When undertaking any kind of healing work it is important to remember that the healer has two responsibilities; for both the patient and for themselves. Healing work should not be undertaken unless you are able to put your own issues aside, as this will distract your attention from the patient. It should always be remembered that anyone who comes to see you may be in a very vulnerable and fragile state, and they are deserving of your full attention. If you are unable to put your own issues aside you will not be able to give them the attention they need and deserve.
Before the patient arrives it is therefore very important to ground and centre yourself. Time should be put aside at the beginning of each day to do this in whatever way you find best. This may be through meditation, or tai chi, or perhaps through a simple visualisation. The space you are working in should also be cleared, perhaps through smudging, clapping, drawing symbols into the corners of the room, or whatever works best for you. You should also pay attention to personal hygiene and make sure that the space is clean and welcoming. You may like to light some candles or incense, or play some music in the background, but remember to ask the client first as they may dislike the smell of incense or find music intrusive.
Adequate records should be kept for all clients who come to see you. This is important to help you to remember details about the client, what their current/past issues are, as well as providing you with a space with which to record details of all treatments given. This information could provide vital evidence if a claim were to be lodged against you, so this is for your protection as well as for the clients. All information is of course, strictly confidential. It is also important; however, that clients are aware that they have to take responsibility for their own healing, and that a cure can never be promised (a healer is not allowed by law to promise that they can heal anyway, only that they may be able to help). If the patient has not consulted their doctor, then again you should always recommend that they do so and this should be noted in your own records.
You should also be aware of your own limitations as a healer, and not be afraid to say if you do not feel you have the experience or expertise to help people who come to see you with particular issues. In this situation you can always recommend someone else you know who may be more appropriate. It is never a good idea to treat anyone in your immediate family (husband, partner, children etc) or close friends, it is always better to refer these people to an outsider who will be more detached from the outcome and not so emotionally involved.
Although it is sometimes difficult, you should always try to detach yourself from the outcome of any healing session. When you are first starting out as a healer it can be difficult to do this, but this will come in time. As with most other things it a process of learning to trust that the person will always receive the healing that they need, which is not necessarily the healing that you or they want. There is an important distinction here, which you both need to be aware of.
After every 3 treatments it is usually a good idea to review the patient's progress as this will make sure that they are indeed taking responsibility for their own healing, as well as ensuring that they do not become too attached to you as a healer, as this can happen. Follow up care should always be offered, this can take form in many different ways, simply letting them know that they can call you if a healing crisis occurs (and the patient should always be made aware that this can happen), passing on to them simple techniques, affirmations etc that they can use at home to help themselves, or perhaps recommending books etc that they can read. If a healing crisis should occur, more healing should not be given until the crisis is over. It is usually best to allow at least a week between appointments, depending upon the condition being treated.
During the treatment itself it is good idea to protect yourself in some way from any negative vibrations that the client may pass on to you, and also to call upon the help of any guides, angels etc that you may have who can align themselves with you and work alongside you.
One thing the healer should never attempt to do is to diagnose, if any problems are suspected then suggest that the patient sees their doctor, but say it in a way so as not to unduly alarm them.
It is good idea to sit down with the patient before you commence any treatment to explain more about the therapy that you are doing, how it works etc, how they might feel, and perhaps give them an idea of how many treatments they might need. It will help if the form has been filled in in advance, as this will allow more time for the treatment itself. Plenty of time should be allowed for the treatment so that the patient does not feel rushed and uncared for, and also so that the next patient is not kept waiting, as they may have had to take a morning or afternoon off work to see you and their time will be precious.
It is also important to make time for yourself during the day, to remember that you need to take regular breaks to eat and drink and centre yourself. Many healers fail to do this, and after a while find that they are becoming ineffective because of this.
Remember that you have a responsibility to both yourself and the patient, and if you are not looking after yourself you cannot look after others.
