Dr. Julie Ruestow

I am an academic researcher, curriculum architect, and Shinpindin trained Reiki Practitioner who specializes in translating energetic traditions into compliant, evidence-based professional development frameworks. As the Program and Continuing Education Director for The Reiki Healing Center of NJ, I leverage my extensive multidisciplinary credentials—including a Ph.D. in Organizational Management and Leadership (specializing in Emotional Intelligence), an MSW in Clinical Social Work, and a Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) designation—to establish a clinical and scientific perspective and academic excellence in the holistic space.

My goal is to bridge science and energy healing by utilizing peer-reviewed Reiki research to formulate effective treatment protocols and education. My focus is assisting fellow Reiki educators and healing centers with creating the organizational infrastructure, custom educational assets, and compliance roadmaps necessary to become accredited continuing education providers across six distinct medical and wellness licensing boards.

Our mission at The Reiki Healing Center of NJ is to bring the practice of Reiki into the hands of the professionals who care for others every day. Through accessible, authentic Reiki education and continuing education opportunities, we help healing professionals discover Reiki as a meaningful tool for their own self-care and, where appropriate, as an adjunct to their professional practice. As a premier institute for authentic Reiki education, we are dedicated to preserving and transmitting Reiki in its authentic form while providing a modern, practical framework for integrating its principles into the lives and practices of today's healing professionals.

In addition to being the Program and Continuing Education Director for The Reiki Healing Center of NJ, I also serve as a Research Assistant with the Center for Reiki Research. Under the direction of researcher Dr. Natalie Dyer, we are currently conducting a nationwide study on the prevalence of biofield therapies across all hospitals in the United States. I will be writing part of the manuscript for the peer-reviewed articles that will report the results of the study. 

I’d also like to share who I am as a person. Yes, those are things that matter deeply to me and accomplishments I’m proud to have achieved, but they don’t tell the whole story. I am a lifelong learner, driven by always wanting to dive deep and learn new things. At my heart, I am a deeply compassionate person who cares for others. I am a musician who has been a board-certified music therapist for 30 years. Although I’m not presently practicing music therapy, it is part of the core of who I am. Music is a universal language that can reach everyone. Where talk therapy cannot reach someone, music therapy can access that part of them in a much less threatening way. And even if you are not using music therapy in a clinical setting, music always soothes the soul. 

I am also a clinical social worker. I’ve dedicated my career as a civil servant to protecting the most vulnerable citizens, folks with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I have been a Supervisor of Investigations for over 20 years. We seek justice and are the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. I am very passionate about that mission. 

I found my way to Reiki in 2021. I had suffered with debilitating pain for over 13 years. It started out as a back injury right after I completed my Ph.D. My body took me out of enjoying life and I entered a myriad of pain and suffering. The back injury turned into an autoimmune disease. I tried every conventional medicine approach and literally nothing helped alleviate my pain. I had resigned myself that the rest of my life was going to be lived this way. I managed to keep working, barely. But I wasn’t really living, I was just dragging myself through the days and existing. 

After a difficult emotional time in 2021, I found Sema and began seeing her as a Reiki client. Little did I know that my entire life was about to change. In January of 2022, I began my journey as a Reiki student and as I progressed through Shoden and Okuden classes and as I began practicing Reiki on myself, my entire world started to change. I realized that my physical pain was deeply connected to prior emotional experiences I had in life. I began to heal myself. Honestly, I was astounded. I didn’t think there would ever be any relief to the pain and suffering that I had been living with for 13 years. Yet, my pain started to gradually decrease. I practiced the Reiki techniques every single day and each day my pain decreased. It was, and still is, a complete miracle. Four years later, my health, wellness, vitality, and passion for life have returned. I am literally not the same person who began this journey in 2021. I am now passionate about informing all the other millions of people around that world who live in constant pain that there is an answer, and it is Reiki. 

During this time, I also began working with Sema to develop course workbooks and materials for her Center. The partnership and close relationship we have developed is something I am so grateful for. Together, we wrote beautiful course workbooks, which have been copyrighted. Our partnership changed the direction of The Reiki Healing Center of NJ. I then began obtaining approvals for us to be continuing education providers for six health and wellness professions. Our mission is to bring the practice of Reiki into the hands of the professionals who care for others every day.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know a little bit about me. I am now consulting with Reiki educators and centers to assist them in becoming continuing education providers. Accredited continuing education offers a unique and scalable pathway for advancing Reiki education within professional communities. By aligning Reiki training with recognized educational standards, Reiki teaching centers can strengthen legitimacy, foster cross-disciplinary engagement, and support broader integration of Reiki within healthcare and wellness settings.

If you are interested in learning more, I’d love the opportunity to meet you as well. Please schedule a free consultation utilizing the scheduling link below. 

Akira

The Center Mascot

Academic Background

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Organizational Management and Leadership (2008) Capella University

Dissertation: The effect of a leader's emotional intelligence on follower job satisfaction and organizational commitment: An exploratory mixed methodology study of emotional intelligence in public human services

Master of Clinical Social Work (MSW) (2003) Rutgers University

Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy and Music Education (1996) Mansfield University

Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC)

Reiki Certifications and Training

Usui Reiki Master (Shoden-Level 1, Okuden-Level 2, Shinpindin-Level 3)-2026 (Teacher-Gary Malone)

Animal Reiki Master (Levels 1, 2 and 3)-2026 (Teacher-Gary Malone)

East Meets West Reiki-Shoden (Level 1) and Okuden (Level 2)-2023 (Teacher-Sema Tihan)

Jikiden Reiki-Shoden (Level 1) and Okuden (Level 2)-2022 (Teacher-Sema Tihan)

Professional Memberships 

Dr. Julie Ruestow, Program and Continuing Education Director for The Reiki Healing Center of NJ, will be presenting at the Center for Reiki Research, International Reiki Research Conference.

Click here to learn more about the conference and register to attend

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