Distant Healing & Psychotherapy

Psychic ability appears to be involved in some alternative healing and diagnostic practices. This category describes individuals who acquired international reputations as healers and summarizes reports of research on different forms of energy healing, including successful laboratory experiments under the heading of Distant Mental Influence on Living Systems (DMILS).

Apollonius of Tyana

Itinerant first-century preacher and healer reputed to have performed miracles and supernatural feats.

Arigo

Brazilian celebrated for making diagnoses, prescriptions, even surgery, while possessed by ‘spirit doctors’ in a trance state.

William Bengston

American sociologist and practitioner of ‘energy healing’ (1950–2025) who engaged in successful laboratory tests.

William Braud

American experimental parapsychologist (1942–2012), pioneer of study of distant mental influence on living systems (DMILS).

Edgar Cayce

American psychic famous for trance readings in which he diagnosed the cause of medical symptoms and prescribed effective remedies.

Christine Beauchamp

Noted case of multiple personality disorder reported by American psychologist Morton Prince in 1906.

Clinical Parapsychology

Therapeutic approach that aims to provide support for people disturbed by anomalous event experiences.

Doris Fischer

Notable early 20th century American case of dissociative identity disorder, described by Walter Franklin Prince, who helped cure her.

Harry Edwards

Celebrated British spiritual healer of the mid-20th century, who engaged in vigorous controversy with religious and medical critics.

Oskar Estebany

Twentieth-century Hungarian-Canadian psychic healer whose abilities were demonstrated in successful laboratory experiments.

Bernard Grad

Canadian biologist and cancer researcher (1920–2010) who pioneered laboratory studies of ‘laying-on-of-hands’ or spiritual healing.

Healing at a Distance (DMILS Research)

Since the 1980s, parapsychologists have studied distant mental interactions with living systems.

Induced After-Death Communication (IADC) Therapy

Therapy thought to bring relief by facilitating visions of deceased loved ones.

Hideyuki Kokubo

Japanese researcher known for work on bio-PK (non-contact healing and energy therapies such as Reiki and Johrei).

Lourdes Cures

Healing powers attributed to the shrine of Lourdes are said to have brought about cures for many debilitating diseases.

Matthew Manning

British man, the focus of poltergeist activity in his teens, later known for his metal-bending, psychic activities, and healing.

James F McHarg

Scottish psychiatrist and medical historian (1917–2003) who studied the kinds of psychic experiences reported by his patients.

TW Mitchell

TW Mitchell (1869–1944) was a medical psychologist and psychotherapist interested in multiple personality disorder.

Psi Healing Research

This article assesses the quality and outcomes of research into various forms of complementary and alternative medicine.

Psychoanalysis and Psi

Psychoanalysts have often reported instances of psi occurring between patient and practitioner.

Thomas Rabeyron

French clinical psychologist whose psi research has included the study of precognition and presentiment effects.

Marilyn Schlitz

American social anthropologist and psi researcher, studying distant intentionality, healing and special gifted populations.

Spirit Release Therapy

Clinical treatment used with patients who appear to be ‘possessed’ by harmful spirit entities.