Healing Touch in Healthcare: How One Nurse Helped Bring Energy Healing into Hospitals
One of the most inspiring Healing Touch stories often begins with a healthcare professional searching for a better way to care for patients - and themselves. Registered nurse Laurie Ratto shares how Healing Touch transformed her own experience with chronic pain, burnout, and nursing, ultimately leading her to become a Healing Touch Certified Instructor and advocate for integrative healthcare.
In this conversation, Leila Briggs talks with Laurie about her journey from emergency room nurse to Healing Touch practitioner, instructor, and mentor. Laurie shares how a Healing Touch class relieved her chronic pain, how she began using Healing Touch with hospital staff and patients, and what happened when doctors witnessed measurable changes like lower blood pressure and reduced anxiety during treatments.
The episode also explores what it takes to bring Healing Touch into hospitals and healthcare settings, the importance of nurse self-care, why Healing Touch deserves recognition as a healthcare profession, and the ongoing work of educating healthcare systems about the value of energy healing. Laurie also reflects on teaching the next generation of Healing Touch practitioners and her vision for expanding Healing Touch education throughout healthcare.
Energy Healing Podcast is the show for people exploring energy healing, Healing Touch, holistic healing, and the growing role of Healing Touch in healthcare. Hosted by Leila Briggs, the show helps listeners discover, experience, and learn Healing Touch through practitioner stories, education, research, real-world healthcare experiences, and conversations that bridge science, healing, and professional practice.
What You'll Hear In This Episode
- How chronic pain and nursing burnout led Laurie to Healing Touch
- The Healing Touch experience that changed the course of her career
- Using Healing Touch with patients and healthcare staff in hospital settings
- How physicians responded after witnessing Healing Touch in action
- Why nurse self-care is essential for better patient care
- The challenges and opportunities of bringing Healing Touch into hospitals after COVID
- Why Laurie believes Healing Touch deserves recognition as a healthcare profession
- How Healing Touch education is preparing the next generation of practitioners
- The role of mentorship, community, and service in professional Healing Touch practice
- Laurie's vision for the future of Healing Touch in integrative healthcare
⏱ Episode Chapters & Timestamps
00:00 – A nurse witnesses Healing Touch relieving pain in the ER
00:13 – Introduction: Meet Laurie Ratto
01:23 – From nursing burnout to discovering Healing Touch
02:32 – A Level 1 class changes everything
03:29 – Experiencing immediate pain relief through Healing Touch
04:43 – Learning self-care and preventing burnout
05:54 – Honoring Carol Kenny and the early days of Healing Touch
07:06 – Becoming a Healing Touch instructor
09:21 – Bringing Healing Touch into the emergency room
10:06 – "What voodoo are you doing?" A doctor's unforgettable reaction
11:28 – Physical evidence: seeing Healing Touch work on hospital monitors
12:26 – Helping doctors while changing perceptions
13:52 – Teaching Healing Touch in hospitals and integrative medicine programs
15:13 – How COVID changed Healing Touch in healthcare
18:20 – Teaching, private practice, and finding new opportunities
19:39 – A free community Healing Touch clinic at a local church
22:25 – Training future practitioners through community clinics
23:20 – "Give a healing, get a healing" The value of Healing Touch community
24:03 – Laurie shares her vision for the future of Healing Touch
25:49 – Why Healing Touch deserves to be recognized as a profession
27:20 – A hospital where Healing Touch became part of patient care
29:20 – Balancing service, compensation, and professional value
31:04 – Hope for the next generation of integrative healthcare practitioners
32:00 – Bringing Healing Touch back into healthcare facilities
32:48 – Healing Touch as the bridge between science and energy medicine
33:48 – Closing reflections
Popular Episode Topics Include: Healing Touch in healthcare, Healing Touch for nurses, integrative healthcare, energy healing, Healing Touch practitioner, Healing Touch instructor, nurse self-care, hospital-based Healing Touch, complementary and integrative medicine, Healing Touch education, Healing Touch certification, chronic pain, nursing burnout, practitioner development, and energy medicine.
About Our Guest: Laurie Ratto
Laurie Ratto, RN, HTCP-I, is a registered nurse with more than 40 years of healthcare experience and a Healing Touch Certified Practitioner and Certified Instructor. After discovering Healing Touch while searching for relief from chronic pain and burnout, Laurie transitioned from emergency nursing into integrative healthcare, private practice, and professional education. She has taught Healing Touch throughout California, worked with hospitals, hospices, and healthcare organizations, mentors future practitioners, and remains passionate about expanding Healing Touch education and bringing energy healing into healthcare settings.
About Your Host: Leila Briggs
Leila Briggs is the host of The Energy Healing Podcast: Exploring Stories, Practices & Science, presented by the Healing Touch Program. A Healing Touch Certified Practitioner since 2015, Leila brings a lifetime of intuitive experience into grounded, heart-centered conversations about energy healing and lived spiritual practice.
The Energy Healing Podcast is the place to explore the world of Healing Touch and energy healing through real stories, practitioner experiences, research, and education. Hosted by Leila Briggs, each episode helps listeners discover what Healing Touch is, how it supports healing and personal transformation, and the many ways it is used in everyday life, healthcare, and professional practice. Whether you're new to energy healing, seeking your own healing journey, or considering becoming a practitioner, you'll find inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom to support your path.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this video is provided only as general information and for educational purposes. It does not offer medical advice and is not intended to be a substitute or replacement for qualified medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please take responsibility for your own health.
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