Preparing to See a Healer or Other Therapist:
Have in mind a clear idea of what you want. It helps to have a description of your problems and what you would like to change. Remember, you are seeking out the service and your ideas and concerns are important and deserve to be heard. Whether you are paying for the service or not, you are entering into an interchange with another person.

As with any other health consultation, you are in charge of your health and can accept the caregiver's advice and treatment suggestion in whole, in part, or not at all. Make your needs known and if the "healer" does not listen, go elsewhere.

Questions to Ask a Healer:

What training have you had?

Who were your most important/helpful teachers? Why?

How long did you training last?

Do you get ongoing training?

Do you have certification or some form of credentialing in healing? (If applicable)

Who else do you work with?

Who do you give referrals to?

Why did you choose this form of healing?

Can you give me an example of how the healing therapy or work you practice works?

How has this type of healing therapy helped you?

Can you give me the names/numbers of a couple of people you have worked on, who would be comfortable having me contact them?

What can I expect during the treatment procedure?

How long is a session?

What are your fees?

How long do you anticipate it will take to see healing results?

How do you understand healing works?

How do you clear your energy field?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the type of healing you do?

Can I use this type of healing with other modalities?

Will insurance cover the type of healing you perform?

Is there any regulation on the type of healing you do?

What licensing laws govern your practice?

Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Healer:

What is your first impression of the person? Think about how you felt when you first heard the person's voice or when you first saw them. Was your reaction positive, negative or simply neutral? Did you have a bodily reaction of comfort and relief or of tension and tightness? When first impressions are negative, they are especially difficult to overcome. If your first impression was negative, you might ask yourself whether the person reminded you of someone you know. Will you be able to be open to what this person has to offer?

Do you feel safe with this person? Developing a relationship based on trust can be an important component of healing. Has the person given you assurance of keeping your sessions confidential? Is the person's work environment conducive to your feeling safe? Focus on how you feel when you are in that person's presence. Do you have your hands covering your abdomen, your throat, your heart? These can be signs that you don't feel safe and are protecting yourself.

What is your ‘gut’ reaction to the healer? This can be different from your first impression. Sometimes we might not be picking up certain ‘cues’ because we want the situation to work, or because there are too many other stimuli. Feel in your body if this person is the right one for you.

As you interact with the healer, do you feel comfortable asking for clarification? Does the person respond to your questions, acknowledging them as valid concerns? Do you feel as if you are being treated with respect and as a partner in your healing process?

Are the therapist’s claims realistic? Although many healers do appear to perform miracles, you should be suspicious of lofty claims or promises of immediate results. Each person is a unique individual, and no one healer or technique can be everything to everyone. Be wary of someone who pushes ‘miracle’ supplements or who claims to have the only product that can help you.

Does the person make negative comparisons with other therapies or healers? It is not appropriate for a healer to speak out against other therapies or claim to be more powerful or effective than others. No one method has been shown to be right for everyone. You may be helped just as effectively by someone else using an entirely different method.

Does the person speak about how “powerful” they are? Do they speak about how much more powerful they are than others? Can they clarify what “powerful” means?

Does the person acknowledge direction from a Higher Power or the Universe? Most healers are aware of being guided by something greater than themselves. A healer who is unable to acknowledge guidance from a Higher Power may be too involved in his or her own needs for power or esteem to be able to respond appropriately to your needs.
    This is not an absolute criterion for selecting a healer. There are agnostic healers. You need to decide who is right for you.

Healing is practiced in every known country and culture around the world. It does not have to be given through any single religious tradition, nor do you have to believe in God, Christ, or any other religious person or tradition in order to benefit from healing.

Do the words they say resonate with your belief system or cause uneasiness?

Look at them clearly; do they resonate with the things you are looking for in a healer? Beware of people who do not ‘walk their talk’.

Does the healer take credit for the healing that is taking place? Remember, the healer is only the facilitator; you are doing the healing on whatever level is needed, aided by your Higher Self and the Infinite Source.

Remember it is you who is choosing the service and you need to feel safe and that you are in good hands.