Self Help Through Reiki, EFT, and Mindfulness

As a trained Naturopath I often use alternative methods to assist in recovery and nervous system regulation. Grief can feel overwhelming, unpredictable, and exhausting.

When you are mourning the loss of a beloved animal, it is easy to lose connection with your own body and needs. You may find yourself replaying memories, struggling to rest, or moving through the day in a daze. While there is no quick fix for grief, nor should there be, certain self help tools can bring comfort, grounding, and gentle release.

Practices like Reiki, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), and mindfulness do not erase the pain, but they offer safe ways to sit with it, soften its intensity, and reconnect to yourself.

Let me introduce them to you here.

Reiki: Gentle Energy Support

Reiki is a Japanese practice of energy healing that promotes relaxation and balance. It can be offered by a practitioner or practised as self-Reiki. During grief, the nervous system is often in a state of shock or heightened alert, which makes it harder for the body to rest or repair. Reiki offers a way of signalling safety back to the body.

To practise self-Reiki, find a quiet space and place your hands gently over your heart or belly. Allow warmth to flow, breathing slowly as you simply rest your awareness there. You do not need to “do” anything; the act of slowing down and bringing compassionate touch is itself healing. Many people report a sense of calm, tingling warmth, or release of tears as energy begins to shift.

For those open to it,

Reiki can also be offered to animals in their final days or moments. It is a way of sending love, ease, and gentle holding as they transition, and can bring great comfort to both caregiver and animal.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique): Tapping to Release Emotions

EFT, often known as tapping, combines acupressure with gentle affirmations. By tapping on specific meridian points while voicing how you feel, you engage both body and mind, which can help release trapped emotions.

A simple EFT sequence might look like this:

• Begin by noticing what you are feeling – sadness, guilt, anger, or numbness.

• While tapping the side of your hand (the karate chop point), say: “Even though I feel this [name the emotion], I deeply and completely accept myself.”

• Then move through points on the face and upper body (eyebrow, side of eye, under eye, under nose, chin, collarbone, under arm, top of head), repeating short phrases like “this sadness” or “this grief.”

  
  

EFT does not deny the pain, but it helps the body discharge some of the intensity which then allows you access to processing the situation from a calmer place.

Many people say the feel more able to rest after a few minutes of tapping.

Mindfulness: Returning to the Present Moment

Mindfulness is the practice of bringing awareness into the present moment with openness and compassion. Grief often pulls us into the past memories, regrets; or into the future fears and “what ifs.”

Mindfulness invites us back to now, where we can breathe, feel, and simply be.

A simple mindfulness practice is to sit with your eyes open and notice three things you can see, three things you can hear, and three things you can feel in your body. This anchors you in sensory reality, creating a small pocket of stability.

Another practice is mindful walking. Step outside and walk slowly, paying attention to the sensations of your feet meeting the ground. Each step can be a way of honouring your companion, a reminder that you are still here, still breathing, still connected.

Mindfulness is not about suppressing emotions. It is about allowing them space to be witnessed, without judgment. Over time, this creates greater resilience and a softer relationship with grief.

Finding What Works for You

Not every tool will suit every person, and that is perfectly fine. Some may find EFT too structured, others may feel more drawn to Reiki’s gentle stillness or the grounding of mindfulness. The invitation is to experiment, with kindness towards yourself, and notice what brings even a small sense of ease.

These tools are not replacements for grief, nor are they a way to bypass it. They are companions for the journey, helping you stay resourced enough to keep moving through each day. Grief takes the time it takes, however practices like Reiki, EFT, and mindfulness can remind you that you are not lost in it; you are still here, capable of holding both love and loss together.