Reiki & Wellness Programs for Cancer Patients

Promoting Wellness and Mindfulness

The Cancer Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) offers comprehensive care for people with cancer. As part of this, we offer Reiki and other wellness programs. Our team provides comprehensive supportive care during and after your cancer care journey, including mental health services.

Free Reiki Sessions for Cancer Patients

Reiki sessions are available at no cost to you. You can access Reiki sessions while you’re spending time in the hospital as an inpatient, as well as during outpatient infusion visits. Trained Reiki practitioners volunteer their time to staff and the program, and provide Reiki sessions Tuesday through Friday.

What is Reiki?

Reiki (pronounced “ray-key”) in Japanese means “universal life force energy.” This is the energy flowing through all living things. Reiki is a relaxation technique that supports the body's natural ability to find balance and experience a sense of well-being.

Reiki is a simple, gentle and safe hands-on technique that promotes stress reduction. Reiki provides you with a few quiet moments away from the hospital routine to refocus and relax.

What To Expect During Reiki

You are fully clothed during a Reiki session. The practitioner will discuss hand placement prior to the session, so you’ll know what to expect. They can also answer any questions you have.

During a Reiki session, the practitioner will place their hands lightly on or above different areas of your body. Usually, the practitioner’s hands rest on or above an area for three to five minutes before moving on to the next area. There is no specific order to the locations where the practitioner places their hands. Sessions last anywhere from five to 20 minutes.

You can be in any position during a Reiki session. You may change positions during the session, if you like. Whether you are lying down or sitting, this is a time for you to relax. You can close your eyes, take relaxing breaths and allow the Reiki to provide whatever it is that you need in that moment or for the day. You may have your session in silence or accompanied by music.

Sensations During a Reiki Session

The most common sensations that recipients describe during a Reiki session are warmth, coolness, gentle tingling and/or pulsation in particular areas of the body. The recipient generally feels this just below the area where the practitioner is placing their hands. You may feel a sense of deep relaxation and well-being. Other times, you may feel nothing at all. You also may experience something different during each Reiki session.

Sign Up for Reiki

Please speak with your nurse, social worker or doctor to request a complimentary Reiki session.

To learn more about Reiki, contact Joyce Delgardo (Reiki program coordinator) by phone at 617-667-5831 or by email.

Partnership with Sadhguru Center for a Conscious Planet

The Sadhguru Center for a Conscious Planet teaches best practices to health care workers and the community. We focus on the importance of raising individual consciousness for better cognition and compassion.

The center's goal is to improve these conditions:

• Patient care
• Patient outcomes
• Quality of life for all

We believe that heightened awareness — being present — improves cognition and increases compassion, therefore creating a more humane world.

Outreach Programs for Cancer Patients

Our center conducts community outreach to the health professionals, patients and families. We offer wellness and educational programs for cancer patients that focus on a variety of topics:

Staff at the center also offer personalized wellness workshops.