In a typical faith healing session, a minister, elder or healer talks with you about your concerns and your faith, then prays with you, sometimes laying hands gently on your head or shoulders with your consent or anointing you with oil, and ends with a blessing. The details depend on the tradition and the setting. This article walks through a first visit so you know what to expect from faith healing.

Before you book

Start with your own tradition. Many people find a healing service or prayer ministry through their church, mosque, synagogue or temple, and some faith leaders will visit you at home or in hospital. Independent practitioners also offer sessions, so it is worth asking what tradition they work within and who they are accountable to.

Ask what a session involves, whether it includes touch or anointing, how long it usually lasts and whether there is any fee or suggested donation. Tell them about any health conditions, injuries or areas you do not want touched, and whether you would prefer a private session or a group service. A trustworthy practitioner will welcome your medical care rather than question it.

When you arrive

Sessions take place in many settings: a quiet room in a place of worship, a home, a hospital bedside or a larger healing service with music and many people. In a private session you will usually be welcomed and invited to sit somewhere calm, and there is often time to settle before anything begins.

The practitioner will usually ask what brought you, what you are hoping for and something about your faith background. This is a conversation, not a medical intake, and you can share as much or as little as you like. It is a good moment to say if you would prefer no touch, if you have a medical condition they should know about, or if you are not sure what to do during prayer. You do not need to know any special words.

During the session

Most sessions follow a similar shape, though the order and style vary between traditions. Here is what often happens in a private Christian-style session, one common format among practitioners who offer individual appointments. Your practitioner may explain each step before it begins:

  • •Opening prayer. The practitioner prays aloud, asking for God's presence and naming your concerns. You may be invited to pray too, or simply to listen.
  • •Reading. They may read a short passage of scripture or another sacred text that speaks to your situation.
  • •Laying on of hands. With your consent, they may rest their hands lightly on your head, shoulders or hands while praying. There is no pressure or manipulation, and you stay fully clothed.
  • •Anointing. Some practitioners anoint your forehead or hands with a small amount of blessed oil as a sign of blessing.
  • •Closing blessing. The session usually ends with a prayer of thanks and a blessing, followed by a moment of quiet.

In other traditions the pattern differs. In Muslim ruqyah, for example, the reciter reads verses of the Quran and prayers over you, and in a Jewish setting a rabbi or community may say prayers for healing by name. Large healing services can be louder and more emotional, with singing and people coming forward for prayer. Whatever the setting, you can always step back, sit down, ask questions or decline any part of a session, and a respectful practitioner will not mind.

What you might notice

People describe a wide range of experiences. Many feel calm, comforted or relieved to have shared a burden. Some notice warmth where hands are placed, tears, or a strong sense of peace or presence. Others feel little in the moment, and that is common too. None of these feelings is a sign that a session has or has not worked.

It is important to keep expectations honest. Trials of prayer for the sick have not shown that it changes physical health outcomes, and a sense of relief after a session does not mean an illness has gone. If a symptom seems better, keep following your medical plan and check with your clinician before changing anything. If you feel disappointed or blamed when healing does not come, that is worth talking through with a trusted faith leader or counselor.

Afterward

Most people simply go home after a short pause. The practitioner may suggest a prayer, a scripture passage or a reflection to return to during the week, and may invite you back or to a regular service. Some people like to rest, journal or spend quiet time afterward, especially if the session felt emotional.

Carry on with all your usual medical care, including medicines and appointments. Faith healing is meant to sit beside your treatment, and you can also explore prayer as a daily practice of your own.

Length, frequency and cost

Length varies with the setting. A prayer at a bedside may take a few minutes, a private session is often longer, and a healing service can last as long as a full worship service. Ask the practitioner how long they expect to spend so you can plan.

There is no standard number of sessions. Some people seek prayer once at a hard moment, while others make it a regular part of their faith life. Cost varies widely too. Many congregations offer prayer for healing freely, some ask for a donation, and independent practitioners may charge a fee, so ask up front. Be wary of large fees or pressure to pay for healing.

Questions to ask and when to check with your doctor first

Useful questions include: What tradition do you work within? Does the session involve touch or oil? Is there a fee? Will you support me continuing my medical treatment? A promise of recovery, or advice to stop medicines, is a reason to walk away.

Talk with your doctor first if you have a serious or unstable condition, and never delay care for new or worsening symptoms. Seek urgent help for chest pain, breathing problems or thoughts of self-harm. You can find more context on the faith healing modality page or browse the Gyfts directory.