Why does it matter whether someone else is "identified" with the accomplishments and titles they have earned? After all, many refer to Mikao Usui as "Dr. Usui" and to my knowledge he was not an MD. (He may have had a PhD - but wouldn't that fall into the "unrelated to Reiki" category?)
I use the "university approach" and just have students write their name as they wish it to appear on their certificate. It's not really my business to care one way or the other, and it's not up to me to consider whether they're over-identified with their accomplishments.
BTW - just in case someone out there is wondering - you can have a prior degree noted on a diploma - you put it after your name - not after the current degree designation. So if you're already an MD and you go back and pick up your Juris Doctor, the JD could be conferred upon "John Doe, MD". And you would then be able to sign your name "Dr. John Doe, Esq. MD."
-WilyB.
