Reiki Sessions

Reiki and Integrative Healing

“If you want to understand the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” ~Nikola TESLA

Because I have worked in the field of behavioral health for over 20 years and have personally experienced traditional counseling for myself in the past, I value the amazing benefits of conventional psychotherapy. Though it absolutely helped me identify and understand my own beliefs, feelings, and patterns of behavior, it wasn’t until I started seeing an energy healer that my true wellness transformation took place. I was so excited about my energy healing experience that it inspired me to become an energy healing practitioner myself.

As an energy healer, I’m often met with skeptical curiosity, which is totally relatable. As it happens, it was the same reaction I experienced upon first learning about how it works and what it does. ~Stefanie SUMMERS

The following article from www.mindbodygreen.com  neatly summarizes what energy healing is all about.

Energy healing is a holistic practice that activates the body’s subtle energy systems to remove blocks. By breaking through these energetic blocks, the body’s inherent ability to heal itself is stimulated. That definition is a lot to process, so here are five facts that can clear up any confusion or misconceptions you may still have about energy healing:

1. We’ve been studying the body’s energy centers for thousands of years.

Reiki is the Japanese tradition of energy healing, and it dates back to the early 20th century. The seven chakras, the energy transmission centers of the body, were first described in ancient Hindu texts. Meridians, the energy superhighways of the body, helped lead traditional Chinese medicine practitioners to develop acupuncture.

These ancient cultures used different modalities to stimulate the body’s natural ability to heal, but they all recognized the power of internal energy.

2. Energy healing is based on scientific principles.

We all learned in high school physics class that matter is made up of molecules. Even something that is solid, such as a table, is vibrating all the time. As humans, we, too, are vibrating.

When you say someone has “good vibes,” you are really talking about that person’s vibrational energy—and happy people tend to vibrate on a higher frequency.

Places have vibes too. When you walk into a room in which a fight has just occurred, you may feel a dense energy that makes you want to leave right away. The beach has a light vibe due to the salt (a natural energy cleanser) and moving air. The air at the beach vibrates at a higher frequency as well.

“Energy healing is a complementary modality that shouldn’t exclude any Western medicine you may be taking.”

3. Anyone can benefit from energy healing.

Just as you don’t need to understand the law of gravity before you can fall down, you don’t need to completely grasp the concept of energy healing before you dive into the practice. Any time is a good time to visit an energy healer. I would recommend going in with an open mind for maximum benefit. If you are stressed, anxious, or physically drained, an energy healing session can help you relax and feel more balanced. And if you’re already feeling good, it’s always possible to feel a little better.

It’s important to note that energy healing is a complementary modality that shouldn’t exclude any Western medicine you may be taking.

4. There are many types of accessible energy healing modalities.

There are many types of energy healers, and you can find them practically everywhere. (You might even be an energy healer yourself!) When you’re looking for an energy healer, remember that you have a right to be picky and ask plenty of questions before settling with a practitioner. If you are new to energy healing, consider starting your search by dropping by a yoga local studio or asking a friend who’s into alternative healing to get a referral for a reputable practitioner.

There are many kinds of energy healing, and each one calls on slightly different tools and techniques. Here’s a quick introduction to a few popular ones you’ll probably come across:

• Acupuncture: Acupuncture uses small needles to stimulate the flow of energy in the body.
• Reflexology: This modality frees up blocked energy and promotes healing by stimulating pressure points on the feet, hands, and ears.
• Massage: Yep, even massage is an energy healing practice. It releases tension in the muscles, encourages the flow of lymph, and allows for deep relaxation.

5. You can maintain your energetic health from home.

Just as you shower and brush your teeth every day, you should also be cleansing your energy regularly. Once you visit with an energy healer, keep the good vibes flowing by taking a bath in Epsom or pink Himalayan salts for 20 minutes whenever you start to feel the heaviness creeping back into your body. Smudging, or burning sage around you, can also help clear negativity from your energy field. And finally, high-vibe crystals have their own healing properties that can help give your energy a little boost.

All you need to begin your energy healing journey is curiosity and a willingness to learn. Who knows? You might just get hooked!”

WHAT IS REIKI?

Reiki (“RAY-kee”) is a Japanese word meaning “spiritually guided life force energy.” It is an energetic healing technique that has been found to enhance the body’s ability to heal itself. Reiki can be used alone or in conjunction with any form of medical, psychological, or therapeutic treatment. This technique can be learned by anyone and can be used on oneself, others, animals, and plants.

REIKI IS GAINING GROUND

The National Institute of Health and the World Health Organization now recognize the remarkable effects of Reiki as a viable means of energy medicine practice. This means that Reiki Practitioners are exploring new opportunities to practice in the more traditional and conventional areas of medicine. For example, Reiki is being offered through hospices, cancer centers, and hospitals such as Walter-Reed National Military Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Additionally, nurses, massage therapists, athletic trainers, mental health counselors, and professionals in many other fields can now receive continuing education credit for Reiki courses. Interestingly, the National Institutes of Health and the Mayo Clinic both indicate that 85% of all disease in the body occurs due to the emotional imbalance of our internal energies.

Larry Dossey, M.D., author of The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things, says, “Reiki is increasingly being incorporated into modern medicine because of one compelling reason…it works.”

WHAT REIKI IS NOT

Although I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I am not a Licensed Physician, and Reiki does not require licensing by the State of North Carolina. Reiki and other forms of energy healing are meant to be a complement to the Western medicine that is provided by doctors, nurses, mental health clinicians, and other licensed medical professionals.

PREMISE OF TREATMENT

Stress, trauma, and illness restrict the natural flow of ki (chi) or “life force energy” through the body. By restoring the flow of energy through the body, Reiki rejuvenates the body’s ability to heal itself.

Although one session may be adequate, long-term imbalances in the body sometimes require multiple treatments in order to bring the system back into balance. Improvement often requires commitment on the client’s part, such as willingness to make lifestyle changes, in order to fully benefit from Reiki treatment(s).

NATURE OF SERVICES PROVIDED

During a Reiki a session, you will be asked to lie down for maximum benefit. However, you may decide to sit up; the choice is yours for your personal comfort. You will remain fully clothed during the treatment session; Reiki is in no way massage therapy or a medical examination. For the majority of the session, my hands will remain about 2-3 inches or more above your body. If guided to do so, I will ask permission to place my hands on your body, but only in a manner acceptable to you and within the legal and ethical limits of my practice as a Reiki Practitioner. Once the session begins, the life force energy flows through my hands; this may be experienced by you as heat, coolness, vibrating, tingling, a light pressure, a slight pulling sensation, or nothing at all. Other hands-off techniques, such as sweeping the body of unneeded energy, may be used. If you agree to the use of crystals, they may be placed on or near your body to enhance the process. Additionally, sound and/or vibrational instruments such as a rattle or a singing medicine bowl may be used to assist in breaking up unwanted energy blocks. However, crystals and sound are not necessary for effective Reiki treatment.

Keep in mind, I am simply a conduit of the life force energy. It is believed that the energy is guided by God/Source/Spirit/Universe for the physical, mental, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being of the individual being treated. Therefore, a specific outcome cannot be guaranteed by me, the Reiki Practitioner.