Healing and support for the animals we love
Animals can experience physical discomfort, fear, anxiety, stress and the effects of difficult or traumatic experiences, just as they can be affected by changes in their environment, relationships and everyday life. Sometimes we know exactly what has happened; at other times, we simply sense that something isn't right.
Shamanic Reiki offers a gentle, non-invasive way of supporting an animal's physical, emotional and energetic wellbeing. I work primarily with Reiki, allowing the animal to engage with the healing in their own way and at their own pace. Where it feels appropriate, I may also use elements of Journey work to explore and help release emotional experiences they may be carrying.
Whenever possible, I work with animals in their own home, where they can remain in familiar surroundings and choose how close they want to be to me throughout the session.
When healing may help
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Anxiety, fear or nervousness — including general anxiety, separation difficulties or sensitivity to particular situations
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Trauma and difficult past experiences — particularly rescue animals or animals whose early history may be unknown
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Reactivity and heightened responses — helping support greater emotional regulation and a sense of safety
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Change or disruption — moving home, a new baby, another animal arriving or leaving, changes within the household or altered routines
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Grief and loss — including the loss of an animal or human companion
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Illness, injury or recovery — offering gentle complementary support alongside veterinary treatment
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Pain, discomfort or reduced mobility — particularly for older animals or those living with ongoing physical difficulties
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Stress around veterinary treatment or procedures — before or during a period of treatment and through recovery
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Ageing and end of life — offering comfort, calm and loving support through an animal's final stage of life
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Behavioural or emotional changes — particularly when an animal seems unsettled, withdrawn or simply unlike themselves
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General wellbeing — your animal doesn't need to have a problem; Reiki can simply be a deeply relaxing and nurturing experience.
Healing may be helpful for animals experiencing:
The connection between you
The bond we share with an animal can be extraordinarily deep. We affect one another emotionally, and when an animal is frightened, unwell or struggling, the person who loves them may be carrying fear, worry, grief, frustration or helplessness too.
Sometimes it can therefore be helpful to work not only with the animal, but with their human. A reiki session or Journey process can offer an opportunity to explore and release some of what you may be carrying — whether that relates directly to what is happening now, or touches something deeper within your own experience.
This isn't about suggesting that you have caused your animal's difficulties. Rather, it recognises the depth of the relationship between you. When something shifts within us, the way we feel, respond and relate can change — and an animal who is deeply attuned to us may experience that change too.
This can be particularly valuable when an animal is anxious or reactive, during illness or recovery, through major changes, or when you are facing ageing, loss or the end of your animal's life.
Explore Reiki or The Journey in more depth
How the healing works
Reiki for your animal
We start by exploring what is happening in your relationship, what feels difficult and what each of you would most like to change or deepen. This gives both of you space to be heard and helps us identify the individual patterns or experiences that may be most valuable to explore through your Journey work.
Journey work where appropriate
At times, I may feel that Journey work could offer another way of exploring an emotional experience or trauma that an animal appears to be carrying. This can offer a deeper way of connecting with what may be held beneath the surface, allowing difficult experiences and emotions to be acknowledged and gently released.
Reiki or a Journey for you
Sometimes the most helpful work may include Reiki a Journey for the person caring for the animal. This might support you through fear, grief or difficult decisions, but it can also explore emotional patterns and responses that may be affecting the relationship between you and your animal.
Following your animal's lead
For some animals, a single healing session may be all that is needed. Others may benefit from a sequence of sessions, allowing the healing to deepen over time — particularly where there are longer-standing physical or emotional difficulties, trauma or significant change. We can be guided by your animal and by how they respond, rather than deciding in advance how many sessions they should have.
Working in your animal's own space
For many animals, home is where they feel safest. I therefore come to your animal wherever possible, allowing them to receive healing within their own familiar environment without the added stress of travelling somewhere new.
You stay with your animal throughout the session. We will often begin with a short, gentle meditation together, helping the people in the room to settle and relax too. Animals can be highly sensitive to the emotional state of the humans around them, so creating a calmer atmosphere can help your animal feel safe and able to relax more deeply into the healing.
I won't expect your animal to interact with me in a particular way. Some come close, some move around, some settle or sleep, and others prefer to receive the healing from a distance. I follow their cues and allow them choice throughout.
Supporting the bond you share
Whether your animal is struggling physically or emotionally, adjusting to change, carrying the effects of an earlier experience, growing older — or simply in need of some gentle nurturing — healing can offer a space for comfort, connection and support.
Sometimes that means working with your animal. Sometimes there may be something valuable for you to explore too. And sometimes the most supportive approach will involve both.
If you feel your animal could benefit from healing, you can simply book a session and I will come to you. We can talk about what has been happening when we meet, and allow the session to be guided by your animal and what they need on the day.
Working alongside veterinary care
Shamanic Reiki is a complementary therapy and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. If your animal is unwell, injured, in pain or showing new or concerning symptoms, they should always be assessed by a veterinary professional.
Reiki can be offered alongside veterinary treatment and may provide gentle support for your animal’s overall wellbeing, comfort and relaxation. I will never advise you to stop or change medication or veterinary treatment, and where appropriate I may suggest that you seek veterinary advice before we work together.
If your animal needs urgent medical attention, please contact your vet or an emergency veterinary service rather than booking a Reiki session.