NH-PAI Guidelines of Recommended Standards &

Scope of Practice for Therapeutic Touch

Therapeutic Touch, is conducted according to the standards for its practice developed by Dr. Dolores Krieger and Dora Kunz and in accordance with the following guidelines.

·         The Therapeutic Touch (TT) interaction process includes energy pattern assessment, intervention plan, intervention, and evaluation of a client by a qualified TT practitioner.

·         The TT practitioner views clients from a perspective of wholeness in that they are seen as open, complex, and pandimensional energy systems.

·         The TT practitioner makes appropriate referrals, collaborating & communicating with the client health care team.

·         Information is obtained regarding client patterns of behavior and relationships with their environment.

·         Client perceptions related to their worldview, values, health and illness are acknowledged and accepted in a nonjudgmental, compassionate manner by TT practitioners.

·         The TT practitioners explain the process before administering a treatment.

Standards for TT practitioners

TT practitioners demonstrate a commitment to self-awareness, growth and healing.  Expectations of TT practitioners include: participates in holistic self-care activities (body-mind-spirit); demonstration of compassion or the desire to help another person; completion of a minimum 12 contact hour Basic Level workshop (previously referred to as Beginner); commitment to a one year mentoring opportunity under the direction of a Qualified Therapeutic Touch Teacher (QTTT); practice in the TT process on a consistent and continuing basis, averaging at least two times per week; and, update of knowledge and skills.

*TT may be practiced by anyone with the requisite preparation, desire and commitment. Required preparation is the completion of a minimum 12 contact hour Basic workshop by a TT practitioner who meets the criteria as a "NH-PAI, Inc. qualified TT teacher (QTTT)". Regular practice is the keystone to acquiring knowledge, wisdom, and confidence in Therapeutic Touch. Therefore, Therapeutic Touch practitioners need to practice TT on a consistent basis for at least 1 year with the guidance and support of their self-selected mentoring opportunities. During the mentorship year the mentoree/new practitioner is responsible for seeking out mentoring opportunities which include, but are not limited to, formal support/practice groups or formalized local mentorship programs or formalized long-distance mentorship programs. The health care professional can begin utilizing TT in a hospital/health care or other practice settings with support and guidance from any of the above mentoring opportunity formats. Once the mentorees/practitioners first year is completed, a further requirement is the completion of 14 contact hours for the Intermediate Level of Therapeutic Touch practice, taught by a Qualified Therapeutic Touch Teacher. The Intermediate class can be taken 6 months after the Basic class, and the Mentorship can begin at any time after the completion of Basic. The Mentorship doesn't need to be finished prior to taking Intermediate.

·        Those who are not licensed health care professionals may practice TT within their families, religious or spiritual community, and among friends.  Investigation of state licensing laws and regulations is necessary prior to accepting fees for practicing TT to ensure lawful practices.  Those who are licensed to perform specific or general health related services need to clarify roles and scope of practice parameters with their respective state regulatory entity, board, or an attorney. 

·         TT practitioners adhere to the NH-PAI Code of Ethics

©NH-PAI 1991. Revised 11/98, 7/01, 10/07. This material may not be reproduced without written permission from NH-PAI, Inc. When this document is used as a resource, please acknowledge NH-PAI as the source