The Therapeutic Process in Spiritual Healing: Qualitative Results of a Prospective Case Series.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic process between contemporary spiritual healers and their clients in Germany. METHODS: This prospective observational case study was supported by questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with clients and healers from the first encounter through a period of 6 months. The qualitative analysis is based on a directed content analysis with focus in this article on the results relating to the therapeutic process. RESULTS: Seven healers and seven clients were included, and 22 interviews with healers and 20 interviews with clients were conducted. The first treatment session was perceived as laying a foundation for the therapeutic process and the relationship, which was seen as crucial for healing to take place. Healers perceived the therapeutic process as highly individualized and multi-layered, with the perceived effects of spiritual healing sessions layered upon each other. The capacities to connect and to trust were seen as key elements of the healing process. Trust and connection operate multidimensionally: to oneself, to others, and to a transcendent or spiritual source. Clients' spiritual attitudes were regarded as fundamental resources. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic process between spiritual healers and their clients was understood as a dynamic and individual activity, building up on a trustful relationship from the first encounter.

Perceived Outcomes of Spiritual Healing: Results from a Prospective Case Series.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this pilot study were to observe perceived outcomes of spiritual healing in Germany. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective case study, we performed qualitative interviews with clients and healers about perceived outcomes of spiritual healing treatments. A directed qualitative content analysis was used. In addition, we applied questionnaires (WHOQOL-BREF, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Sense of Coherence 13, SpREUK-15, intensity of complaints on visual analogue scale) at baseline and after week 1, month 2 and month 6 which were analysed descriptively. RESULTS: Seven healers and 7 clients participated, 42 interviews were analysed. In the interviews, the clients described positive body sensations, greater relaxation and well-being as short-term effects of healing treatments. Perceived longer-term effects were related to making significant life changes, creating new meanings, activating resources and improving social relationships. Patients in pain described a reduction of pain intensity. In the questionnaires, the clients reported improvements in quality of life and self-efficacy, to a smaller extent improvements of intensity of complaints and sense of coherence. CONCLUSION: The results from this pilot study could be useful to choose outcomes of future prospective studies with a larger sample: qualitative assessments combined with global and broad quantitative outcomes such as quality of life, self-efficacy and intensity of complaints could be applied.

Biographical similarities between spiritual healers and their clients in Germany - a qualitative study.

Spiritual healers in contemporary Germany comprise a heterogeneous and growing group, yet little data exists about them. Therefore, one aim of this study was to learn about which biographical aspects and events were important to the process of becoming a healer and which biographical aspects drove clients to consult a healer. The study was based on semi-structured interviews combined with participant observations. All data were recorded digitally, transcribed, entered into the software program MAXQDA and analysed subjected to Content Analysis. In total, 15 healers (nine male, six female) and 16 clients (13 female, three male) were included. According to the healers, a talent for healing can be inborn, inherited or developed through life experiences. Most of the healers experienced a crisis, which prompted their transformation to healers (the wounded healer type). A smaller group became healers mainly out of interest without going through crisis and by focusing on the spiritual attitude itself (the healer by interest type). The basis of healing is seen as a connection to a transcendent reality, which enables an open, loving and empathetic attitude. The experience of crises and illnesses and the importance of spirituality are major biographical similarities between healers and clients. Near-death experiences as an extreme form of crisis were reported from a few healers and clients. The connections between healing talents and crises, including a deepened exploration of near-death experiences and questions regarding inclining towards spirituality could be of interest in further studies.

Perceived outcomes of spiritual healing and explanations--a qualitative study on the perspectives of German healers and their clients.

BACKGROUND: Limited research has been conducted on contemporary spiritual healing in European countries. The aim of this article is to report how German healers and their clients experienced and perceived the outcomes of spiritual healing and which explanations they use to describe the perceived effects. METHODS: Semistructured interviews and participatory observation was used to collect data from spiritual healers and their clients. Analyses were based on the methodological concept of directed qualitative content analysis. Data was analyzed using MAXQDA software, discussed and reviewed by a multidisciplinary research team consisting of medical anthropologists, medical doctors and a religious studies scholar. RESULTS: In total 15 healers and 16 clients participated in this study, 24 interviews with healers, 20 interviews with clients and 8 participatory observations were analyzed. Healers and clients reported outcomes as positively perceived body sensations, increased well-being, positive emotions and symptomatic relief of medical complaints. Clients often described changes in their self-concepts and adapted life values. Explanations for perceived effects included connecting with transcendent sources, construction of meaning, as a result of the client-healer relationship, and as empowerment to make changes. Because the interviewed clients were recruited by the healers, a selection bias towards positive healing experiences is possible. CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that concepts of meaning construction, resource activation and the utilization of the clients' expectations help to explain the data. Grounded in the emic perspective, we propose to use the following outcomes for further prospective studies: positive body sensations, changes of self-concepts and values, changes of medical symptoms and complaints. From the etic perspective, physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing, sense of coherence, meaningfulness of life, empowerment, resource activation, change and symptom control should be further explored as potential outcomes.