Can Reiki Help With Anxiety?

In short, yes, but it is a bit more nuanced.

For those who struggle with anxiety (myself included) many will begin searching for anything to help them feel better. For some, that path leads them to a blend of therapy, medication, or mindfulness. For others, it can open the door to include something more energetic and intuitive, like Reiki healing.

Reiki is an energy healing modality that works with the body’s natural ability to self-regulate, to pull the nervous system out of fight or flight and return to balance. Rather than pushing or fixing, Reiki invites the nervous system to soften and creates space for your energy to flow freely again which is something anxiety often interrupts.

Many people are turning to Reiki for anxiety because it offers something our modern world rarely does: stillness. A session can bring a deep sense of calm and reconnection a deeper sense of self that talk therapy or logic alone can’t always reach.

What Is Reiki?

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a form of energy healing that originated in Japan in the early 1900s. The word itself translates to universal life energy the same subtle force that runs through everything alive. In a Reiki healing session, that energy is channelled through the practitioner’s hands to support the body’s natural healing process and restore energetic balance.

Unlike a massage or physical treatment, Reiki doesn’t require pressure or manipulation. It can be done with light touch or completely hands-off, depending on what you’re comfortable with. Most people describe it as deeply relaxing, grounding, and restorative.

Reiki is based on the idea that our energy can become blocked or depleted by stress, emotional strain, or life events. Over time, that energetic disruption can affect how we feel physically, mentally, and emotionally. Reiki helps clear and realign those energetic pathways, bringing the body back into a more balanced state.

How Reiki Supports Anxiety Relief

When anxiety takes hold, it isn’t just in the mind but it lives in the body too. Your heart races, your breath shortens, your shoulders tense, and your energy feels scattered. Reiki helps address that by bringing your system back into a state of calm.

In Reiki, we work with the body’s natural energy flow. Anxiety often shows up as overstimulation or scattered energy in the energy field. Reiki helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system which is the body’s “rest and restore” mode. As the energy begins to settle, your body remembers how to relax again.

Reiki doesn’t erase the cause of anxiety, but it can help change your relationship to it. When the nervous system is soothed, the mind quiets enough to actually process emotions rather than spiral through them. You start responding instead of reacting.

Energetically speaking, Reiki helps clear stagnation which is the heavy, looping energy that often builds around chronic stress or overthinking. As that energy releases, you may feel lighter, clearer, or simply more present in your own body.

While everyone’s experience is unique, many people report:

• Feeling calmer or more centred after sessions

• Improved sleep and reduced muscle tension

• Emotional clarity or a sense of inner stillness

Reiki supports the system in remembering balance and sometimes, that’s all it takes for things to start shifting.

What to Expect in a Reiki Session

One of the most common questions people ask before booking Reiki is, “What actually happens in a session?” The truth is, Reiki is incredibly simple but the experience can feel surprisingly profound. A typical Reiki session takes place in a calm, quiet space. You’ll usually lie down fully clothed on a massage table or sit comfortably in a chair while the practitioner gently channels energy through their hands. The session may be completely hands-off, or include light touch that is (or should be) always with consent. Soft music might be playing, and the energy in the room tends to feel peaceful, almost heavy with stillness.

Most people comment on the shift the moment they walk in to the space. I always tell them, the session starts the second you arrive. During the session, you might feel sensations like warmth, tingling, or waves of energy moving through your body. Some people see colours, feel emotions rise, or drift into a deep meditative state. Others simply relax and feel grounded; there's no “right” way to experience it.

Every practitioner has their own approach. Some incorporate crystals, sound healing, or aromatherapy. Others keep it simple and silent. If you’re sensitive to scent, sound, or energy shifts, it’s always okay to ask what’s used beforehand.

 In my own sessions, I use soft music and natural scents, keeping everything as minimal and soothing as possible. The focus is always on helping the nervous system unwind. After a session, many people describe feeling lighter, calm, or even a little emotional like something has gently been released. It’s common to sleep deeply that night, drink more water, or notice subtle shifts in mood and awareness in the days that follow.

Reiki meets you exactly where you are, and gives your body permission to rest.

Reiki and the Mind-Body Connection

We tend to think of anxiety as something that happens in the mind but the body carries just as much of the story. Your body becomes fluent in survival mode, even when you don’t consciously feel stressed.

When energy becomes blocked or chaotic from prolonged stress or emotional strain, the system loses flow. Reiki helps restore that flow, clearing what’s stagnant so both body and mind can finally exhale.

Emotionally, Reiki can bring suppressed feelings to the surface to be acknowledged and released. That means tears, tingling, or a deep sense of peace. 

From an energetic perspective, the nervous system is how we process physical stimuli and energetic and emotional information. When that system is overworked or numb, Reiki helps it recalibrate making space for sensitivity without overwhelm. It’s like fine-tuning your inner receiver so your energy can respond to life rather than react to it.

If you already work with a counsellor, therapist, or mental health professional, Reiki can easily fit into that rhythm. You might use Reiki for grounding and nervous system support, while therapy helps you unpack thoughts and patterns. Both hold important pieces of the puzzle.

You can also integrate Reiki into your personal wellness routine. Grounding practices like breathwork, time in nature, journaling, and gentle movement help anchor the energetic work into daily life. These small rituals signal to your system that it’s safe to slow down.

If you’ve been feeling anxious or disconnected, Reiki can help you come back to centre. You don’t have to carry it all alone, sometimes your energy and your body really just needs a chance to rest.

Explore my Reiki and deep energy healing sessions here and see how this work can support you.