What Is Reiki and How Can It Help Anxious, Over-Functioning Women Finally Rest?

You know that feeling when you finally sit down at the end of the day, and instead of relaxing, your brain immediately starts running through tomorrow's to-do list? Or when someone tells you to "just relax" and you want to throat-punch them because if you knew how to do that, you would have done it years ago?

Yeah. I see you.

If you are an anxious, over-functioning woman who has spent most of her life being the "good girl," the reliable one, the person everyone else leans on, the idea of rest probably feels foreign. Maybe even impossible. Your nervous system has been running on high alert for so long that you have genuinely forgotten what calm feels like. And honestly? That is not your fault. But it is something we can work on.

This is where Reiki comes in. And no, I am not going to tell you it is some magical cure-all that will fix everything overnight. That would be bullshit, and I do not do bullshit. But I am going to tell you that Reiki might be exactly what your exhausted body and overwhelmed spirit have been craving, even if you did not know it existed until right now.

What Exactly Is Reiki?

Reiki is a Japanese energy healing technique that promotes relaxation, stress reduction, and overall wellbeing. The word itself comes from two Japanese words: "rei," meaning universal or spiritual, and "ki," meaning life force energy. So Reiki literally translates to "universal life energy."

Here is the basic idea, and stay with me here: everything in our world, including you, is made up of energy. Call it life force, call it spirit, call it whatever resonates with you. When that energy flows freely, we feel balanced, grounded, and healthy. When it gets blocked or stagnant from stress, trauma, emotional pain, or just the sheer exhaustion of trying to hold everyone's shit together all the time, we start to feel it. Anxiety creeps in. Sleep becomes a distant memory. Our bodies hold tension in places we did not even know could be tense.

Reiki works by channeling healing energy through a practitioner's hands to help clear those blockages and restore balance to your energy system. During a session, you remain fully clothed while I place my hands lightly on or just above different areas of your body. Most people describe the experience as deeply relaxing. You might feel warmth, tingling, or a sense of peaceful heaviness settling into your bones.

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. "This sounds a little woo-woo." And honestly? I get it. If you had told me years ago that I would be practicing energy healing alongside therapy, I might have raised an eyebrow too. But here is what I have learned through my own healing journey and through working with hundreds of women: our bodies hold so much more than we give them credit for. There is wisdom in your cells, in your energy, in the parts of you that exist beyond what you can think your way through. And sometimes, the most powerful healing happens when we stop trying to logic our way out of pain and instead let our bodies and spirits lead.

My witchy, spiritual side is not separate from my work as a healer. It is woven into everything I do. And if that resonates with you, even a little bit, keep reading.

Why Over-Functioning Women Struggle to Rest

Before we dive deeper into how Reiki can help, let us talk about why rest feels so damn hard for women like you in the first place.

If you are reading this, chances are you have spent a significant portion of your life being the responsible one. Maybe you were parentified as a child, meaning you took on adult responsibilities way before you should have. Maybe you learned early on that being "good" and "helpful" and "reliable" was the way to earn love and approval. Or maybe you discovered that staying busy was a really effective way to avoid feeling all those confusing, overwhelming emotions bubbling under the surface.

Whatever the origin story, the result is the same: your nervous system learned that resting is not safe. That slowing down means something will fall apart. That your worth is tied to your productivity, your usefulness, your ability to anticipate everyone else's needs before they even know they have them.

Sound familiar?

Here is the thing I need you to hear: this is not a character flaw. This is an adaptation. Your brilliant brain and body developed these patterns to help you survive in an environment that did not feel safe or predictable. The problem is that what once protected you is now running you into the ground. You are operating on cortisol and caffeine, wondering why you cannot sleep even though you are bone-tired, snapping at people you love because you have nothing left to give, and then feeling guilty about all of it on top of everything else.

It is exhausting. And you deserve better.

Here is the truth that nobody tells over-functioning women: you cannot think your way into rest. You cannot create a detailed enough plan or optimize your schedule enough or complete enough items on your to-do list to finally earn the right to slow down. Rest is not something you earn. It is something you practice. And for women whose nervous systems have been stuck in overdrive for years, sometimes decades, that practice requires more than just deciding to take a bubble bath or scheduling a spa day.

This is where body-based approaches like Reiki become so valuable. We have to go deeper than the thinking mind to truly shift these patterns.

How Reiki Helps Anxious Women Find Calm

Traditional talk therapy is incredibly valuable, and I use several therapeutic approaches in my practice. I love the work I do with Brainspotting, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, and ACT. But here is something I have noticed over my years of working with anxious, over-functioning women: sometimes we need to bypass the thinking brain entirely and go straight to the body and the energy that lives there.

Why? Because anxiety does not just live in your thoughts. It lives in the tightness of your shoulders. The knot in your stomach. The way you hold your breath without realizing it. The racing heart that kicks in every time you remember something you forgot to do. Your body has been keeping score of every stressor, every trauma, every moment when you were not safe, long before your conscious mind even knew what was happening.

Reiki works directly with this body-held stress and tension. Here is how it can specifically help anxious, over-functioning women:

It Teaches Your Nervous System That Rest Is Safe

For women who have been in fight-or-flight mode for years, the idea of letting your guard down can feel terrifying on a subconscious level. Even if you consciously want to relax, your body might have other plans. Reiki provides a gentle, non-invasive way to show your nervous system that it is okay to soften. There are no demands placed on you during a session. You do not have to talk, process, or figure anything out. You just have to receive.

For many women, this is a radical experience. When was the last time someone gave to you without expecting anything in return? When was the last time you were allowed to just be, without performing or producing or problem-solving? If you cannot remember, that tells you something important.

It Helps Release Stored Emotions and Tension

Our bodies are incredible at storing emotions we do not have time or space to process. That tension in your neck might be years of swallowed words. The tightness in your hips might be holding grief you never let yourself fully feel. The heaviness in your chest might be all the times you said "I'm fine" when you absolutely were not fine.

Reiki can help move this stuck energy, sometimes bringing emotions to the surface to be released and sometimes simply creating more ease and flow in the body without any big dramatic catharsis. There is no right or wrong way for this to happen. Your body knows what it needs.

Every person's experience is different, and I always work with what your body and energy are asking for in the moment. Some sessions feel deeply emotional. Others feel like sinking into a warm bath of calm. Both are valid. Both are healing.

It Creates Space for Your Body's Natural Healing

Here is something that never ceases to amaze me about this work: our bodies want to heal. They are constantly working toward balance and wholeness. The problem is that when we are chronically stressed, overwhelmed, and running on empty, we do not give our bodies the resources they need to do this healing work. We are too busy surviving to actually thrive.

Reiki supports your body's innate wisdom. It is not about me fixing you or forcing change. It is about creating the conditions where your own healing capacity can finally do what it naturally wants to do. Think of it as clearing the path so your own magic can flow.

It Provides a Respite from the Mental Chatter

If you are an anxious over-thinker (and if you have read this far, I am guessing you are), you know how exhausting it is to have a brain that never shuts the hell up. The constant analysis. The what-ifs. The replaying of conversations. The anticipation of problems that have not even happened yet. It is like having a hamster wheel in your head that just keeps spinning.

During Reiki, many women experience a quieting of this mental noise. Not because they are forcing their thoughts to stop, but because the deep relaxation allows the mind to finally take a damn break. Some people drift into a meditative state. Others fall asleep, and that is totally fine. Either way, your overworked brain gets a much-needed rest.

What to Expect During a Reiki Session

If you have never experienced Reiki before, it is natural to wonder what actually happens during a session. Let me walk you through what working with me looks like.

First, we will talk briefly about what is bringing you to Reiki and what you are hoping to experience. This is not a lengthy intake process or anything too formal. Just a quick check-in so I can understand where you are and what you need.

Then, you will lie down fully clothed on a comfortable treatment table. I typically dim the lights and play soft music to create a relaxing environment. You do not need to do anything except breathe and allow yourself to receive. I know that might sound simple, but for over-functioners, "doing nothing" can feel like the hardest thing in the world. That is okay. I will guide you through it.

I will place my hands lightly on or just above various positions on your body, typically starting at the head and moving down to the feet. Each position is held for several minutes, allowing the energy to flow where it is needed. You might feel warmth, tingling, or pulsing sensations. You might see colors or images behind your closed eyes. You might not feel anything specific at all, and that is completely normal too. Energy work can be subtle.

The session typically lasts about an hour. Afterward, we will take a few minutes to check in about your experience. I will often offer some observations about what I noticed during the session, though I always respect that you are the expert on your own body and experience. I am not here to tell you what you felt. I am here to hold space while you figure that out.

Most people leave feeling deeply relaxed, sometimes a bit dreamy or floaty. I recommend giving yourself some time after a session rather than rushing back into your busy life. Resist the urge to immediately check your phone or dive into your inbox. This is part of the practice of rest: honoring that your body has just done important work and deserves space to integrate.

Reiki as Part of a Holistic Healing Journey

I want to be real with you: I do not believe in one-size-fits-all approaches to healing. Anyone who tells you they have the one answer that works for everyone is full of it. What works beautifully for one person might not resonate with another. And while Reiki can be incredibly powerful on its own, I find it often works best as part of a broader, personalized approach to healing.

In my practice in Lynnwood, WA, I offer Reiki alongside other therapeutic modalities including Brainspotting, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Intuitive Eating Therapy, and Person-Centered Therapy. I also offer intensive therapy sessions for those who want to do deeper work in a condensed timeframe, as well as group therapy options for women who benefit from healing in community with other women who get it.

Why do I offer so many different approaches? Because I have learned that healing is not linear, and different moments in our journey call for different tools. Sometimes you need to process and talk through what is happening in your life. Sometimes you need to work directly with trauma memories using approaches like Brainspotting or ART. And sometimes, especially for women who have been pushing through and over-functioning for years, you need to simply stop doing and let yourself receive. You need to remember that you are more than your productivity.

Reiki can be that receiving. It can be the thing that finally convinces your body that rest is not just allowed but necessary. And from that place of rest, so much more becomes possible. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and you sure as hell cannot heal when you are running on fumes.

Is Reiki Right for You?

Reiki might be a good fit if:

You have been in traditional talk therapy and found it helpful but feel like something is missing. Like you understand your patterns intellectually but still cannot seem to actually change them in your body.

You are exhausted from being the one who holds everything together and are ready to experience what it feels like to let someone else hold space for you.

You are curious about body-based or energy healing approaches but have been hesitant because they seem too "out there." Spoiler: they are not as weird as you think.

You have tried everything else to manage your anxiety and are willing to explore something different.

You have a spiritual or intuitive side that you have maybe pushed aside for years but are ready to reconnect with. That part of you is still there, waiting.

You are a busy woman who needs efficient, effective healing approaches because you do not have years to spend talking about your childhood. You want real change.

You resonate with the idea that your body holds wisdom and are interested in learning to listen to it instead of constantly overriding its signals.

Reiki is not a replacement for therapy, medical care, or any other treatment you may be receiving. It is a complementary approach that can enhance your overall wellbeing and support your healing journey in a unique way. Think of it as another tool in your healing toolkit.

Common Questions About Reiki

Do I need to believe in Reiki for it to work?

Nope. Reiki is not a religion or belief system. You do not need to subscribe to any particular worldview to benefit from it. All you need is an openness to the experience and a willingness to receive. Plenty of skeptics have found themselves surprised by how much Reiki sessions affect them. I do not need you to believe anything. I just need you to show up.

How many sessions will I need?

This varies widely from person to person and depends on what you are working with. Some people come for a single session when they are feeling particularly stressed or overwhelmed. Others make Reiki a regular part of their self-care routine, coming monthly or even weekly. During our initial consultation, we can talk about what might be most supportive for your specific situation and goals.

Is Reiki safe?

Yes. Reiki is gentle and non-invasive. There are no known negative side effects. Occasionally people experience what is called a "healing response," which might include temporary fatigue, emotional releases, or vivid dreams as the body processes and integrates the session. These are typically mild and pass quickly. It just means things are moving.

Can Reiki help with physical issues or just emotional ones?

While I work primarily with emotional and mental health concerns, many people find that Reiki has positive effects on physical tension and discomfort as well. This makes sense when you consider how interconnected our physical, emotional, and energetic bodies are. The stress and anxiety you carry does not just affect your mood. It affects your muscles, your digestion, your sleep, your immune system. Everything is connected. When we address the energetic and emotional layers, the physical body often responds too.

What is the difference between Reiki and massage?

Massage works directly with the physical body, manipulating muscles and tissues. Reiki works with the energy body and involves light touch or hands hovering just above the body. Both can be deeply relaxing, but they are working on different levels. Some people find that receiving both modalities at different times provides comprehensive support for their wellbeing.

Taking the First Step

If you have read this far, something here is resonating with you. Maybe it is the idea of finally giving yourself permission to rest. Maybe it is the possibility that healing does not have to be all hard work and processing and figuring things out. Maybe you are just tired enough and curious enough to try something new.

Whatever brought you here, I want you to know that reaching out is the hardest part. And you do not have to have it all figured out before you do. You do not need to know exactly what you need or have the perfect words to describe what you are going through. You do not need to have your shit together first. You just need to be willing to take one small step.

I offer a free consultation where we can talk about what you are experiencing and whether Reiki, therapy, or a combination of approaches might be helpful for you. There is no pressure and no obligation. Just a real conversation to see if we might be a good fit for working together. I am not for everyone, and that is okay. But if you are feeling pulled toward this work, trust that.

You have spent so much of your life taking care of everyone else. What would it be like to let someone take care of you for a change? What would it feel like to actually rest, not just collapse from exhaustion, but truly rest? What might become possible if you were not running on empty all the time?

Let us find out.

Ready to Experience Deep Rest?

If you are an anxious, over-functioning woman in Lynnwood, WA, or anywhere in Washington State (I offer online sessions too), I would love to connect with you. Whether you are drawn to Reiki specifically or are curious about other body-based approaches to healing anxiety and reclaiming your sense of self, the first step is the same.

Reach out for a free consultation. Let us talk about where you are, where you want to be, and what might actually help you get there. You deserve to feel at home in your body. You deserve rest that feels restful. And you deserve support from someone who gets it and will be real with you, not just nod along and ask how that makes you feel.

Contact me today to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward finally, truly resting. Your future self will thank you.