The practice of energy healing encompasses a broad range of therapeutic modalities and techniques, all of which focus on channeling healing energy into a client’s body.
The practitioner’s role is to help bring their client’s personal energy fields into balance and improve the health and wellness of the body, mind, and collective spirit.
Energy healers help clients with a wide range of ailments, from anxiety to chronic pain, and relieve side effects from cancer treatments. The use of energy healing techniques can be applied to minor or major physical ailments, and may even help a variety of mental health problems.
As an energy healer, you may be prepared to work alongside traditional medical practitioners as part of a holistic therapy program. Many practitioners choose to practice independently, as this form of healing is extremely unique and subjective for each client and practitioner.
Additionally, many energy healers incorporate their energy healing training into other popular practices such as massage therapy or acupressure.
How to ethically practice energy medicine
Treatment plans
Energy healing does not have direct support or data that aligns with traditional western medicine. The impact and effect of healing therapy differ from patient to patient and practitioner to practitioner.
Those who have been educated and trained in multiple facets of alternative medicine may be able to develop a more specific treatment plan for their potential client’s needs.
Referrals
Energy healing practitioners may also uphold their ethical practice by referring clients to a different practitioner in their network with a stronger knowledge of the treatment area needed.
For example, an energy healer may refer their client to a licensed psychologist in order to undergo talk therapy. It is essential for someone practicing in the field of energy medicine to maintain a high ethical standard, which may require turning away clients who do not seem fit for treatment.
An expert’s take on being a good energy healer
Proper training and clear communication with your patients are essential in the field of energy healing and all modalities of alternative health and wellness.
“As an alternative therapy practitioner, it is essential to have received proper training in your modality and to continue seeking additional education. It is vital to have the good judgment to understand when it is appropriate for you to treat or when to refer the client to a different practitioner if the need is out of your area of experience or expertise,” said Dr. Lola Scarborough, teacher, and therapist at the Healing Hut based in League City, Texas.
Training and education to become an energy healer
Choosing your focus area
Many healers choose to develop different skillsets through their chosen fields of study.
For example, one energy healer may have studied massage therapy and therefore can confidently offer specialized massage services. Yet, another practitioner may have studied with a focus on holistic medicine making them more specialized in that specific field.
It is important for those pursuing a career in the field to research the types of available education, training, and preferred focus of study as it may help them identify and choose the educational program that suits their career path’s needs best.
What you’ll study
Due to the wide variety of curricula and standards presented by different interpretations of energy medicine programs, many candidates pursuing this career path will experience vastly different forms of education.
The curriculum at a typical energy healing school will generally include:
courses covering the history and theory of energy medicine,
perception of energy fields in the body,
commonly used techniques of energy healing.
Many programs also include training in specific modalities, such as:
Energy healing training can take as little as a few weekends or a couple of years, and courses may be in person or online.
Specific modalities such as basic Reiki training, for instance, are commonly taught in a weekend retreat format, but Master-level Reiki training may require a year or longer of intense study.
If your energy medicine curriculum is part of an accredited massage therapy program, you can expect to spend anywhere from 400 to 1,000 hours completing your training depending on the program and level of certification you’re pursuing.
Tuition & fees
Due to the various lengths of study and special focuses for energy healing training, program tuition may also vary widely. The cost may be dependent on the type of program as well as any materials and resources that are required for the duration of the course.
Level I and II Reiki training and other basic energy training can cost as little as a few hundred dollars, but more comprehensive training programs at an accredited massage school or energy medicine school may cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000.
Energy healing certification
Although there is no current, specific regulation regarding licensing for energy healers, professional certification is available. One organization that grants such certification is the International Association of Reiki Professionals (IARP).
However, each organization has different standards and requirements of completion in order to earn your certification and call yourself a certified energy healer.
In contrast, most states regulate massage therapists and bodywork professionals. If you plan to incorporate energy healing as part of your massage therapy business, be sure to check the state boards of massage for the laws and regulations associated with where you plan to practice.
Massage certification is available from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, and requires a minimum of 500 hours of study in your chosen field or focus of therapy.
Energy healing salary
Your salary as an energy healer may depend on a number of factors, including geographic location and the size of your practice if you work independently.
Generally, private practitioners with energy healing training such as Reiki can earn up to or even over $100 for a one-hour session, says Thumbtack, and practitioners may offer a discount for a multiple-session package. This can also vary based on your experience and reputation in the field.
To get a better understanding of wages in a similar field of work, take a look at massage therapy salaries by state.
Massage Therapists
National data
Median Salary: $55,310
Projected job growth: 18.3%
10th Percentile: $32,240
25th Percentile: $41,600
75th Percentile: $74,970
90th Percentile: $95,700
Projected job growth: 18.3%
State data
State
Median Salary
Bottom 10%
Top 10%
Alabama
$41,920
$20,870
$77,930
Alaska
$88,830
$51,530
$163,240
Arizona
$60,880
$36,000
$101,000
Arkansas
$38,070
$23,890
$106,240
California
$45,400
$32,240
$101,470
Colorado
$56,110
$45,750
$82,070
Connecticut
$59,890
$31,200
$89,730
Delaware
N/A
N/A
N/A
District of Columbia
$59,900
$50,650
$64,200
Florida
$48,940
$32,110
$73,210
Georgia
$58,100
$29,040
$104,000
Hawaii
N/A
N/A
N/A
Idaho
$68,960
$40,790
$82,250
Illinois
$60,670
$29,500
$93,400
Indiana
$58,300
$30,470
$80,900
Iowa
$63,060
$40,420
$104,000
Kansas
$48,120
$29,550
$77,650
Kentucky
$63,780
$42,300
$90,150
Louisiana
$62,870
$26,010
$77,480
Maine
$52,000
$30,160
$90,480
Maryland
$56,960
$35,550
$104,010
Massachusetts
$61,280
$34,470
$101,170
Michigan
$61,950
$34,070
$86,900
Minnesota
$62,770
$45,900
$93,190
Mississippi
$39,980
$24,980
$118,420
Missouri
$52,770
$25,980
$104,000
Montana
$59,400
$22,260
$82,840
Nebraska
$59,910
$38,300
$91,150
Nevada
$44,730
$23,800
$85,020
New Hampshire
$72,960
$54,020
$101,370
New Jersey
$56,380
$42,300
$124,880
New Mexico
$62,470
$24,960
$96,920
New York
$50,210
$35,450
$112,720
North Carolina
$61,570
$36,720
$93,850
North Dakota
$53,450
$28,060
$79,640
Ohio
$51,100
$32,360
$74,540
Oklahoma
$41,600
$28,410
$58,740
Oregon
$82,170
$38,140
$98,880
Pennsylvania
$56,780
$40,180
$79,070
Rhode Island
$56,160
$45,760
$69,100
South Carolina
$47,640
$21,160
$78,230
South Dakota
$46,540
$37,100
$61,090
Tennessee
$49,480
$25,570
$70,130
Texas
$49,550
$27,110
$79,710
Utah
$59,780
$32,930
$109,030
Vermont
$94,620
$27,410
$119,790
Virginia
$52,030
$29,490
$79,680
Washington
$79,700
$56,860
$109,320
West Virginia
$31,080
$24,950
$77,380
Wisconsin
$55,950
$21,840
$88,400
Wyoming
N/A
N/A
N/A
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Related: Head over to our official massage salaries page for a more in-depth look at how much massage therapists earn and the factors impacting pay.
Career outlook
Energy healing is growing as a form of alternative healing and treatment in terms of popularity. Although it may mirror many similar alternative forms of therapy, it does have its own specific differences and applications.
The outlook for those pursuing alternative therapy careers is positive, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with massage therapists set to enjoy a 18.3% job growth rate through 2032, and acupuncturists in the 5.3% job growth range.
Rising public awareness
Much of this growth can be attributed to more Americans seeking out alternative medical treatments—a 2017 Pew Research survey stated that half of Americans have “tried some form of alternative medicine, such as herbal remedies, acupuncture, chiropractic treatment or energy therapies, at some point during their lifetime.”
With this growing interest among the public, those who earn their education and training in energy healing may find more career opportunities as time passes.
Advancing your career
It is essential for practitioners to have undergone training in a variety of different studies, but those who wish to advance their understanding of energy healing may choose to pursue a specific school or study program.
It’s not uncommon for graduates of energy healing schools to specialize in a particular focus or form of similar alternative therapy, such as healing touch, Reiki training, qi gong, or polarity therapy.
