Learning to perceive energy in a healing session has often been — and still is — a surprising and mysterious process.
The Healing Touch Professional Association offers Virtual Chapter videos for members on a wide range of healing topics. In one of these videos — I can’t remember exactly which one — an experienced and successful healer shared a simple technique she uses to keep her mind from wandering during sessions.
On the surface, keeping your mind focused during a healing seems logical. Yet my inner experience often unfolds very differently. My thoughts tend to act like a mirror, reflecting the emotional energy of my client’s inner world.
One session in particular stands out. A young mother came in, mentioning during check-in that her daughter had broken her wrist the day before. It sounded like a straightforward situation — a typical childhood accident.
But as soon as I placed my hands on her, a wave of violent imagery surfaced in my mind — flashes of car crashes, murders, and death scenes from police shows I had watched more than a decade ago. The intensity shocked me, and my first reaction was judgment: “Wow, this is not appropriate for a healing space.”
Over the years, though, I’ve learned to trust the process. My greatest strength as a practitioner is knowing that whatever arises in a session — whether calm or chaotic — has a purpose in the healing space. So I stayed with it. About ten minutes later, the violent images dissolved, and what emerged was a deep sadness. I could feel it release.
When the session ended, my client opened her eyes and said, almost in surprise, “I had no idea I was that traumatized. I feel so much better.”
The emotional intensity had belonged to her, but the specific imagery came from my own life experience. I wasn’t reading her thoughts — rather, I was sensing the quality of them. This reflection helps me hold space more fully and meet my clients exactly where they are.
Jeri Lawson has a full-time healing practice in Oakland, California. She is available Monday through Friday for Healing Touch, Reiki, and Clarity Breathwork.
510-601-9632 jerilawson@mac.com
