“Exploring Reiki: A Mental Health Practitioner’s Perspective:

With all the events, workshops, and conversations we've been having about self-care and balance, we realised it was time to take our own advice. We've been reminding others to slow down, tune in, and recharge - but were we doing the same for ourselves? Not quite. So, we decided it was time for a reset.

Thankfully, we have an incredible team of practitioners, and who better to guide us back to balance than Martina? She's been with us for some time, building a strong following with her healing work. When our clinical director shared how she was feeling, she didn't hesitate - Reiki was the answer. And what happened next was more powerful than we expected...

As a mental health practitioner, I’ve always approached alternative and holistic practices with a mix of curiosity and scepticism. While I deeply believe in the role of energy - often sensing shifts in the emotional space of my sessions - I never truly explored energy work in a formal way. It’s something I acknowledge behind the scenes, but I hadn’t taken that next step to experience it firsthand. That changed when I had my first Reiki session.

Going into it, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I’ve heard about Reiki as a powerful practice for energy healing, but I wondered: Would I actually feel anything? Would it resonate with me? What I didn’t anticipate was how much my body would respond to the session. From the moment it began, I felt a deep sense of awareness - physical, emotional, even subconscious. The experience was unexpected in the best way, bringing forward images, sensations, and emotions that seemed to surface effortlessly. It wasn’t just relaxation; it was insight, clarity, and a reminder of how much our bodies store and communicate, even when our minds are preoccupied elsewhere.

What struck me most was how Reiki didn’t require me to believe in it for it to have an impact. It simply worked. It was a session that felt intuitive, profound, and incredibly validating. It made me reflect on how many of us - especially those in caring professions - carry so much in our nervous systems without even realizing it. And how practices like Reiki can be an unexpected but meaningful way to reconnect with ourselves.

I had this experience with Martina, one of our incredible Reiki healers at Saúde In The City, and I’m so grateful for the work she does. If you’ve been curious about Reiki, I highly recommend booking a session to experience it for yourself. While we have multiple skilled Reiki practitioners available, this particular session was guided by Martina, whose approach made a profound impact on me.

For those who have been curious about Reiki but hesitant to try, I can honestly say it’s an experience worth exploring. Whether you’re looking to release stored tension, reconnect with yourself, or simply try something new, it’s a practice that meets you exactly where you are. If this speaks to you, I encourage you to book a session and experience it first hand - you might just be surprised at what comes up for you too."

- Clarinda Brandão, Clinical Director at Saúde In The City, Lisbon