Healing Therapy - How Current Research Is Helping To Improve Its Recognition And Benefit

 

A systematic review published in 2021 identified the following three main themes which can be gleaned from published reports of healing therapy: (a) personal accountability; (b) understanding the illness/problem and seeking help for it; and (c) developing the attitudes, beliefs, and resources needed for healing. The authors concluded that there was an essential link between personal accountability and healing. They also concluded that understanding the illness/problem was vital to developing a sense of empowerment through treatment. In addition, they noted that many illnesses are associated with some identifiable personal beliefs or attitudes, and that these could be successfully addressed through treatment. They suggested that there were four important areas in healing therapy which needed to be focused on.

Personal Accountability: This is the process by which people come to terms with their own limitations and come to terms with the reality that they have control over many aspects of their lives. For example, one might say that the most critical aspect of healing therapy is personal accountability. This involves recognizing the need to take responsibility for one's own healing as well as the consequences of limiting any possible medical cures. This includes accepting responsibility for one's own emotions, feelings, actions, and thoughts, as well as ones' physical sensations. The aim of this stage in healing therapy is for the client to gain a sense of control and autonomy over their own experience of life.

Support: The second theme identified was the need for support in healing therapy. Many clients who experience chronic illnesses may withdraw from society and from family and friends, resulting in feelings of isolation. Others may have had traumatic experiences in childhood and consequently feel the need for reassurance and emotional support. Both of these themes are related to personal accountability. In addition, the third theme, self-efficiency, pertains to utilizing one's own skills and abilities to overcome symptoms. This may be seen as a delayed reaction or as an active pursuit of healing.

As mentioned above, several themes were identified as being associated with healing therapy. One of these is the view that therapy can result in curing. In fact, some researchers found that the most common complaints of people who undergo extensive therapies include the alleviation of pain and discomfort, reduction of symptoms, improvement in quality of life, and a sense of control and autonomy over their experiences. Many people report the return of illnesses after extensive therapy. Also, there is a recognition of a connection between healing and touch.

Some researchers found that clients who were receiving spiritual healing therapies were less likely to develop negative side effects from their treatments. Another theme that emerged was that spiritual or religious therapy resulted in fewer complications than traditional forms of therapy. Also, when spiritual therapy was used along with standard forms of therapy, there was a reduced rate of relapse.

Overall, this current study is encouraging for those in the health care field who are interested in healing practices that do not necessitate the use of pharmacologic interventions or invasive procedures. It is also good news for those who have had negative experiences with other forms of treatment. In addition, this research represents an important step forward in the understanding of how to appropriately deliver healing services. According to the National Science Foundation, future advances in this area are likely to focus on how modalities such as touch, bodywork, and music can facilitate healing for many diverse populations. This information will undoubtedly help move healing into the mainstream.