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What is Therapeutic Touch Touch (TT) ?
It is a contemporary interpretation of several ancient healing practices. It is an intentionally directed process of energy exchange during which the practitioner uses the hands as a focus to facilitate the healing process. The practitioner may use light touch during the TT session but may also use no touch by simply moving his/her hands a few inches distant from the body.
Dolores Krieger, Ph.D., R.N. (Professor Emerita of New York University) and her mentor Dora Kunz developed Therapeutic Touch in the early 1970's. It is now practiced by thousands of health care professionals, holistic health practitioners and lay people in 75 countries throughout the world. Numerous colleges and universities teach it in their graduate and undergraduate nursing programs. Therapeutic Touch is a scientifically based practice, including at least 15 doctoral dissertations, post doctoral studies and innumerable masters theses. TT was one of the recipients of research grants awarded to alternative therapies by the U.S. National Institute of Health.
All BCTTN practitioners and teachers are instructed in the Krieger-Kunz method of Therapeutic Touch.
Research and experience have shown its effectiveness of Therapeutic Touch in:
- promoting relaxation and eliciting the relaxation response
- reducing anxiety
- changing the client's perception of pain
- facilitating the body's natural restorative processes ie: bone repair and wound healing
- boosting the immune system
Therapeutic Touch is a natural human potential and is a skill that requires compassion and intentionality. TT is administered with the intent to enable people to re-pattern their energy toward wholeness and health.
It is a benefit to the practitioner and the client proving to be a significant antidote to burnout in health care professionals.
Among health care workers using TT are Aids care givers, occupational health nurses, hospice and palliative care nurses and volunteers, addiction workers,midwives, elder care workers, and those providing pre and post op care.
How is Therapeutic Touch given?
Generally the practitioenr works in your energy field, a few inches from your body, but may use some gentle touch with your permission.
A typical session can last an average of 20-30 minutes or can be as little as 5 minutes, depending on the energy field. Seriously ill, the frail elderly, palliative patients, infants for instance may benefit from a very short TT session.
TT is effectively used on humans, plants & animals and is an effective self - help tool. It can be done easily without the need of any equipment and may be done with you fully clothed in a lying or sitting position.
Where is Therapeutic Touch used?
TT can be given in your home , in hospital or any other health care facility. Almost any condition is made worse by stress and pain so by producing a rapid relaxation response through the use of TT, your body will heal and recover faster. TT may be used pre and post operatively to hasten recovery, to balance emotions and relieve depression, to assist cancer patients to deal with side effects of therapy and to boost the immune system, to assist in recovery from addictions, to assist in pre and post natal care , to calm anxiey and aggression in patients suffering from various forms of dementia, to calm and support palliative care patients and their famlies,to name a few. It is used effectively in our own self care and healing.