Years ago, as new psychotherapist fresh from grad school,

I used the tool that I was taught there which was talk therapy. When I landed my first job as an in-school therapist at the local alternative high school, I used talk therapy to connect with the teenagers there. It helped to a point. 

Then when I was hired at my next job as the trauma therapist at the county community mental health center, I again used what I learned, applying talk therapy to adult men and women who experience early childhood sexual abuse.

I used this tool all day long. It didn't take long, however, to notice that, while talking about what happened helped, healing hit a wall. It was frustrating to witness this happen over and over and feel helpless to continue helping these amazing men and women heal.

That's when I began to explore ways of healing outside of talk therapy.

What I found was an entire world of alternative healing tools. I studied EMDR, sensory body movement, yoga therapy, breath work, Akashic Records, Shamanic journeying, flower essences. 

One of the things I found was Reiki. 

photo by Christiaan Huyne

Pronounced ray-key, this tool uses energy -- the same energy that's found everywhere all around you. The Reiki practitioner uses this energy, either hands on or hands off, to clear, heal and balance the chakras (energy centers of the body) and the energy field.

When I began to use it with my clients, I noticed that they healed further and deeper -- to places without words that really made a long-lasting difference in their lives.

One of the things I love about Reiki is that everyone can do it. You don't need any experience, special gadgets or long training programs. A Reiki Master Teacher attunes the student to Reiki and that's it! In a few hours, you can learn how to do it on yourself and the other people you love. 

If you're new to Reiki, come in for a session. Or find a practitioner in your area.

If you'd like to learn how to use Reiki, sign up for my newsletter in the box below to hear about trainings.