Reiki: What It Is, What a Session Is Like and How to Find the Right Practitioner
Reiki is a Japanese hands-on energy practice: a practitioner places their hands lightly on or just above your body while you lie still and fully clothed. People usually look for Reiki when everyday life has become too loud, when sleep won't come, or when a difficult period is weighing on them. You don't need a diagnosis to try it. This page explains where Reiki comes from, what a session is like, what the research says, what it costs and how to recognize a trustworthy practitioner. On Spine App you can find Reiki practitioners near you and online, with their profile, sessions and prices, and book directly.
Spine App is free: find people who help and a community that gets it. Get it on App Store · Google Play
What is Reiki?
Reiki goes back to Mikao Usui, who developed the method in Japan in the early 1920s. The word combines "rei" and "ki" and is usually translated as "universal life energy." Practitioners see themselves as a channel for this energy. No scientifically established mechanism for it is known.
Today there are many lineages, from traditional Usui Reiki to Western adaptations. Training usually comes in three levels, depending on the school: the first teaches you to give Reiki to yourself and others, the second usually adds distance Reiki, and the master level qualifies you, depending on the school, to teach others. "Reiki Master" is not a protected title. What someone can do shows in their experience and in how openly they talk about their training.
Who is Reiki for?
Reiki involves no pressure, massage or medication. That's why people come to it from very different places in life:
When your mind won't switch off. If you've been running on adrenaline for weeks, you may just want a place where you're allowed to lie down.
In times of loss and grief. Some people find quiet attention steadying when words aren't enough. If you are in crisis: in the US, call or text 988, or call 911 if there is immediate danger. In the UK, call Samaritans on 116 123, or 999 if there is immediate danger.
Alongside medical or psychological treatment. Some use Reiki as extra time out, without changing their treatment.
Out of curiosity. Others want to know what energy work feels like before they make up their mind.
If you're not sure whether Reiki is right for you, you can start with a single session and decide afterward.
What does the research say about Reiki?
Most people come because of stress, restlessness, sleep problems or exhaustion. After a session many describe warmth, deep relaxation or sleepiness; others feel very little.
The scientific evidence is thin. A 2015 Cochrane review (Joyce and Herbison: Reiki for depression and anxiety) found too few reliable studies to say whether Reiki helps with anxiety or depression. Newer studies are often small and hard to compare. We looked at what the studies show about stress in particular, and where their limits are, in a separate article: Reiki for Stress: What the Evidence Actually Shows.
So Reiki is no substitute for seeing a doctor or for treatment. If you have symptoms that don't go away, get them checked by a doctor first.
How do you recognize a trustworthy practitioner?
Because the title isn't protected, your own impression matters. These questions help:
Training: Who did they learn from, which level do they hold, and how long have they been practicing?
The session: How long does it last, what does it cost, and is it in person or online?
Limits: Do they describe Reiki as support, or do they promise healing?
First conversation: Is there a short introduction where you can ask your questions?
Be careful if someone promises a cure, asks for expensive packages up front, or suggests you stop taking medication. For how to check spiritual support in general, see How to Find a Spiritual Healer Near You or Online.
What happens in a Reiki session?
On Spine App, Reiki sessions usually last 45 to 90 minutes, and some practitioners also offer short 30-minute appointments (as of October 2026). It starts with a conversation: How are you, what's on your mind, is there anything the practitioner should know?
Then you lie fully clothed on a treatment table, often under a blanket. The practitioner's hands move one after another to certain areas, such as the head, shoulders, belly and feet, and rest there or hover just above. There's little talking. Some people fall asleep; others notice warmth, tingling or images. At the end there's usually time to settle and ask questions.
Reiki in person
For many people, the room is part of the experience: the quiet, the warmth, hands you can feel. If you enjoy touch or relax more easily with someone present, an in-person session makes sense.
Reiki online (distance Reiki)
With distance Reiki you lie down at home, and the session starts at an agreed time, often with a short video call. Practitioners believe Reiki also works across distance. There is no scientific evidence for this. Some people value the scheduled hour of quiet at home, and that choosing a practitioner doesn't depend on where they live.
How much does Reiki cost?
Practitioners set their own prices. On Spine App, single Reiki sessions currently cost mostly between €50 and €170, depending on length, location and experience (as of October 2026). Packages of several sessions cost more. Health insurance usually doesn't cover Reiki.
What comes after the session?
Give yourself some time after a session. Drink water, don't rush straight into your next appointment, and notice how you feel over the following days. For some, the calm lasts; for others, it fades quickly.
Whether you book more sessions is your decision, based on that experience and never under pressure. If sleeplessness or exhaustion has been with you for a long time, it's also worth looking at other approaches, conventional or holistic: Chronic Sleep Problems: What to Try When Conventional Help Hasn't Worked.
Finding Reiki practitioners on Spine
On Spine App you can see Reiki practitioners with their profile, sessions, prices and whether they work in person or online. Alongside them you'll find coaches, naturopaths, doctors and other professionals. If you'd like to combine Reiki with a conversation or a treatment, you'll find both in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens during a Reiki session?
After a short conversation you lie fully clothed on a treatment table. The practitioner places their hands lightly on or above different areas of your body. A session usually lasts 45 to 90 minutes, with time at the end to settle.
Do I have to undress for Reiki?
No. You stay fully clothed. If a touch feels uncomfortable, say so, and the practitioner will work with their hands just above your body.
Does Reiki work online?
Many practitioners offer distance Reiki: you lie down at home and the session takes place at an agreed time. There is no scientific evidence that it works across distance. Whether the format suits you is easiest to tell in a first session.
How often should you go to Reiki?
There's no fixed rule. Some come once; others book sessions a few weeks apart. Decide after the first session how it felt, and don't let anyone push you into a large package.
Are there risks with Reiki?
The hands-on part itself is gentle. The bigger risk is putting off a necessary examination or treatment because of Reiki. If you're being treated for a mental health condition, keep your doctor or therapist in the loop and don't change your care because of Reiki.
Does Reiki replace medical treatment?
No. Reiki can accompany treatment but not replace it. If symptoms persist, see a doctor first, and never stop a treatment because of Reiki.
How much does a Reiki session cost?
On Spine App, single sessions currently cost mostly between €50 and €170 (as of October 2026). You see the price of every session before you book. Health insurance usually doesn't cover Reiki.
About Spine App
Spine App is a free life companion app for your health: it connects you with real practitioners – conventional, holistic or both – lets you book sessions directly, and checks in afterwards to ask what helped.
Written by the Spine App Editorial Team. Last updated October 2026.
Spine App is free: find people who help and a community that gets it. Get it on App Store · Google Play
