In many ways, this is a personal choice based on how you feel. If you have a conversation with someone, it just feels 'right'. Or, when you look at a photo, you may feel a connection with that person. Even reading a bio on a website may cement your decision. There are so many Reiki practitioners so Googling "Best Reiki Melbourne" or "Find Reiki near me" for instance, will often confuse many who are looking for a professional Reiki practitioner. With the many choices, doubt may creep in and override your sense of what is 'right' for you.
So the question remains, how do I choose a Reiki practitioner? How do I choose someone who is an authentic Reiki practitioner? Are they qualified to offer a Reiki treatment?
Some guesswork may be taken away by choosing a Reiki Practitioner who is a member of the Australian Reiki Connection and/or Reiki Australia. Most Reiki practitioners are members of one association with few members of both so it is best to look at both websites.
Members of both associations must:
follow the National Code of Conduct for unregistered healthcare workers.
have a First Aid (HLTAID011) certificate.
have Public Liability Insurance.
be taught Reiki in person by their Reiki teacher and not online.
have a minimum Reiki Level 2 certificate.
be specific in their offered services.
① The Nation Code of Conduct for Unregistered Healthcare Workers
What many people do not know is that Reiki Practitioners are classified as unregistered Healthcare workers under the National Code of Conduct. The National Code of Conduct was created to set minimum standards for healthcare workers not regulated by AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency).
A Reiki Practitioner who is unaware of the National Code of Conduct may not adhere to the minimum standards legally required to offer a healthcare service. The National Code of Conduct covers but is not limited to privacy regulations, ethics and boundaries.
② First Aid
First Aid is a must for a Reiki practitioner and is a requirement under 'duty of care' in the National Code of Conduct. Both Reiki associations ensure that all members have current First Aid certificates.
③ Public Liability Insurance
Public Liability Insurance not only covers the client but also the Reiki practitioner. Reiki treatments are safe but accidents can happen on the premises so Public Liability insurance is necessary. Again, both Reiki associations ensure that members have current insurance policies.
④ In-Person Reiki Training and Reiki Lineage
Both Reiki associations require all members to be taught Reiki face-to-face by a qualified Reiki teacher. Each member's lineage (a family tree of sorts) has been checked for authenticity. Both Reiki associations have databases of lineages that continue to grow and both continue to monitor Reiki teachers and their students. Checking the lineage by yourself is difficult because of the complexity and lack of available knowledge on the internet.
⑤ Reiki Practitioners must be a minimum of Level 2 in Reiki
Both Reiki associations require certified copies of Reiki certificates as proof of Reiki training and both have Level 2 as a minimum for professional practice. Level 1 Reiki channels are beginners, concentrating on self-practice and practice on family members only. Level 1 Reiki practitioners cannot offer Reiki treatments to the public.
⑥ Reiki Practitioners need to be specific in offered services
Traditional Reiki treatments are a hands-on modality where the Reiki practitioner will place their hands in different positions on the client's body (never on genitals or breasts). Some will hold (hover) their hands over the client's body instead of physically placing their hands. The client will be fully clothed for the treatment with only the shoes removed. Some Reiki practitioners will combine other modalities in their treatments, for example, crystal healing, sound healing, and psychic/tarot readings. These modalities are not Reiki-related but are classified as add-ins. There is nothing wrong with these services but the Reiki practitioner needs to be clear on what they offer.
So if you find the search for a Reiki practitioner confusing, perhaps see if they belong to a Reiki association and then cross-check with the membership listing on the Australian Reiki Connection or Reiki Australia's websites. If you cannot decide between a couple of Reiki practitioners, then a phone call or email may help your decision.
Hopefully, this blog will provide some guidance in choosing your Reiki practitioner. May you find the right person for you! Good luck!