The Reiki Cafe 

Dear People,
I heard a story yesterday that I want to put out here, because it raised the question of giving someone Reiki without permission.
A friend of mine works with special needs children, in particular a young boy with Asperger's Syndrome. A new PT came in while they were playing and put her hands on the boy's back and shoulders, claiming she was "running energy" and "aligning his chi".
My friend reports that the boy froze and looked at her as if to say, "What the heck's happening, and who is this person touching me?"
The boy's mother was aware that the PT would be visiting but wasn't aware of any hands-on treatments.
Should the PT have gotten permission from the mother? The boy? Or was she using the correct approach?
Oh, and I might add, I'm not sure she was specifically doing Reiki---could've been Quantum, I guess, and I'm not sure about the "permission" aspect of QT.
Thank you all for your time and comments.
Walk in Peace,
Coyotesong

Hi Coyote,

In my opinion she should have got permission first from the boy and his mother should have been fully aware and happy. In my opinion she has violated two ethics here.

Gentle Blessings
Helen

In the UK she would have been teachnicaly breaking the law(or perhaps just insurance guidelines).
Before a treatment is given to someone under 16, there is a requirement to get permission from a consenting adult.
Having said that there may be a technicality in as much as she was just doing her job and had permission to do it just by the fact that he was there?

Namaste

Rob
Truth is not a property of language because language has not been able to express abstract ideas as efficiently as concrete items

coyotesong,

Hi,

As far as I am concerned the PT is supposed to ask permssion from the parent(s). End of story.

However, in that setting the parents may have signed some sort of "treatment agreement" which waives the need to consult them at every turn, However, such 'agreements' usually are preceded by explaining what is "custopmary and usual" treatment to clients. What this PT was doing, I would warrent, does not fall into the category of customary and ususal. However, if the PT had discussed this 'work' previously and had consent then the situation is a bit different.

Yet, from what you describe the child seemed startled and one wonders if the child was also distressed. I hope someone was paying attention.

Cheers,

RC

From a parent's point of view, if it were my child, I would come down like a ton of bricks on the PT and her supervisor (at the very least) would have heard from me had I found out later that she had done anything without my express knowledge and permission.

Whatever type of energy work this person was doing my opinion is that they violated ethical protocols if for no other reason than they are supposed to be a lisenced professional.

Walk in beauty,
Rebecca

Thanks for validating my own feelings, everyone!
Yes, I have to agree that if it were MY child, I'd have a meltdown--and the boy's mother has been described as "a mother bear."
Good blessings to all, and again I am grateful for your attention.
CS.

I am a therapist, also a mom, and also a Reiki person. I think you are right on here. She definitely should have asked permission of the mother and the child as well, in whatever way he could understand. (Even if that means asking his "higher self", given perhaps a cognitive issue.) I never allow Reiki to flow to a child I am touching without discussing it with the parents. Having said that, there are times when I am working with a family and there is a breakthrough of some type. At that point, I can feel awesome energy flowing everywhere. That is how it is...the feeling of pure love. But I never purposely put hands on someone with the intention of doing any energy work without permission.I think if someone had done that with one of my children when they were younger, without discussing it with me, I would have been a little put out. (even though I might have agreed to it after discussion!) It just seems presumptuous!.
Peace,
Feather

Dear Coyotesong,
I wonder if a PT's license covers Reiki and other energy work? Perhaps there is a legal angle here besides the obvious ethical one.

peace & joy,
holobon