An Access Bars session is a hands-on relaxation session in which you lie down fully clothed while a trained practitioner lightly touches 32 points on your head, known as the Bars. Most sessions last 60 to 90 minutes, and most people describe feeling deeply relaxed, calm or sleepy afterwards.
Last updated: 4 November 2026
Reading time: about 11 minutes
How we wrote this article: this article was written by Saj Ali. It brings together how Access Bars practitioners describe a session, published research and prices taken from practitioners’ own websites, and every research claim links to its source.
Access Bars session in brief
- What you do. Lie on a treatment couch, fully clothed, and relax. There is nothing to talk through unless you want to.
- What the practitioner does. Holds pairs of the 32 Bars points on your head with a very light touch.
- How long. Usually 60 to 90 minutes. Some practitioners offer 45-minute sessions.
- Cost. Typically about $80 to $175 a session, depending on the country and length.
- Afterwards. Most people feel relaxed, light or sleepy. Drink some water and take it easy for the rest of the day.
Access Bars on Self Help Supermarket: Access Bars: the complete guide · Access Bars hub · Access Bars technique page
Contents
- What Is an Access Bars Session?
- What Happens in a Session, Step by Step
- What Does It Feel Like?
- How Long Is an Access Bars Session?
- How Much Does an Access Bars Session Cost?
- How Often Should You Have a Session?
- How to Prepare and What to Do Afterwards
- How to Find an Access Bars Practitioner
- What the Research Says
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Key Takeaways
- Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
- Books and sources
What Is an Access Bars Session?
Access Bars is a gentle hands-on technique created by Gary Douglas in 1990 as the founding practice of Access Consciousness. A practitioner lightly touches 32 points on the head, called the Bars, which are said to store the charge of thoughts, feelings and beliefs on themes such as money, creativity, joy, communication and the body. Our complete Access Bars guide explains the method, its background and the 32 points in detail.
This page answers the practical questions people ask before booking their first session: what actually happens, what it feels like, how long it takes, what it costs where you live and how to get the most from it.
What Happens in a Session, Step by Step
- Arrive and settle in. You are welcomed into a quiet room, usually with a massage couch or a reclining chair. You stay fully clothed and simply take off your shoes.
- A short chat. The practitioner explains what will happen and may ask what you would like more ease with. You do not need to share anything personal if you prefer not to.
- Lie down and get comfortable. You lie on your back with a pillow and often a blanket. The practitioner sits at your head. Music is usually not played.
- The Bars are held. The practitioner places their fingertips lightly on pairs of points on your head and holds each pair for a few minutes, moving through the points in turn. The touch is very light, with no massage or pressure.
- Relax and receive. You do not have to do anything. Some people drift off, some notice thoughts and images, and some simply rest. Talking is optional.
- Coming back. At the end you are given a moment to come round slowly, sit up and have a glass of water.
- A short debrief. Many practitioners ask how you feel and suggest taking it easy for the rest of the day.
A first session follows the same pattern as later ones. There is no special preparation and nothing to learn beforehand.
What Does It Feel Like?
Most people describe an Access Bars session as deeply relaxing. Common descriptions include feeling as if you are floating between waking and sleeping, a sense of lightness or spaciousness in the head, tingling or warmth where the points are held, and a quieter mind with fewer racing thoughts.
Some people fall asleep, which practitioners say is fine. Others notice emotions coming up and passing, or memories surfacing briefly. A few feel very little during the session and notice a difference later, for example sleeping more soundly that night.
Afterwards, people often say they feel calm, light, a little spacey or tired. Practitioners usually suggest a gentle evening, some water and no big decisions straight away.
How Long Is an Access Bars Session?
A full Access Bars session usually runs for 60 to 90 minutes. Many practitioners also offer shorter 45-minute sessions, and some offer a longer first appointment that includes time to talk. The time is spent mostly lying down with the Bars being held.
| Session | Typical length | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Short session | 45 minutes | A taster, or a top-up between full sessions |
| Standard session | 60 minutes | The most common booking |
| Full session | 90 minutes | A first session or a deeper rest; the length used in the best-known pilot study (Hope, 2017) |
How Much Does an Access Bars Session Cost?
Prices vary by country, city and session length. The figures below come from practitioners’ own price lists, checked in November 2026, with US dollars first and local prices in brackets. Conversions use European Central Bank rates from 3 November 2026 and are rounded.
| Country | Example price | Length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $100 / $150 | 45 / 90 min | (practitioner price list) |
| United Kingdom | about $80 (£60) / about $121 (£90) | 60 / 90 min | (practitioner price list) |
| United Kingdom | about $107 (£80) / about $161 (£120) | 60 / 90 min | (practitioner price list) |
| Germany | about $89 (€80) / about $134 (€120) | 60 / 90 min | (practitioner price list) |
| Sweden | about $81 (790 kr) | 60 min | (practitioner price list) |
| Sweden | about $104 (1,020 kr) | Session | (practitioner price list) |
| Australia | about $105 (AUD 150) / about $175 (AUD 250) | 45 / 90 min | (practitioner price list) |
| Australia | about $126 (AUD 180) | 60 min | (practitioner price list) |
| India | about $58 (Rs 5,500) / about $42 (Rs 4,000) | 60 min | (practitioner price list) |
If you would like to give sessions yourself, Access Consciousness sets the price of the one-day Access Bars class by country. Its FAQ lists $440 in the United States, about $425 (€380) in France and about $314 (AUD 450) in Australia (Access Consciousness). After the class you can give sessions to friends and family straight away.
How Often Should You Have a Session?
There is no fixed rule. Many people book a single session to see how it feels, then come back when they want a reset, for example every few weeks or during a busy or stressful period. Some practitioners suggest a short series of three to five sessions close together if you want to explore it more fully.
Once you have taken the one-day class, you can also swap sessions with other people who know the Bars, which is how many regular users keep it going at little or no cost.
How to Prepare and What to Do Afterwards
- Wear comfortable clothes. You stay dressed throughout, so choose something soft and loose.
- Hair. Loose hair is easier for the practitioner than tight braids, clips or a lot of product.
- Eat lightly. A light meal beforehand helps you relax without feeling hungry or full.
- Allow time. Leave a little space after the session rather than rushing straight back to work.
- Afterwards. Drink some water, have a gentle evening and notice how you sleep and feel over the next few days.
- Health questions. Access Bars is a relaxation practice, not a medical treatment. Keep up any care you already receive and mention any health conditions to the practitioner.
How to Find an Access Bars Practitioner
Access Bars is practised in more than 170 countries, so you can usually find someone locally or travel to a nearby city. Practitioners trained through Access Consciousness are often listed as Access Bars practitioners or facilitators, and our Access Bars hub links to the practitioner directories we have checked.
Search terms differ by language. In Danish and Norwegian, practitioners often call themselves an Access Bars behandler. In German, look for Access Bars Behandlung. In Swedish, sessions are often listed as Access Bars behandling or energimassage.
Before booking, it is reasonable to ask how long the practitioner has been giving sessions, what the price includes, how long the session will last and whether they offer a shorter first session.
What the Research Says
Research on Access Bars is at an early stage. The best-known study is a pilot by Terrie Hope, published in 2017 in the journal Energy Psychology. Seven adults with anxiety or low mood each had one 90-minute session. Their average anxiety scores fell by 84.7% and their depression scores by 82.7% (Hope, 2017).
Because the study was small and had no comparison group, it is best read as a promising first step. Many people simply use Access Bars as a way to relax deeply, and the relaxation itself is what they value most. Our complete guide covers the research in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you stay clothed during Access Bars?
Yes. You stay fully clothed and lie on your back on a couch or reclining chair. Only your shoes come off.
Does Access Bars hurt?
No. The touch is very light, with no massage or pressure. Most people find it soothing.
Do I need to talk during the session?
No. You can talk if you want to, but most people simply rest. Some fall asleep, which practitioners say is fine.
How long does an Access Bars session take?
Usually 60 to 90 minutes. Some practitioners offer 45-minute sessions, and a first appointment may include a few extra minutes to talk.
How much does an Access Bars session cost?
In our November 2026 check, sessions ranged from about $42 in India to about $175 for 90 minutes in Australia. In the US, $100 to $150 is typical, and in the UK about £60 to £120 (about $80 to $161).
How will I feel after Access Bars?
Most people feel relaxed, calm or light. Some feel tired or a little spacey for a few hours. A glass of water and a gentle evening help.
How many sessions do I need?
There is no set number. Many people start with one session and return when they want a reset. Some book three to five sessions close together.
What is an Access Bars behandler?
Behandler is the Danish and Norwegian word for a practitioner. An Access Bars behandler is someone trained to give Access Bars sessions. In German, a session is an Access Bars Behandlung.
Can I learn to give Access Bars myself?
Yes. Access Consciousness runs a one-day Access Bars class. The price is set by country; its FAQ lists $440 in the United States.
Key Takeaways
- An Access Bars session is a hands-on relaxation session: you lie down clothed while a practitioner lightly holds 32 points on your head.
- Sessions usually last 60 to 90 minutes, and there is nothing you need to do or say.
- Most people describe deep relaxation, lightness or sleepiness during and after the session.
- Typical prices run from about $80 to $175, with lower prices in some countries such as India.
- Early research, including a 2017 pilot study, has been encouraging, and larger studies would add to it.
- Our complete Access Bars guide and hub cover the method, the 32 points and practitioner directories.
Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
Use these pages alongside this one:
- Access Bars: The Complete Guide – the method, the 32 points and its background
- Access Bars hub – videos, books, classes and practitioner directories we have checked
- Access Bars technique page – a quick overview of the technique
- Reiki – another gentle hands-on energy practice
- Browse all self-help techniques – compare every method on Self Help Supermarket.
Books and sources
- Hope T. (2017). The effects of Access Bars on anxiety and depression: a pilot study. Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 9(2). doi:10.9769/EPJ.2017.9.2.TH. https://energypsychologyjournal.org/effects-access-bars-anxiety-depression-pilot-study
- Access Consciousness. What does it cost? (Access Bars FAQ). https://www.accessconsciousness.com/en/micrositesfolder/accessbars/about-access-bars/frequently-asked-questions/what-does-it-cost/
- Energy Healing Seattle WA. Access Bars sessions (price list). https://www.energyhealingseattlewa.com/access-bars
- Fluid Minds. Access Consciousness Bars (price list). https://www.fluidminds.co.uk/access-consciousness-the-bars-and-facelift
- Pelangi Possibilities, Croydon. Access Bars (price list). https://pelangipossibilities.co.uk/access-bars
- Hannah Bunk. Access Bars Behandlung (price list). https://www.hannahbunk.de/acces-bars
- HarmoniQA. Access Bars energimassage (price list). https://harmoniqa.se/access-bars-energimassage/
- Mies Balans. Access Bars behandling (price list). https://miesbalans.se/behandling/access-bars/
- Joy Reeves. Access Bars sessions, Western Australia (price list). https://www.joyreeves.com/accessbars
- Zode, Sydney. Access Bars (price list). https://www.zode.com.au/access-bars
- Healing Presence, India. Access Bars sessions (price list). https://www.healingpresence.in/accessbars