What Is Spiritual Healing? Meaning, Forms and Evidence

Spiritual healing is a gentle practice in which a healer aims to support your wellbeing by working with what they understand as spiritual or life energy, usually through quiet presence, light touch or hands held near the body. People come for relaxation, emotional release and a sense of feeling whole again. It is complementary, and never replaces medical care.

I'm Michelle Virtue, a certified Reiki Master Practitioner and psychic medium in London. Most of my time goes on readings and coaching, yet healing holds a special place for me, partly because an unexpected health challenge in my own life became a turning point. This guide explains the meaning of spiritual healing, its main forms, what a session involves, what the evidence honestly shows, and how to choose a healer you can trust.

Spiritual healing meaning, in plain words

At its simplest, spiritual healing rests on the belief that a person can act as a channel for a healing energy that supports body, mind and spirit. Traditions name that energy differently: life force, universal energy, divine or spirit energy. A responsible healer doesn't claim to cure anything. They aim to create the conditions in which you can relax, rebalance and feel more yourself.

It helps to separate two ideas. The experience of a session, feeling calmer, lighter or less burdened, is something many people report. The explanation, that an energy passes from healer to client, is a spiritual belief that science has not confirmed. You can value the first without needing to be sure about the second.

Healing of this kind is also older and wider than any one modern method. Laying on of hands and prayer for the sick appear in many religions, and in Britain the Spiritualist churches have offered healing for generations. Today the UK's Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council includes both "Healing" and Reiki among the therapies on its accredited register.

Types of spiritual healing you may come across

These are the forms people in the UK are most likely to meet.

Reiki has its own history, levels and research, which I cover in my article on what Reiki is, so I won't repeat it here. Many healers also describe their work through the chakras and the aura. If those words are new, my guides to the chakra system and the human aura explain them simply.

Soul retrieval and soul restoration healing

Soul retrieval comes from shamanic practice. In many traditional cultures, illness was explained as "soul loss", and the shaman's task was to journey in trance and bring the lost part back. Modern Western versions use the idea more symbolically: painful experiences can leave us feeling as though part of ourselves has gone missing, and healing work aims to restore a sense of wholeness.

Because soul retrieval often touches trauma and grief, please put proper support in place first. If you are living with the after-effects of trauma, flashbacks, or low mood that won't lift, book in with your GP or a qualified therapist before any spiritual work, and treat healing as an extra. If you feel you can't keep yourself safe, you can ring Samaritans on 116 123 for free, whatever the hour.

One of my clients described the healing she received with me as soul restoration healing, and her words capture what many people are looking for.

Michelle provided a safe, reassuring session that enabled me to address issues that are preventing me from reaching my full potential.

Sarah Smith

What a spiritual healing session is like

Sessions vary between healers, but a good one usually follows a clear, respectful shape.

1. A conversation first. The healer asks how you are, what has brought you, and about any health conditions. They should explain what they'll do and ask your consent before any touch.
2. Getting comfortable. You stay clothed, lying on a couch or sitting in a chair, often with a blanket. The room is quiet or has soft music.
3. The healing itself. The healer works through positions around the head, shoulders, back or torso, or holds their hands a little away from you. Many people drift into a deep, relaxed state.
4. Coming back. You're given time to come round slowly, with water and space to talk about what you noticed.

Common experiences include warmth, tingling, heavy limbs, colours behind closed eyes, tears, or simply a very good rest. Others notice almost nothing on the couch, then sleep unusually well that night. All of those are normal.

Afterwards, drink some water, eat something and keep the rest of the day gentle if you can. Big emotions can surface for a day or two. If they feel overwhelming, reach out to someone you trust or your GP.

If you'd like to experience this with me, my spiritual healing sessions are unhurried, with time to talk before and after, and I'll always be honest about what healing can and can't do.

What the evidence does and doesn't show

You deserve a straight answer here. Research has not found evidence that a measurable healing energy exists or passes from healer to client. A 2010 review of biofield therapies, a research term covering Reiki, therapeutic touch and similar methods, reported some support for easing pain and, among hospital patients, anxiety. Results for other outcomes were unclear, and the authors called for better studies. Reviews of Reiki alone reach similar cautious conclusions.

What research and experience do suggest is that people often feel more relaxed, less anxious and more cared for after these sessions. Some of that will come from rest, quiet, kind attention and gentle touch, and some may come from expectation. The NHS offers a few complementary therapies where there is evidence of benefit, mainly for comfort, never as a cure.

My honest position is this. I've felt and witnessed how restorative healing can be, and I offer it with care. I don't claim it cures illness, and I'd be wary of anyone who does.

Complementary, never a replacement for medical care

Spiritual healing can sit alongside medical treatment, therapy and medication. It is not a substitute for medical, psychological, legal or financial advice, and it should never be a reason to delay seeing a doctor, stop medication or skip treatment.

If you're living with a physical or mental health condition, keep your GP or specialist informed, and tell your healer about any conditions so they can adapt the session. If you're pregnant, recovering from surgery or find lying still difficult, mention it beforehand. A responsible healer will always welcome that conversation.

How to choose a spiritual healer

Most healers are kind, well-meaning people. A few checks still help you find the right one.

Good signs

• They explain clearly what they do and don't claim
• They ask about your health and encourage you to keep seeing your doctor
• They ask permission before touching you, and respect a no
• Prices, session length and cancellation terms are clear before you book
• They hold insurance and follow a code of conduct, ideally as a member of a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority
• You feel calmer and more at ease in their company

Signs to walk away

• Promises to cure illness or guarantees of any outcome
• Advice to stop medication or avoid doctors
• Talk of curses, dark attachments or danger that only they can fix
• Pressure to buy a long course of sessions on the spot
• Any touch or behaviour that makes you uncomfortable

Healing sessions aren't listed with public prices, so if you're unsure whether healing suits you, the free Intuitive Clarity Consultation is a relaxed place to talk it through first.