The Reiki Cafe 

I am a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Florida. I have been considering incorporating Reiki into my practice as several of my clients have requested it. I understand that it is not legal to practice Reiki in Florida without a massage therapy license. Are there other licensed professionals who have found a legal way to incorporate Reiki into another licensed practice?

I am currently only Level I Reiki, but will be taking Level II soon and hopefully Masters when I am ready. It has been a powerful and energizing help to myself, friends and family, and I would like to share it with clients who are open to adjunct therapies. Am I too inexperienced with the Level I status to be considering sharing it with paying counseling clients?

Thank you for any input - Serafina Moon

Otoharo!

Serafinamoon, Hi, there. I was a licensed psycheatric therapist in New Mexico when I retired. I got my degree at Florida State and worked at Chattahoochee for several years. When I was atuned to reiki in later years, I still had clients. My reiki master for reiki I told me to use it with my clients. that was here in Washington State and we were not licensed then. When you have reiki I, you have reiki. I never felt a difference in reiki when I later had reiki II and III. Reiki I is all that anyone ever needs. So, I say, go to it, girl. Who is going to report you anyway?

finality

Well remember you are a liscensed mental health practitioner. So you are not only giving Reiki. To me the question of whether you should charge or not is based on whether you can help folks or not. And with Reiki it is tricky at best to know if you can assist someone in a tangible way that they will appreciate through monetary expenditures.

I would say that in Florida you would also require a license in massage therapy . Honestly, that's bullshit. Massage has nothing to do with Reiki. But it's still the law where you are at.

I'd say maybe try finding other like-minded individuals in the Reiki community and try to get the law adjusted.

Are things different in Raleigh?(your profile suggests you live there)

Blessings,
Whatever

Dear Serafinamoon,
The "massage board" in Florida has ruled that Reiki is massage. There might be a problem if you are doing "hands on" therapy without licensure for a "hands on" occupation. I dont know anything about your particular licensure. The question always is, am I operating within the letter of my state professional licensing board? Nurses, for example, have not had a problem that Im aware of & that license very definitely covers hands on care. However, if they do anything outside the policies of the facility in which they work or are not covered by doctor's orders the possibility exists for an issue. Have not heard of anyone being called to task for this as yet but doesnt mean it couldnt happen.
I would review state licensing rules/regs for your occupation. Nurses in Florida generally dont charge & bill for Reiki as their services are factored into other charges such as room & board during hospitalization & their employer bills for that. I believe a massage therapist incorporates Reiki into a massage & charges for the massage for insurance reimbursement, if applicable. Mental health counseling may be different, I do not know. My understanding is that chiropractors are generally forced to incorporate Reiki into their overall treatment plan as part of their service as they are not reimbursed by insurance if billed seperately for Reiki. Billing could be the issue that frys someone as money matters generally are "flame" issues & complaints generally come from people who are angry & have an axe to grind. Someone who is paying for services in time increments should not be charged for services that one is not experienced at, IMHO.
My feeling is that if Reiki is ever billeable, the massage board will jump on practitioners without a massage license!!

peace & joy,
holobon

holobon,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- so are you saying the Massage Board can dictate to the the Florida Psychologoical Association, for example, whether licensed psychologists can do Reiki, or not, as part of their individual therapy practices?? That they would have to also be licensed as massage therapists?

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Actually I never changed my profile. I live in Abilene, TX currently. Been here a little over 2 years.

And yes it was different. Reiki was not regulated at all at the time I left.

Texas is not currently regulated. When i first moved here there was a website talking about possible legislation involving Reiki here in TX. If I recall correctly it seemed to treat Reiki as it's own thing. You would have had to be a certified Reiki 3 with one year apprenticeship in a professional capacity before being able to offer Reiki professionally.

But that hasn't gone anywhere.

If I am correct I believe most states are still unregulated.Though some are "legislation pending".

The FL massage board takes the position that all touch is manipulation and so equals massage, but has the legislature adopted that position? I didn't think so, but if anyone has an update, please share. (I'm not in Florida.)

As for staying clear of such entanglements entirely -- you could give reiki to your clients without touching them.

Bruce
P.S. Oh BTW, the preceding is offered for general informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice.

In the Reiki Magazine published through Willam Rand's facility, there was an article by a social worker who practiced somewhere that she could not do hands on Reiki with her SW practice. She did all work in the aura.....perhaps you can dig up this article.....if you have trouble, let me know...I can probably find it for you.
Feather

What about ministers? Two of my RM's offered that option as ministers can do laying on of hands. It's too bad florida had to rule Reiki as massage.
What about someone who has an esthetitians license. I wonder if they could incorporate Reiki?
blessings,
Prosperity

serafinamoon,

check the resources board

I will post some links that may help

Walk in beauty,
Rebecca

Hey-
I too live in florida and for a while was worried about the same thing since I have no intentions of going to massage school. I havent read the other post so I'm not sure if anyone has already given you this advice.
Get Ordained....that way the gov't can't touch you...Separation of church and state! Once you have been ordained you do not have to use your title(REV) unless it is for legal stuff.
There is a website for the universal life church seminary(ULC) where you can be ordained for free and they respect any beliefs or modalalities as long as they are ethical and do not disrespect anyones human rights. I happen to know a number of people of many different faiths and beliefs that have chosen this route.These people are all over the world too. When you go to the website it will give you a list of all who have been ordained, when and what they using it for.
Hope this helps some.
Love&Light,
Lightchannel

You don't have to have a license to massage for Reiki, you need any type of license that allows you to touch. that means Dr.s, chiropractors nurses,physical
therapist, .....etc.I do belive an esthetitian is included. Sorry for the spelling :)
Lightchannel

lightchannel,

The ULC has publicly stated that they do not endorse Reiki practitioners who use their ordination to practice outside the laws of their particular state.

One of the links I provided on the resources board will supply additional information from the ULC

Walk in beauty,
Rebecca

lightchannel,

That may be true but when one steps out from under the umbrella of their practice. (ie a physical therapist in a clinical setting) I am not positive but I doubt that they would still have the protection of their lisence.

Walk in beauty,
Rebecca

Thats what I thought she was trying to do...incorporate it into her practice right....I think thats what she said previously. And whos to say that she cant make "house calls".
Love&Light,
Shannon

Wow... lot of responses...

When I do Reiki or Beyond.. I just ask for "donations".. I have a free church (not governed by government).. and this seems to work for me. I never seem to feel comfortable charging.. to me its a gift from the universe.. but i know others that dont take it without giving something for it.. if its worth having then its worth paying for... but its different for everyone..

blessings of love and light
Peaceful

Otoharo!

I agree, it is a free gift of the Universe, but receiving requires giving on everyone's part. You do not honor your client if you do not set your fees.

finality

Hi finality

I would say that is a matter of perception...guess it just depends on what each person believes "fee" means..for some it means money, for others its a trade of services, and even for some I know its just a matter of "equal exchange of energies" :) Whatever way each individual chooses to participate in the treatment is up to them.. all I know is that everything that is given is used only for the greatest good, and for me, that is huge payment ( i always get way more than i give)

blessings of love and light
Peaceful

Otoharo!

I know that. The issue is the client. The client must give to receive. Receiving and giving are two sides of one thing. It is your duty to see that the client gives in order that the client receives.

finality

hi finality

well, i don't ever see anything as my "duty" when it comes to another person. If they were guided to me, then i just work with them.. let them decide what works for them as far as a fee goes... like i said before.. everyone is different. i just honor and pay "duty" to my guidance.

blessings of love and light
peaceful spirit