In the early 2000s, “Reiki with Animals” wasn’t yet a specific area of practice. Traditional Western Reiki taught that Reiki could be offered to both people and animals.
Over time, complementary therapies have become more formally recognised. Reiki practitioners can register with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), a voluntary register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). CNHC registrants must meet the relevant requirements for their practice, including applicable National Occupational Standards.
Offering Reiki to animals is a different matter. The person responsible for the animal must agree to the session, while the animal’s own response and choice to accept, move away or stop must also be respected.
The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 defines “veterinary surgery” as including the diagnosis of diseases and injuries in animals, advice based on such a diagnosis, and medical or surgical treatment. Reiki practitioners do not diagnose.
The person responsible for the animal and the Reiki with Animals practitioner should ensure that any suspected physical health concern is assessed by a vet. Reiki must never delay or replace veterinary care.
Animal-welfare legislation throughout the UK requires those responsible for animals to take reasonable steps to meet their welfare needs and protect them from suffering, injury and disease. If an animal may have a health problem, veterinary advice should be sought; Reiki cannot replace necessary medical care
National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Reiki with animals are available through Lantra. These include LANACT3, “Offer Reiki to animals,” which states that the animal should be allowed to choose whether to accept Reiki. The standard also addresses working within relevant professional and legal requirements, appropriate training, and insurance that covers work with animals.
The Reiki Council, working closely with its member organisations, is reviewing the verification and certification pathway. The Reiki for Animals Working Group is developing a safe and effective way to support the practice of Reiki with animals, with a specialist team from TRC contributing to the work. One of TRC’s lead Reiki with Animals educators received her TRC/Reiki Council Reiki for Animals Practitioner Verification Certificate in 2021. TRC hopes to offer this certification in the near future.
TRC is also considering a new membership category for 2027: TRC Practitioner with Animals. This category will require members to work in line with the relevant Lantra National Occupational Standards.
A Reiki with Animals Practitioner will need to have completed Traditional Reiki II (Practitioner level) and hold insurance that covers work with animals.
Reiki is a complementary therapy and should never be used as a substitute for conventional veterinary medicine.
References:
- https://www.cnhc.org.uk/
- https://www.cnhc.org.uk/cnhc-core-curricula
- https://www.cnhc.org.uk/assets/reiki-courses
- https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/organisations-we-oversee/find-a-register/complementary-and-natural-healthcare-council
- https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/publications/standards-regulators-and-accredited-registers-2026
- https://lantra.co.uk/apprenticeships-and-epa/nos/
- https://www.ukstandards.org.uk/en/nos-finder/LANACT3/offer-reiki-to-animals
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1966/36/section/27
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/section/9
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2006/11/section/24
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2011/16/section/9