Reiki with ucla's young breast cancer survivorship program

April 2014 NewsletteR

Complementary Therapies: The Healing Power of Reiki With Lisa Cefalu

By Elaiza Torralba
Program Assistant
 
Alternative or complementary forms of therapy have emerged as new sources of healing for patients and survivors who want to take a different approach to combat the psychosocial effects of cancer. On February 4, YBCS offered an event where members of the community could partake in an alternative form of therapy called Reiki. Relatively popular among the local community, Reiki is offered at numerous cancer centers along with other types of complementary therapies such as meditation and guided imagery. 

This unique event was intended to be yet another opportunity for YBCS to connect young survivors with one another and also provide individualized attention to this population. YBCS wanted to take advantage of this special opportunity as the program had previously fostered a partnership with Reiki Master Lisa Cefalu, C.Ht./R.M. Introduced to YBCS during its initial development stage, Lisa has been a valued resource and a supporter of the program since its creation.

Four young survivors met with each other in Lisa’s Sherman Oaks office and with a strong sense of interest and openness, experienced the power of Reiki.

Reiki is translated into Japanese as “universal life-force energy” and is an ancient healing modality that promotes healing and well-being. During an in-person session, the client relaxes fully-clothed on a massage or Reiki table as the practitioner is guided to the areas in which to channel universal life-force energy to different areas of the body. It is aimed to balance the energetic body, which has a direct effect on your overall mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

“After a Reiki session, most people feel calmer, more grounded and centered,” said Lisa Cefalu, Reiki Master and facilitator of the event.

All of this ties into Reiki as a form of therapy that can be used to relieve physical ailments and emotional distress. When called for, Cefalu stated that Reiki can greatly benefit the hospice or transitioning clients and their families.

In terms of the survivorship community, Cefalu noted that there have been several studies on the effects of Reiki and cancer showing its positive effects such as increased immune system response as well as decreased side effects of chemotherapy, radiation and post-treatment drugs. There is also the overall sense of well-being acquired which allows the client to better deal with the stress and challenges she or he is facing.

Before the session, Cefalu conducted a “tune-up” of the empty room which includes saying prayers, meditating, and tuning her hands to Reiki symbols which will be sent into the room and above the space she works in. Next, during the session, she attuned herself to each person’s energy field and sensed the emotions inside of each of the women that needed releasing or processing as well as physical ailments or places that were compromised in the body.

Cefalu remarked that every single time she works on someone she is amazed at what comes through and what each client receives and that each of the women in the special YBCS Reiki session had deep inner processes and insights. She reported that overall everyone felt wonderful and peaceful.

Having worked with many cancer patients, survivors, and others who have gone into hospice, Cefalu expressed that she is grateful to be able to do this type of work and healing. Clients usually report receiving a “mental and physical cleanse” according to her.

As a previous skeptic to energy healing, Cefalu tries to share scientific information for anyone who is unfamiliar with this type of therapy. She remarks that science is now able to measure these energetic fields we are a part of.

Furthermore, after volunteering at WeSpark, a local community Cancer Support Center part of her training involved experiencing other therapist modalities and became a believer once she experienced her first Reiki session at the center. Cefalu discussed that she could not believe how happy and light she felt afterwards. Her journey towards becoming a Reiki master was a

long one and even divulged that her 7-year-old son has come to love and appreciate it. She added that it has also been a great assistance to her rescue dogs and other animals.

Cefalu concluded that scientific breakthroughs made by healing modalities such as Reiki and Qi Gong are not as skepticism-provoking as they once were. She encourages trying Reiki as there are no negative side effects and playfully remarked that the worst that could happen is that you do not feel anything but perhaps will get a good nap in.

“It seems to help just about anyone for any given situation they are dealing with,” Cefalu said.

“Feedback from people who have experienced Reiki shows that there is a sense of healing that is accomplished and anything that can add to the overall wellbeing of these young survivors is encouraged,” stated Vickie Williams, YBCS Program Coordinator.

For more information, please contact Lisa Cefalu at the Center for Integrated Healing at (818) 219-6642 or e-mail her at[email protected]. Her website is www.lisacefalu.com.

The UCLA Young Breast Cancer Survivorship Program is excited to announce the 2014 Insights Into Cancer Lecture Series for Young Survivors of Breast Cancer.  In partnership with the Simms/Mann-UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, this series of lectures will be given throughout the year by health professionals who will be presenting the latest information on research and cancer survivorship issues.  This will allow us to provide you with a wider range of topics of interest all year long!