
veterinarian.
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