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Healing with ���Therapeutic Touch:

High-Touch In A

High-Tech World

Kathy Wilmering, MSW PMHNP BC

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What Is Therapeutic Touch (TT)?

A contemporary interpretation of ancient healing practices that are concerned with

the therapeutic use of the human vital energy field.

- Dolores Krieger RN PhD

What Is Therapeutic Touch? cont’d

A holistic evidence-based therapy that incorporates the intentional and compassionate use of universal energy to promote balance and

well-being. - Therapeutic Touch International

www.therapeutic-touch.org

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A healing modality that requires a profound transformative journey on the part of the

practitioner.

- Kathy Wilmering paraphrasing Dolores Krieger

Awe- ���Inspiring...

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P L A Y F U L

A��� little��� edgy���

at ��� times ...

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My Journey With TT

* “Healee” to “Healer” role: a transformative journey. * Hospitalizations, chronic pain, illness: always a gift to bring.

Dora Kunz,

Co-founder, Therapeutic

Touch

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Dolores Krieger giving TT treatment

2013

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Origins

* Observations of famous healers from various culture * Extracting common factors. * Who can heal? * First attempts to teach TT.

Origins cont’d

* Nursing and TT. * Research-based from the start. * Its interface with various spiritual paths.

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Basic Assumptions of TT * Humans are open, complex, and pan-dimensional energy systems. - Martha Rogers, RN PhD * In a state of health, energy flows through an organism symmetrically and in balance. * Humans are capable of transformation and transcendence.

Basic Assumptions of TT

* Healing is an intrinsic movement towards order that can be facilitated by practitioners. * Life energy follows intent to heal. Krieger, D. The Inner Workbook 1996.

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TT Terms / Concepts

* Universal Healing Field. * Inner Self * Inner Journey * Compassion as power source of intuition and treatment

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TT Terms / Concepts cont’d

* TT therapist / practitioner * Healee / healing partner * Healing vs. cure

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Sustained Centering: The Signature of Therapeutic

Touch

TT Terms cont’d * Sustained centering -- Compassion -- Intentionality -- Vivid visualization -- Cues -- Always the first step

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* Heart chakra is central. * Traditionally connected with hand chakras. * Honing skills of brow, crown chakras.

Techniques used during TT * Connecting With Inner Self / Begin Sustained Centering

* Assessment / care plan

* Centrality of intention

-- Hands the servants of intention

* Unruffling : sometimes combined

with next step

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Steps of TT cont’d * Rebalancing -- Well-developed intentionality combined with vivid visualization -- Vivid visualization vs. imagery * Reassessment * Repeat until symmetry achieved or to healee tolerance.

Color *Not a central focus of TT * Use intuition with a few generalities * But Dora Kunz and Blue - Inflammation - Calming

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Demonstration & Discussion * Practitioner’s personal cues.

* The malleability of time.

* Healee’s experience.

* Brain changes of both.

* Kunz & Krieger Menninger Foundation research

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How Can TT Be Helpful? * Body symptoms and systems most sensitive to TT: -- Autonomic Nervous System -- Cardiovascular / Circulatory System -- Genitourinary system -- Inflammation -- Bone and other healing

. * Where it is not always so helpful -- Lupus -- Male genitourinary issues -- Some forms of arthritis * Distance TT * Extremely safe

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Any cotton can be charged for healing!

2014: Dolores Krieger discovers that her new door-stopper gnome has chargeable cotton innards.

Research

* Research / bibliography mini-summary. * Research changes over the years

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How Do You Get There?

* Process of Practitioner’s Inner Journey * Honing intuition, compassion * Inner Changes reflected in practitioner’s outer world * Dolores Krieger: “Technicians of Compassion”

Experiential Practice

* Use Intention to Ground * Assessment Practice * Discussion * More information: therapeutic-touch.org * Close: Thank-you for coming!