Beyond Talk Therapy: An Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Reiki
This post, adapted from an academic paper, explores the integration of Reiki energy healing into the therapy setting and its potential for creating long-term wellness.
Embodied approaches to therapy, like yoga or Reiki, are gaining more attention in the mental health world. Psychotherapeutic Reiki is a unique method that combines traditional talk therapy with Reiki energy healing. This approach is effective for a range of mental health symptoms because it addresses not just a client's external behaviors, but also the underlying energetic root cause of their impairments. It works from a worldview that understands how a client's energetic field is impacted by their surroundings and uses universal energy to promote healing.
What Is Reiki?
Reiki is a Japanese term meaning "universal energy." It’s composed of two words: rei (a higher, sacred power) and ki (life force energy). Developed by Mikao Usui, Reiki is a hands-on healing method that works by changing the energy fields within and around the body to realign a person with their true path and spirit.
Despite some skepticism from scientific thinkers who may view it as a placebo, Reiki is being integrated into some healthcare settings. For instance, a UK-based charity donates funds to cancer centers and hospices that employ Reiki practitioners, creating a collaboration between conventional and complementary healing.
The Energetic Body: A Chakra Perspective
Psychotherapeutic Reiki is grounded in the belief that our well-being is connected to the energy field surrounding our bodies. This energy is believed to run through specific pathways called chakras. There are seven major chakras that run vertically along the body, and the health of these energy centers is directly congruent with a person's emotional, physical, and mental health.
From this perspective, a mental disorder or disease is the result of blocked energy. While the symptoms may appear as a chemical imbalance or maladaptive behaviors, the underlying problem is an electromagnetic blockage. A psychotherapeutic Reiki practitioner works to find and release these blocks, which are often connected to a specific chakra. For example, a client with a history of sexual abuse may have blocked energy in their sacral chakra, which is responsible for sexuality and creativity. The treatment would seek to balance the energy in that specific area.
How Does Healing Work in Psychotherapeutic Reiki?
The client-healer relationship is enhanced by the use of gentle touch, which promotes a sense of safety, connectedness, and inner peace. Unlike some Western therapy models that focus primarily on reducing external symptoms, psychotherapeutic Reiki aims to remove the root cause of mental health problems, offering long-term benefits.
Success can be measured using pre- and post-test scales. One study found that after a Reiki session, the energy levels in patients were measurably higher, validating the claim that the treatment removes energetic blockages.
Several interventions can be used, including:
Self-Treatments: The patient learns to place their own hands on or above an energy center and use breathing techniques to promote healing.
Hands-On Reiki: The practitioner places their hands in 12 different positions on the client’s body to channel universal energy and release blockages.
Hands-Off Reiki: To align with professional ethics, some therapists use a hands-off method, extending their hands towards the client's body while using prayer and specific hand motions.
When these techniques are used alongside standard evidence-based practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, clients can experience increased happiness, joy, and a greater sense of purpose.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2021). Dsm-5: Frequently asked questions.
Curtin, R. (2015). Psychotherapeutic Reiki: A holistic body-mind approach to psychotherapy. Cambridge Center for Change.
Curtin, R. (n.d.). Psychotherapeutic Reiki for mind and body. International association of Reiki professionals.
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Weze, C., Leathard, L. H., Grange, J., Tiplady, P., & Stevens, G. (2007). Healing by gentle touch ameliorates stress and other symptoms in people suffering with mental health disorders or psychological stress. Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 4(1): 115-123.
