Is Energy Healing Bogus? Here's Everything You Need To Know

I recently met a woman who opened up about her unsettling experience with an energy work practitioner. Just as you’d find in any industry, there is a wide spectrum of energy healers out there (think shamans and Reiki, EFT and shiatsu practitioners). Some of these people are excellent at what they do, but others, despite their intentions, aren’t in the best position to be doing work of this nature.

This particular woman had been receiving massage and energy work from a practitioner for several months when she noticed that she wasn’t feeling like herself. She observed that she was having difficulty experiencing certain emotions as well as finding physical stability. She had several other odd and inexplicable symptoms she instinctively knew were somehow connected to this practitioner's work.

After consulting with a few other energy workers as well as a team of medical physicians who ruled out any tangible or diagnosable conditions, this woman was confident she could trace her experiences back to the energy work she had received.

Take time to get to know a practitioner before you book a session. Most professionals offer a free consultation strictly for this purpose—take advantage of it! Do your homework, come prepared with questions, and don’t be afraid to ask about their training, mentors/teachers, and what type of clients they usually work with. Ask what they love most about performing this work or if they’d be willing to share anonymous pieces of a client success story.

I ask every single one of my clients for feedback because I want to know immediately if someone isn’t happy with his or her session. I also want to be able to share people's experiences with others who are considering getting Reiki but are a little uneasy about booking a session.

It is incredibly helpful when a client has clear goals about what he or she wants to get out of a session, and it’s important to be upfront about what your expectations are with your practitioner. Some energy workers are great at identifying medical issues while others are stronger at emotional clearing. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment by assuming that your practitioner can help you with something that is outside of his or her purview. You'll both feel more comfortable going into a session if you're clear about needs and expectations.