The Reiki Cafe 

I am a mental health nurse who recently became a Reiki master and wish to use Reiki within the area I work.
I thought I had everything I needed to do so but my boss has now suggested she would like to see some recent valid research into the benefits of reiki within mental health which shows there can be no harm caused to the client.
Can anyone help point me in the right direction please.
Bright Blessings to you all

Otoharo!

I was a Psychiatric Social Worker during my working days and worked in mental clinics and hospitals. But that was before I had Reiki. I understand your question but I can not answer from experience. Reiki increases the power of medications so that would be a big consideration. I know people who have gradually lessened their drug use after having Reiki I class. They stopped the drug after a time. In this area, reiki people routinely volunteer to be reiki with people in nursing homes, and such.

finality

Hi Shrub,
Danile J. Benor published a book in 2001 (Spiritual Healing Scientific Validation of a Healing Revolution) with 191 studies done on spiritual healing. It may be available through your library. There was one study listed that adressed anxiety & depression & Reiki. However, out of those 191 studies only 38 met "rigorous scientific" standards & that study was not one of them.
I believe there is an article by a Phd available at the International Journal of Healing & Caring ( online) that addresses documented physical changes as a result of energy medicine practices & advises that we cant assume that practitioners of energy medicine cant cause harm. Perhaps that idea bears some thought. The generally accepted belief of practitioners is that Reiki does no harm but Im not aware of a study that addresses that issue. You might try a large library & ask the librarian for help in searching for legitimate published studies on Reiki & mental health.
What we do in our private lives & what we do as members of the health care team are quite different. Your supervisor is wise in asking you to submit proof.
peace & joy,
holobon

Dear Shrub,
Have posted on the Resources Board some articles you might find intersting.

peace & joy,
holobon

shrub,

Hi.

Above all, permission and informed consent must be obtained from patients first. If a patient\client has a legal guardian then that guardian must give the consent.

I would say that the term 'valid research' has been properly abused especially in the alternative healing literature. Also, I do not know what your boss will consider as 'valid research'. Most of what I have read in the way of 'research' on Reiki and other modalities would never qualify as adequate research design needed for funding by reputatble research funding agencies (and most research requires funding, of course). Also, the nature of what one tries to study (the effects of Reiki practices) is certainly a factor; as is the matter of variability among practitioners for which one really cannot control. And, of course, this may also speak about the limited vision of those funding agencies but that is how it is in most places, I would say.

So, depending on your boss's criteria for 'valid' you may find some "studies" or case reports that will satisfy; perhaps not. Sorry I cannot be of more help.

Good luck,

Cheers,

RC

Blessed Be!

Hi Shrub,

The only way I believe reiki could harm is in the intentions of the practitioner or teacher. If someone who has not legitimately went through legitimate reiki training with a qualified RM and then goes out to charge people alot of money and make up stuff then, that is of course hurtful which is more of a mental feeling of betrayal. Then it goes into that vague area which is our lesson to learn of honoring our instincts; forgiveness; etc., so there is that scepticism element in it.
There is also the aspect of it that people in the massage therapy industry want to include it under their umbrella and have it a part of corporate structure where licensing, fees and all is involved. I don't believe it can harm physically of course. That's pretty obvious especially if it's non-touch which may be what you could mention as some use non-touch.

thanks for the post,

peace,

Prosperity

peace,

Prosperity

prosperity,

Hi.

If someone with a severe psychiatric disturbance such as schizophrenia is sent energy they may very easily mis-interpret the energy (their ability to comprehend ordinary 'reality' already being quite challenged) and have an exacerbation of some sort (medications not withstanding). This could be 'harmful' even though the one sending the energy feels that his\her intention is not harmful.

And, some psychiatric patients are not 'competent' to give consent for their own treatments and have legal guardians to do this for them. Thus guardians need to be consulted before any energy work is done. But I would say that one must be especially careful about any energy work with psychiatirc patients, especially distance energy work (which I would never do with psychiatirc patients). Even severely neurotic folks may not be able to handle the energy.

Cheers,

RC

Dear RC,

I agree with you from personal experience. Borderline personality disorder type people can get real paranoid thinking someone is getting into their dreams etc. much less other disorders even though some RM's do not believe this to be true.
We have to use wisdom and discretion especially with our bosses and in nursing there seems to be alot of control issues to begin with in that profession.

peace,

Prosperity