Reiki, Access Bars and ThetaHealing are three popular energy healing methods. Reiki is a Japanese practice in which a practitioner places their hands lightly on or just above the body. Access Bars involves gentle touch on 32 points on the head. ThetaHealing is a meditation technique in which a practitioner uses a deeply relaxed theta state and prayer to work with beliefs. All three aim to help people feel calmer, lighter and more at ease.
Last updated: 5 November 2026
Reading time: about 11 minutes
How we wrote this article: this article was written by Saj Ali. It compares three energy healing methods using their founders’ and official organisations’ own descriptions alongside published research, and every research claim links to its source.
The three methods in brief
- Reiki. Japanese, 1920s; light hands-on or hands-off touch over the body.
- Access Bars. American, 1990; light touch on 32 points on the head.
- ThetaHealing. American, 1995; meditation, prayer and belief work, often without touch.
- What they share. A calm, gentle session that many people find deeply relaxing.
- Choosing. Reiki for whole-body relaxation, Access Bars for a “quiet mind” head session, ThetaHealing for talk-based belief work.
Contents
- The Short Answer
- Reiki: The Japanese Hands-On Practice
- Access Bars: Gentle Touch on 32 Points
- ThetaHealing: Meditation and Belief Work
- Side-by-Side Comparison
- What They Have in Common
- What the Research Says
- How to Choose the Right One for You
- Getting Started
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Key Takeaways
- Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
- Books and sources
The Short Answer
All three methods belong to the wide family of energy healing, and all three offer a quiet, gentle session. The main differences are where they come from, how the session works and what it focuses on:
- Reiki is a whole-body practice. You lie fully clothed while the practitioner rests their hands lightly on, or just above, different parts of your body.
- Access Bars focuses on the head. The practitioner gently touches 32 points on your head, which the method calls “the Bars”.
- ThetaHealing is more conversational. The practitioner guides you through questions about your beliefs while using a meditative theta state and prayer.
If you want simple relaxation through touch, Reiki or Access Bars may suit you. If you would like to talk through what is holding you back, ThetaHealing may appeal more.
Reiki: The Japanese Hands-On Practice
Reiki was developed in Japan in the early 1920s by Mikao Usui, and spread to the West through Hawaii in the 1930s and 1940s (International Center for Reiki Training). The word is often translated as “universal life energy”.
The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) describes Reiki as a practice in which practitioners place their hands lightly on or just above a person, with the goal of directing energy to help the person’s own healing response (NCCIH).
In a typical session you lie on a treatment table, fully clothed, for around an hour. The practitioner moves through a series of hand positions over the head, torso and limbs. Many people describe feeling warmth, tingling or deep calm, and some fall asleep. Reiki is also widely practised as self-care: after a Level 1 course, people often give themselves short daily treatments.
Reiki is offered in some hospitals and hospices, as well as in private practice. In the United States, sessions generally cost upward of US$50 to US$75, and students may charge less (Taking Charge (University of Minnesota)). Our Reiki guide covers its history, levels and how to find a practitioner, and our Reiki hub lists courses, apps and organisations.
Access Bars: Gentle Touch on 32 Points
Access Bars was created by Gary Douglas in 1990 and is the foundation of Access Consciousness, the personal development system he founded (Gary M. Douglas). Access Consciousness describes the Bars as 32 points on the head which, when gently touched, release the thoughts, ideas, beliefs, emotions and considerations that stop you from creating a life you love (Access Consciousness).
A session usually lasts about an hour (Gary M. Douglas). You lie fully clothed while the practitioner sits at your head and lightly holds different combinations of points. Each point is linked with an area of life, such as money, creativity, communication, healing or joy. Many people describe the experience as like their mind being gently “defragmented”, and often leave feeling relaxed and clear-headed.
One distinctive feature is how quickly people can learn it: a one-day Access Bars class teaches you to give sessions to others, and you give and receive sessions twice during the day (Gary M. Douglas). Access Consciousness says the Bars are used by families, wellness practitioners, schools, businesses and many others (Access Consciousness).
Read more in our Access Bars guide, our article on what happens in an Access Bars session and our Access Bars hub.
ThetaHealing: Meditation and Belief Work
ThetaHealing was created by Vianna Stibal in 1995, during her own journey back to health. Its official site describes it as a meditation technique and spiritual philosophy, not specific to one religion but accepting of all, that aims to help people clear limiting beliefs and live with positive thoughts (ThetaHealing).
The method is named after the theta brainwave state, a deeply relaxed state similar to the moments just before sleep. During a session, the practitioner enters this meditative state and, through prayer and focused intention, connects with what ThetaHealing calls “the Creator of All That Is” (ThetaHealing). Through a process called “digging”, practitioner and client explore questions together to find a core belief, such as “I am not good enough”, and then work to replace it with a more supportive one.
Sessions are often held online or by phone, as touch is not needed. ThetaHealing teaches that the technique should always be used alongside conventional medicine (ThetaHealing). Our ThetaHealing guide explains the core ideas, and our ThetaHealing hub lists courses and resources.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Reiki | Access Bars | ThetaHealing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Japan, early 1920s | United States, 1990 | United States, 1995 |
| Founder | Mikao Usui | Gary Douglas | Vianna Stibal |
| Focus | Whole-body relaxation and balance | Releasing mental clutter through 32 head points | Finding and changing limiting beliefs |
| Touch | Light touch on or just above the body | Light touch on the head | Usually no touch |
| Session | Lying down, about an hour | Lying down, about an hour | Seated, often talk-based; in person or online |
| Distance option | Distance Reiki is common | Usually in person | Online and phone sessions are common |
| Learning it | Levels 1, 2 and Master | A one-day Bars class | Basic DNA course and further levels |
| Spiritual framing | Optional; often taught in a secular way | Personal development, “consciousness” language | Prayer and connection to the Creator |
| Typical US cost | Upward of US$50 to US$75 a session (Taking Charge (University of Minnesota)) | Set by each practitioner | Set by each practitioner |
Prices vary widely by country, city and experience, so check with individual practitioners. In the UK, prices are usually quoted in pounds.
What They Have in Common
Despite their differences, the three methods share a lot:
- A calm space. All three sessions take place in a quiet, unhurried setting.
- Gentle, non-invasive. There is no manipulation of muscles or joints, and you stay fully clothed.
- Relaxation. Many people describe feeling lighter, calmer and more rested afterwards.
- Self-practice. All three offer training so you can use them yourself or with family and friends.
- Complementary. All three are used alongside, not instead of, conventional health care.
What the Research Says
Of the three, Reiki has the most published research, largely in hospital and clinical settings:
| Area | What researchers have found | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Reiki for pain and anxiety | A review of randomised trials found Reiki was associated with reduced pain and anxiety in adults, with calculated effect sizes suggesting meaningful benefits. | (Thrane and Cohen, 2014) |
| Reiki and mental health | A systematic review and meta-analysis found Reiki was more effective than placebo for some mental health symptoms, such as anxiety and depression. | (Zadro and Stapleton, 2022) |
| Reiki overview | The NCCIH describes Reiki and summarises the current research on it for people considering it. | (NCCIH) |
Most of what is known about Access Bars and ThetaHealing comes from the experiences of practitioners and the people who use them, which many describe as calming and helpful. As with any complementary therapy, it makes sense to see it as a way to support wellbeing and relaxation alongside the rest of your health care.
How to Choose the Right One for You
- You want to relax your whole body: try Reiki. Its long history and hospital use may also be reassuring.
- You feel mentally “full” and want a quieter mind: try Access Bars, which focuses on the head.
- You want to work on beliefs and patterns: try ThetaHealing, which is more conversational.
- You want to learn to do it yourself: Reiki Level 1 or a one-day Access Bars class are both short and practical.
- You prefer sessions at home: ThetaHealing and distance Reiki are often available online.
- You are not sure: book a single session of each and notice which you enjoy most.
Whichever you choose, look for a practitioner with clear training, transparent prices and a warm, professional manner. Our energy healing hub has more options, and our guide to stress management offers other ways to relax.
Getting Started
Start by reading a little about each method in our guides to Reiki, Access Bars and ThetaHealing, then book a first session with a practitioner whose approach feels right. Go in with an open mind, notice how you feel during and after the session, and decide from there whether to continue, learn the method yourself or try another.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Reiki and Access Bars?
Reiki uses light touch on or above the whole body and comes from Japan. Access Bars uses light touch on 32 points on the head and was created in the United States in 1990.
What is the difference between Reiki and ThetaHealing?
Reiki is a hands-on or hands-off energy practice. ThetaHealing is a meditation and belief-work technique, often talk-based and without touch.
Which energy healing method is best for beginners?
All three are gentle and suitable for beginners. Reiki is the most widely available, and a one-day Access Bars class is a quick way to learn a method yourself.
Can I learn Reiki, Access Bars or ThetaHealing myself?
Yes. Reiki is taught in levels, Access Bars in a one-day class, and ThetaHealing through a series of courses starting with a basic class.
How much does a Reiki session cost?
In the United States, sessions generally cost upward of US$50 to US$75, according to the University of Minnesota. Prices vary by country and practitioner.
Can these methods be done remotely?
Distance Reiki and online ThetaHealing sessions are common. Access Bars is usually done in person because it involves touch on the head.
Should energy healing replace medical care?
No. All three are used as complementary practices, alongside conventional health care. ThetaHealing itself teaches that it should be used together with conventional medicine.
Key Takeaways
- Reiki, Access Bars and ThetaHealing are three popular, gentle energy healing methods.
- Reiki uses light touch over the whole body; Access Bars uses 32 points on the head; ThetaHealing uses meditation, prayer and belief work.
- Reiki has the most published research, with encouraging findings for pain and anxiety.
- All three can be learned for self-practice, and all are used alongside conventional health care.
- Choose based on whether you want whole-body relaxation, a quieter mind or belief work.
Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
Use these pages alongside this one:
- Reiki – our complete guide
- Access Bars – our complete guide
- ThetaHealing – our complete guide
- Energy healing – the wider family
- Energy healing hub – practitioners and courses
- Reiki hub – courses and organisations
- Browse all self-help techniques – compare every method on Self Help Supermarket.
Books and sources
- International Center for Reiki Training. What is the history of Reiki? https://www.reiki.org/faqs/what-history-reiki
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (US National Institutes of Health). Reiki. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/reiki
- University of Minnesota, Taking Charge of Your Health and Wellbeing. How can I find a qualified Reiki practitioner? https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-can-i-find-qualified-reiki-practitioner
- Gary M. Douglas. Global Access Bars. https://garymdouglas.com/products/global-access-bars/
- Access Consciousness. What is Access Bars? https://www.accessconsciousness.com/en/micrositesfolder/accessbars/what-is-access-bars
- ThetaHealing Institute of Knowledge. Discover ThetaHealing. https://www.thetahealing.com/about-thetahealing.html
- Thrane, S., and Cohen, S. M. (2014). Effect of Reiki therapy on pain and anxiety in adults: An in-depth literature review of randomized trials with effect size calculations. Pain Management Nursing, 15(4), 897–908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2013.07.008
- Zadro, S., and Stapleton, P. (2022). Does Reiki benefit mental health symptoms above placebo? Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 897312. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.897312