ABCs of a Reiki session.

A person booked a session with us. It is very exciting and, at the same time, makes us nervous. How to prep ourselves? How to make a session more beneficial for our client? What I will share is based on my personal experiences and what I still practice. These are a few suggestions that could benefit you. They work very well for me, and I hope you find some of them useful.

Before the Session

• Prep the room.

• Stay in the doorway. Close your eyes, and when you open them, try to give your room a fresh look. Is it overwhelming with stuff and colors? If so, maybe it is time to declutter.

• Ensure the room temperature is comfortable.

• Do you have all the necessary supplies for the session?

• Energetically clear the room with your preferred techniques (symbols, smudging, or other practices that you know).

• Be thoughtful when using essential oils, incense, or a soothing aroma, as they may affect people with breathing problems or allergies.

• Have your Informed Consent for Reiki Treatment and Intake forms ready. Inform Consent for Reiki Treatment form is for the client to sign, for your protection and basic information. Intake form is for your file, including your post-session notes.

The Session

• Welcome the client, greet them warmly and introduce yourself.

• After the client signs the consent form, ask about their expectations for the session. Let them ask questions and raise their concerns. Take time to answer them, especially if it's their first Reiki session, as it is how we build trust and relationships.

• Ask if they have physical or other limitations (not everyone is comfortable on a treatment table).

• Ask whether they have implantable medical devices (e.g., a pacemaker).

• I always tell my clients that the session is typically 50 to 90 minutes, but I cannot predict how much time they will need.

• Offer the choice between a massage table and a chair (I personally prefer an anti-gravity chair). Some people who choose a massage table may need a small step stool or assistance. Ask if they would like a blanket or if it's okay to play music during the session. Ask whether they prefer a hands-on session or a hands-off approach. Offer a pillow or a bolster to go under the knees. All of this is done to empower the client; healing can occur only if they are relaxed and feel in control.

• Let them know what they may experience during the session. Here are some of the experiences that may occur. People could feel so relaxed that they fall asleep, experience changes in temperature, have emotional releases, see colors, hear stomach noises, etc., or nothing at all.

• Advise them to close their eyes (redirecting attention from the world outside inward) and to listen to their body without analysing or judging. Just observe the changes in your body, your feelings, and your emotions.

• Take time to let the client comfortably adjust their body. Advice to take a few calming breaths. At the same time, you center yourself with gassho meditation, grounding practice, or other techniques you prefer.

• Start by having Boysen scan to locate the part of the body that needs extra attention.

• Begin a Reiki session using traditional hand placement, or, if you are an experienced practitioner, follow your intuition and let your hands go where they are guided.

• When you are done, return to Boysen scanning, comparing sensations before and after. Return to some parts of the body if needed.

• Finish by smoothing the client’s aura (energy field), then offer yourself a “dry bath.”

• Gently touch the client and ask them to open their eyes. Offer to move to a more comfortable chair, offer water, and share their experience. Record them in your intake form. Discuss potential future sessions and, if they are ready, schedule the next one. Explain that it takes time to develop an illness, so it would take time for the body to heal.

• Honestly answer all their questions, but remember the ethical and legal limitations. You should also write your observations during the session, your recommendations, and the date of the next session in the intake form.

Note:

• During home visits, I conduct sessions in places where the client is comfortable, such as a wheelchair, a couch, or a hospital bed.

• Use the client's email address from the “Inform Consent” form to send a thank-you note.

• Do not try to push or direct energy. Your force will only disrupt or block energy flow. When you surrender to Universal Wisdom, it will guide you, and Reiki will flow naturally.

• Always keep in mind that we are not medical doctors or mental health practitioners, but if needed, we can recommend that a client visit a specialist.

With love,

Roman  

March 1, 2026