Therapeutic Touch

Therapeutic Touch is an intentionally directed process of energy exchange during which the practitioner uses the hands as a focus to facilitate the healing process. It is a contemporary interpretation of several ancient healing practices.

Therapeutic Touch is a scientifically-based practice founded on the premise that the human body, mind, emotions and intuition form a complex, dynamic energy field. The human energy field is governed by pattern and order. In health, the field is balanced, however in disease, the energy is characterized by imbalance and disorder.

Therapeutic Touch was developed by Dolores Krieger, PhD, RN, then a professor at New York University, and Dora Van Gelder Kunz, a natural healer. In 1972, Krieger and Kunz began teaching their techniques to a group of Krieger's graduate student nurses. The initial teaching involved nurses because of their natural compassion, understanding of the physical body and contact with people needing healing. As a result, the Therapeutic Touch process was developed.

Links & Resources

• Therapeutic Touch page from the Nurse Healers-Professional Associates International, the official organization of Therapeutic Touch

• Therapeutic Touch page from the Pumpikin Hollow Foundation