Ground & Flow Reiki in Lisbon
Integrative Nervous System and Energy Work
Specialized in working with women and LGBTQ+ clients
Reiki sessions are offered in Lisbon and provide a way of working with the body and energy system that feels quiet, steady, and integrative.
Healing does not happen in only one dimension.
In my experience, the physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual aspects of our lives are deeply interconnected. Western psychotherapy often speaks about nervous system states, trauma held in the body, or parts of us carrying long-held burdens. Eastern philosophy has described similar experiences for centuries through the language of meridians, chakras, and the movement of energy through the body.
Different frameworks. Similar observations.
When something has been stressful, painful, or overwhelming, it does not live only in our thoughts. It can live in muscle tension, in breath patterns, in fatigue, in subtle energetic depletion, or in places that feel blocked or heavy. Sometimes a physical symptom that began with an old injury or medical condition can seem to intensify during periods of emotional stress. At other times, through therapy or personal reflection, people may notice that they can feel certain emotions, anxieties, or thought patterns in specific areas of the body, as though something has built up there over time.
Sometimes we can process these experiences through words. Sometimes something needs a different kind of attention. Something that can be hard to explain, but is experienced more energetically. Reiki is one way of working at that level.
What Is Reiki?
Reiki is a form of energy work that originated in Japan. The word itself is often translated as āuniversal life energy.ā It is based on the idea that energy flows through and around the body, and that this energy can become depleted, blocked, or imbalanced during times of stress, illness, trauma, or emotional strain.
Practitioners work with the bodyās energy system, which in many traditions includes meridians and energy centers often referred to as chakras. These frameworks come from Eastern philosophy and describe how energy moves through the body and where it can become disrupted.
Reiki is typically offered through gentle touch or hands held just above the body. The intention is to support the natural movement of energy, encouraging regulation, restoration, and balance across physical, emotional, and energetic levels.
People seek Reiki for many reasons. Some are looking for relaxation. Some are navigating grief or stress. Some are curious about the connection between body and energy. Others are simply open to experiencing something that works beyond words.
There is no single way a Reiki session is āsupposedā to feel. Experiences vary widely from person to person.
My Personal Reiki Experience
I first received Reiki in 2013 during a season of deep exhaustion and grief. My mother was ill, and I was already experiencing the loss of her. A friend who had recently completed her Level 2 training offered me a Reiki session.
I knew almost nothing about Reiki, so I went into it open-minded. I remember being surprised by how strongly I felt it. At one point, I found myself unexpectedly in tears. Nothing had been analyzed. Nothing had been explained. But something was unfolding.
That experience stayed with me. Over the years, I continued receiving Reiki and other forms of energy work and became increasingly aware of how much energy affects me personally ā how it can build, deplete, or need clearing and renewal. I also began training in offering Reiki myself.
The connection between mind, body, and spirit has felt deeply true to me since I first began learning language for that connection through Eastern philosophy and transpersonal psychology. Stepping more fully into this work through Reiki felt less like adding something new and more like integrating something that had been quietly present alongside my psychotherapy training all along.
āSometimes the body understands before the mind does. ā
Reiki and Psychotherapy Together
For some people, Reiki stands entirely on its own. For others, it complements ongoing psychotherapy.
When Reiki stands alone, sessions typically begin with a brief conversation about areas of tension in the body or current struggles. If it feels fitting, we may set a simple intention for the session. From there, the focus shifts to the body and its energy system.
In my work as a parts-oriented therapist practicing through a somatic and nervous system lens, areas of tension or āstucknessā in the body often become apparent over time. There is frequently a process of understanding and releasing long-held emotional pain or burdens. Sometimes that unfolds fully through insight and emotional processing. At other times, there is a sense that something needs a different kind of attention, as though energy is blocked or unsettled in the body.
Reiki can offer an outlet for that integration. It is not a substitute for therapy, nor is it a shortcut around emotional work. Instead, it can support the settling or energetic release that accompanies insight. In some cases, it allows experience to move in ways that feel less verbal and more embodied.
There can be something meaningful about continuing this work in the same space, with a practitioner your nervous system already recognizes as safe. At times in my own journey, I found myself wishing a Reiki practitioner could also be my therapist. Being able to hold both perspectives in one room can create a particular kind of continuity.
Some people move fluidly between psychotherapy and Reiki over time. Others come specifically for one or the other. Both are valid.
Reiki sessions take place in the same calm space as my Lisbon therapy office.
What to Expect in a Session
Sessions take place in person in the Avenidas Novas area of Lisbon, in a quiet and intentionally held space. You remain fully clothed and rest comfortably on a treatment table.
We begin with a brief conversation. You may share areas of physical discomfort, emotional stress, or anything you would like the session to hold in mind. If it feels appropriate, you can set a simple intention. There is no pressure to articulate something perfectly.
During the Reiki portion of the session, I work with gentle touch or with my hands positioned just above the body. The focus is on supporting the natural movement of energy through the bodyās meridians and energy centers.
Each session unfolds differently. Some people experience deep relaxation. Some feel internal shifts. Some notice emotion arising. Some feel warmth, tingling, or cooling sensations. Others feel very little during the session and observe changes afterward. There is no single ācorrectā experience.
We close with a few minutes of integration before you leave. If you would like to share what you noticed, there is space for that. If you prefer quiet reflection, that is welcome as well.
Who This Is Forā¦
Reiki may be a good fit if you sense that something feels energetically unsettled, even if you cannot fully explain it. Or, you may simply feel intrigued after hearing about Reiki.
You might be navigating grief, change, or chronic stress. You may notice tension, fatigue, or physical discomfort that seems connected to emotional strain. You might be engaged in therapy and feel curious about working with the body and energy more directly. Or you may simply feel drawn to a holistic approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit.
Some people seek Reiki because they are doing parts-oriented or trauma work and want additional support at a somatic or energetic level. Others are not interested in therapy at all and are simply looking for a grounded Reiki session with an English speaker in Lisbon.
I specialize in working with women and LGBTQ+ clients who are seeking a space that feels affirming, steady, and thoughtfully held. Some are navigating life transitions, identity questions, or the subtle disorientation that can come with living abroad.
You do not need prior experience with energy work or to fully understand what that means. If something in you feels curious or drawn to this work, that is enough to begin a conversation.
Important Clarification
Reiki is a distinct service and is not a substitute for psychotherapy or medical treatment. Reiki may complement other forms of care, and it may also be experienced on its own.
Frequently asked questions about Reiki
FAQs
-
Reiki is generally considered a gentle and non-invasive practice. Sessions involve light touch or hands positioned just above the body while you remain fully clothed.
Reiki is not a medical treatment and should not replace medical or mental health care. Many people choose to experience Reiki alongside other forms of care, or simply as a way to support relaxation and overall well-being.
If you have questions or would like to schedule a session, you are welcome to message me on WhatsApp or reach out through my contact page. -
No. Many people come to Reiki simply feeling curious or open to the experience.
Some people feel noticeable sensations or emotional shifts during a session, while others experience the effects more subtly or only afterward. There is no specific belief required to receive Reiki, and experiences vary widely from person to person.
If you have questions or would like to schedule a session, you are welcome to message me on WhatsApp or reach out through my contact page. -
Reiki is not a religion and does not require any particular spiritual belief system.
The practice originated in Japan and is often described using concepts from Eastern philosophy, such as energy flow through the body. People from many different backgrounds and belief systems choose to receive Reiki.
If you have questions or would like to schedule a session, you are welcome to message me on WhatsApp or reach out through my contact page. -
There is no fixed number of sessions that people need.
Some people come for a single session out of curiosity or during a stressful period of life. Others choose to schedule sessions monthly or a few times a year for support with life circumstances, stress, or general well-being.The approach can remain flexible and guided by what feels helpful for each person.
If you have questions or would like to schedule a session, you are welcome to message me on WhatsApp or reach out through my contact page.
If Reiki feels like it might be supportive, you are welcome to reach out.
If you prefer email or text instead, you can also reach me through the contact page.