The Untold Story Behind Healing Touch's Growth

Healing Touch didn't become an international healing modality overnight. It grew through the vision, dedication, and courage of practitioners who believed healthcare could embrace compassionate, holistic healing.

In this episode of The Energy Healing Podcast, Leila Briggs welcomes Healing Touch pioneer Linda Lee Smith for a conversation that traces the remarkable history of Healing Touch from its earliest days through its continued growth today.

Linda shares how a chance encounter with Janet Mentgen completely changed the direction of her life, leading her from hospice administration into becoming one of Healing Touch's earliest instructors and eventually the first administrator of the Healing Touch Program. She reflects on building the organization alongside Janet, creating Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry, and helping thousands of practitioners discover Healing Touch through education and professional development.

The conversation also explores Linda's upcoming book documenting the history of Healing Touch, preserving the stories of the pioneers who helped establish the profession while offering future generations a deeper understanding of its origins, philosophy, and continuing impact.

Whether you're exploring Healing Touch for the first time, continuing your Healing Touch education, or have practiced for years, this episode offers a rare firsthand perspective on the people and moments that shaped Healing Touch into the profession it is today.

What You'll Hear In This Episode

Linda's unexpected introduction to Healing Touch
Meeting Janet Mentgen and becoming one of her earliest instructors
The early growth of the Healing Touch Program
Why Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry was created
Healing Touch in hospice, nursing, and healthcare settings
How Healing Touch became a professional education pathway
The story behind Linda's new Healing Touch history book
Why preserving Healing Touch's legacy matters
Linda's vision for the future of Healing Touch education
How Healing Touch continues to expand into healthcare and communities

Episode Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 Welcome & The Story That Changed Healing Touch

00:38 Linda's First Introduction to Healing Touch

03:20 Meeting Janet Mentgen and Finding Her Calling

06:10 How Healing Touch Began to Spread Across the Country

07:41 Becoming the First Administrator of the Healing Touch Program

10:15 The Inspiration Behind Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry

15:10 Passing the Ministry Forward and Beginning a New Chapter

17:19 Life After Healing Touch Leadership

23:15 Why Linda Decided to Write the History of Healing Touch

26:31 The Untold Story of How Healing Touch Got Its Name

30:42 Who the New Healing Touch Book Is For

33:06 The Future of Healing Touch & Linda's Final Reflections

About Our Guest

Linda Lee Smith is a holistic health educator, author, transformational coach, and one of the pioneering leaders in the Healing Touch community. She served as one of the earliest Healing Touch instructors and the first administrator of the Healing Touch Program, later founding Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry. For more than 25 years, she taught Healing Touch and aromatherapy throughout North America, Europe, and Australia, helping thousands of practitioners integrate Healing Touch into professional practice, education, ministry, and healthcare.

Linda is the author of Somatic Therapy Simplified: Empower Your Mind & Body with Effortless Holistic Healing for Mindfulness, Stress Relief, and Emotional Balance and co-author of an upcoming book documenting the history and legacy of Healing Touch. Through her teaching and writing, she is dedicated to making holistic healing approachable while preserving the stories of the pioneers who helped shape the Healing Touch profession for future generations.

About Your Host: Leila Briggs

Leila Briggs is the host of The Energy Healing Podcast, 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 explores the world of Healing Touch through practitioner stories, education, research, and real-life experiences. Whether you're discovering energy healing for the first time, exploring your own healing journey, or considering becoming a practitioner, each episode offers practical insight and thoughtful conversations designed to help you discover, experience, and learn Healing Touch.

About the Podcast

The Energy Healing Podcast explores the world of Healing Touch through conversations with practitioners, educators, researchers, and healthcare professionals. Hosted by Leila Briggs, each episode helps listeners discover what Healing Touch is, how it supports healing and personal transformation, and how it's used in education, healthcare, professional practice, and everyday life.

Disclaimer

The information shared in this episode is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, treatment, or care. Always consult your qualified healthcare provider regarding medical concerns and take responsibility for your own health and well-being.

🌐 Explore Healing Touch training: https://www.healingtouchprogram.com

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📚 Get certified in Healing Touch: https://www.healingtouchcertification.com/

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