Red Flags and Green Lights: Finding a Safe Reiki Practioner in Virginia Beach
Boundaries Matter
Why am I sharing this guide? After a decade as a Reiki practitioner, I've witnessed concerning trends in the wellness industry that need to be addressed. When people seek healing, they're often in vulnerable places and deserve safe spaces and practitioners who maintain professional boundaries. Unfortunately, I've seen how social media can blur these lines and how some practitioners exploit vulnerability for profit.
I'm writing this not to criticize our industry but to empower you to make informed choices about your healing journey. Every person deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported in their wellness work. Before investing your time, energy, and trust, here's what to look for at each stage of your wellness journey.
Before Your Appointment
Before booking, I'd like you to please take a moment to observe how potential practitioners present themselves online. Their social media presence can reveal a lot about their professionalism and boundaries.
Ask yourself:
How do they present themselves in videos and photos?
What kind of content do they share?
Who engages with their posts?
How do they interact with followers?
Does their online presence feel professional?
Watch for these red flags:
Filming content while lying in bed or on the floor
Making kissy faces or winking at the camera
Using seductive or breathy voice tones
Wearing revealing or inappropriate clothing
Posting suggestive poses or expressions
Using excessive filters to appear "ethereal."
Mixing provocative, personal content with business posts
Sharing intimate details of their personal life
Creating content that feels more like dating profiles
During Your Appointment
The initial session sets the tone. Pay attention to how you feel in the space and with the practitioner.
Ask yourself:
Do I feel comfortable in this space?
Is the practitioner respecting my boundaries?
Am I feeling pressured or rushed?
Does this feel professional?
Are they focused on my session?
Notice if they:
Pressure you to book multiple sessions upfront
Push product sales during your treatment
Ask for reviews before the session is complete
Make unrealistic promises about results
Try to upsell you to workshops or classes
Share information about other clients
Dress unprofessionally
Fail to explain their process clearly
After Your Appointment
How a practitioner handles post-session communication can tell you much about their professionalism.
Ask yourself:
Are they respecting my space to process the session?
Do their follow-up communications feel professional?
Am I feeling pressured to book more services?
Are they maintaining appropriate boundaries?
Watch for these concerning behaviors:
Immediately sending friend requests on social media
Pressuring you for instant reviews or testimonials
Sending unsolicited messages about "other services you need"
Commenting on your personal social media posts
Using your vulnerable moments to suggest additional sessions
Making you feel guilty about not rebooking
Contacting you based on your social media activity
Pushing package deals with urgency tactics
Sharing details about your session with others
Remember: A professional practitioner should:
Maintain clear boundaries
Respect your privacy
Allow you space to process
Communicate professionally
Focus on your well-being rather than their business growth
Let you make decisions without pressure
Your healing journey deserves to be supported by someone who maintains professional integrity while providing compassionate care. Trust your instincts - if something feels off, it probably is.
About the Author
Victoria co-founded Healing Arts Center, where she practices as a Reiki practitioner who is deeply committed to ethical, accessible care. She believes everyone deserves compassionate, quality healing support, so she offers sliding-scale services for active duty military, veterans, first responders, and their family members. Victoria emphasizes that while Reiki is a powerful complementary practice, it works alongside, not in place of, therapy.
Schedule an appointment or https://www.vagaro.com/healingartscenter
