Frequently Asked Questions For Clients
Q – What happens during a Reiki treatment?
A – During a Reiki treatment you will lie or sit comfortably and the Reiki practitioner will place their hands on or near your body, allowing the Reiki energy to flow to you. You do not need to remove any clothing except for coat and shoes.
Q – Are some styles of Reiki in the Usui tradition better than others?
A – Each style or system of Reiki offers its own gift. It is important for you to find the one that suits you best. What is good for one person may not suit another.
Q – I’ve seen a Reiki course advertised locally from 10am to 1pm, will this give me the ability to practise Reiki?
A – In order to practise publicly, you would need to gain the knowledge, understanding and training to meet the national occupational standards. Reiki courses can help by following the guidelines set up in the Reiki Council’s core curriculum. For most styles, Reiki 1 traditionally requires four attunements/initiations/reiju, dependant on style, in addition to core teaching. Reiki 2 traditionally requires one attunement/initiation/reiju in addition, dependant of Reiki style. This is the reason that most advertised courses have a much longer duration. Much time then needs to be spent giving self-treatments or receiving Reiki and practising giving Reiki in addition to meeting knowledge requirements.
Q – How many treatments am I likely to need?
A – This depends on what you are hoping for from Reiki. As a natural healing method it is good to allow plenty of time for Reiki to have an effect, so a series of treatments is going to be more beneficial than a single treatment in most cases. How many you personally need should be discussed with your practitioner at your first session and reviewed as you go through treatments.
Q – Can Reiki be used in conjunction with allopathic or conventional medicine?
A – Yes Reiki can be used safely in conjunction with allopathic or conventional medicine. It may help to speed up recovery times and reduce some uncomfortable symptoms, such as after surgery.
Q – Can Reiki be combined with other forms of complementary medicine?
A – Reiki can complement many different forms of treatment and can often help smooth the healing process. For example after a chiropractic treatment people can sometimes feel stiff, a Reiki treatment will help a lot in releasing this discomfort. It also reported to work extremely well in conjunction with homoeopathy, acupuncture and counselling and can help support any healing process.
Q – Is Reiki suitable for children?
A – Yes, with parental consent, Reiki is suitable for children under 16 as it is gentle and can be adapted to a child’s need for a shorter treatment.
Q – What benefits does Reiki offer?
A – Reiki is a healing process that anyone can benefit from in the normal course of their life. Research using animals and even bacteria suggests it has the ability to reverse stress-induced conditions. It should not, however, be regarded as a cure for conditions. As a natural form of healing Reiki can support and enhance other forms of treatment. It has no contra-indications and is suitable for both people and animals. It can be given with hands on (touching) or hands off (non-touch). Most people find receiving it extremely relaxing and calming. Those receiving Reiki do not have to take off any clothing, barring perhaps footwear. Most importantly anyone can learn it and give Reiki to themselves on a daily basis.
Q – Can Reiki help someone with a terminal illness?
A – People with a terminal illness often find Reiki helps them to feel calm and relaxed, reduces symptoms such as pain and enables them to prepare for death themselves and with their families.
Q – Can you give Reiki to someone who is dying?
A – Yes, you can offer Reiki to a person who is dying and it has often been reported to reduce anxiety, bring calm and ease transition.
Q – What should I do if I am concerned about something that has happened during a treatment?
A – Firstly you should talk with your practitioner about your concerns. If this does not satisfy you find out whether your practitioner is a member of a Reiki organisation. If they are then you can contact their organisation for advice. If they are not you may still be able to get some advice about the issue from some of the organsiations mentioned on this website. If the practitioner is on a national register you can also contact the regulator.
Q – How do I know what to look for in a good Reiki practitioner? How do I find one?
A – Please see the list of member associations on www.reikicouncil.org.uk and the advice given on the site. You can also ask if the practitioner has been attuned/initiated in person, one-to-one by their Reiki teacher. And if their Reiki teacher was also attuned/initiated in person.
A bona fide Reiki practitioner will also have a Reiki certificate or a letter from their Reiki teacher confirming their level of Reiki training or will have trained in accordance with National Occupational Standards. Please also check that they are insured and that they have a lineage (a link) that connects them directly back to the founder, Mikao Usui. Their treatment area will be clean and quiet and conducive to relaxation. A mark of professionalism is their having signed up to Codes of Ethics and Practice of a professional association or regulator. Look for someone who is warm and empathetic, in whose presence you feel comfortable and who has explained what to expect and any fee structure.
Q – Do certain Reiki Practitioners specialise in certain areas?
A – Some Reiki practitioners specialise in working with animals in general, some will specialise in giving Reiki to horses. There are guidelines from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on giving Reiki to animals which can be found on www.reikicouncil.org.uk. Some Reiki practitioners will have a special area of interest if you ask them.