Friends Life Care is a Quaker values-based nonprofit committed to supporting older adults in their aging-in-place journey.  We embrace prevention and holistic wellness to help our members in vibrant aging.

Meet a Member

And so we are happy to introduce Friends Life Care member Judy Stoddard, RN, BS ED, CHTP in this blog post.  She is a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner with over sixty years of nursing experience. Judy’s journey in healthcare reflects her deep commitment to integrative medical practices, which she has followed throughout her extensive career.

A Lifelong Commitment to Healing

Judy has dedicated her career to helping and healing others. After earning her nursing degree, she taught student nurses at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and conducted childbirth preparation classes at the former Wilmington General Hospital. Her roles have included work with the Delaware League for Planned Parenthood and as a College Health Nurse at both Widener University and Delaware Technical Community College, where she also earned certification in College Health Nursing. In addition, She was Patient Services Manager for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Delaware Chapter.

Judy’s passion for holistic health led her to explore Healing Touch, a centuries-old energy therapy that aligns well with her nursing philosophy. She began a small practice in her home in 2006 and became a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner in 2008 after completing a five-level course. Holistic modalaties support the whole person physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

What is Healing Touch?

Healing Touch involves practitioners using their hands intentionally to support and balance the body’s energy field which includes chakras (Sandskrit for spinning wheel) and auras. This non-invasive therapy reduces pain, alleviates anxiety, and promotes relaxation, making it an ideal complement to traditional medical treatments. Healing Touch can help manage side effects of therapies like radiation and chemotherapy and support recovery before and after surgery.

During sessions, clients remain fully clothed, either lying down or seated, creating a comfortable and safe space. The essence of “healing” in this context refers to being made whole, distinct from the idea of cure. Judy’s sessions are confidential, adhering to the highest standards of ethics and practice in nursing and Healing Touch.

You can learn more about Healing Touch through these organizations and studies:

www.healingbeyondborders.org

How can healing touch help you? What the research says – CancerChoices

The Use of Healing Touch in Integrative Oncology – PMC

 Continuing the Journey – Publishing a New Book

Judy’s dedication to her personal and professional growth is evident in her ongoing educational pursuits. She actively meditates, leads a women’s online meditation group, journals, and participates in webinars and workshops on energy healing and health.

Her commitment to staying updated on the latest developments in energy medicine enriches her practice and benefits her clients. In addition to her hands-on work, Judy has shared her insights through published essays in Healing Beyond Borders’ Perspectives in Healing e-newsletter and contributed to the Healing Touch Guidebook.

Her new book, Finding Peace: Meditations and Stories for Insight and Balance, is available on Amazon and serves as a testament to her philosophy of holistic care.

Friends Life Care appreciates how amazing our members are and is grateful to Judy for allowing us to share her accomplishments.  She is definitely someone who is on a journey of vibrant aging herself while also helping others with holistic well-being.

 

Judy Stoddard, RN, BS ED, CHTP

Judy may be contacted via her email: JLStod@aol.com.