Q. Tell us a little about yourself and your hypnotherapy and Reiki practice. How long have you been a hypnotherapist and when did you start incorporating Reiki into your hypnotherapy sessions?
I have lived in Singapore for 8 years with my husband and daughter and we love it here 🙂
I have been interested in various types of Complementary Healing since I was in my early 20’s – I didn’t like the feeling of powerlessness when going to the Drs about issues that they didn’t seem to have a clear answer to. I do feel there is an important place for Western Medicine but I believe there are other less invasive methods for certain conditions. I also feel that other more natural and nurturing therapies can be a good support to Conventional Medicine for most issues as well. I love the fact that Reiki and Hypnotherapy treat the root cause of disease in the body rather than only the symptom, allowing for more lasting change.
I began my Reiki training in 2007. A friend had just done a Reiki course and was raving about it. She did a healing session for me and it felt so calming and invigorating at the same time, I loved it! I was inspired by how good it felt along with its simplicity and felt empowered that I could help myself and my family. This was important to me, not only because I had spent a great deal of time and money going to others for treatment, but also because I was beginning to realize that we are really the ones who are in control of our healing.
Reiki introduced me to the importance of energy and seemed to catapult me in a new direction, one that seemed more appropriate to my life at the time. I was also interested in the brain and the power of the mind. My Mum had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers and I wanted to know more about what the mind can achieve. A year later I trained as a Hypnotherapist and soon after began working in this area as well as giving Reiki treatments. I find it fascinating and humbling to work with the subconscious mind and the wonderful loving energy of Reiki. It felt natural to use Reiki in Hypnotherapy sessions as it is such a positive addition and support.
Since I began my Reiki journey in 2007, I changed my work path from teaching, working for charities and events organizer to being a complementary health practitioner. I have been working as a Hypnotherapist and a Reiki Practitioner for over 4 years and find it extremely rewarding.
Q. Both hypnotherapy and Reiki are modalities used for healing. What do you think are the differences in terms of what each one does and its effects on the client?
With Hypnotherapy, the Hypnotherapist is working with the client’s subconscious mind towards a goal set by the client. As a team we are working with and directing mind energy. The body is also connected to the mind so that also comes into play. I find Hypnotherapy can be more specific as we are using both the client’s and the therapist’s mind energy towards what the client wants. We are using the conscious mind to direct the subconscious mind.
The subconscious mind is where all your emotions, habits and beliefs are stored. We access this part of the mind naturally throughout the day. When you are watching a movie and you jump at the scary bits or when you are driving somewhere and wonder how you got to your destination are both examples of your subconscious mind taking over which is what hypnosis is. The conscious mind is still functioning but it takes a back seat.
Whilst I am giving a Reiki session, for the most part I am merely a channel for the energy and the client’s body will use the energy where it is needed most. I feel my role here is to make sure my personal energy is loving and non invasive. I step back and trust the pure energy and the innate wisdom of the body.
Both can lead to similar results for the client. Both techniques work with energy but in different forms. Reiki is a pure energy that is being funneled into the body during a treatment to be used by the body as needed. We are not using the conscious mind to direct the energy. In a Hypnotherapy session we are using more conscious energy to direct the mind, body and spiritual energy to a certain goal.
A Hypnotherapist helps someone into their subconscious using a range of techniques in order to make the changes the client wants. With Reiki, after around 20minutes most people will access their subconscious minds, a state where a natural healing can take place via the body’s wisdom. The body is also receiving the benefits of the Reiki energy. There is little directing via the practitioner in terms of talk therapy or conscious mind. However the practitioner can be using their intuition to place their hands to the area of the body that may need it most.
I do find I lean towards Reiki for a gentler and more holistic approach in certain cases. If someone is going through a tough time generally, or is out of balance I may recommend Reiki. Sometimes I feel Reiki is less invasive if someone isn’t quite ready to make the change, peeling the layers of the onion in a gentler way.
Q. How does Reiki and hypnotherapy complement each other?
The two modalities enhance each other. Both techniques use different forms of energy via the conscious and subconscious mind and I feel marrying the two forms is a powerful combination. With Reiki it gives the space to let go and trust, with Hypnotherapy one can use the conscious mind to direct.
With either technique the client’s subconscious will come to the fore and they will enter a natural healing state. The brain waves will slow down and this is a time when the body can replenish and reprogram.
Reiki helps me to trust and let go. I feel it adds a loving energy that gently guides, releases, supports and balances for the benefit of all. I find Hypnotherapy can help to get to specifics, it can be faster and more direct.
Q. Do you include Reiki in all your hypnotherapy sessions or is it on a case-by-case basis? If it is the latter, how do you decide when to include Reiki?
People come to me for Reiki or Hypotherapy and sometimes enquire about a combination. I generally use the tool they have requested as this is their comfort level, interest and intuitive choice. We are all very different, with different likes, histories and families so different tools can appeal and work for different people.
Once in a while I will suggest another option or combine them both. As a general rule, for the more specific issues I would usually be more drawn to use Hypnotherapy. For healing, multiple issues and general symptoms, I often find a few Reiki sessions help clear out the clutter and put things into perspective. For a powerful combination I have sometimes used hypnotherapy techniques of visualisation or talk therapy whilst giving a Reiki session. If there is a lot of physical or emotional pain I would also often use a combination.
With every session I will use Reiki to clear the space and to centre myself before and afterwards. During some Hypnotherapy sessions, I will also use Reiki to harmonise and send love to the client when it feels appropriate.
Q. Can you share with us an experience where you have combined hypnotherapy and Reiki?
I had a client who felt she had a ‘negative energy’ in her body and had had it as long as she could remember. She had come to me for Hypnotherapy but my hands were drawn to giving Reiki during the session so I asked her if I could place my hands on her and give her some Reiki energy whilst we continued with the session.
When I got to her stomach, it started to vibrate pretty vigorously. We continued with the Hypnotherapy style session of questioning and doing a guided visualization whereby we worked together to help her ease the discomfort away in the best way for her. I was amazed by this seemingly extreme reaction as well as the fact she was rid of the energy she had had most of her life. I had continued to place my hands on her throughout the process and felt the Reiki had really helped to support and guide the process.
I saw her on a couple if subsequent sessions and it was still much better and her life seemed to be flowing fantastically.
