Well-being is an overarching term that is usually used to convey a sense of peace or happiness with one’s life and or health. This positive sense or attitude about oneself is often found when one has a broader view of life and is able to find meaning in life and connection to others (see spirituality). Healing Touch works with the energy field that permeates all of the individual’s physical, mental, emotion, and spiritual aspects. The heart centered interaction between the client and practitioner often helps create a sense of well-being.

A survey conducted by Sr. Rita Jean DuBrey at St. Mary’s Hospital in Albany, NY uses well-being as a positive outcome indicator for those receiving Healing Touch sessions (1). The majority of participants reported a high level of emotional and spiritual well-being following Healing Touch sessions.. For those reporting emotional well-being (18/20) this feeling lasted more than a week. One person offered the following statement, “I will say one thing, as I look back, I think I’m more aware of myself and where I am.” (p.7). Spiritual well-being was reported by all but one of the participants. The increase in spiritual well-being lasted for more than 2 weeks for the majority of participants.

In a study of women with breast cancer who received Healing Touch during chemotherapy, a sense of well-being was one of the themes that emerged (2). To illustrate, one of the participant’s stated that “….It warms you both inside and emotionally it warms you to because it’s a positive sense. You might not have a chill but it just has a warming sense to your overall being. So it’s both inner and outer. (p.3)”

Healing was also found to be a process that develops through one’s lifestyle when one maintains the sense of physical, emotional spiritual well being. (3). This study found that the path to healing was varied and incorporated energy therapies as a way for some individuals to maintain their sense of well-being. Further, individuals with HIV disease reported the positive effects they experienced in well-being as seemingly directly related to stress reduction and spiritual growth (4).

Creating a sense of well-being is one way in which Healing Touch facilitates the healing process. This can occur with one session or after many. It can also lead to a greater awareness of one’s purpose and connection to others.

Below are citations of studies mentioned above.

1. Hutchison, C. (1999). A simple yet powerful tool. Healing Touch Newsletter, 9(4), p. 6-7.
   
2. Moreland, K. (1998). The lived experience of receiving the chakra connection of women with breast cancer who are receiving chemotherapy: A phenomenological study. Healing Touch Newsletter, 8(3), pp. 3, 5.
   
3. Holbrook, J. (2006). The essence of healing. [abstract]. In Wardell, D. (Ed.), Healing Touch International Research Survey, p.63. Lakewood CO: Healing Touch International, Inc.
   
4. Wheeler-Robins, J. (1999). Psychoneuroimmunology and Healing Touch in HIV disease. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

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