Is Distance Reiki Effective? Understanding Remote Healing

Jul 8

5 min read

Distance Reiki

Distance Reiki works much like an in-person session, the only difference is that we're not physically in the same room. Sessions can take place over Zoom, FaceTime, or by phone, but they can also happen without the client being present at all.

Because energy isn't bound by space or time, Reiki can be just as effective from afar as it is face-to-face.

How Distance Reiki works?

In a Distance Reiki session, I channel healing energy just as I would during an in-person session. I energetically cleanse the space, ground myself, and call in guidance. The key difference is the use of a specific Reiki symbol designed for distance healing. This symbol energetically "closes the gap," making it feel as though we're in the same space, regardless of where you are in the world.

I also work with a healing proxy, which I choose intuitively for each client. This could be a visualization, a photo you've provided, or a symbolic representation.

How A Session Typically Goes?

Most of my Distance Reiki sessions take place over Zoom, though clients are welcome to request FaceTime or a phone call if that feels more comfortable. If the client and I are not connecting face-to-face, I kindly ask they provide a clear, current photo of themselves.

At the start of the session, I'll invite you to find a quiet, comfortable space where you can relax without distractions. We'll briefly go over your intention for the healing, and then I'll gently guide you into a meditative state while I begin channeling Reiki energy through a healing proxy.

Once the energy work is complete, I'll bring you back to the present moment. We may share insights, either mine, yours, or both, but sharing is never required. My intention is always to offer support, deepen your awareness, and guide you toward the insight or release most aligned with your healing path.

You don't need to do anything during the session except be open to receiving. That openness is what allows the energy to move through you.

Is Distance Reiki Effective?

Yes. It can be just as effective, and for some, even more so. Being in your own comfortable space, with privacy and familiar surroundings, can help you relax deeply and open to the healing.

For people who experience social anxiety, PTSD, or simply feel nervous around others, it can be challenging to fully receive energy healing when someone is physically present. Reiki works best when you're in a receptive state, and for some, that state happens more easily when they're alone.

If you feel hesitant or uncomfortable about an in-person session, I often recommend starting with Distance Reiki. It allows you to gently ease into the experience, building trust with the healing process before having someone physically with you.

Client Experiences: Reporting the Effectiveness of Distance Reiki

Clients often report feeling the Reiki energy in some form during sessions.

Some clients experience emotional releases－such as tears, deep sighs, or shifts in mood － while others simply notice a profound sense of relaxation or lightness afterward.

Sensitivity to energy varies from person to person, but many clients describe seeing, sensing, or otherwise experiencing the energy in some form.

Q&A

Q: Is it just placebo?

The placebo effect is real.

In fact, the placebo effect is so powerful that many medical and energy-based treatments are tested against it in clinical trials.

Placebo doesn't mean "fake," rather the body responds to belief, care, and attention.

In a 2024 double-blind study published on PubMed, researchers explored the effects of remote energy healing across 117 participants. Some received real distance healing. Others received a sham version. The result? The group that received real distant healing showed statistically significant improvements in fatigue, stress, anxiety, trauma and cognitive clarity－surpassing the changes seen in the placebo group.

This shows that while belief may play a role, something more than a placebo is likely at work.

Q: Do I need to believe in it for it to work?

Not exactly. But, being open can make a big difference.

Let's put it this way: If I don't believe that people are caring, I'm less likely to recognize acts of care, even when they happen. My belief acts as a filter, shaping how I receive the world.

The same is true with energy. Reiki doesn't require blind faith, but it does benefit from openness. If you've already decided it won't work, you may block yourself from feeling it, not because the energy isn't present, but because your resistance closes the door. Think of it like having an energetic wall up.

On the other hand, believing (or willing to) can help you relax, open your energetic field, and become more sensitive to the healing process.

Q: What if I don't feel anything?

This is completely normal.

Everyone experiences Reiki differently.

As touched on earlier, some people feel warmth, tingling, waves of energy, or they may see certain images or light during a session. Others may not feel much at all in the moment, but later notice that they feel lighter, more grounded, or simply more at peace.

Reiki is subtle.

It works beneath the surface, where it clears energy, restores balance, and activates your body's natural healing processes. These shifts may unfold gently, sometimes over hours or days.

It's like a seed planted beneath the soil, the healing is still happening, even if you can't see or feel it right away.

Whether you experience vivid sensations or just a sense of calm, the energy has been received. Your mind, body, and spirit will integrate it in the best way it knows how.

Q: What can Distance Reiki help with?

Distance Reiki can support healing on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels.

Some common reasons people seek this type of healing include:

Reducing stress & nervous system overload
Trauma recovery
Easing anxiety, depression & emotional fatigue
Moving through grief, heartbreak, or life transitions like divorce
Feeling stuck in the "in-between" periods of life
Soothing chronic discomforts such as back pain, frozen shoulders, or sciatica
Supporting chronic health conditions
Enhancing clarity & reducing brain fog or mental fatigue
Clearing spiritual & mental blocks
Deepening your connection to self, intuition, & emotional awareness
Supporting balance during major life events
Relationship healing & inner child healing
Helping you feel more centered, balanced, & in tune with your overall well-being