Many people do not learn Reiki with the intention of making it their profession, learning initially for their own healing or to share with family and friends. Then friends may mention their experience to their friends and so the request for Reiki may grow.
Reiki was initially classed as a ‘Folk Art’ – that is having no credible evidence that this actually works and the reason you feel ‘better’ is because ‘it’s all in the mind’. However there is now growing evidence that Reiki can help in medical situations, even if it is simply making the person feel more relaxed – the more relaxed a person is, the greater the chance is that the body’s natural healing mechanism will kick in.
As complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) became more prominent at the end of the last century, the House of Lords started asking the Government what legislation was in place around the practicing and giving of CAM and the answer coming back – none.
This prompted the Government to start looking more deeply into CAM and what could be done to ensure members of the public were being treated by therapists and practitioners who had been trained and assessed in what they were doing.
Since the start of this century, 2000, CAM organisations have been working with Government backed groups, e.g. Skills for Health and CNHC. There is more in depth information on this under Reiki Info tab and then Reiki verification in this website.
So, there are no laws for anyone practicing Reiki. Practitioners do not have to be registered with anyone or take any tests or exams. However there is in place a form of voluntary self-regulation where Reiki organisations joined together with Skills for Health and CNHC to provide National Occupational Standards for the giving of Reiki and a Core Curriculum for the teaching of Reiki. A specific criterion has been put in place and if all this is reached then the person has the opportunity to become a verified Reiki practitioner. This accreditation shows that the person will be giving Reiki to a high standard of professionalism which is required for the giving of Reiki in places like hospitals and hospices.
Yes! Reiki is available in some conventional medical institutions! And, the requirement of verified practitioners is growing.
In summary, acknowledging that the TRC is a comparably small organisation, I can advise that 1/3rd of our members have successfully completed the verification process. Registration with CNHC is £70 a year and a small number have chosen to be registered. In total there are just over 300 Reiki practitioners registered with CNHC in the UK, so a drop in the ocean compared to how many Reiki practitioners there are in the country. However all who have completed the verification process, but have chosen not to be registered with CNHC, offer Reiki at a very high level of professionalism whilst retaining the essence and joy of Reiki.
If you are reading this and are looking for a Reiki practitioner then there are a few initial questions to ask:
- Are they a member of a Reiki organisation – best to be as they should then be following that organisations code of practice and ethics
- Are they insured to offer Reiki
- Have they been taught their Reiki in person – again best to have been taught in person as opposed to simply having done an on-line course
I haven’t added ‘are they a verified practitioner’ as, already mentioned, there are very few of us around.
Bottom line is to try and go to a Reiki practitioner who has been recommended to you. Speak to them and ask the initial questions above.
You will know straight away if that person feels right for you.