Interview with Pamela Miles Part 2
Many caregivers and clinicians believe they don’t have time for self-care, yet they carry the cost in poor sleep, short tempers, and decision fatigue. This conversation with medical Reiki pioneer Pamela Miles reframes the problem: self-care is not a competing priority, it is the foundation that makes every other priority doable. Pamela describes how brief, regular self-Reiki downshifts the nervous system from hyper-vigilance into a balanced parasympathetic state. That calm isn’t decorative; it sharpens judgment, softens reactivity, and restores the presence patients and families actually need. Listeners hear how a few minutes before rounds, calls, or bedtime can lower baseline stress and improve sleep quality, even during on-call nights.
A core theme is practicality. Pamela dismantles the “I need eight hours” barrier by pointing to lived experience: nervous systems that learn to self-regulate require less tossing and more true rest. She shares stories from perioperative nursing teams who feared “losing their edge,” only to finish shifts earlier with fewer mistakes when they practiced. For physicians, she emphasizes that strong egos still have a place, but service-led presence must steer the encounter. Self-Reiki centers attention so the patient’s story remains the star, especially in serious or end-of-life conversations. That inner steadiness turns minutes into medicine when appointment windows are tight.
Skepticism gets a respectful welcome, not a fight. Pamela meets clinicians where they are, offering concise, relevant evidence pathways and letting critical thinkers connect the dots. Rather than selling outcomes, she invites experiments: try a daily practice and notice function, sleep, and mood. This aligns with psychoneuroimmunology research showing how safety and parasympathetic tone trigger cascading physiologic benefits. Listeners learn that safety is a spiritual challenge first; when people feel safe, the nervous system recalibrates and the dominoes of healing—hormones, circadian rhythm, immune balance—begin to fall in a helpful direction.
Practical guidance threads throughout: you don’t need medical training to bring Reiki into care settings; you need clarity about your role, collaboration skills, and respect for clinical boundaries. If you trained years ago and stopped, you don’t need to be “re-attuned” to start again—place hands, observe, and build consistency with gentle structure. Pamela offers monthly guided global self-practice sessions and a short guide on finding credible practitioners and teachers. The point isn’t perfect technique; it’s a reliable relationship with a practice that steadies you. When caregivers care for their state, they make better choices, sleep more deeply, and become the calm that helps others heal.