Is this material grounded in scientific approaches and corroboration, or is it merely new-age nonsense?
As is often the case, credibility depends on the data and evidence one chooses to study...or ignore. While fraudulent practitioners and questionable methodologies are easy to dismiss, much of the accumulated and current evidence defies explanation by known laws of the physical world. And the credibility of information sources is another important factor to consider when weighing the evidence.
Consider the evidence...consider its sources, and evaluate the available information for yourself. Someone you know may have a lot to share on the topic, if you are open to it.