Therapeutic Touch

Therapeutic Touch is an energy healing practice developed in the 1970s by nurse Dolores Krieger and healer Dora Kunz. Despite its name, Therapeutic Touch typically involves little to no physical contact. Practitioners work in the energy field surrounding the body (typically 2-6 inches away from the skin) to assess and treat energy imbalances. The practice is based on the premise that humans are energy fields that interact with and are affected by the energy fields of others, and that trained practitioners can consciously direct and modulate energy to promote healing.

Therapeutic Touch follows a specific process: centering (the practitioner achieves a calm, focused state), assessment (scanning the energy field to detect areas of imbalance, congestion, or depletion), clearing/unruffling (smoothing and balancing the field), and directing/modulating energy (channeling healing energy to areas of need). The practice is gentle, non-invasive, and deeply relaxing. Many recipients report feelings of warmth, peace, and deep calm during sessions.

Therapeutic Touch has been taught to over 100,000 healthcare professionals worldwide and is used in hospitals, hospices, and clinical settings for pain management, anxiety reduction, wound healing, and supportive care. While the mechanism is not understood in conventional scientific terms, research has shown benefits for pain, anxiety, and quality of life. The practice is particularly valuable in situations where physical touch is contraindicated (severe burns, extreme pain) or unwanted. For those seeking gentle, non-invasive energy work practiced by healthcare professionals, Therapeutic Touch offers a compassionate healing approach.