Patients & Families Family Wellness Program

The Family Wellness Program is a complimentary program for patients* and their families while receiving care at Boston Children’s Hospital. A team of trained providers offer free well-being services such as Reiki, massage therapy, guided imagery, yoga, aromatherapy, and acupuncture. Our services help with stress reduction, pain, and caregiver strain. For patients, these services can complement medical care by addressing symptoms such as nausea, poor sleep, pain, and anxiety.

To learn more, please visit the Hale Family Center for Families or call 617-919-4319. 

* — Services are currently only provided to patients experiencing an inpatient admission.

• Acupuncture: Boston Children’s Hospital physicians who have specialty training in acupuncture provide acupuncture services. During an acupuncture treatment, the physician uses thin, hair-like needles to improve the flow of energy along the energy pathways of the body helping to heal and improve symptoms.
• Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils to promote psychological and physical well-being. Essential oils are from various parts of aromatic plants and flowers. We have personal inhalers for patients to use to help relieve symptoms (such as anxiety/depression, headaches, and nausea).
• Gentle yoga: Our certified yoga instructors adapt sessions to be appropriate for all fitness and developmental levels, and they can be adapted to accommodate medical conditions. Yoga has been shown to have benefits for a number of health conditions. People who practice yoga report improvements in low back pain, balance, and sleep, as well as stress and anxiety. Yoga is available for patients and caregivers in person or on Zoom.
• Guided imagery: With guided imagery, a patient is assisted in reaching a state of relaxation. Guidance may be a journey to an imagined place that has a positive meaning or prompts to relax different muscles and areas of the body. Guided imagery may help someone to bring their focus to the present moment and to their breathing, which serves to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Massage therapy: We offer massage to patients as well as inpatient parents and caregivers. For patients, massage is helpful for pain, muscle tension, and overall relaxation. Patients can receive massage in their hospital rooms with the approval of their doctor. For inpatient parent and caregiver appointments, the massage therapist focuses on massaging common places where you usually hold stress, like the back, neck, arms, and shoulders. The parent/caregiver is seated in a massage chair and remains clothed. These sessions are held in the Hale Family Center for Families by appointment only.
• Reiki: Reiki is a Japanese healing technique used to help the mind and body enter a state of greater relaxation and peace. During this treatment, the Reiki practitioner places their hands on or over your body to enhance the flow of energy in the body associated with better health. We offer private one-on-one Reiki sessions for patients in their hospital rooms and inpatient parents and caregivers in the Hale Family Center for Families.

Victoria Klumpp RN, BSN, IBCLC, CCAP: Clinical Coordinator

Reiki Master, Brennan Healing Science Practitioner

Victoria is a registered nurse trained in integrative therapies, including energy healing and clinical aromatherapy. She has been practicing energy healing and Reiki for over 24 years in the clinical setting and private practice.

Our other team members:

• Emily Jean Davidson, MD, MPH, RYT, CCAP: Reiki practitioner, yoga instructor
• Yuan-Chi Lin, MD, MPH: Medical acupuncture
• Cynthia Tung, MD, MPH: Medical acupuncture
• Annie Banks, MSW, LICSW: Reiki II practitioner
• Morgan Coyle, RN, BSN: Reiki Master
• Emily Ann Wilson, RN, BSN: Reiki II practitioner
• Susan J. Janeczek, LMT, MMP: Medical massage therapist, Reiki Master
• Sandra Napoli, LMT: Massage therapist
• Maryann Lane-Lyons, LMT: Massage therapist

Wellness Services for patients: 617-919-4319

Reiki, massage, guided meditation, yoga, aromatherapy, and acupuncture are available for patients in their rooms. To arrange for services, call 617-919-4319 or email FamilyWellness@childrens.harvard.edu.

Wellness Services for parents and caregivers: 617-355-6279

We are happy to schedule your appointments for massage and Reiki. Please stop by the front desk of the Hale Family Center for Families in the main lobby of Boston Children’s Hospital (300 Longwood Ave., Boston) or call us at 617-355-6279. All wellness activities are free of charge and funded by charitable dollars.