Energy Awareness, Reiki, and the Body’s Wisdom

Lately, I've been reflecting on the question of how Reiki and energy awareness have shaped both my personal life and my work as a therapist.

Although Reiki is recognized as one of the complementary approaches that can accompany psychotherapy, it isn't something I actively practice with clients. Instead, Reiki has become one of many experiences that has influenced how I understand presence, attunement, and the body's natural movement toward healing.

When I first studied Level I Reiki in the Usui tradition, I was simply curious.

I remember being struck by how subtle everything felt. Nothing dramatic happened. In fact, I had to slow down enough to notice anything at all. And if you know me, you'll know that slowing down has always been more of a practice than a natural state.

Oddly enough, Reiki also felt familiar—as though I had known it long before I had words for it. It seemed to invite a different kind of trust: that some experiences don't need to be fully explained in order to be meaningful.

As I continued practicing self-Reiki, I became more aware of the ebb and flow within my own body. Some days I felt openness and ease; other days I noticed tension, heaviness, or a sense of feeling stuck. Whether or not I called it "energy," I found myself becoming increasingly curious about the subtle ways we all experience connection, regulation, and change—even when we're not consciously aware of them.

For me, Reiki has never been about doing something to another person. It's been about learning to become more centered, to listen deeply, and to be present with what is already happening.

One experience, in particular, has stayed with me.

Several years ago, I fell and badly sprained my ankle. It quickly became swollen and turned a deep shade of purple. I did everything I was supposed to do—rest, ice, compression, and elevation—but I also sat quietly and offered myself Reiki.

When I looked at my ankle the next morning, much of the bruising had faded. I remember staring at it in complete surprise.

Was it the Reiki? Was it my body's own healing process? Was it some combination of many factors? I honestly don't know.

What I do know is that experiences like that gently challenge my very linear mind and leave me with a sense of wonder.

Interestingly, although Reiki originated in Japan, I didn't discover it until after I moved to the United States in my twenties.

At that point in my life, I was working as an international educator, supporting students, immigrants, and others navigating life between cultures. I became fascinated by the ways identity, belonging, grief, and transition are often felt in the body long before they can be organized into words.

Years later, when I began training in somatic psychotherapy and Brainspotting, I found a clinical framework for something I had already been observing.

Our bodies often carry stories that our minds have not yet fully understood.

Sometimes healing doesn't come from finding the perfect explanation. Sometimes it comes from creating enough safety to notice sensations, emotions, impulses, and the subtle shifts that emerge when we are deeply present with ourselves and with another person.

In many ways, my experiences with Reiki strengthened my capacity for that kind of presence. Brainspotting and somatic therapy later gave me a language and methodology to support it clinically.

Whether we're working through Brainspotting, exploring somatic awareness, or simply sitting together in mindful silence, I believe that meaningful healing often unfolds when we learn to listen to the wisdom of the body and experience what it feels like to be genuinely witnessed.

For me, energy awareness isn't about extraordinary abilities or mystical experiences.

It's about cultivating a deeper sensitivity to ourselves and to one another. It's about recognizing how our internal state shapes our relationships, our stress, our sense of alignment, and our ability to move through the world.

Have you ever noticed that someone's presence can help you feel calmer—or more anxious—without a single word being spoken?

Do you notice when your own energy shifts? How it affects your mood, your relationships, or the way you carry yourself through the day?

How often do you find yourself stuck in a familiar pattern, longing to feel more connected to yourself?

I don't think Reiki has given me answers to those questions.

But it has taught me to pay attention.

And sometimes, paying attention is where healing begins.

If this way of thinking resonates with you, I'd love to connect. Feel free to reach out to schedule a conversation whether for ongoing individual therapy or therapy intensive.

I also apply the same philosophy when I facilitate groups, including the upcoming “Somatic Restorative Practice Group for Therapists of Color” starting June 17, 2026 at 12 PM EST. Curious? Schedule a call below.