As a Healing Touch practitioner, I had mixed emotions when my friend Connie asked me to be part of her process during sinus surgery.  I was excited about promoting Healing Touch in a hospital setting, yet concerned that she needed surgery.  A request for two practitioners pre/post op and during surgery was made and became part of the Doctor’s Orders-not a mainstream request.

Because Connie was apprehensive about the upcoming surgery, a group of healers helped calm her the night before.  The morning of surgery, Jody, another practitioner and I used energy techniques to relax her.  The medical staff was receptive to our presence and this reassured Connie.  The anesthesiologist suggested the mask to put her to sleep, as this would enable her to listen to the healing music she brought.  He told me to whisper in her ear as she was drifting off.  I expressed optimism for the successful surgery and recovery as she drifted deeper into unconsciousness.  I felt assured that we were there not only for a physical healing, but also psychologically to comfort and put her at ease.

During the operation, the surgeon offered information about the procedure and asked questions about Healing Touch.  He felt that touch was an important part in patient care.  Jody and I took turns at Connie’s feet while the other held a sacred space for those attending her.  Our intention was for a healing to occur, not only for Connie, but also for everyone there.  Intention is difficult to identify, but is an important part of an exchange of conscious and unconscious hopes and expectations each brings to the therapeutic process.

The operation completed, Jody gave the surgeon and the nurse’s a personal demonstration of energy work.  We left the CD for the hospital to use with other patients during surgery.  In recovery, we did a Healing Touch procedure to help Connie come out of anesthesia quicker.  She woke up without pain and expressed appreciation for our presence.  Healing Touch was performed to remove any congested energy from her energy field surrounding her body once she was in her room.  Her husband was shown techniques to help her during the night.

I feel fortunate to have been involved in this pioneering effort to bring touch therapy into the mainstream medical setting.  Hospitals are experiencing a need to reduce costs and at the same time improve patient care.  This heart-centered approach is an important aspect that needs to be fully recognized as a supportive part of the health care system.  This is a wonderful window of opportunity for Healing Touch and other energy modalities to be welcomed into our community, whether you are the patient or the healer.  It is a way to introduce compassion into the healing and recovery process.  I applaud the progressive efforts of this hospital for supporting its patients to heal holistically.

Sue Heldenbrand BS, CHTP, CIET

Lafayette, La.

energyworker2003@yahoo.com

Sue became involved with Healing Touch in 1998 and received her certification as a Healing Touch practitioner in 2002.  She is also a Certified Integrated Energy Therapy Practitioner, a Reiki Practitioner, Trauma Release and a Quantum Touch Practitioner. She has been a guest speaker for numerous organizations, as well as presenting at state conferences.  Sue has written articles on energy work for alternative and complementary newsletters. She has developed material and has been a trainer for education classes for child care providers in several cities in Louisiana since 2003.   She has been able to integrate energy- based therapies into local hospital’s operating and recovery rooms as well as providing these therapies to newborn babies at a local hospital.  As a volunteer at health fairs and cancer survivor retreats offering energy based therapies, Sue has gained experience in dealing with a variety of health challenges.

Training in an advanced Healing Touch technique for PTSD (“amygdala connection”) proved helpful for recovery personnel dealing with the aftermath of hurricanes as they dealt with anxiety, confusion, sleeping disturbances, undiagnosed pain and other symptoms of acute stress disorder. Trauma Release is helpful for health providers to reduce secondary stress effects of working with traumatized clients or in trauma settings like hospitals, first response settings, disasters, battle zones, etc.

Sue has a private practice in Lafayette, Louisiana.

http://www.SynergisticCenter.com