Reiki or talking therapy: which one do you actually need?
By Vanessa Chugani · Updated August 2026
Reiki offers rest and quiet support for the nervous system; it does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. If you are dealing with depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, suicidal thoughts, or a relationship or family crisis, see a qualified therapist or doctor first. Reiki can sit alongside that care, never replace it.
People often ask me whether to book a Reiki session or find a therapist, as though the two solve the same problem. They do not. Talking therapy works with words: a trained professional listens, asks questions, and helps you work through what is happening in your mind, often over many sessions and sometimes using specific clinical methods. Reiki works differently. You lie down, fully clothed, and rest while I sit with you, hands lightly placed or held just above you. There is no discussion of your history, no diagnosis, no treatment plan. For some situations that quiet is genuinely useful. For others, it is not enough, and saying so plainly matters more than filling a session.
| Reiki | Talking therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | You lie down, fully clothed, while I hold my hands lightly on or near you. Little or no talking. | You talk, and a trained therapist listens and responds, often using a specific method they are trained in. |
| What it's for | Rest, quiet and a pause from an overstretched nervous system, alongside whatever else you have going on. | Working through mental health conditions, trauma, grief or relationship difficulty with someone qualified to help you do that. |
| Qualifications involved | A Reiki practitioner trained through levels of attunement in the Usui lineage. No clinical qualification implied. | A licensed or accredited therapist, often with a specific clinical qualification and professional registration. |
| Typical length of engagement | Often a single session, sometimes a short package of three or five, spaced out as you like. | Usually weekly sessions over weeks or months, depending on what you are working through. |
| Crisis or emergency situations | Not appropriate. Reiki is not designed for crisis support and I will say so if that is what you need. | The right first call, alongside a doctor or crisis service if things are urgent. |
| Cost | EUR 188 in person in Canggu, EUR 138 by distance. Packages available. | Varies by therapist and location. I do not know what others charge, so I will not guess. |
Which one suits you
Reiki suits someone who is generally coping but wants a space to slow down: disrupted sleep, background stress, a stretch of feeling flat with no bigger crisis attached, or someone who wants quiet support alongside other care they are already getting. It also suits people curious about the practice itself, or about training in it later. Talking therapy is the right call when something specific and ongoing needs to be worked through with a qualified professional: a diagnosed or suspected mental health condition, trauma that keeps resurfacing, a relationship or family crisis that needs structured help, grief that has stalled rather than moved, or any point where you are having thoughts of harming yourself. If that is where you are, please see a therapist or doctor first. I am glad to hold a Reiki session alongside that care, but I will not pretend it can stand in for it.
Related questions
Can I do both Reiki and therapy at the same time?
Yes. Many people combine the two: therapy for the specific work of talking things through, Reiki for a quiet hour of rest alongside it. Tell your therapist you are doing both if it feels relevant. Reiki is not a substitute for therapy and should not be used to avoid starting it if you need it.
How do I know if what I need is therapy rather than Reiki?
A rough guide: if you can name a specific issue such as anxiety, depression, trauma or a relationship crisis, or if it has lasted weeks and is not lifting, that points to therapy. If you mostly feel run down and want an hour of quiet, Reiki may be enough on its own.
What if I mention something serious during a Reiki session?
I am not a therapist, and if what you describe during a session needs more than Reiki can offer, I will say so plainly and point you towards a therapist or doctor rather than let you leave thinking the session alone was enough.