Healing Touch is a collection of noninvasive techniques, including both touch and noncontact approaches, which promote healing. Developed by nurses, this gentle therapy often complements the care that physicians provide. It may be helpful in dealing with health issues such as chronic pain or chronic illness, injuries and physical trauma, anxiety, addictions, stress management, and pre- and postoperative situations, among others.
Healing Touch can help you with:
- Pain control.
- Neck and back problems.
- Relieving anxiety and stress.
- Skin problems.
- Wound and fracture healing.
- Hypertension.
- Pre- and post-surgical procedures.
- Headaches and migraines.
- Diabetes.
- Grief management.
- Arthritis.
- Rehabilitation.
- Increasing relaxation.
Ask your nurse to contact the Healing Touch Program coordinator to arrange a treatment for you. The program coordinator is Mary Szczepanski, BSN, MS, certified healing touch practitioner and instructor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Body, mind, emotion and spirit all greatly affect the healing process. A physician can set 2 bone fragments in place and facilitate the recovery process, but it is the patient who finally heals the break.
Healing Touch can help an individual participate fully in his or her recovery through balancing the body's energy and promoting the natural healing process. Treatments may last from 15 minutes to an hour and usually result in a relaxed state of well-being.
Nurses, other hospital staff and community volunteers have been trained by a certified instructor to provide Healing Touch treatments to patients in our hospital. Healing Touch is available to any interested patient.
Patients participate in their healing in many different ways. Bartlett Regional Hospital has a lending library of audiocassettes that offer guided imagery and relaxation to patients. Topics include asthma, chemotherapy, diabetes, general wellness, high blood pressure, depression, stroke and headaches. The tapes run 15 to 20 minutes per side. Portable cassette players are also available to borrow.
Please tell your nurse if you would like more information on our audiocassette lending library.
History
Our program follows the work of the late Janet Mentgen, RN, BSN, in Denver, Colorado. The program is administered through Healing Touch International, Inc., in Lakewood, Colorado. Healing Touch was initially a certification program of the American Holistic Nurses Association in 1990. Certification is now provided by Health Touch International, Inc.
Healing Touch creates a safe space for the body to heal itself.