A Sample Energy Healing Session

The following is an amalgamation of elements from all the healing techniques I studied. It is partially an attempt to define the most common elements of energy healing, but it’s influenced by my bias of the elements I believe are most important to include in healing.

This assumes that the practitioner has already done the necessary preparations of: getting her own energy system into balance, learning the theory behind the specific technique she is using, studying with an instructor or attending workshops, learning techniques for running energy and practicing them till she is proficient.

Phase 1: Initial Interview.

Practitioner asks the client about the presenting problem. She asks where in his body he is experiencing pain, and she asks him what emotions have been coming up for him recently. Practitioner develops a general impression about the client’s energetic state from his appearance, posture, speech, and body language.

Throughout this interview, she also notes chakra-related body language. Are there times when the client points to a chakra when discussing some incident, or times when he seems to be covering up and defending a chakra? The client may or may not be aware of the idea of emotional issues creating physical disease, and vice versa, or of the idea of connections between various symptoms, but the practitioner should remain aware of the fact that something that presents as symptoms in one area, may have origins in a different level (e.g. reproductive problems and lower back pain may both be related to sacral chakra issues of shame and low self-esteem).

Phase 2: Grounding and Centering.

Practitioner begins taking in energy though deep abdominal breaths, and through visualization methods. She may envision drawing in healing energy from the earth through her feet, or she may envision healing energy shining into her crown chakra.

She takes a moment to center herself, becoming aware of her own energy state, and focusing on feeling her own energy flow.

She then asks for divine guidance (silently, or aloud), and/or gathers unconditional love in her heart chakra. When the divine energy or love energy is radiating from her hands, she begins.

Phase 3: Assessment.

Scanning: Practitioner passes her hand along the patient’s energy field or aura, a few inches out from his body. She may first scan the sides, front, and back of the body to determine the general shape of the aura and find any issues in the limbs, then do a second scan over the chakras. She notes where she senses pressure, temperature changes, tingling, asymmetries, energy pulling in or pushing out, dips and bulges, etc. Those are areas she will return to during treatment.

It’s important for the practitioner to move fairly quickly during assessment, so she doesn’t alter client’s energy while she is trying to assess it. As Cohen says, “When we sense qi, the qi changes and moves toward balance. The observer changes that which is observed… remember your first impression and note how this impression changes as your hands remain on or above assessment areas.” (Cohen, 259)

“Where does it hurt” technique: She asks the client to point to areas of discomfort, or place her hands there, and asks for regular feedback on the pain, so she can focus attention where it is most needed. 

Phase 4: Treatment.

Practitioner’s energy flow: Practitioner continues to do breathwork throughout the session: this helps her gather energy on the inhalation, helps direct and modulate energy flow on exhalation, and prevents the absorption of stagnant energies from the client. (See Quantum Touch description for some specific breathing techniques.)

Hand placement: Practitioner places her hands directly on the patient, or works with palms a few inches away from the surface of his body, within the energetic aura. She may follow a specific protocol for hand placement, working with energy flows, polarity points, etc. in a certain prescribed order. She may do her work based on her perceptions noted during the scanning process, and place her hands on the places that appeared out of balance, or appeared to need healing. Or she may follow the Quantum Touch technique of asking the client where it hurts, and placing her hands there, sandwiching the painful spot between her two palms.

Hand motions: Some techniques, such as Reiki, primarily instruct practitioners to lay hands in one location for several minutes, letting the energy flow between them. Other techniques, including Qi Gong and Therapeutic Touch, may involve the practitioner waving their hands back and forth, circling their hands, or passing their palms along the length of the client’s body. This motion is said to ‘circulate’ the energy, or ‘unruffle’ the energy.

Letting healing energy flow: When the practitioner places both hands on a client with the intention to heal, the healing energy flows naturally. There is no need to “push” the energy out or attempt to project it into the patient’s body. When her hands are in place, she then tunes in to the sensations she feels. She may feel the energy flowing out of her hands and increasing in intensity, then it may feel as if no more energy is flowing. This does not generally mean that her energy is no longer flowing, it generally means that the client has taken in all the energy he needs at that location. When sensation has faded, she moves on to another spot (either according to a pre-set protocol, or according to where the client’s pain has shifted to.) Note that some skilled healers do not sense energy flow. They work by time guidelines, placing hands in each location for a set time like 3-5 minutes, or they depend on client’s verbal feedback to know when to change positions.

How to know if client is overdosing: If skin becomes very red or very pale, the breathing rate is consistently quicker, patient is uncomfortable, or if it feels like the same poles of a magnet have been brought together and patient is repelling energy. The best indication is the patient himself. He should let practitioner know when he feels energy is excessive.

What client feels: The client may feel nothing during the treatment. He may experience the energy transferring from practitioner’s hands as warmth, tingling, magnet-like pressure, etc. He may feel his body responding to the energy: pain lessening, congestion loosening, feeling like “things are shifting”. His stomach might make rumbling sounds, he might pass gas, he might have some spontaneous muscle spasms. He might experience tightness and constriction around chakra regions, which may be followed by an emotional release. He may simply fall asleep.

Client should give feedback if he feels like the energy is too much, or not enough, or if the pain has shifted to a new location, or if there’s any other information that will help the practitioner guide the healing energy to the maximum benefit.

Phase 5: Ending a Session

It’s important to help clients re-ground after a session, and the process of doing this can also help the practitioner get grounded again herself, and detach her energy field from her clients. Some clients enter a somewhat altered state of consciousness during healing, and it’s especially important to do these steps if this seems to be the case.

Some methods: Grounding: Practitioner holds both of the client’s feet for a moment, they take some deep breaths together, envisioning roots coming up from the ground to re-anchor. Root to crown flows: practitioner places right palm near client’s root chakra, and left palm near crown chakra, and envisions a smooth flow of energy connecting the two chakras. Bringing client back to body: Practitioner asks client to focus on feet, wiggle toes, rub hands together, and breathe deeply. Visualization: Asks client to visualize “closing down” chakras (like a flower closing up at night, not like a door that’s shut tight).

Client should be given a glass of water and encouraged to rest for a few minutes after a session. Healer can wash hands, visualize hands being cleansed with light, or flick hands to release any stagnant or toxic energy that she might have picked up.

After a Session:

Practitioner should advise clients that a “detox reaction” is common after energy healing sessions. As the system comes back into balance, toxins are released, and alterations in the energy field sift down to the level of bodily awareness.  For 12-72 hours after treatment, clients may experience increased urination, diarrhea, skin rash or runny nose. They should not attempt to reduce symptoms with medications.  They should drink a lot of water to assist the process. They typically “feel fine” despite the symptoms. They may also experience irritability, emotional lability, and vivid dreams.

To retain long-term benefits of the healing, clients should be encouraged to follow-up with additional energy healing, and with such things as dietary and lifestyle changes, emotional and/or spiritual counseling, conventional medical treatment, and an energy practice such as yoga or qi gong.

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