Reiki Circle for Children
with Special Needs

Here are comments from some of the parents whose children have participated in the circles.

From a very grateful and happy mom of special needs kids:

I remember attending the "surrender" workshop in the spring (2009) and then bringing Delenn (my daugter) to a children's circle several weeks later. Personally I usually see immediate "results" from Reiki, so I thought (for whatever reason) Delenn just could not be reached (even though I KNOW that's never true!). I never put much thought into it and time went on. We found a new doctor (again) and things didn't change much. During the summer though, somewhere, somehow, Delenn's doctor made a huge impact on Delenn and our entire family. It seemed impossible at first but little by little we actually managed to stop her obsessive-compulsive behavior! He calls it "behavioral therapy" (I call it extreme parenting---like bungee jumping but a little scarier!), but it has worked wonders for all of us. Delenn is acting like her old self again, happy and giggling all the time (never stops talking) and her eyes are bright again, full of excitement for what the day holds. Most of all I've learned how to be a better mom. Looking back I can't help but wonder "when did this happen?"... And then I thought back to the Reiki workshop and letting go of my controlling behavior towards others. Letting go and letting things play out was an impossible task for me. I had a very profound experience in your workshop and it overwhelmed me how emotionally I was attached to controlling everything. Surrendering my control issues has given me a refreshing outlook on my life and it has helped my daughter surrender her issues as well since this aspect of our human experience is now cleared. I know now that all of our successes in the last several months can all be attributed to you, Bonnie, and the wonderful "services" you facilitate. Thank you for helping me help myself and create a happy environment and happy relationship with my daughter again. I will be forever grateful.

Sincerely, Amy Kast
Photographer, (occasional) Reiki practitioner and mom
October, 2009

I started bringing my 5 year old to the Reiki Children's Circle months ago for his emotional well-being. He was having a hard and stressful time with our living situation, and couldn't express his emotions in a healthy way. He was prone to outbursts and tantrums that seemed to come from nowhere. It was heart-breaking to watch because I could only imagine how he felt on the inside to be acting that way on the outside.

At first, I didn't notice any drastic changes in his behavior. After a few months though, I started to notice small things. Now, he seems to be back to the happy little boy that I always knew was in there trying to come out. Tantrums are few and far between, and he is more cooperative with our rules. He thinks about how his actions affect those around him and is much more sweet and loving. I believe most of this has to do with the wonderful healing powers of Reiki. It has been such a blessing to have found them! I believe it has changed our lives. My son loves coming to Bonnie's and the atmosphere is very inviting and relaxed. Everyone is always very friendly with us, and my son feels like the star of the show.

Not only has it helped my son, but I have benefited from it too. I feel calmed and refreshed with every session. My husband and I have been trying to have another baby for 2 years with no luck, but now I am 5 months pregnant and doing great! I honestly feel in my heart that Reiki has helped me to release blockages so I was able to conceive. We are a happier family all the way around thanks to Bonnie and her Reiki practice.

Jessica Young
Summer, 2009

I am a mom of four. Two of my children are special needs and another is in the process of being evaluated. I heard about The Place for Reiki through a mom in one of my support groups. She mentioned several months ago that she takes her children to the special needs healing circle and although it interested me, I just tucked it into my mental list of things to check into, along with so many other pieces of information we parents of special needs kids stumble on or are given in this process.

What actually BROUGHT me to The Place for Reiki was something altogether different though. I realized that I had tapped into EVERYTHING I had available to me physically. Really, I was giving my children everything there was to give and doing everything there was to do PHYSICALLY… nutrition-wise, supplement-wise, therapy-wise, parenting-wise. And I realized it wasn't enough. Not for me and not for them. I was tapped out…out of options, out of ideas and out of, well, me. I was tapped out. I decided that it was time to look for another resource. I just knew there had to be something "more" for me to tap into. That's when I turned to Reiki. Reiki for me and for my kids has been that something "more".

Reiki has, in all honesty, given me light where there seemed to only be darkness. It's given me more to tap into for my kids and for myself. It's begun a healing in my children that has amplified the benefits of all of those nutritional changes and parenting style changes and therapies we implemented. It's provided us, my whole family, with such hope and healing and amazing AMAZING results for all four of my children.

Attending the healing circle with my kids has been such a pleasant and powerful experience for all of us. They want to keep going back and even ask me about when it's time to go get reiki again! Raising a special needs child is beyond stressful….so even IF you gain nothing but THAT TIME to bond with them, to relax together and experience the calm that comes with it, then it is worth it to your family to check into. Reiki is a powerful healing tool. It's a simple thing that has the potential for incredible impact.

The Place for Reiki, all of the wonderful people who donate their time on behalf of our special needs families, and Bonnie have a very special place in my heart.

A very grateful and happy mom of special needs kids,
Denise H.
September 23, 2006

(Participating in) the Reiki Circle has helped my girls to build a relationship as opposed to tolerating each other. There is a 6-year span in their ages, 9 and 15. They are now working together and supporting each other. My oldest (daughter) has had some troubled years with mental health issues. Reiki is helping to enable us to cope with the issues. The divine healing is making a significant difference in our lives. Bonnie is a God-send.

~ Peace,
Linda E.
(Feb. 22, 2006)

After Garrett's first time in the circle (Garrett is 9):

I (Garrett's mom) asked Garrett what it meant to him to be in the circle and he said he knew he wouldn't be hurt as long as he was in the … circle, he felt safe....

This is a child who has been a "victim" of much taunting, teasing and bullying. So, the fact that any place (especially someplace new) felt safe to him is an indication to me that something significant took place even in that one session.

He had flag football about an hour later and FULLY ENGAGED, participating, talking to kids, high five-ing them, he seemed comfortable, at ease. Other weeks he would stand back, not talking to anyone, not participating, chewing on his fingernails or shirt....

Afterwards he said to me, 'Mommy, I know A LOT of kids here. I have A LOT of friends." This was a child who just a few days ago was lamenting the fact that he felt very LEFT OUT and "LONE-FULL" (that was the word he used....)

Reduced anxiety? Absolutely! A more positive self-regard? Without question! Interacting socially in more positive ways! You betcha! AMAZING!!!!

" …I was amazed and just couldn't keep it to myself....thought you (and the other practioners) would enjoy the "feedback"

Stacie Brethauer, Garrett's mom
November 19, 2005

And these comments are from Garrett's dad:

I definitely noticed a change in him; he seems less irritable i.e. he doesn't get so easily annoyed or frustrated at things. He seems less 'hyperactive' overall. He seems to be listening better and is more compliant. He is just more pleasant to be around.

Jim Brethauer
November 29, 2005

Prior to the second Reiki circle, Jack's speech was dominated by "TV talk", i.e. replay of dialog he had seen on TV. Since the second circle, we have noticed a dramatic change in the content of his speech. Less than a quarter of the content is TV talk. He is now expressing himself very appropriately and is frequently very funny. (Jack is almost 10 and has a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder)

John Burton, Retirement Planner and Pension Specialist
(June 7, 2005)

During the first session, Cory played with blocks that another boy brought with him and seemed very calm. In the middle of the session he came over to me and we read a book and then he crawled onto my lab and I rocked him like a baby. I thought he was going to fall asleep; he was so relaxed. This
behavior is unusual for Cory. Usually, when Cory is in a group of people, it over-stimulates him and he carries on, such as running around and is hard to control.

So I feel Cory definitely received a lot of healing during this session and Cory told me he really enjoyed it.

After the first session, Cory's imaginary play has become better. Cory has PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder) and is a very concrete kid. The area he needs help with the most is imaginary play. He now has been having his stuffed animals talk and has an imaginary friend named Antarctica.

(June 5, 2005)

After participating in the second circle:

… the first week after the circle, Cory became more independent; he seemed to be able to be more self-regulating and was able to bring his energy down. He was able to tell what engine his energy was in, High, Just right or Low. He was more talkative and able to hold a conversation.

Very Pleased and Thankful Parent,
Theresa Graner, Medicare Settlement Clerk II
(June 12, 2005)

My son Nicholas has been coming to the Children's Circle for around 3 years. We originally gave it a try just to see what happened. That first session he said "Chicken Nuggets" during the session. We were amazed as we were only able to get him to say "more, go eat and juice." When the session was over he threw himself to the floor, cried and said "more" That was it for me... that was all I needed to see. I wasn't exactly sure what Reiki would do for his Autism but I definitely wanted to give it a try. At one point he brought me the business card which has a picture of the front door at the Place for Reiki and said "more". For a child with limited communication he was making tons of attempts to let me know what he wanted. Oh, what huge strides we have made since attending the Children's Circle. I would definitely recommend The Place for Reiki for anyone... especially for children with limited communication abilities. Oh what a wonderful difference.... Thanks again :)

Tricia Baum
April 2009