Recently, I was facilitating a circle when a disclaimer was shared at the beginning of the event.
It was the type many people have heard before:
“This is not a therapy session. If something comes up for you, please seek support from a licensed therapist.”
“This is not a therapy session. If something comes up for you, please seek support from a licensed therapist.”
On the surface, this is a completely reasonable statement. Many facilitators say it to maintain clear boundaries and to protect participants.
But in that moment, I felt something I didn’t expect.
My feelings were hurt.
Not because therapy isn’t valuable. I deeply respect the work therapists do and believe therapy is an important support for many people.
What caught me off guard was the underlying implication that if something emotional or traumatic arose during our circle, I would somehow be unprepared to hold it.
And that simply isn’t true.
We are not creating a space that bypasses therapy, we are creating a space where we can be heard and seen and share, while being honored and honoring others.
The Reality of Holding Healing Spaces
For more than 25 years, I have worked with people through emotional and energetic healing processes.
Over the years, I have trained extensively in modalities that support trauma-informed healing through:
- energy work
- somatic awareness
- nervous system regulation
- sound and frequency healing
- intuitive and spiritual guidance
I have spent years studying how trauma lives in the body, how emotional responses surface during healing work, and how to support people safely when those responses arise.
Because when people enter authentic healing spaces, emotions will surface. That is not a failure of the container.
That is often the work itself.
Tears may come.
Memories may surface.
The body may release stored tension.
Memories may surface.
The body may release stored tension.
A skilled facilitator knows how to support those moments with grounding, regulation, and compassionate presence.
That is something I have dedicated much of my life to learning.
Therapy and Spiritual Healing Are Not the Same — But Both Matter
One of the challenges in today’s wellness landscape is that many people assume only one form of support is valid.
Therapy works primarily through cognitive processing, behavioral insight, and clinical frameworks.
Spiritual healing and energy work often work through different pathways: the body, breath, energy, emotional release, and the nervous system.
Both approaches can be valuable.
Neither one replaces the other.
A spiritual circle is not a therapy office, but that does not mean it is an unsafe or unskilled space. In fact, many spiritual facilitators spend years developing trauma-informed approaches to ensure participants feel supported if emotional responses arise.
The difference is that our work happens in a different container.
For example, you can go to a therapy appointment AND also get guidance from your church pastor. I have been through years ministry schooling and am a local minister.
Holding Space Is a Skill
Holding space is not simply sitting in a room and hoping people feel better.
It involves:
- recognizing nervous system activation
- guiding people back into regulation
- helping participants stay present in their bodies
- knowing when to gently redirect someone toward deeper professional support if needed
It requires emotional maturity, training, and experience.
And those are things I have intentionally cultivated throughout my career.
The Intention Behind the Disclaimer
To be fair, I understand why disclaimers exist.
They are often about liability, safety, and ensuring participants know the type of space they are entering.
But moments like this also highlight a larger conversation happening in the healing world right now.
There is a growing need to recognize that healing happens in many forms.
Therapy.
Somatic work.
Energy healing.
Spiritual guidance.
Community circles.
Somatic work.
Energy healing.
Spiritual guidance.
Community circles.
Each offers something unique.
That moment reminded me that even those of us who hold space for others are still human.
We still have hearts.
We still care deeply about the work we do.
And sometimes we want that work to be recognized for the depth and dedication behind it.
We still care deeply about the work we do.
And sometimes we want that work to be recognized for the depth and dedication behind it.
I have spent decades learning how to support people when emotions rise, when trauma responses appear, and when healing becomes vulnerable.
Being a spiritual guide is not something I take lightly.
It is a role built through experience, training, and years of sitting with people in some of their most honest moments.
Moving Forward
Rather than sitting in that hurt feeling, I’m choosing to see it as an invitation.
An invitation to continue educating people about the difference between therapy and spiritual healing spaces.
An invitation to speak more openly about the training and experience many facilitators bring into their work.
And an invitation to remind people that healing is rarely confined to just one path.
There are many ways we find our way back to ourselves.
Sometimes through therapy.
Sometimes through spiritual practice.
Sometimes through circles where we are simply witnessed and supported.
All of those paths deserve respect.
And when held responsibly, they can complement each other in powerful ways.
