Somatic & Holistic
Interventions
At Shining Gems Child Therapy, creative and trauma informed approaches support children to express their feelings, make sense of their experiences and restore a sense of safety and confidence.
Reiki
What is Reiki?
Usui Reiki, named after its founder Dr. Mikao Usui, is a spiritual healing method that channels universal life force energy through the laying on of hands to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Mikao Usui was the father of a form of energy medicine and spiritual practice known as Reiki, used as an alternative therapy for the treatment of physical, emotional, and mental diseases.
I am trained to level 2 in Usui Reiki. Though not fully recognised by the NHS as a form of therapy, many NHS hospitals offer Reiki as a complementary therapy alongside conventional care to reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety and pain, alongside other treatments. In terms of Reiki, trauma can include everything from physical injury to a deep psychological insult that results in feelings of loss, grief, anguish or even terror. Which all impact the integrity of the mind and body, and are easily identifiable as traumatic.
Please find some research evidence below to support Reiki’s healing properties in relation to trauma, developmental trauma and combined with traditional trauma therapies (see below).
Jackson, A. (2024). “Feel what you feel: effects of Reiki on young people in secure and residential childcare?”. Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care, 23(1), 107-123. Find at: https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/88902/
McManus DE.(2017) “Reiki Is Better Than Placebo and Has Broad Potential as a Complementary Health Therapy”. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. Oct;22(4):1051-1057. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587217728644. Epub 2017 Sep 5. PMID: 28874060; PMCID: PMC5871310.
Ungar-Sargon, J. (2025). The Integrative PTSD Healing Center: A Novel Three-Tier Treatment Model Bridging Neuroscience, Spirituality, and Alternative Medicine. J Psychol Neurosci; 7(3):1-11.
Guo, X., Long, Y., Qin, Z. et al. Therapeutic effects of Reiki on interventions for anxiety: a meta-analysis. BMC Palliat Care 23, 147 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-024-01439-x.
Optional – Crystals can be used to enhance the energy healing experience, crystals can also be purchased fully reiki charged.
Aromatherapy
The Federation for Holistic Therapists (FHT) describes Aromatherapy as:
“the use of plant essential oils for therapeutic purposes…
Each oil has its own special therapeutic properties, and can be used or applied in a variety of ways, including:
…By adding a few drops to warm bath water (ideally diluted first); Through steam inhalation or vaporisers; In creams and lotions for individual use;”
At Shining Gems Child Therapy we can make a bespoke blend of essential oils in a personalised roller ball to support therapy, wellbeing and self-care. Essential oils can be used to regulate emotions, support neuroception, counteract dissociative responses, aid sleep and calm and relax.
Please see below for some examples of use of essential oils with neurodivergent children:
https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/essential-oils-for-autism-adhd-add/
https://www.understood.org/en/articles/essential-oils-for-adhd
Allergies
A full assessment will be carried out prior to treatment to check for any contraindications to treatment, allergies or sensitivities. Aromatherapists are trained in using the correct dosages for clients, including babies and children and what oils are appropriate for use.
I am fully covered by therapist public indemnity insurance, however separate parental consent will need to be given for somatic and holistic therapies for children.
If you would like to learn more about how therapy works with us, you can explore our What to Expect guide, which walks you through the process step-by-step. You can also visit our Resources Page, where you’ll find supportive tools, articles, and helpful links.
You can also explore the other interventions available here:
Children’s Accelerated Trauma Technique (CATTT)
Trauma Informed Stabilisations Treatment
(TIST) for Children
Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP®)
Or send us a message using our Contact Page.