From a young age, Jill Felts has possessed a unique talent for seeing potential in everything and everyone, whether it’s a stray dog, a new kid at school, or neglected properties. Her true passion lies in helping people of all ages discover their untapped potential and witnessing their healing journeys.
Jill’s path to health coaching and energy medicine began in 2008 when her bustling life, filled with workouts, charity walks, board memberships, and a thriving jewelry business, came to a sudden halt. Her body, in excruciating pain, was initially diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, but she now recognizes it as a plea to “STOP.”
Life’s curveballs can knock us out of harmony, and Jill knows this all too well. However, she emerged from her own adversity stronger and committed to guiding others on their paths to healing.
Find out more about this extraordinary woman in the latest MysticMag interview.
Can you explain your approach to Healing Touch and EFT (tapping) and how you integrate these techniques into your coaching practice?
I’ll reverse this question by saying that I integrate coaching into my energy-healing practice. As a certified Healing Touch and EFT practitioner, it is impossible not to move into coaching on the outtake of a session. We are physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual beings that cannot be separated, “cleaned up,” and put back together, so everything I do is holistic. My initial training was as a certified Transformational Coach and Health Coach, but as people came to me with health issues, I always felt an emotional component and energy blockages so I knew that energy modalities needed to be added. My coaching background enhances my practice because I can help clients see new perspectives or encourage next steps. I believe each individual holds within them the power of self-healing and the power of choice.
What led you to specialize in Healing Touch and EFT? How do you believe these techniques uniquely contribute to the health and well-being of your clients?
I’ve always palpably sensed energy, so when I learned I could put this to use to help my coaching clients physically heal or help someone through a difficult emotional time, I knew I wanted to learn all that I could. When it comes to energy healing, many people are more familiar with Reiki than Healing Touch. It’s hard to tell the difference in a session. Why I chose Healing Touch is that over 30 healing techniques and sequences are taught and practiced. The curriculum is standardized with a portfolio review and board-certified exam at the end of 108 hours with clients. Because of the stringent training, Healing Touch is accredited by the American Nurses Credential Center and endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Association. This accreditation allows us to bring energy healing into hospitals and more traditional medical settings.
I was trained as a clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) practitioner, so I will use this when we are talking through a difficult narrative. I love to teach my clients EFT as a therapeutic self-help method when they are on their own. Both Healing Touch and EFT calm the nervous system so that our body, mind, and spirit can release tension and the frozen or blocked energy often created by trauma or layers of limiting beliefs.
Both Healing Touch and EFT are evidence-based energy psychology methods with 100s of studies demonstrating their efficacy so the benefits are well documented. The really cool thing is that energy has no bounds. While I love to work in person with my clients, many of my clients are long-distance (literally all over the world). Research articles and links can be found on my website – coachjillfelts.com – if a reader wants a deeper dive into Healing Touch and EFT.
Could you share a case where you successfully helped a client using Healing Touch and EFT? What were the challenges and outcomes of this particular case?
There are so many, but I think one of my favorite outcomes with Healing Touch was working with a client in Minnesota (I’m in Georgia). Remember Einstein taught us distance doesn’t matter. We had been working together for several weeks to help her recover faster from bilateral foot surgery. (She was walking 4 miles in 6 weeks when her doctor said it would take 6 months.) But during one particular session, she mentioned that she had chronic constipation. Knowing that almost everything we experience has a physiological and psychological connection, I asked her how long this had been going on. She answered: her whole life, but since her recent vacation, she had not had a proper bowel movement for over two weeks. I decided that that was what we needed to work on energetically for the session. She felt a huge emotional release after the session. But, the wonderful news came in a text a few hours later. She wanted me to know that she was blown away because she had a normal bowel movement. Then the next day another text came in: “Oh, my God! I can not believe the results from my Healing Touch session yesterday concerning how ‘blocked up’ I have been [18 poop emojis]. Seriously!! It’s like the colon cleanse for a colonoscopy!!”, and that isn’t all that got unblocked! Among other things, she had labored for over a year whether to give notice and finally retire from nursing. Soon after that session, she gave her notice and was looking forward to retirement.
How do you tailor your coaching approach to meet the individual needs and goals of your clients? Can you give an example of how you’ve customized your techniques for different clients?
Everything I do is intuitively customized. Each client is unique, so each session is unique. Each session is curated specifically for that client at that time. As an energy practitioner, it is imperative to intuitively listen to a client. Sometimes there is much deeper meaning to what they are saying as in the example of my Minnesota client. Without going into all the details of our many sessions, there was a lot “blocked up” emotionally and mentally, and it was showing up physically. I have lots of testimonies on my website that express gratitude from a client who may have come in for one thing and when we finish a series of sessions, a lot more may have been harmonized, balanced, and/or cleared than they expected.
But if you need specifics, I have a few clients who physically can’t tap on acupressure points with EFT due to fatigue. That’s okay. I have them lay on the table and I tap on them as we talk. We can always find a way that works for the highest good.
What ethical considerations do you take into account when practicing Healing Touch and EFT with clients? How do you ensure your client’s safety and well-being throughout the coaching process?
To maintain my credentials, it is mandated that I abide by the HTPA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, and carry liability insurance. I use a signed Consent form that explains Healing Touch and EFT and this includes the disclaimer that I make no claims to diagnose, treat, prevent, mitigate, or cure diseases, etc. I always ask permission to touch. If I am working with a client in person, during the first intake I will demonstrate the gentle touch they will experience during the session by gently touching their knee. And always, a “Session in Process” sign is placed outside my door so there are no interruptions. If it is a distance session, I use Zoom and stay on camera. We both agree to silence our phones so as not to be disturbed.
Can you describe your ongoing professional development efforts and how you stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in Healing Touch and EFT?
Ongoing practitioner development is supported by the Healing Touch Professional Association. We need to recertify every 5 years by submitting 75 CEUs and providing proof of 35 hours of energy-based education, so learning is always ongoing. I participate monthly in a Practitioner Development Program in which several seasoned practitioners will discuss specific techniques for specific issues such as working with fibromyalgia, fertility, arthritis, anxiety, etc., etc. I am also involved in the leadership of the Atlanta Healing Touch Networking group. I love to attend the Annual Energy Psychology Conference in which we receive CEUs and learn a variety of energy psychology techniques. As a lifelong learner, ongoing professional development is one of my favorite parts of my profession.
