Cynthia Backer, MAT, MIH, RN, passionate wellness educator and energy healer, has worked in healthcare and classrooms for 41 years. She currently works for PeaceHealth as a Nursing Professional Development Specialist with Home Health in Oregon, Washington and Alaska. Cynthia speaks nationally, is a current author, and teaches a variety of classes that include wellness strategies and art. She has assisted numerous children and adults in improving their well-being and she makes it her goal to inspire more each day. Cynthia has been active with the American Holistic Nurses Association for 14 years, serving as the Oregon Chapter lead for two years and is a board member for the Portland Chapter of the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine. Her certifications include AHNCC holistic nurse/nurse coach (HWNC-BC), National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching coach (NBC-HWC) and Healing Touch Practitioner (CHTP). She is also a Reiki Master and an art quilter. 

Mistye has devoted her life to teaching others how to master the art of self care.

Education -

- Certified Healing Touch Practitioner

- Certified Touch for Health Practitioner

- Certified Nutritional Consultant

- Licensed Florida Esthetician 

- NSP - Advanced Aromatherapy

- Bio-Meridian Advanced Practitioner

- Apex Energetics - Functional Endocrinology - 40 hours

- Apex Energetics - Functionl Blood Chemistry - 20 hours

- Apex Energetics - Meta-Markers -20 hours

- Degreed Interior Designer 

Find me on LinkedIn

Cynthia (Cyndi) Bertha,CHTP, BCTMB is a sole proprietor practitioner at Journey to Wellness in Wichita, Ks.  She became a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner in 2009.  She is Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork since 2005.  Her community service includes teaching Infant Massage classes at the early Childhood Center in Maize, Ks and using her Healing Touch skills as a volunteer at Harry Hynes Hospice unit at St. Francis Hospital.  She is currently working on her certification to become a Level One Instructor of Healing Touch.  

She is married to Rick, with five sons, 7 grandchildren and 2 fur babies.  Together they are active in Bikers Against Child Abuse and St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church.

I am a mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, student of life and much more.  I enjoy practicing yoga, walking in nature and feeling my feet in the sand.  I am continuously amazed by the power of being present and facilitating the Healing Touch process for people. I especially value working with LGBTQ identifying individuals and their allies. 

Joel G. Anderson, PhD, CHTP, FGSA, (he/they) is a Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (UTK). He holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Nutrition from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNCG), a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, a certificate in Advanced Clinical Dementia Practice from the University of Michigan, and a certificate in Inclusive Teaching from UTK. Joel completed an NIH-funded postdoctoral research fellowship in the conduct of clinical research at the Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies at the University of Virginia (UVA). He is an Honorary Associate Professor at the Centre for Age-Related Medicine in Stavanger, Norway.

Joel’s research program focuses on supporting caregivers of people living with dementia. This focus includes exploration of the psychosocial impacts of caregiving to develop strategies to alleviate caregiver strain and improve quality of life. He currently leads several studies to examine quality of life in dementia caregiving, including the use of digital health resources and the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ caregivers and older adults. Joel has received funding from the National Institute on Aging, the Pat Summitt Foundation, the Kavli Foundation, and the British Academy. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed articles in numerous academic journals, including The Gerontologist, the Journal of Aging and Health, and Brain Research. Joel is a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Family Nursing and Research in Gerontological Nursing. He chairs the Gerontology Research and Scholarship Group and is a member of the Scholars Collective on Mortality at the Denbo Center for Humanities and the Arts at UTK.

Joel is an elected fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. In 2021, he received the Innovative Contribution to Family Nursing Award from the International Family Nursing Association and in 2020 received the UTK College of Nursing Allison and Patrick Harrison Nursing Innovation Award. He is co-convener of the International Dementia Scholars Collaborative and co-chairs the Communications Committee of the International Family Nursing Association. He has served as a peer reviewer for the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, the Dementia Australia Research Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, and the Singapore Ministry of Health. He is past president and a member of the Board of Directors of Healing Beyond Borders, an international integrative health organization. Joel currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Carolina Aging Alliance, the Advisory Committee for the Aging Rainbow Coalition, and the Caregiver Educators Coalition for Senior Services of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. 

For over two decades, Joel has been actively involved in efforts to support multicultural diversity, equity, and inclusion. He was a founding member of the Gay-Straight Alliance at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and a member of the Inclusive Community Initiative Task Force of the Faculty Senate at UNCG. While at UVA, Joel was a member of the School of Nursing Diversity Committee and the UVA Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Planning Committee. In 2016, Joel received the UVA Health System Martin Luther King, Jr. Award in recognition of his work related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Joel served as a member of the UTK Faculty Senate from 2018 to 2021, including co-chairing the Faculty Senate Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He previously served on the UTK Scholarship Diversity Analysis Committee, the UTK Taskforce on Naming, the UTK Strategic Visioning Executive Committee, the College of Nursing Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council, and as co-chair of the UTK Chancellor’s Commission for LGBTQ People. In 2023, Joel received the UTK LGBTQ Advocate Award in recognition of his contributions in promoting an inclusive campus environment. Dedicated to inclusive teaching, Joel has received the 2022 Open Education Resource Trailblazer Award from the UTK University Libraries and Student Government Association and the Outstanding PhD Faculty Award from the UTK College of Nursing in 2020 and 2023.

Certified with both humans and animals.

“Marty” Margaret Downey, MS, Ph.D., RN, AHN-BC, CHTP/I has a spiritual, heart centered passion for holistic nursing, health and Healing Touch. A former critical care nurse and Emeritus Associate Professor/Adjunct faculty at Boise State University School of Nursing, she has taught nursing for 28 years, integrating Holistic Nursing & Complementary therapies. Marty is a certified Advanced-Holistic Nurse (AHN-BC), Certified Healing Touch Practitioner Instructor (CHTP/I). Teaching Holistic Nursing, stress management, guided imagery, with elements of Holistic Health Coaching. She is a nurse mentor at St. Luke’s Health System Research Fellowship Center for Nursing Excellence- supporting research on Healing Touch, guided imagery, aromatherapy and reflexology. And, faculty for the American Holistic Nurses' Association Integrative Healing Arts Program (AHNA-IHAP) certificate course in Holistic Nursing, She has a private Healing Touch practice and is deeply dedicated to Healing Touch service.

As a RN for many years, I had the wonderful opportunity to care for patients with a wide variety of illnesses. My traditional medical clinical experience was extensive.

Since fulfilling my heart’s desire by becoming a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner, I am delighted to be able to support, promote and provide Healing Touch sessions, not in order to replace traditional medical treatment, but to expand my clients’ opportunity for healing with the additional use of Healing Touch therapy.

My healing touch therapy style is soothing, gentle and caring.  I offer sessions in my home in Highlands Ranch, CO which has a nurturing environment with a lovely view of the mountains and open space. I am available for appointments Monday to Saturday. I also accept certain appointments on location.

My BA and MA degrees are in Counseling Psychology.  I completed my Healing Touch courses in San Diego, CA and Tampa, FL. My RN licenses are with Colorado and Florida.

As a LifeSpark Cancer Resources Volunteer, I provide Healing Touch sessions for participants that have been diagnosed with cancer. The sessions are held at LifeSpark Cancer Resources’ designated locations.

Memberships:
Healing Beyond Borders
American Holistic Nurses Association
American Nurses Association
Sigma Theta Tau, International Honorary Society

Renee is an Indigenous Healing Practitioner who has worked in healthcare for over 38 years. Her healing work carries a Native American influence having lineage in the Ojibwe snake clan, the clan of healing & medicine. She has a special interest and shares a deep connection with those who have experienced trauma, and has additional training; specific to helping others move out of trauma and into resilience. Renee uses Healing Touch & other holistic healing modalities, along with the insight & clarity of clairvoyance, to help bring awareness & healing to the 'root cause' of illness, and cultivate wellness & harmony to the full body, the body, mind & spirit. Renee has proven to be a powerful healer, assisted thousands in restoring what she says is innately theirs, their health, healing & happiness!

Additional Certifications:

Reiki Master Teacher 

Myofascial Release Practitioner -John Barnes Approach

Certified Hands on Healer 

Certified Aromatherapist

Certified Sexual Assaullt Advocate

STAR Certified- Strategies for Trauma & Resilience 

Beyond Historical Trauma 

Circle Keeper

Professional Memberships:

Healing Beyond Borders

The Reiki Membership Association 

Follow on Facebook @Shehealsnoojimo 

I have been fascinated by energy since I was a young child and I intuitively used it on our pets!

As a midwife for the last 35 years, I have used energy work as part of my practice for pain relief and general health of the moms I work with, as well as with my own family.
I took classes and workshops in multiple healing modalities and worked with an energy healer assisting him for 5 years.
I decided I wanted to have a certification that would mean something to the medical community since I was interested in working with chronic illness and Hospice care.  I found Healing Touch to be a perfect fit. 

I love people and I want to help them reach their goals to be healthy.
I enjoy working with all ages-- from babies to elders; healing work is my passion!

Laura is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner. She enjoys her profession because it not only lets her be heart centered and authentic, but it allows space for her clients to be the same; this is a place where healing can truly begin.

Laura was born and raised in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) area and enjoys animals, nature and activities such as hiking, sailing, kayaking, art, various sports and laughing. She volunteers doing Healing Touch at Woodwinds Hospital and is a committee facilitator for a group called Woodbury THRIVES, a citizens initiative to improve the well-being of the people who live, work and play in the city of Woodbury, MN. 

Laura received her graduate education from the University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality and Healing and Healing Touch Certification training through Healing Beyond Boarders.

After the tragic loss of my son in January 2014, my passion for energy work was ignited. Through loss and grief, I have come out on the other side and experienced incredible personal and spiritual growth. I live in Greensboro, North Carolina and am a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner as well as Certified in Reiki and Foot Reflexology.  I am dedicated to my practice and believe with all my heart that doing this work is where I was always meant to be.

I discovered Healing Touch in 2007 through a class at the University of Michigan and managed a Healing Touch clinic in Ann Arbor for 2 years, then became certified in 2013.

I've been an RN for 28 years and work at Mott Children's Hopsital with the Congenital Heart Children as the Pre-Surgery Nurse Coordinator.   I just recently joined the Back and Pain Center at Burlington Buidling as part of the Michigan Medicine Non-Pharmacological Pain Management Program as their Certified Healing Touch Practitioner.

I'm also a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and incorporate what I've learned about energy and the body into my practice and use breathwork, meditation and yoga as part of my offerings to my patients as stand alone sessions or as part of their own self-care plan.  

Healing Touch started me on a life long journey of healing and self-awareness that has been rewarding for myself and sets an example for my 3 children to help others and to help themselves.   I have experienced many non-pharmacological stratagies for my own personal health and healing and can offer this knowledge to my patients who are seeking alternative methods for pain and anxiety management as well as overall health and wellness benefits. 

I'm forever grateful for discovering Healing Touch and the impact it has had on everyone it touches.