Reiki for Children

What parents commonly bring kids in for

• Generalised anxiety, school-related worry, social anxiety
• Sleep disturbance and night waking
• Growing pains and unexplained physical complaints
• Sensory regulation difficulties
• Big transitions — starting school, separation, family move, loss of a pet

The honest research picture

Pediatric Reiki research is small. The most cited body of work comes from pediatric integrative-medicine programs at major teaching hospitals rather than from large randomised trials. The American Academy of Pediatrics' clinical report on integrative medicine acknowledges biofield therapies — Reiki, healing touch, therapeutic touch — as among the modalities used in supportive paediatric care, with calls for more rigorous research.^[1]

Boston Children's Hospital includes Reiki within its Integrative Therapies Program for children undergoing treatment for cancer, sickle cell disease, and other chronic conditions.^[2] The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia offers similar biofield modalities through its Integrative Health Program.^[3] Neither hospital makes large claims about cure; both frame it as a way of supporting comfort and reducing treatment-related distress.

What a children's session at Core Healing looks like

Sixty minutes, $70, parent in the room. The structure is loose by design:

1. The child arrives with a parent. There is no expectation of stillness, no scripted breathing exercise, no questions to answer.
2. The child can lie on the table, sit cross-legged, draw, or hold a stuffed animal. All of it works.
3. Light-touch energy work begins where the child is comfortable being touched — usually feet, shoulders, or crown — and stays there.
4. The session closes with a few minutes of quiet, water, and re-orientation.

Younger children often fall asleep partway through. Older children frequently report afterwards that they "felt warm" or "felt floaty." Some say very little and just leave calmer.

From a real client

"I like Reiki because it helps me stay calm, it stops my legs hurting from the growing pains and helps me sleep better." — Lennox, Grade 5

FAQ for parents

What age does Amanda work with?

From infancy through adolescence. The session is calibrated to the child's age and energy.

Where do sessions happen?

Either at the Sooke studio or in-home for clients across the Westshore. Many parents prefer in-home for younger or more sensitive children — and for siblings booked together.

How often?

For a specific concern, two to four sessions over a few weeks is typical. For ongoing support, monthly works for most families.