HOW MANY SESSIONS OF REIKI HEALING ARE NEEDED?
- Fiona Phillips | Certified Japanese Reiki Shihan (Teacher)
- Apr 18, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
One of the most common questions I’m asked is: “How many Reiki sessions will I need?” Whilst I would love to give a decisive answer, the truth is, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to Reiki energy healing. Just as every person’s life journey is unique, so too is their healing path with Reiki.
Reiki isn’t like taking a prescribed medication with a set dosage. It’s more like a journey of unfolding. It works cumulatively, with each session building upon the last.
Healing can be layered, like peeling back an onion. What unfolds, and how quickly, is different for everyone.
Healing doesn’t generally follow a fixed timeline, it is a journey that unfolds at its own pace. Some may experience profound shifts after just one session, while others may find that regular sessions over time yield deeper, more lasting results.
Having said that, there are some indicators of whether you might one a few or more ongoing sessions might be called for and much of it has to do with what you are looking to get out of your sessions. So let's take a look at the factors which influence how many sessions people might need.
Immediate Shifts vs. Ongoing Healing
Some people experience profound shifts after just one session. Some clients have told me their insomnia eased for a month after a single session, I’ve also had clients share that their long-standing panic episodes reduced dramatically within a few sessions. Others notice changes in things like headaches, period pain, or acute stress fairly quickly.
For others, healing runs deeper. Long-term stress, grief, trauma, or ongoing emotional and physical patterns often take more than one session to work through. In these cases, Reiki often works best when sessions are received regularly, especially close together at the beginning.
Traditional Japanese Practice
In the original Japanese approach to Reiki, people would receive treatment daily until their condition improved. For some, that might be days or weeks. For those with chronic disease, it might be months or more. Reiki wasn’t just seen as an occasional treatment but as a continuous, dedicated approach to healing.
Alongside this, students of Reiki were expected to practice self-healing every day. Reiki was always meant to be a lifelong companion, not just something to turn to in times of crisis.
Understanding this, provides a foundational context for us to understand what to expect when we turn to Reiki for support and healing. It helps to understand why often, more than one session is required.
The “Trio of Reiki” Approach
When I first came to Reiki, my teacher suggested a series of three sessions in a short space of time (ideally within ten days or as close as financially and practicably feasible). Over the years, I’ve found this to be a powerful way to begin. It gives Reiki a chance to move things along (gathering momentum without too much of life in-between setting it back) and helps clients drop more deeply into the healing process. In my experience, within those three sessions, clients really get an idea of where the healing is taking them, if not resolving their issue entirely within the trio - just depending on the issue.
It doesn't surprise me that many of the clients who have left glowing reviews on my website and Google have done this “trio” of sessions. It doesn’t mean everyone must follow this path, but it is a testament to the power of the trio and how often it sets a strong foundation for ongoing healing.
Exception to the Trio Of Reiki's Approach: Reiki for Self-Care and Maintenance
Not everyone is looking for deep healing. Some people use Reiki the way they would a massage, to relax, restore, and take time out from busy lives. Reiki has even been described as an “energetic massage.” Some of my clients come every few weeks as part of their self-care routine, while others book in occasionally when they feel the need for nurturing or relief from stress or situational emotions.
This is just as valid as using Reiki for bigger, deeper shifts. Healing can simply be about tending to yourself when you feel called to it.
A Practical Guide: What Most People Do
Whilst every healing journey and each client's goal with Reiki is unique, there is a general framework you can work with, in order toe determine how many sessions you may need.
In practice, most people tend to approach their Reiki sessions in one of these following ways:
1. One Session: Try and Feel
For those new to Reiki or seeing a Practitioner for the first time, opting for a single session can be a great way to experience Reiki and see how they feel from that one session.
This approach allows people to try Reiki out, with no expectations or commitment.
And for those just wanting to feel supported and pampered, that one session may be enough for what they are looking for.
2. A Short Series (3 -5 Sessions Close Together)
This is definitely the most common and effective ways to start. From a Practitioner's perspective, this is what most Reiki Healer's would advise and how most people utilise Reiki for their healing.
Receiving 3 -5 sessions within a short period (around 7-10 days if possible) allows Reiki to build momentum, each sessions working on the back of the other without too much of life getting in the way. This allows the Energy to continue it's good work on the back of the session before and work more deeply, without too much interrupting the process between.
Many people report clearer shifts within this window in all respects - physically, emotionally, or energetically.
For this reason, and because this approach is commonly taken up by clients, I offer a package of three Reiki sessions at a reduced rate to support this approach. In my experience, many clients who begin with a series will often return to it again over time, rather than opting for single sessions.
3. Ongoing Support (Weekly or Fortnightly)
For deeper or long-standing issues or, for example, chronic or long-standing mental or physical illness, regular sessions help support gradual and sustained change.
This is often where Reiki is able to work on deeper underlying patterns, rather than just helping to ease more surface-type symptoms.
4. Maintenance / Self-Care (Every Few Weeks or As Needed)
Many people continue with Reiki as part of their self-care routine to support their mind and body and to help support their nervous system on a regular basis. Reiki is a great way to help us return to our centre and maintenance sessions can be a great way to do that.
For some people, this might be a session every few weeks, for others, it may be that Reiki is their go when life feels overwhelming, stressful or they have pain symptoms returning.
Trusting Your Own Instincts
One of the most important parts of Reiki is that it encourages you to tune in to yourself. A good practitioner will never pressure you into a certain number of sessions. Instead, they’ll invite you to notice how you feel after each treatment and let your intuition guide you. There is no greater guide.
Ask yourself:
Do I feel a shift in my energy, emotions, or physical body?
Do I feel more balanced, clearer, or lighter?
Do I feel drawn to return?
Your answers to these questions will tell you more than any rule-of-thumb possibly could.
And let Reiki Guide you. For a first session, I recommend clients try Reiki and see if it resonates with them before making any plans or decisions beyond that. Rather than taking the approach of needing to know exactly how many sessions you might need ahead of time, allow Reiki and your own experience of each session guide you as you go.
Quality Matters Too
It’s also worth noting that aside from the question about the number of sessions, the quality of the practice may influence the number of sessions you end up needing. A Reiki practitioner with a strong personal spiritual practice and regular self-Reiki is likely to channel more effectively, meaning clients may notice results in fewer sessions. This is why is can be helpful to really take you time when choosing a Practitioner. I've written several articles about what to look for, some are listed below this article.
Learning Reiki for Yourself
For those who resonate deeply with Reiki, learning to practice on yourself can be life-changing. Courses are short, affordable, and accessible. Every human being has the capacity to channel and utilise Reiki, and there are not special skills or 'energetic talents' needed. In a single weekend (often for less than the cost of three sessions) you can learn to treat yourself daily and bring Reiki into your everyday life. That doesn't mean you can't still go and have sessions with a Practitioner as well, sometimes it's nice sometimes just to lie back and receive through someone else, but the difference is that you are empowered to continue your own healing and have the support of Reiki in your every-day life, without needing to rely on someone else. Reiki was always intended to be something we all have access to, not just something received from others.
So, How Many Sessions Do You Need?
There really is no hard and fast rule. For some, one session provides exactly what’s needed, for others, a short series of sessions provides deeper transformation and for others, having regular ongoing Reiki support their long-term healing and self-care goals.
My advice? Begin with one session. See how it feels. If you feel drawn, consider a series of three to deepen the effect. From there, let your own body, mind, and instinct guide you.
Reiki is ultimately a journey of self-discovery as much as it is a healing practice. Trust yourself, listen closely, and let the process unfold at your own pace.
If you have any more questions about Reiki, or are interested in receiving or learning Reiki in Melbourne and wish to discuss your situation further, please contact me and we can arrange a time to chat. Otherwise, if you are ready to start your Reiki journey, you can book an appointment here or sign up for a Reiki course here. I look forward to connecting with you!
Whether you see me or another Practitioner near you, I wish you the best on your Reiki journey!
Warmest,
Fiona x
Fiona Phillips
Certified Reiki Shihan (Teacher/Master) and Practitioner
Trained by the Jikiden Reiki & Arjava Petter Institutes
Within The Space | Reiki Melbourne
Disclaimer
Reiki is a complementary practice and is not a substitute for medical or psychological care. The experiences described here reflect client observations and personal reflections. Reiki practitioners do not diagnose, treat, or promise outcomes. Please continue to follow the guidance of your healthcare providers for any health-related concerns.