Understanding Different Healing Modalities: A Beginner's Guide
We All Need Healers (and Healing)
In today’s world, we are more in need of healers than ever before. The scale of our personal and collective challenges has expanded far beyond the reach of what any one of us can manage on our own. And with so many of us just hanging on by a thread, the role of healing has become central to our well-being.
Think about healing throughout time – in ancient civilizations you would have had your local medicine man, shaman, seer, or even priest. In today’s society, with so many of us feeling isolated from our roots, and lacking close community, we don’t know where to turn.
Luckily, the number of healers is on the rise as a collective awakening begins. We have so much more access to talented humans who are able to support us on our own journey of growth and wellness, and it’s never been easier to find the help you need. It’s as simple as a quick google search and click of a button to sign up!
That being said, it isn’t always easy to know where to begin. In this article, I’m sharing some tips to help you begin your healing journey – to get insight on what kind of healing exists, how to find the right practitioner, and how to begin.
Wherever you are on your path, know that you are not alone and you don’t need to solve it on your own. Finding the right guide to support you can make all the difference.
My First Healing Experience
The first time I experienced a healing session was when I was sitting in my teacher’s healing room, being attuned for Reiki Level 1.
A couple of close friends had told me their experience learning Reiki, and it stuck with me. I wanted to learn more and see for myself what it was all about.
My teacher told me that she normally wouldn’t train someone without first having a full healing session with them, but something told her it was important to move forward with me at the time I reached out. (She must have smelled that with an additional barrier in the way, I might have run the other direction!)
I found myself sitting on a chair, facing the window. The sounds of the air conditioner blowing. It was Bangkok, after all, and the August heat was blazing.
She began the first attunement and I had my first experience of reiki energy flowing through me. The feeling was indescribable. I felt as if I was living within a sound wave, the pulses of energy flowing in and out from all directions. I was left speechless, like something inside me that had laid dormant within me was finally coming to life.
Everyone’s experience with healing is completely unique. It depends on where they are on their own spiritual journey, or journey of life, and no two experiences can or will ever be the same.
For me, that day marked the start of a remarkable journey of awakening which took me to the far reaches of the globe in search of answers.
I didn’t have the vocabulary to describe what I had experienced, and so I sought to find someone who did.
That was how my healing journey began. Both as a seeker, and as a healer. Only, I didn’t know then that that would be my path. I had only just qualified as a professional coach and my intention was to run a coaching business, supporting leaders and organizations to become more heart-centered.
I didn’t realize that my experience with reiki would also infiltrate every area of my life – professionally and privately.
What is Healing?
Before we dive deeper, it’s important to address the elephant in the room. The question that I ask every guest on my podcast, and the topic that most people have very strong, and very different opinions on.
What exactly is healing? And how does it work?
If you ask 100 healers this very same question, you are bound to receive 100 different answers. In short, there is no one definition. That being said, guests from my podcast have described it as:
A return to connection
Acknowledging the parts of you that you still feel are a work in progress and recognizing the ones that are holding you back and not allowing you to be the person you want to be
Finding more peace within yourself
A profound journey that touches every aspect of our being, from the individual to the collective
Evolving our souls, allowing us to access our full potential and align with our divine destiny
Finding our way back to who we truly are
For my part, I describe healing as coming back home to yourself. It is the act, whether supported by others or within yourself where you remember who you truly are, and undo all the conditioning and projections placed upon you throughout your life so that you can be your full, authentic self.
Exploring Different Types of Healing Modalities
The beauty of living in a global world is that there is an incredibly diverse array of methods for healing. So much so that it can actually feel overwhelming when you first begin your search to find what works for you.
I know that was certainly true for me. I didn’t know what types of healing actually existed, and I had no idea who I could reach out to for support. Plus, with so many healers on the market, it felt impossible to figure out which individual was best suited to support me.
I made it my mission to demystify the healing process, which is why in 2023 I launched Don’t Step on the Bluebells – a podcast all about healing and personal transformation. Each episode of the podcast focuses on a different type of healing, and showcases an expert in the field who shares their particular blend of healing, and how they began their journey to support others.
You can find information on, e.g. Shamanism, Reiki, Ayurveda, Yoga, Somatic Experiencing Akashic Records, Men’s Work, Women’s Work, Mediumship, Psychic Abilities, Emotion, Body, and Belief Code, Constellations, Breathwork, and so much more. For the complete list of episodes visit: https://www.dontsteponthebluebells.com/episodes
Choosing the Right Healing Modality
Each healing modality has its own unique qualities and it’s important to know that there is no one-size-fits-all. Multiple tools may be able to support you with what you want, but it’s important to remember that your healing will have as much to do with your practitioner as you. That doesn’t mean you necessarily have to verify their qualifications – unless that feels important to you – but rather you need to feel good in their presence. Your intuition will need to give you a signal that this person feels good and safe to work with, or if you have a sense that something is off or makes you uneasy that it isn’t the right person – and then you run. Just kidding – you say “no thanks.”
In my experience, different types of healing help with different challenges. Please note that the suggestions below are my professional opinion but are in no way medically proven. I am not a doctor or physician and do not endeavor to offer medical advice, merely opinion.
Here are some high level recommendations, please use your discretion to know if this is right for you:
For uncertainty, lack of clarity, or fear about the future:
For sleeplessness or difficulty relaxing:
Meditation
Mindfulness
For unresolved trauma (especially for those who have already sought out therapeutic support):
Psychotherapy
For physical pain or injury:
Each of these modalities, and the various experts who practice them, can support you with numerous challenges that you face. There is no one right or best method. They all have a lot to offer. It is up to you to discern which feels most valuable to you in this moment.
A Personal Case Study: Healing Through Self-Doubt
I recently noticed that I was suffering from lack of clarity. I was questioning myself, doubting what I was doing, and feeling insecure about a new initiative I was launching. This doubt crept in silently, and only when I felt physically exhausted and drained did I realize something was truly out of balance.
On this occasion, I had two different healers who supported me. One was a tarot reader and medium who offered guidance about my past and future path based on the cards and psychic information she received. The other was theta healer who was able to help me see moments in my own childhood and my ancestors’ lives that were hindering me from being able to move forward freely.
In the tarot reading, I felt affirmed of my experiences, and emboldened to reach for those bigger dreams I had but felt were out of my reach. She encouraged me to pay attention to certain timelines and people coming into my life that would either support me, or hold me back (she mentioned quite a few people in my life who were jealous of me and to watch out for them!) After our 60-minutes together, I felt confident in my path, and open to the possibilities of what was coming.
In the theta healing, I felt held, supported, and seen. She understood my challenges and made me feel comfortable to share and face them. She guided me gently through a series of visualizations and experiences, holding space for me and allowing me to explore as long as I wanted and needed. I felt relief at the end of the session. My mood had lifted and I truly felt a shift in energy, like everything we did together over the 90-minutes had cleared away enough debris to help me move forward on my path.
In both instances I felt supported, held, understood, and trusted. I was guided to find the wisdom within, with the help of a truly powerful and experienced healer holding the space for me and accompanying the healing through their own gifts of seeing and clearing.
I left each session feeling empowered and renewed, each for different reasons.
What to Expect
Every healing session will be different. As will the healers who offer them. Some modalities require only one session, while others may require multiple sessions over months. Your first step is to get clear on your intention for reaching out – understand why you want support, or where you feel you need help in this moment. Having that clarity will help you share with your future healer what it is you are most looking to resolve.
Then, when you find a guide you trust, listen to their best advice. You can even ask directly, “how many sessions do you think I will need?”
Healing sessions vary in length. I’ve worked with incredible healers in 30-minute increments or 2-hour time slots. Reiki sessions can last anywhere from 45-90 minutes, while hypnosis (e.g. QHHT, RTT, etc.) may last anywhere from 2-5 hours.
In my experience, it is best to ask your practitioner what you can expect in terms of duration and frequency of the sessions and decide from there if that feels reasonable. It is very rare that just one session will be sufficient, depending on how deep the work is, so don’t be surprised if they recommend upwards of 3 or 4 sessions to work through particular issues.
Getting Started (how to work with a healer)
Once you’ve decided you’re ready for support, here’s how you can get started:
You experience a problem or challenge in your life that you’d like help with. (Or, perhaps there is no clear problem but you’d like someone to support you to reach certain goals in the future)
You search Don’t Step on the Bluebells to see what kind of healing tools there are
You search online for support or reach out to someone you know to ask if there’s anyone they recommend you speak to x issue
You find a few names or recommendations, and you look them up (website, socials, podcast episodes, etc.) to see if you get a good feeling
You make an appointment to see them
You have an experience with that healer (every session will be different)
You integrate what you experienced and follow the guidance from your healer, which almost always involves “drink plenty of water”
You check in with yourself in a few days / weeks and see what’s changed
Key Takeaways:
Healing is a personal journey with many possible paths
Trust your intuition when choosing a healer
Different modalities serve different needs
It's okay to try multiple approaches
The right practitioner is as important (if not more) as the method
In short, healing will look different for everyone and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. While there are many experienced healers out there, you won’t resonate with all of them and should therefore do your homework to see, in advance, how a person makes you feel before signing up. You can look for their online footprint or request a short introduction call before to get to know them before you get on their schedule.
If you are curious to learn more about different healing modalities – listen to Don’t Step on the Bluebells, which breaks down various types of healing and how they work. New episodes and brilliant healers are released every two weeks.
Amanda is a transformational coach and intuitive guide who helps women healers to connect, learn, and elevate their impact. She is the founder of the Women Healers Collective and hosts the Don’t Sep on the Bluebells podcast. Learn more about working together at www.amandaparker.co
Here are three ways I can help you on your journey:
#1: Join the Women Healers Collective: If you’re a healer looking for a peer community to go deeper, connect, learn, and grow your practice – applications are now open!
#2: Listen to Don’t Step on the Bluebells: Learn about different healing modalities through stories and expertise from incredible healers worldwide as they share their medicine. New episode drops Feb 6th!
#3: Get personalized support: I offer 1:1 support for clients ready to fully commit to their personal growth journey. Let’s talk about how I can help you reach your goals.