Therapeutic Touch Health Article

Training & certification

Therapeutic touch is taught at over 100 universities and nursing and medical schools around the United States and Canada. Although the technique was developed primarily for nurses, anyone can learn TT.

State laws vary regarding the practice of TT. In general, laypersons are allowed to practice TT within their families. Therapeutic touch is considered an extension of health care skills, so most health care professionals are covered under state medical practice acts.

Many hospitals have established policies allowing nurses and staff to perform TT on patients at no extra charge. The American Nurse's Association often holds workshops on TT at national conventions. Therapeutic touch classes are often held for the general public through community education, healing clinics, and holistic schools.

BOOKS

Krieger, Dolores, Ph.D., R.N. Accepting Your Power to Heal. The Personal Practice of Therapeutic Touch. Rochester, VT: Bear & Company, 1993.

Krieger, Dolores, Ph.D., R.N. The Therapeutic Touch. How to Use Your Hands to Help or to Heal. Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Press, 1979.

Macrae, Janet, Ph.D., R.N. Therapeutic Touch: A Practical Guide. New York: Knopf, 1998.

PERIODICALS

Baird, Carol L. "First-line Treatment for Osteoarthritis: Part 2: Nonpharmacologic Interventions and Evaluation." Orthopaedic Nursing 20 (November-December 2001): 13–20.

Gordon, A., J. H. Merenstein, et al. "The Effects of Therapeutic Touch on Clients with Osteoarthritis of the Knee." Journal of Family Practice 47 (1998): 271–277.

Rosa, Linda, MSN, Emily Rosa, Larry Sarner, and Stephen Barrett, MD. "A Close Look at Therapeutic Touch." Journal of the American Medical Association 279 (April 1, 1998): 1005–11.

OTHER

The Nurse Healers Professional Associates International (NH PAI), the Official Organization of Therapeutic Touch. 3760 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84106. (801) 273-3399. nhpai@therapeutic-touch.org. <http://www.therapeutic-touch.org>.

Jennifer Wurges

Rebecca J. Frey, PhD