“You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.”
— Rumi
Support that sits beside your medicine — never instead of it.
Reiki for people navigating cancer, serious illness, and life’s hardest passages. In Connecticut.
What Reiki is
At its core, Reiki is the practice of being aware of the flow of universal energy through everything. Within this awareness lies a deep relaxation and the exact support a person can give themselves. Clinically, this translates to measurable reductions in stress and anxiety, and support for the body’s own healing processes — providing a much needed non-pharmacological support to complement medical care.
Three ways people come to this work.
For those in cancer treatment
You’re going through treatment
Support that works alongside your medical care — easing anxiety, nausea, pain, and the weight of it all. If you are in treatment now, or have been within the past year, a 60-minute session is offered at a reduced rate of $75.
For institutions
You lead a healthcare program
You’re looking to bring evidence-informed Reiki into your hospital or clinic, built and taught by a physician. Program development, staff certification, consultation and speaking.
For those in transition
You’re navigating change
A health challenge, a major life passage, or simply a wish to understand what this practice really is.
Rooted in science. Honest about what it can’t explain.
Punyapriya (Benu) Gopal, MD
Integrative Practitioner · Reiki Master Teacher
I am a physician. I am also a Reiki Master Teacher. For most of my career these two roles lived in separate parts of life.
My training was in Radiation Oncology. I started my Reiki journey as a volunteer practitioner at Yale New Haven Hospital, and session after session, my skeptic mind was blown away. Since 2013 I have practiced in hospital settings, and for the past nine years I have coordinated Hartford Hospital’s Reiki Volunteer Program — the nation’s longest-running. I have worked with more than a thousand patients across oncology, palliative care and serious illness, and I still do not have a complete explanation for everything I have witnessed.
MDChristian Medical College, Ludhiana
13 yrsPracticing Reiki in hospitals
9 yrsCoordinating Hartford Hospital’s Reiki program
1,000+Patients in oncology & palliative care
What it is, and what it helps
A deep, restorative calm, reviving the body’s natural ability to optimize function.
Reiki induces a state of deep relaxation similar to restorative sleep, allowing the body to settle its stress response and return toward balance. It is a gentle, non-pharmacological way to ease stress and anxiety — and it works alongside medical care, never in place of it.
- Reduced anxiety, nausea, and pain
- A regulated, calmer stress response
- Improved, more restful sleep
- Mental clarity and focus
- Support through recovery and rehabilitation
- Gentler passage through trauma and burnout
- Autonomic nervous system regulation
Measured over twenty years
Twenty years of hospital Reiki, evaluated.
From 1998 to 2019, my colleagues and I evaluated Hartford Hospital’s Reiki Volunteer Program — sessions delivered, volunteer hours, and referral patterns across departments. We presented the assessment at the Society for Integrative Oncology annual conference in 2019.
74,795
Reiki sessions delivered
12,737
Physician referrals in the medical record
45,852
Volunteer hours logged
163
Reiki volunteers trained and active
Twelve thousand of those sessions were requested by a physician and recorded in the patient’s medical record.
An honest note
The mindset underlying the use determines the good and the bad in everything.
— Punyapriya (Benu) Gopal, MD
In their own words.
Since 2013, I have sat with more than one thousand people navigating cancer, serious illnesses and life’s most difficult passages — inside hospital rooms and in the quiet of private practice. The words below are theirs.
I have known Benu for several years now. She is not only an excellent Reiki practitioner, but a truly compassionate and caring human being, who is genuinely interested in her clients. If you are looking for a high caliber Reiki practitioner, I highly recommend you getting your needs met from her. I can say with confidence that you will not be disappointed.
— Maria P, CT
As a recent cancer survivor, I have been looking for ways to support my healing journey, both physically and emotionally. One of the greatest blessings I’ve discovered along the way is Reiki. I learned that the hospital I use offers Reiki as a supportive therapy, so I decided to give it a try, even though I wasn’t sure what to expect.
When I met Punyapriya, or Benu as I call her, she took the time to explain what Reiki involves. She emphasized that everyone experiences it differently, which immediately put me at ease. The practice itself is deeply calming, and I found that it helped reduce my stress and allowed me to feel more at peace with my body and mind.
During my sessions, I’ve experienced a range of sensations — from warmth and peace to an overall sense of relaxation. While some days I don’t feel anything physically, I always walk away feeling more centered and emotionally balanced. Reiki has been a wonderful addition to my healing process, and I’m incredibly grateful to have discovered it. It’s helped me reconnect with my body, reduce anxiety, and foster a sense of calm and clarity. I highly recommend Reiki, particularly with Benu, for their own healing journey.
— Tracy S, CT
Sessions & programs
Ways to work together.
Sessions are held at my home in Avon, with private parking. If you are new to Reiki, begin with a shorter first visit.
- 45-minute First Visit — $75
- 60-minute Session — $125
- 90-minute Session — $175
- 60-minute Session, during cancer treatment — $75
- Dive, 6 sessions — $675, by inquiry
- Voyage, 10 sessions — $1,050, by inquiry
If you are in active cancer treatment now, or have been within the past year, you can book at the reduced rate of $75 directly.
Training
Reiki classes and certification.
I teach the three traditional degrees of Usui Reiki, for individuals and for hospital and clinic staff — the same structured, research-informed curriculum I use in hospital settings. Small groups, capped at six students. Online, in person, or hybrid. From $300.
Next: Reiki I online, Wednesdays from September 23, 2026.
Good to know
Questions people often ask.
Since 2013 I have met thousands of people curious about Reiki. Every conversation has sharpened how I explain it.
What is a Reiki session like?
Are there any disadvantages of Reiki?
Useful links
Research
Reiki research
A collection of Reiki studies I maintain on PubMed, updated as new work appears.
Personal blog
Time Without Dimension
My encounters with spirituality and intuition, written as they happen.
Volunteer opportunities
Hartford HealthCare Reiki
Become a Reiki volunteer with the nation’s pioneer hospital-based Reiki program, running since 1998.
Ready when you are.
Choose a time and pay online, or reach out with a question first — whether for yourself, someone you love, or your institution.
Sessions are held at 35 Anvil Drive, Avon — private parking. You may cancel or reschedule with 24 hours’ notice for a full refund.