#TimesUp Healers & Reiki Practitioners. Plus, Tips on Finding a Reiki Practitioner

In this post, we will explore the following to address perceptions, boundaries, trauma, predatory behavior, healing, and healers.

My goal is two fold:

to awaken reiki practitioners and healers to their full optimum potential while understanding their ethical responsibilities to their clients and/or students,
and to help guide those seeking healing services for themselves or a loved one.

In this post, we will address the following:

Introduction to this sensitive topic from a personal and professional perspective
#TimesUp healers and reiki practitioners video
12 Tips To Choosing A Reiki Practitioner
Questions to ask a prospective reiki practitioner

Introduction to This Sensitive Topic

In search of “healing the broken me” as I would like to call it from years of abuse that resulted in complex C-PTSD or complex post traumatic stress disorder, I originally delved into the traditional American Healthcare System in hopes I can quickly return to my unbroken self. Like many others, I have felt that I was not getting better and band-aids were being applied to my mental, emotional, and physical symptoms that were not getting better and began to spiral out of control.

I realized there had to be more to all this and began looking into the spiritual aspects of my issues that the healthcare system couldn’t figure out.

I started reconnecting to my spiritual path. I began meditating. I eliminated inflammatory foods. I sought out reputable teachers and healers. I started connecting with the divine within me and my divine team. I learned and studied multiple holistic health modalities and spiritually based practices.

These practices saved my life and has been allowing me to reclaim my life in ways to defy all logic. I was fortunate in who I sought out as healers and other professionals to help guide me.

However, abusers and predators are still very skillful at their tactics, which is what sparked this post. I have been doing this work since 2006, and I have experienced numerous situations that were quite disturbing that made me wonder how to communicate such a delicate and serious topic that would hopefully be welcomed and received both by the healing community and trauma survivors.

This leads me to the next point …

#TimesUp Healers and Reiki Practitioners Video

I need your help on what I consider a very sensitive topic.

This video which was recorded in April 2018 took over 4 years to make due to concerns of my ability to communicate what needs to be said in a way that is heard and openly received.

What healers and survivors need to know.

Have you experienced THIS?

My goal in this video is to help healers and practitioners to awaken to their full potential while understanding their ethical responsibilities to their clients and/or students. Abusers are infiltrating the spiritually based communities and healing arts.

Are you aware?
What steps are you taking to ensure the safety of those around you?
What are you doing to help break the cycle of abuse?

Ironic or what … that this article was published on the same day as my live video on same topic from the NY Times. “In the space of a few short hours on Monday evening, Eric Schneiderman went from being known as one of the nation’s most progressive and influential attorneys general to being cast as a drunken, abusive monster who terrorized women in his personal life even as he publicly advocated women’s rights.”

This NY Times article is worth the read to tie into my argument. In the meantime, I will share with you 12 tips in choosing a reiki practitioner and questions to ask.

12 Tips To Choosing A Reiki Practitioner

Healing varies from person to person and what some call “reiki training” varies from teacher to teacher since there is no standardization of training in the Unites States. Most reiki training teaches the basics centered around stress reduction and relaxation. While others who call anything involving some form of energy healing or hands on energy work, reiki, can sometimes be misguided.

Let’s be clear first and foremost, reiki is a Japanese complementary alternative mind body medicine therapy, self care and meditation practice that works with the human body’s bioenergy field. I won’t go into details here. You can click here for more elaborate description.

Administering or facilitating a reiki session to someone who has been traumatized or abused is NOT part of the standard training curriculum for most reiki practitioners.

If you struggle with healing from trauma associated with abuse, here are 12 tips in choosing the right reiki practitioner for you. Plus, 10 questions to ask a prospective reiki practitioner/teacher.

You may also check out the article I wrote several years ago while teaching college on Reiki Can Do No Harm or Can It? for more tips and guidance.

Click here for more posts about healing trauma

Click here for more posts about reiki.

I hope what I wrote helps someone out there in need who needs something to help them survive in order to thrive.For healers who read this, my hope is that this inspired you to be better than you already are. The world needs more healers. We need you to step up and help be the best version of you.

Please share the love and compassion.

Join in the conversation

invite others to join

Share on your wall or group

With love and appreciation,

Laura Joseph,

Jikiden Reiki® Shihan, Usui Reiki Master Teacher, Speaker, Medical Intuitive, Healer, Advocate, Trauma Specialist

To schedule a private session, to book a corporate wellness event, or speaking engagement, please private message me

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© 2008-2019 Laura Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of Healing With Spirit or its affiliates. Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

Learn Animal Reiki Certification

With 40 percent of Americans having tried alternative medicine—and 60 percent of U.S. households’ home to at least one pet—many people are increasingly turning to Reiki and other holistic therapies to help their animals.

This class is for students who are interested in receiving an extremely in depth and practical foundation in Reiki with animals.

This level of reiki you learn reiki for the physical healing and self-care and the uses for your animal friends. It is considered a student level and introduction to the world of reiki. Students will learn the basics of human energy and its relationship to health and receive an intro to applications of reiki with animals.

What you learn includes:

Meditation
Reiki Talk, the different levels, and applications of use
What is Rei-ki and how does it work?
Accurate Reiki History and terminology
Gokai
Gassho meditation
Reiki I attunement (Reiju)
Practical hands-on Reiki training and experience
Byosen Scanning
How to work w animals,
How to treat certain illnesses etc.,
How to understand specific cues given by our pets

With Laura’s support, the lessons will allow you to experience successful animal Reiki treatments, thus giving you the experience, you need to practice animal Reiki with all kinds of animals and in any situation with groundedness and confidence.

Click here for more information

Click here for reiki stories and experiences including uses on animals.

Click here for use of reiki after a dog bite

INVESTMENT: $175

To Register:

Name: Jikiden Reiki® Seminar in Okuden (Level II)
Start: 2025-07-25T19:00:00+05:00
End: 2025-07-26T18:00:00+05:00
Location: Healing with Spirit

Via check, email me for Registration form or register via Eventbrite here:

ABOUT YOUR TEACHER:

Laura Joseph is an approved Jikiden Reiki® Shihan from the Jikiden Reiki® Kenkyukai in Kyoto, Japan and a Reiki Master Teacher in the Usui/Tibetan Tradition.

She has studied with leading reiki historian and expert, Frank Arjava Petter and Tadao Yamaguchi, current President of the Jikiden Reiki® Kenkyukai in Kyoto, Japan.

She is always seeking ways to learn and improve her practice by taking appropriate courses with organizations, conferences, and classes with experts in their respective fields.

She has been practicing spiritually based integrative holistic health enrichment including reiki since 2006 for animals and humans alike. Laura has over 15 cumulative years in the holistic and allopathic health fields.

Laura is also the author of the book “The Secrets to Healing: An Invitation to Heal Trauma and Other Root Causes of Chronic Illness Using the Japanese Reiki Gokai”

Laura believes that animals, wild and domestic, know who to seek out for help when in need. Throughout Laura’s entire life, animals have sought her out and those in her family for help whether it was a seagull that was shot, a mother duck and ducklings searching for food, a pigeon who broke its wing, a dog who jumps into the car then delivers babies, or a stray cat who never leaves the front door. The stories are countless. Laura’s lifelong fondness for animals and her actions of what she has done, speaks for itself.

Laura also is passionate about finding solutions to the epidemic of abuse while providing healing to those inflicted including animals.

Learn Animal Reiki Certification

In 2010, Dr. Oz declared Reiki his number one alternative medicine secret. With 40 percent of Americans having tried alternative medicine—and 60 percent of U.S. households home to at least one pet—many people are increasingly turning to Reiki and other holistic therapies to help their animals.

This class is for students who are interested in receiving an extremely in depth and practical foundation in Reiki with animals.

This level of reiki you learn reiki for the physical healing and self care and the uses for your animal friends. It is considered a student level and introduction to the world of reiki. Students will learn the basics of human energy and its relationship to health and receive an intro to applications of reiki with animals.

What you learn includes:

Meditation
Reiki Talk, the different levels, and applications of use
What is Rei-ki and how does it work?
Reiki History and terminology
Gokai
Gassho meditation
Reiki I attunement (reiju)
Practical hands on Reiki training and experience
Byosen Scanning
How to work w animals,
How to treat certain illnesses etc.,
How to understand specific cues given by our pets

With Laura’s support, the lessons will allow you to experience successful animal Reiki treatments, thus giving you the experience you need to practice animal Reiki with all kinds of animals and in any situation with groundedness and confidence.

Click here for more information.

Click here for reiki stories and experiences including uses on animals

INVESTMENT: $175
*For those already certified in some form of reiki – $111.00

To Register:

Please fill out the attached form and mail to contact listed on form.

ABOUT YOUR TEACHER:

Laura Joseph is an approved Jikiden Reiki® Shihan from the Jikiden Reiki® Kenkyukai in Kyoto, Japan and a Reiki Master Teacher in the Usui/Tibetan Tradition.

She has studied with leading reiki historian and expert, Frank Arjava Petter and Tadao Yamaguchi, current President of the Jikiden Reiki® Kenkyukai in Kyoto, Japan.

She is always seeking ways to learn and improve her practice by taking appropriate courses with organizations, conferences, and classes with experts in their respective fields.

Laura also is passionate about finding solutions to the epidemic of abuse while providing healing to those inflicted including animals.

Learn Animal Reiki Certification

This class is for students who are interested in receiving an extremely in depth and practical foundation in Reiki with animals.

What you learn includes:

Meditation
Reiki Talk, the different levels, and applications of use
What is Rei-ki and how does it work?
Accurate Reiki History and terminology
Gokai
Gassho meditation
Reiki I attunement (Reiju)
Practical hands-on Reiki training and experience
Byosen Scanning
How to work w animals,
How to treat certain illnesses etc.,
How to understand specific cues given by our pets

Click here for more information

Click here for reiki stories and experiences including uses on animals.

Click here for use of reiki after a dog bite

INVESTMENT: $175

To Register:

Via check, email me for Registration form or register via Eventbrite here:

ABOUT YOUR TEACHER:

Laura Joseph is an approved Jikiden Reiki® Shihan from the Jikiden Reiki® Kenkyukai in Kyoto, Japan and a Reiki Master Teacher in the Usui/Tibetan Tradition.

She has studied with leading reiki historian and expert, Frank Arjava Petter and Tadao Yamaguchi, current President of the Jikiden Reiki® Kenkyukai in Kyoto, Japan.

She is always seeking ways to learn and improve her practice by taking appropriate courses with organizations, conferences, and classes with experts in their respective fields.

Laura is also the author of the book “The Secrets to Healing: An Invitation to Heal Trauma and Other Root Causes of Chronic Illness Using the Japanese Reiki Gokai”

Laura also is passionate about finding solutions to the epidemic of abuse while providing healing to those inflicted including animals.

January 3, 2019January 31, 2019

Have You Experienced This During An MRI?

Recently, I went in for a repeat brain MRI from 2010 as a result of a previous brain bleed I’ve had.

I am a survivor of abuse with a history of PTSD and anxiety and of course they asked if I was claustrophobic and I said no.

Surprisingly, I was kind of surprised that as I entered into the MRI room I was experiencing anxiety. Once I laid down on the table and enter the machine, I began reciting the gokai, which are the 5 Japanese reiki principles to live by.

By the end of the third time reciting the gokai, my anxiety was completely calm. I was in a calm complete state a presence with a notable reduction in respiration.

In the beginning of the scans, I began to see flashes of a pinhole white light in my third eye which Drew my attention to actually pay attention to what I am witnessing. It was like a flash going off on a camera but in a pinhole size.

This followed with a black spot notable on the upper right side in my third I’d vision .

Following this I began seeing nebula type formations in waves. The colors were of a translucent mustard seed yellow and an oblong shape moving from my left to my upper right with purple formations in the middle.

Right after the text said to the next scan will take 5 minutes, the next set of visualizations I saw started more on the upper right side of flashes of an oblong shape that was of a darker yellow and color. This later began to continue to flash in the more it flashed the clear the images got of my entire brain

The next set of images she said was going to take 2 minutes. With that followed images showing various vascular sections in my brain and I even began feeling tingling in my right foot which dissipated right after this portion of the scan completed.

The final scan was very similar to the beginning with a general nebula of colors flashing in waves mostly in the yellows, Blues and purple hues.

I asked the tech if there were different images being done on my brain as I had visualizations while in the scanner. I think she was a little confused by my question because it’s not a typical question people would ask. So I went on to tell her that depending on which scan she did I saw images of my brain as well as images of the vascular portions of my brain. She did verify that there were vascular portions done on my brain.

Now whether or not this is a verifiable experience doesn’t matter. However, since I am a very deeply spiritual person and love it when science backs up a spiritual experience, I’m putting this out there because maybe some scientists would love to use this to create a study on the brains of those who are intuitive or empathic.

That would be quite interesting though wouldn’t it for the scientific community?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Please share in the comments.

With love and appreciation,

Laura

Follow me:

Twitter
Facebook
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Did you know we now have a YouTube channel?

Please subscribe to our channel and scroll for complete playlists on spiritual vlogs, spirit messages, energy updates, nature meditations, mindfulness in nature, reiki and more.

Click here to view my channel and to subscribe.

To schedule a private session, to book a corporate wellness event, or speaking engagement, please private message me

© 2015-2019 Laura Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of Healing With Spirit or its affiliates. Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

November 19, 2018November 19, 2019

Where the American Healthcare System Meets Jikiden Reiki®

So this just happened, and I am still in awe …

I just left my endocrinologist’s office for a follow-up visit and was pleasantly surprised that THIS happened.

During the visit he opened my chart and my eyes could not believe what I saw. I had to take a double take. What was it? It was the word Reiki written in kanji.

My doctor began to tell me that after my last visit with him, he was so taken back by my last visit that he decided to do some research on Jikiden Reiki® in his own. He even went on to show me his written notes from my last visit where he wrote the word Reiki in kanji. I was pleasantly surprised as this was unexpected.

So TODAY he inquired more about Jikiden Reiki® and how it has helped me overcome some of these “issues” where the American healthcare system was unsuccessful.

He was very curious and inquisitive which was refreshing to see from someone in the medical field. He said as a physician, he is limited in scope of care and there are many things that in the healthcare system, people just have to live with and listed many examples on why that is – eluding to how broken the system is.

My reply was “But it does not have to be so and this is why”. He said he’s never met a patient like me before in all the years he has practiced medicine.

I thought wow. I made this much of an impression on this western doctor so much so that after my last visit, he took it upon himself to research how reiki works medically.

Granted what I have overcome throughout the years shocks many. I explained to him that I am not a doctor, and looking to solicit his assistance to help working together to find out what this last issue that is hindering me to back to myself fully 100%. It is my belief that he can help me do that with appropriate tests and a diagnosis so I know how to treat possibly myself either via Jikiden Reiki®, nutrition, supplements, etc.

To give you a little back story about me and how I landed here…

Some of you know my story, but most of you don’t. To summarize, I left an abusive relationship in 2005 only to have my abuser use the system to continue patterns of abuse until 2014. As a result, I was officially diagnosed with complex PTSD.

In search of “healing the broken me” as I would like to call it, I originally delved into the traditional American Healthcare System in hopes I can quickly return to my unbroken self. Like many others, I have felt that I was not getting better and band-aids were being applied to my mental, emotional, and physical symptoms that were not getting better and began to spiral out of control.

This affected everything with many bizarre symptoms that I felt or manifesting physically as a result of the trauma and abuse I endured.

Some of these symptoms include:

From my ability to swallow
Choking on water and own saliva
Enlarged thyroid
Extreme fatigue
Intestinal issues
Bladder issues
Hemorrhagic uterine bleeding
Low stress tolerance
Heart flutters and palpitations while in a calm state
Avoidance issues and fear
Nightmares and flashbacks
Anxiety and panic attacks
Chronic physical pain
Memory issues
Vision disturbances
Left sided weakness
Fluctuating weight
Circulatory issues

So I increasingly became very frustrated with our system and their ability to help me put myself back together with each new physical symptom that popped up. No one seem to be able to connect the dots to whole picture.

I am more than my uterus or brain or thyroid etc. My body is a miraculous being that is interconnected and multi-functional. There is NO one shoe fits all as the system attempts to do. Just look at how separated our system is designed by specialists in areas of body parts. Where is the physician who can tie into the link between what is going on in my inner ear with my gut for instance? That what might be going on in one area of my body my actually be caused in another area of my body?

I realized there had to be more to all this and began looking into the spiritual aspects of my issues that the healthcare system couldn’t figure out.

It wasn’t until I learned Jikiden Reiki®, my entire life drastically changed. I had already been practicing and teaching the more westernized cousin of reiki for 6yrs. But this was different, and in a league of its own.

I’ve learned over the last several years that we have become a culture that will take something that is pure in its roots and traditions … that is connected somehow deep to some ancient wisdoms and healing … and “Americanize” it or westernize it. This is when we have lost the magic aka medicine for the soul to fully heal those deep wounds that escape our awareness.

While practicing all these other westernized forms of healing and spiritually based practices, I didn’t quite understand this until recent years. As time goes on and I work on my craft and my own personal healing, the clearer that gets.

Needless to say, today I see my health almost fully restored thanks to these alternative treatments.

I avoided a hysterectomy, a root canal, 3 rounds of antibiotics for infections due to these therapies and saved my body from additional physical traumas and toxins that would stifle the work I am doing to restore wholeness in my life.

So sometimes, there is more to what’s going on with you than meets the eye.

My question for you is this … when the healthcare system is unable to help you restore “wholeness ” in your life, do you or would you consider alternative therapies to help you?

Do you believe there is more to illness and disease than what’s presented in the way the healthcare system categorizes it?

I come away with a few thoughts:

Don’t give up on you docs who are AT LEAST open to learning, supporting, and aligning with the concept of mind-body medicine or proven alternative therapies
Be a good patient. Walk the walk. Do the work to improve your life physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually without spiritually bypassing, and watch everyone around you ask you how you did that. Best testimonial is your own story.
When you take responsibility for your life and health – eat right. remove toxicity – foods, thoughts, poisons, environment, etc. not only employ therapies such as yoga, reiki, meditation, thai chi, etc, but embody them… your health care team will want to learn more on how you do that without the need to “sell” them.
A pill and/or a procedure will fix very few things so called, wrong. When we understand this and understand how to support our body’s ability to heal itself, and actually choose to live a better healthier life, toxic pills and harmful procedures will be lessened and the burden on our health care system financially will be significantly reduced. This is not to mention the side effect of a lessened burden on our ecosystem and environment due to reduction of medical waste.
Trust your instincts and listen to the wisdoms of the body.
I can keep going on, but won’t. This is a long enough post. The rest may just be added into a chapter in the book I am writing. So stay tuned …

Have you had a good experience like this bridging western medicine with holistic therapies? Please share.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me and supporting my life’s work

With love and appreciation,
Laura

To learn more about Jikiden Reiki, click here.

To learn more about Trauma, click here.

To read more about my reiki stories, click here.

Follow me:

Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Did you know we now have a YouTube channel?

Please subscribe to our channel and scroll for complete playlists on spiritual vlogs, spirit messages, energy updates, nature meditations, mindfulness in nature, reiki and more.

Click here to view my channel and to subscribe.

To schedule a private session, to book a corporate wellness event, or speaking engagement, please private message me

© 2015-2018 Laura Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of Healing With Spirit or its affiliates. Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

Reiki Vibrational Healing Meditation at Szabo

Join us for a mid day boost of healing, self care and relaxation and discover how simple Meditation combined with a Reiki and the vibratory sounds of Tibetan Singing Bowls can bring about a powerful positive quantum shift in your life as well as stimulate a profound relaxation response.

The combined form of meditation is a powerful healing and spiritual experience that can bring about relaxation, clairvoyance, increased healing, enhanced awareness, greater ability toward visualization, reduce stress, balance your energy and aid you in reaching goals.

Want to learn more?

Visit our Tibetan Bowl Healing Page

Check out our blog post: Medical Study of the Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-Being

What to Bring:

Wear comfortable clothes
Bring a yoga mat or towel (limited chairs available for those who prefer to sit)
Bring a pillow for support for head and legs (optional)

See what others are saying about this class:

“I have attended, one of Laura’s Reiki meditation and attunment evenings and came away feeling like a new person. The energy was like nothing I have ever experienced before. Thank you, Laura! I am truly grateful, you are so very gifted!”

See more testimonials, Click here

FOR THE LATEST UPDATES, visit our Facebook Events Page

Please arrive 5-10min prior to start so there will not be any interruptions during meditation.

To pre-register:

RSVP to Szabo Fitness & Acupuncture via email or call 781-925-1941 no less than 24hrs prior to class for $25 rate. Walk-in rate $30.00

March 8, 2018January 31, 2019

Breaking Free From The Chains Of The Past

Trauma …

Trauma … We have all been affected by trauma one way or another in our lifetime. However, we may not realize how a traumatic event may have affected our life or impacted our soul.

The challenge is trauma doesn’t affect us the way we perceive it. It affects us on a cellular and soul level and may not even be in our own awareness leading to chronic illness, cancer, pain, poor relationships, etc.

So, when I read the following quote, it struck me and gave me lots to ponder on and contemplate ultimately leading to this post:

“If your mind carries a heavy burden of past, you will experience more of the same. The past perpetuates itself through lack of presence.” – Eckhart Tolle

I am going on my 13th year when I made a crucial decision to leave an abusive relationship and begin my healing path for first time in my life.

One of the things that I have learned in my 13 years, is that the more I connected to the divine within, soul, inner child, it also reveals the root cause that wounded my core. I began to discover the roots to my fears, insecurities, and my own self sabotaging behaviors … to the place it all began … the seed that began decades before I married an abuser.

I began my healing journey broken wondering how to put all the pieces of me back together.

I began to employ traditional therapies (which didn’t help me much), support groups, spiritually based practices such as developing my sequestered intuition, meditation, reiki, acupuncture, journaling, dance, connecting to nature and more.

We have technology which is supposed to make us more connected than ever. However, we are actually more disconnected than ever. We are not connected to the very life that breathes underneath our feet, Mother Earth. We are not connected to our own BE-ing or essence. We live in a society of wanting everything now, instant gratification, and a “plugged in” to that technology 24/7.

Unfortunately, healing doesn’t work like that. Employing a one day at a time mindset goes a long way as well as a lot of self-compassion. Learning new ways “to be” takes time. Discovering you again takes time. Developing new skill sets to heal takes time. Finding someone to help you who has the skill sets is huge if you can find that coach/healer.

Employing a mindset of presence helped me with my trauma, PTSD, anxiety and the physical illness that resulted from my trauma. There’s many ways to learn the art of presence whether through meditation or mindfulness-based practices, but from me, learning Jikiden Reiki changed everything for me. This is where I have seen the most growth in my life since I began this journey in 2005.

Want to learn more?

Please join me at one of these 4 events this spring:

March 31st in Hingham, Ma to “Learn How To Bless Your Junk and Take Your Life Back NOW”
April 8th at the Healthy Living Expo and Conference in Plymouth, Ma as a featured presenter on ” Healing Trauma Through the System of Reiki“
May 4-6th in Hingham for Jikiden Reiki training in Shoden (Level I)
March 19th: REIKI VIBRATIONAL HEALING MEDITATION with the Tibetan Singing Bowls in Hingham. Class held monthly.