The Subtle Power of Healing Touch

Send us Fan MailHealing often begins in the moments when someone feels safe, supported, and truly cared for. In this episode of the Love Letters 2 Our Bodies podcast, Gwendolyn Mitchell is joined by Maggie Burgett, a certified Healing Touch practitioner and longtime volunteer supporting people in cancer treatment. She is also trained as a Compassion Ambassador through the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). Drawing on years of experience volunteering at Stanford Hospital and serving on the board of Charlotte Maxwell Clinic, Maggie shares how energy-based practices can help people reconnect with their bodies and move through illness with greater calm and compassion. Together, they explore what Healing Touch is, how it works with the body’s energetic system, and why practices like Reiki, mindfulness, and Tai Chi can play an important role alongside traditional medical care. The conversation also touches on trauma stored in the body, the importance of intentional listening, compassionate presence, and why healing often begins by slowing down enough to truly pay attention to ourselves. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about energy healing, compassion, and what it means to care for the whole person.Key Points From This Episode:•    Introducing Healing Touch practitioner Maggie Burgett and her journey into energy healing.•    The origins of Stanford’s Healing Partners supportive care program.•    What Healing Touch is and how it works alongside traditional medical care.•    Exploring the similarities between Healing Touch and Reiki.•    How Healing Touch works with the body’s energetic system to support healing.•    The connection between trauma, blocked energy, and physical symptoms.•    Research on Healing Touch benefits, including its role in reducing anxiety and pain.•    What Maggie witnesses in clients during and after healing sessions.•    How Tai Chi, mindfulness, and self-compassion support healing work.•    Charlotte Maxwell Clinic’s commitment to accessible integrative cancer care.•    Reflections on the Love Letters to Our Bodies workshops.•    How compassion training deepened Maggie’s healing and listening practices.•    Maggie’s heartfelt love letter to her own body.Quotes:“In basic terms, healing touch is a relaxing, nurturing energy therapy. It uses gentle touch to assist in balancing the client's physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.” — Maggie Burgett [0:10:47]“Healing touch works with your energy field to support your natural ability to heal. It's safe for all ages and works in harmony with standard medical care.” — Maggie Burgett [0:11:17]“The body is a beautiful machine, and if we get out of the way and let it do what it knows how to do, then there's a better chance that it can heal itself.” — Maggie Burgett [0:22:21]“Healing touch sessions provide healing for the practitioner, as well.” — Maggie Burgett [0:29:39]“Everybody should have access to integrative care because it complements standard medical care and is part of the whole healing of the body.” — Maggie Burgett [0:34:38]“Thank you, dear body, for your strength and resilience, for making me pay attention to you, and setting me straight when I wander.” — Maggie Burgett [0:42:30]Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Maggie BurgettMaggie Burgett on LinkedInHealing Beyond BordersSan Francisco Bay Area Healing Touch CommunityStanford Medicine: Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE)Charlotte Maxwell Clinic: Integrative Cancer CareGwendolyn Mitchell on LinkedInLove Letters 2 Our Bodies is sponsored by Moyo Institute, Inc and the Lloyd Symington FoundationGwendolyn Mitchell on LinkedInMOYO Institute, Incinstagram.com/moyoinstitute