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If you have found yourself researching Reiki or interested in experiencing a treatment, more than likely there is a reason you are being called to draw Reiki into your life. Whether it be receiving a reiki treatment, or learning to give and teach Reiki yourself, one thing for certain is that Reiki cannot hurt or harm you. Even if it ends up being a one time thing you will still receive benefits from it so don't be afraid to open your mind and heart to it and see how you feel! There are always safety concerns to be aware of as far as people who wish to take advantage of others. Never trust a practitioner who is offering a miracle cure or that you should stop seeing your doctor. Reiki sessions are done fully clothed (jewelry and shoes are usually removed) so a practitioner should never ask you to remove your clothing. Practitioners are also supposed to ask permission if the client is accepting of hands-on healing session or if they would prefer hands-off. Even in a hands-on healing session, a practitioner should never touch private or intimate areas.

Reiki is a Japanese Energy Healing modality that can be used by anyone. The practitioner goes through a process called an attunement, where they are opened energetically by the Reiki Symbols which create a strong pathway for the universal energy to flow. It works on a cellular and quantum level (if you are interested in Quantum Physics, there are a lot of principles that help to explain how Reiki works) to help balance the aura or what medical professionals would call the human electromagnetic field. The practitioner will activate the Reiki energy and place their hands on a client to act as a conduit for the energy. They ensure the energy is able to work through the entire body, hence the various hand positions and placements, this makes sure that if there are any blockages in the flow of energy, Reiki can still reach all parts of the body. Distance Reiki sessions do not lose any power thanks to the HSZSN distance symbol that is learned in Reiki II that can send universal energy through time and space. You can read more on the Science and Reiki page.

An attunement is performed by a Master Reiki practitioner which opens energetic channels within a student that allows them better access to higher levels of energy. Think of the amount of water that is able to flow through a gutter vs the amount of water that flows in a river. No matter how strong your connection is to energy, you cannot have a powerful flow if the energetic channels are too small. On the flip side, rushing through many different styles and attunements may increase the channels for the energy, but if your energy flow is only a little trickle, it won't ever be able to seem strong if the path is too wide. You'll want to make sure that your power and energy pathways stay relatively similar to each other, the only way to make sure that happens is to practice daily!

Reiki isn't regulated like other health modalities such as massage therapy so as a customer it's good to be somewhat informed when searching for a practitioner that is right for you. You should always look at the level of experience and training a practitioner has as well as to make sure they have the proper certification from taking an in-person class by a certified or licensed Reiki master through a reputable Reiki Association. A few different associations you can utilize to find practitioners in your area are the International House of Reiki, the International Center for Reiki Training, and the Reiki Alliance. If you are looking for clinical establishments who offer Reiki services you can also search through hospitals, clinics, and hospice programs through The Center for Reiki Research. 

Wear comfortable clothing that isn't too tight or constricting. Clients are always welcome to bring light jackets in case they get a little chilly or overheated so they can regulate their temperature better. Usually practitioners and clients tend to feel warm during Reiki sessions, so dressing in appropriate layers is a good idea.

The practitioner will discuss your intentions for the session and check in with you on how you are currently feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally. They'll also ask if there are any areas you'd like for them to focus on and see if you prefer hands on or just off the body for the session. From their they will have you get comfortable on the Reiki table before doing a short meditation for themselves and activating their Reiki. Most practitioners will do a Byosen scan, which is done by reading the thickness, warmth, and sensations of the energy around the body that we refer to as the Aura. This scan will tell the practitioner the level of trauma in that area and help them decide how long to treat affected areas. Everyone experiences the sensations of Reiki differently, some feel energetic waves wash over them, some will see colors, shapes, or figures. Others will have emotional reactions, begin crying, or fall asleep. Most people will find that their legs or arms will twitch and their stomachs gurgle, those being some of the more common experiences between clients during their Reiki sessions. Depending on the length of the session, the practitioner will place their hands at various points on the body, holding each position between 3-5 minutes before continuing. Once all hand positions are complete the practitioner will perform another Byosen scan to assess any improvement or to see if there are any areas that require additional treatments in the future. You'll then be asked to re-evaluate your current mental, physical, and emotional state to determine if you feel any better, relaxed, in less pain, etc. From there you will be asked to pay for the session and possible asked if you'd like to go ahead and schedule another treatment.  

Most insurance companies do not cover Reiki treatments in their programs. There are a few that do, but it is not common for most people to have that type of coverage. Most insurance companies that do cover Reiki, only cover it if it is apart of a treatment program recommended by your doctor, or if it's given during a hospital stay by a nurse or registered practitioner. You can contact your insurance provider to see their policies regarding Reiki treatments in medical facilities.

Some people like to have daily Reiki, others once per week, some folks only do it once or twice a year, and as you probably can guess, there are so many people who have still never had any experience with Reiki! Generally, the practitioner will want to discuss your reasons for seeking out Reiki healing  whether it be emotional trauma, chronic pain, or just to feel relaxed. Once they have enough information as far as your intentions for healing they will make a recommendation as to how often they think you should get Reiki treatments. If you're dealing with chronic pain they may try to set up a regular schedule with you so you can get the most out of Reiki's benefits for pain management, or if you have just been a bit too stressed out lately they might inform the client to use their best judgement and try to come again before they get as stressed out. The frequency of your sessions are also based on your schedule and financial situations and you reserve the right to seek Reiki as often or as little as you desire.

For this answer it's very important to bring up the difference between healing and curing something. When you heal, you find the root cause of a problem and treat it to help restore balance inside the body. Curing is more along the lines of removing the problem but not finding out the cause of the problem. Doctors can remove sick organs but that doesn't mean that underlying problem that caused the organ to become sick in the first place is taken care of. You can also heal without being cured meaning that your body is actually in balance but you still have a medical condition. There have been instances where people's medical conditions faded away with continued Reiki sessions however, it is very important to be aware that Reiki is not a cure. If a practitioner is promising to heal your serious medical conditions, or recommending that you stop seeing your doctor, or to stop taking prescription medications, they are taking advantage of you and the situation. Reiki has been proven scientifically to jumpstart the healing process of the body on a cellular level, but like we already know, each individual is different and has a variety of reactions and responses to the same thing so no general comments can be made as far as the results of Reiki healing.

Yes! The Center for Reiki Research is about bringing acceptance and understanding about biofield therapy, being one of the largest sources of scientific research on Reiki. You can create a free account which to access the articles on the current experiments being conducted.