Guide5 min readUpdated 8 September 2026

What happens in a spiritual healing session

A step-by-step look at a spiritual healing session in New Zealand: the conversation, hands-on or hands-off work, what you may feel, and your rights as a client.

“Spiritual healer” covers a wide range of people. Some work within a church or faith. Some describe themselves as channels for universal energy. Some blend prayer, touch, talk and ritual. This guide describes what a typical session looks like, so you know what to expect and what to ask.

What spiritual healing is

Spiritual healing rests on the belief that a healer can act as a channel for a healing energy, sometimes called divine, universal or spirit energy, to support a person’s own wellbeing. Cancer Research UK, which reviews complementary therapies for people with cancer, describes healing as based on the idea that healers “channel universal or divine energy” to promote self-healing.

The same source is clear that “there is no scientific evidence to prove healing can prevent or cure any disease”. It also notes that healing is generally safe and that some people find it reduces stress and helps them relax. That is the honest position. Spiritual healing can be a meaningful, calming experience. It does not replace medical care.

Healers in New Zealand come from many traditions: Christian healing ministry, Spiritualist churches, Reiki-trained healers, shamanic practitioners, and people who follow their own path. Ask a healer where their practice comes from. The answer tells you a lot about how the session will feel.

Before the session

Wear comfortable clothes. You stay dressed throughout. Bring water. If you have a health condition or take medicines, tell the healer. Healthify, the New Zealand health information site, advises people to talk with their doctor before using complementary practices. Most healers will say the same.

Think about what you want. Some people come with a clear issue. Others come feeling flat and want to be lifted. Both are fine.

The conversation

Most sessions begin with a talk of ten to twenty minutes. The healer asks what has brought you, how you are feeling, and whether there is anything they should know. This is also your chance to ask how they work and to say what you are comfortable with.

Say clearly if you do not want to be touched, or if you would rather not have prayer or particular language used. A good healer adjusts without fuss.

The healing

You will usually lie on a treatment table or sit in a chair. The room is quiet. Many healers begin with a short prayer, karakia, blessing or intention, spoken aloud or silently.

Then the healer works. Depending on their tradition this may involve:

• Hands-on. Light touch on the head, shoulders, back, hands or feet.
• Hands-off. Hands held a few centimetres above the body, moving slowly.
• Words. Prayer, affirmation, chanting or guided visualisation.
• Tools. Crystals, sound (bowls, drums, voice), smoke or water, feathers or other objects that carry meaning in the healer’s tradition.
• Talk. Some healers describe what they sense as they go. Others stay silent and talk afterwards.

Cancer Research UK says a healing session typically lasts twenty to thirty minutes. Many New Zealand healers offer longer sessions of 45 to 90 minutes that include the conversation before and after.

What you may feel

People describe warmth, coolness, tingling, pressure, heaviness, lightness, seeing colours, tears, laughter or deep sleep. Some feel nothing during the session and notice a shift later. Some feel nothing at all. None of these tells you whether the session “worked”. Feeling nothing is common and does not mean anything went wrong.

If at any point you feel unsafe, uncomfortable or want to stop, say so. You can end a session at any time.

After the session

The healer will bring the session to a close, often with a few words. You will be asked to sit up slowly and have some water. Many healers talk through what they noticed and suggest simple things such as rest, a walk, or time in nature. Some suggest another session. You do not have to decide on the day.

Give yourself an easy few hours afterwards. Some people feel tired or emotional. Others feel clear and light.

Your rights as a client

Spiritual healing is not a regulated profession. There is no register and no required qualification. But you still have rights.

New Zealand’s Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights sets out ten rights, including the right to be treated with respect, the right to be free from exploitation, the right to be fully informed, the right to make an informed choice and give informed consent, and the right to complain. The Code applies to providers of health services, and the Health and Disability Commissioner has considered complaints about complementary practitioners. Whether or not a particular healer is covered, these rights are a good standard to hold every practitioner to.

In practice that means:

• You should know the fee, length and what is involved before you begin.
• Nothing should happen to your body without your agreement.
• You should never be told to stop medical treatment.
• You should never be frightened into further sessions.

Choosing a spiritual healer

Ask where their practice comes from and how long they have practised. Ask what they do and do not claim. Ask about fees and cancellation. Then trust your instincts. A healer who is calm, clear, and comfortable with questions is usually a healer you can trust.

Browse spiritual healers in the directory, or read questions to ask before booking a healer or reader and energy healing: Reiki, pranic and other approaches compared.

This guide describes what a practice involves and what people seek from it. It is general information, not medical advice. These services do not replace care from a registered health professional. If you have a health concern, talk with your doctor or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.

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