We recently connected with Paula Woodruff and have shared our conversation below.

Paula, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

When I first became certified as a Reiki Practitioner, it was during the 2020 COVID lockdowns. Because of that, almost all of my early sessions were distance healings through FaceTime, phone calls, text, or sometimes with no electronic connection at all, just pure energetic connection.

Fast forward to 2023. I was a stay at home mom with a one year old, taking a hiatus from practicing Reiki professionally and mostly offering Reiki to my son, family, friends and myself. Then a family friend reached out and told me they had a client for me. I took it as a divine nudge that it was time to step back into my practice.

The client wanted an in-person session. I didn’t have a dedicated healing space at the time, so I decided to use my living room. It felt a bit unprofessional, but instead of waiting for the “perfect” setup, I chose to move forward anyway. The morning of the appointment, I spent hours cleaning, clearing out toys and baby items, and tucking everything into the bedroom where they wouldn’t be seen. Once the space was open and refreshed, I set up the Reiki table right in front of the couch and made it work.

After a few sessions in that makeshift living room studio, an opportunity came up to open a Reiki studio at my mother in law’s house just down the street. I’ve been practicing there ever since, in a dedicated space that truly supports the work I do. Today, I offer both in person and distance Reiki sessions, as well as Reiki classes in this healing space.

If you feel called to start practicing professionally, you don’t need to wait for everything to be perfect to start. Begin where you are. Take the first step. The rest will align as you move forward.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Paula Woodruff, I’m a Reiki Master Teacher and Practitioner. I specialize in helping people regulate their nervous system, release stored emotions, ease anxiety and stress, and support empaths in cultivating energetic sovereignty.

I offer both Reiki sessions and Reiki classes. My Reiki sessions are available in person at my studio in Torrance, CA, online through Zoom, and as house calls throughout the South Bay area. I also teach Reiki, offering classes in person in Torrance as well as online for students around the world.

What sets my work apart is the combination of intuition, compassion, and lived experience I bring into every session. I understand what it feels like to rebuild, to start again, to heal while navigating real life responsibilities and I hold space for my clients with that same understanding. My approach is gentle, heart centered, and grounded in the belief that healing is not a one size fits all process. Every session is personalized, guided by the client’s energy and what their body and spirit are asking for in that moment.

My work is rooted in authenticity, compassion, and a genuine desire to help others feel supported, empowered, and energetically balanced. Whether someone is seeking emotional healing, stress relief, spiritual connection, or simply a moment of peace, my intention is always to meet them exactly where they are.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

If I could go back, I would absolutely choose the same path. Becoming a Reiki Practitioner and eventually a Reiki Master Teacher has been one of the most aligned decisions of my life. This work has supported my own healing, helped me grow through major life transitions including pregnancy, postpartum and motherhood, and allowed me to hold space for others in a way that feels deeply meaningful and purposeful.

Reiki has given a way to help people in a way that feels natural to who I am: intuitive, compassionate, and heart centered. Even during the seasons when I stepped back, like when I became a new mom, the calling never left. It always found its way back to me, and every time I returned to it, it felt like coming home.

This profession has allowed me to witness people transform, release, reconnect, and remember their own inner strength. That is something I would never trade. So yes, if I had the chance to start over, I would choose this path again without hesitation.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

A big part of what guides my work today comes from my own healing journey. I had to learn how to sit with my own emotions, regulate my own nervous system, and rebuild myself during seasons of stress, transition, and uncertainty. Going through that process firsthand taught me what it feels like to be overwhelmed, to carry unprocessed emotions, and to crave a sense of grounding and peace.

Because I’ve lived through my own healing, I don’t approach this work from a place of theory, I approach it from lived experience. I know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of healing, to feel vulnerable, to not always have the words for what you’re carrying. That understanding allows me to hold space for others with deeper compassion, patience, and intuition.

My personal healing journey also taught me that everyone’s process is unique. There is no one size fits all path, no linear timeline, and no “perfect” way to heal. That’s why my sessions are personalized and guided by the client’s energy in the moment. I support people the way I once needed to be supported, gently, without judgment, and with the belief that they already have everything within them to heal.

I think that’s one of the biggest factors in succeeding in this field: doing your own healing so you can support others from a place of authenticity. Clients can feel when you’re present, when you’re listening, and when you genuinely understand what they’re moving through. That kind of grounded empathy can’t be taught in a class, it comes from lived experience, and it’s something I bring into every session.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @energyhealingwithpw