Just wondered what other's thoughts were about Reiki consultation forms and the current practice of asking about clients' medical conditions and medications.
As far as I know, there are not too many contraindications for Reiki and it is deemed to be a safe therapy therefore why do we need to ask clients about their health in such detail?
Does anyone use a consultation form with just the relevant contraindications listed for clients to tick? Do you think it's necessary to ask about medical conditions as well?
Look forward to your replies:)
It's partly a matter of protecting yourself to know as much about your client as possible. For example they could have a medical condition which gets worse for some unrelated reason and they could blame the Reiki for making it worse! If you are aware in advance of any medical conditions they have you can be preapred for such circumstances. On the positive side their condition could improve! You also need to be aware of any medication they are taking as if their health does improve during a course of Reiki treatments then their medication may become too strong (take hyperthyroidism as an example - if the condition improves the dosage of thyroxine required would lessen)
Another reason for knowing about physical conditions is from an holistic perpspective if you think in terms of the mind-body connection then you may get an insight into underlying issues.
😀
Thanks for your reply, meurighj and I understand what you're saying but I am not medically trained so the information about hyperthyroidism wouldn't help me as I don't know what dosage of medication the client should be on i.e. what is a high dosage and what is a low dosage.
I totally get the holistic reason though and this is a good idea but I don't really feel comfortable about getting too many details
Hi,
I also take a case history and details of medication because I need to be able to differentiate between the energy of the client and the energy of the medication.
Also as the client heals they may go through their healing crisis and I need to know the route their crisis is taking. Also the odd client may feel that the original symptom they are having Reiki for has not improved. But if I know of their other problems then I can ask them if they have subsided - often the answer is yes. It shows me that healing is occurring just not in the route the client would like.
I also need to know if the client may be infectious - not just for me but for my next clients too.
These are just some of the reasons why I take a full history and know of the medications they are taking.
And one more reason - if I know their disease I can then begin to build a database of knowledge about how certain diseases feel to me and the emotional/mental resonance of each disease and therefore how to work with them and be a more effective healer.
Kindest regards,
Christina
Hi,
Also as the client heals they may go through their healing crisis and I need to know the route their crisis is taking. Also the odd client may feel that the original symptom they are having Reiki for has not improved. But if I know of their other problems then I can ask them if they have subsided - often the answer is yes. It shows me that healing is occurring just not in the route the client would like.
[COLOR="Indigo"]That's a good point - I hadn't looked at it that way
I also need to know if the client may be infectious - not just for me but for my next clients too.
[COLOR="Indigo"]Yes, I totally agree and although I think about all that for massage clients I sort of forgot about the implications for Reiki clients
These are just some of the reasons why I take a full history and know of the medications they are taking.
And one more reason - if I know their disease I can then begin to build a database of knowledge about how certain diseases feel to me and the emotional/mental resonance of each disease and therefore how to work with them and be a more effective healer.Kindest regards,
Christina
Thank you for your advice Christina. I am currently updating my client record/consultation forms and just been thinking about whether the info I ask for is really justified but am beginning to realise it probably is. 😀
Also the Reiki Fed guidelines have even more probing questions than I have ever asked 😮
the information about hyperthyroidism wouldn't help me as I don't know what dosage of medication the client should be on i.e. what is a high dosage and what is a low dosage.
You don't need to know about the dosage - the client needs to be aware that regular Reiki treatments may improve their wellbeing and in doing so their health may improve so they need to recognise that their medication may become too much - they know what dosage they're on - the same applies to someone who is diabetic you would need to know that they are diabetic.
Another reason for knowing if a client has a medical condition - what if they were epileptic and you hadn't done a consultation and they had a fit during the treatment? 🙁
I agree with Christina too you need to know if your client has any infectious or contagious conditions for your own wellbeing and for your other clients wellbeing.
😀
You don't need to know about the dosage - the client needs to be aware that regular Reiki treatments may improve their wellbeing and in doing so their health may improve so they need to recognise that their medication may become too much - they know what dosage they're on - the same applies to someone who is diabetic you would need to know that they are diabetic.
Another reason for knowing if a client has a medical condition - what if they were epileptic and you hadn't done a consultation and they had a fit during the treatment? 🙁
😀
Sorry meurighj, I totally misunderstood your first post and I understand now what you mean. I have it on my consultation form that diabetics and those with high blood pressure need to monitor their levels for this very reason. After what you've said I could add those on Thyroxin as well.
I also have epilepsy on my form as I ask them in advance what I should do in the unlikely event that they had a fit.
To be honest, my consultation form covers a lot of things but I think I was becoming uncomfortable about asking people about their current medications and medical treatments as the answers I got often wouldn't have any bearing on their Reiki Treatment but I now feel more confident about continuing to have these questions on my consultation form thanks to yours and Christina's replies.
Thank you:)
To be honest, my consultation form covers a lot of things but I think I was becoming uncomfortable about asking people about their current medications and medical treatments as the answers I got often wouldn't have any bearing on their Reiki Treatment....
Hi Lamora.
Well, I'm certainly in agreement with everything that's been shared thus far. If a client comes into the treatment office with a cough because of tuberculosis, I certainly want to know.
I would add that the treatment forms help to create a professional image of the Reiki person to the Reiki client, and equally as important the forms also serve as a tool to help the client talk about themselves -- and the more the client talks about themselves (in particular their ailments) the more likely they are to gain a better understanding of what's happened in their life that may have contributed to the ailment, and how to find a balance that helps them heal it or helps them live in greater harmony with it.
Hi Lightbody, thanks for your input and I agree with everything you've said and I think the issue is more with me and how I felt about asking clients things but as you say a lot of people are more than happy to share medical information.
I have now completed my consultation form revamp and have retained all the medical info questions. I suppose I just wanted to reaffirm the reasons we ask for this kind of info.
Lightbody's response made me think - people's enjoyment of complementary therapy treatments (Reiki, reflexology etc.) is because the therapist spends time listening , unlike a GP who has probably allocated a 10 minute slot and has just enough time to evaluate a few symptoms mentioned, make a diagnosis and offer a prescription (at least that's what it's like at my local surgery!:D). Having someone taking time to actually listen to you is part of the therapy! 😀
Just wondered what other's thoughts were about Reiki consultation forms and the current practice of asking about clients' medical conditions and medications.
As far as I know, there are not too many contraindications for Reiki and it is deemed to be a safe therapy therefore why do we need to ask clients about their health in such detail?
Does anyone use a consultation form with just the relevant contraindications listed for clients to tick? Do you think it's necessary to ask about medical conditions as well?
Look forward to your replies:)
I need a fairly detailed medical history for hypnotherapy, and am used to having full access to medical notes as a pharmacist. So I probably take a more detailed history than most reiki therapists. Knowing their drugs means I not only know what their problems are - but how bad they are. Holistic therapists take their cues about patients in many ways - their drug history is just a rather specialised cue available to me.. And some complaints may well be side effects of drugs .
Apart from that I agree with the other comments made. Especially the fact that people may welcome the chance to talk. The more you know about your client the better you can help them
This is a very interesting thread and good questions. Any tips or somewhere I can get an example of a constulation form? I'm starting out and would love to get an much background on clients as possible to as mentioned before see how different illnesses and energies feel to me and to also make the treatment personal and track progress or issues.
Thanks
Managed to find a few online. Now do you get clients to fill in a consent form?
I always get clients to complete a consent form. I think this is really important and I also keep records for 7 years. In addition I get a consent signed by a parent or carer when I am treating someone under 16 or anyone who might be deemed to be vulnerable.
I always get clients to complete a consent form. I think this is really important and I also keep records for 7 years. In addition I get a consent signed by a parent or carer when I am treating someone under 16 or anyone who might be deemed to be vulnerable.
Thanks Lamora! Did you get a lawyer to check out the consent form and what do you include in it?