How to Set Boundaries When Friends and Family Ask for Free Sessions

Do you remember how you started your energy medicine practice? Did you approach it systematically, gradually transitioning from a traditional 9–5 job or did you jump into the field, committed to “all or nothing?”

No matter how you got your start, there is one action that you likely did take. You first worked with your family members and friends. Does this sound like you? It makes a lot of sense. You have a gift that you share with people closest to you then at their encouragement or your inspiration, you decide to dedicate your professional life to your gift as a healer.

This is where things get a little complicated.

There comes a time when as a professional practitioner, you cannot give your services free of charge as you did when first starting out. You have professionally and emotionally moved past the fledgling stage and graduated to a money-making enterprise.

Now it’s time for everyone around you to catch up and recognize you for the professional healer you are. The hallmark of a business is payment for services and your loved ones need to acknowledge this.

To be fair, you cannot expect family or friends to know that the personal/professional dynamic has changed, and boundaries need to be set. You need to announce it in some way!

In this blog, we’ll walk through how to set those boundaries clearly (without guilt) so your personal and professional relationships both feel respected.

What Do You Really Need?

Before you sit down to have that important conversation with your loved ones, it’s essential to take a step back and get clear on what you want to say – and why. Boundaries only work when you understand them first.

Take time to think through where you want to draw the line. Try to approach this process in an organized way that is possible for you.

Perhaps you might want to think back to interactions that you first tolerated but now want to eliminate and constrain. Can these behaviors be identified by category? Such as, are there physical, emotional, financial and time restrictions you want to put into place with your family and friends?

Keep in mind that when you’re ready to discuss boundaries with your close circle, don’t assume that anyone was trying to take advantage of you. In fact, many loved ones don’t realize that they are taking advantage of you. Put yourself in their shoes. Try to understand other people’s motivations for asking for your help. When you understand their why, it will help when you have your conversation about setting boundaries.

Boundaries are essential with friends and family, but those closest to you can also be a powerful source of testimonials! If you found this article helpful, you might also enjoy: Want Better Testimonials? Tips, Tools, and Best Practices.

How Do You Start Setting Boundaries with the People Closest to You?

As you think about the boundaries that you wish to establish, you might want to consider applying a methodical process that includes:

• Define: Be specific in identifying the boundaries that you want to establish. Explaining the boundaries that you want to set puts you back in charge. By doing this, you are more likely to get the respect and response that you seek.
  
  
• Communicate: Convey what behavior/s you want changed. Include these behavioral guidelines on your website so you have the information laid out clearly. As well, you might want to create a handout, especially for new clients and family, that identifies which behaviors you will and won’t accept. By having documentation, you can easily refer back to the guidelines if anyone transgresses.
  
  
• Simplify: Lay out your boundaries so they are easily understood. Don’t elaborate. Establishing clear cut instructions helps to minimize misunderstanding with both clients and loved ones. It leaves emotions out of the picture.
  
  
• Set Consequences: Explain why it’s important. Putting your requests in a perspective people can relate to helps them to learn the motivation behind your request and helps them to remember.

While the personal reasons for establishing boundaries are clear to you, you might be asking yourself “why is it important for business purposes?” The reply to this is also clear: liability protection.

Relationships are fragile and not as clear cut as business. Establishing boundaries moves family and friends from the personal into the business realm and simplifies how you manage them. Plus, people close to you most likely either don’t understand nor know much about the way energy medicine works.

Therefore, you need to educate them a little. So, to protect yourself and your practice, you want to apply the same protocols and procedures that are essential for sound liability management – even with loved ones.

What Paperwork Should Friends and Family Complete Before a Session?

Have family and friends complete the same paperwork you ask from all new clients. Doing this doesn’t just protect you, it also helps loved ones to learn more about your practice and scope of work that you perform. It will also help in enforcing your boundaries.

Requiring documentation from family shifts the relationship into a business mode with the implications that come with it. You should already be familiar with the paperwork and the same forms should be given to friends and family. This includes:

• Client Agreement: This should outline the services you’re offering, including a description of your modalities and what a typical session entails.
• Your Scope of Practice: Be clear about what you do and don’t do, especially if you use intuitive or energy-based work that may be misunderstood.
• Education and Experience: A brief summary of your training helps set expectations and reinforces your credibility.
• Payment and Cancellation Policies: Make sure these are clearly outlined and agreed to in advance.
• Informed Consent: This helps the client understand and agree to what your work involves.

It might seem a little uncomfortable asking people you know well to complete these forms, but remember why you are doing this: you are setting boundaries. As well, you are doing something else for yourself that is essential: practice protection.

For example, if while working with a friend, an issue arose in the session, maybe you used an oil that triggered an allergic reaction. With a personal history, you would learn about a friend or family member’s medical issues. While we might be close to someone, we do not know everything, so when working with a loved one as diligently as any other client, you are protecting yourself and your business.

And isn’t that a boundary you want established?

Having positioned yourself in the way that you prefer, you are in a better place to set other boundaries. Have you considered what they might be? Some of these were mentioned at the beginning of the article. Do these boundaries apply to you in handling your loved ones?

What Kinds of Boundaries Might You Need to Set?

Physical: This could apply to both the physical space of a home-based practice or to the physical boundaries of your body. Are loved ones trespassing on your space?

Emotional: Do loved ones take advantage of the healing nature of your gifts and seek you out to hear their stories or nurture them?

Financial: Are you frequently asked for free sessions?

Time: Is too much of your time spent in working on others without charge or listening to other people’s personal issues? Does this interfere with your availability for paying clients or reduce your income potential?

Asking loved ones to complete paperwork like any other paying client can be a strategy for beginning a ‘boundaries’ conversation. This shifts the conversation away from the personal and focuses it on your energy healing practice. Professionalizing yourself and setting boundaries get people to consider you through a new lens, a professional perspective.

As a result, you will be looked at differently. Changing the mindset from personal to professional would ideally be followed by a behavioral shift. The behaviors we expect in a business transaction are far different from personal ones. This should help you in setting and maintaining boundaries.

What’s Next: Gentle Boundaries for a Professional Life You Love

Now that you’ve explored why boundaries matter (especially when friends and family ask for free sessions), it’s time to take thoughtful action. Start by reflecting on what limits feel healthy for you, then document those boundaries clearly.

Be honest about why you’re setting them. Sharing your reasoning during a boundaries conversation helps your loved ones understand—and may even invite deeper respect for the work you do.

You’re not asking for permission. You’re inviting the people in your life to grow with you. That may take a little time and patience, especially if reminders are needed along the way. Stay consistent! Your clarity and consistency will make the difference.

And as you continue to shape that life, it helps to have support. Whether it’s through guidance, tools, or community, EMPA membership is designed to help you protect your practice while staying true to the heart of your work.

Setting boundaries doesn’t have to be seen as building walls. In fact, we think of it as building a professional life that respects both you and the people you serve.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not provide legal, financial, or medical advice. The examples are general, and coverage may vary by policy. Always refer to your insurance provider or policy language for specific details, as the policy terms take precedence. For legal concerns related to your practice, consult an attorney.