When someone mentioned the term “Medical Reiki” to me, it seemed intimidating. I assumed it was some extremely complicated method of practicing Reiki that only a few people in the world were able to do. I was completed interested in learning this form of Reiki due to my own medical history. I have Rheumatic Fever and was in painful treatments when I first began my Reiki journey. I credit Reiki with helping me to recover faster and easing the pain I endured with treatment and my condition. Even to this day, when I have a relapse, I Reiki myself and go into deep Reiki meditation to alleviate the symptoms. I had also worked with Cancer patients and helped with end of life. So, I believed that practicing Medical Reiki was a perfect fit for me.
I researched and looked for institutions that offered certifications for this highly specialized method of performing Reiki. In my research, I did find several schools and training programs that were of interest to me. I also discovered that this highly specialized Reiki – Medical Reiki, was simply Reiki in a medical setting. Now, I do not want to make it seem like this is not complicated in and of itself. There are so many rules and regulations in such an environment. If you are not used to clinical settings or working with medical staff and persons who are undergoing major surgeries or who have life threatening conditions, then taking a class to prepare you is one of the best investments you can make. However, I realized that as a person who has had more than her fair share of emergency room visits, hospital stays, and physical and rehabilitative surgery and treatment for my various health issues including my present medical condition, I had gained a personally deep understanding of how this system handles patients.
There were moments when medical professionals did not believe I was in excruciating pain, who dismissed the symptoms I gave them for psychiatric issues. I was in a painful spiral that led to dark thoughts and a sense of hopelessness. I was blessed to find someone who referred me to renowned expert Dr. Alexander Shikhman at the Institute for Specialized Medicine in San Diego, California. Due to his complete blood work up, thorough questions, and diverse training, he discovered that I had Rheumatic Fever and immediately got me into treatment and honestly, saved my life.
Prior to receiving treatment, I had years of being misdiagnosed, given the wrong medicine, ignored, or thought of as a hypochondriac, and in some instances, as someone seeking morphine because this was the only medicine that dulled the pain. As a Reiki Master Teacher I know that if there was a Reiki clinician on staff who actually worked with patients, I would have received better care as a patient in every situation, from regular check-ups to emergency room visits to spiritual care. I know how delicate the mind and heart can become in medical situations, especially when being diagnosed with a life altering condition. Because of this, my interest evolved from being certified in Medical Reiki to discovering a more direct way to assist in patient care.
I remembered that in my research, there were many hospitals that had a Reiki volunteer program for patients. This was lovely, but I thought it could go further. I have had the honor to certify a few traveling nurses and a scientist who all were interested in using Reiki in their professions or with their children. I have also had medical professionals reach out to me about taking classes. I saw these as signs from the Universe. The way to focus on patient care is for those clinicians who directly assist them to be trained and certified in Reiki. This way, not only can it be offered to all patients, but it may be covered by insurance as part of the clinical care plan.
Additionally, the aggregate method of collecting data on how a patient reacts to Reiki may be extremely beneficial for use in case studies. At present, the case studies that are out there are good, but there are not enough subjects in them to make a significant push to have Reiki as standard care in a clinical setting. Therefore, I set out to create a course proposal to send to the California Board of Registered Nursing, “Reiki as a Complementary Therapy for Patient Care.” It was accepted and my business, IMREIKINOW, recently became an approved provider to offer 10 contact hours to medical professionals under the California Board of Registered Nursing and to train and certify other Reiki healers to do the same if working under IMREIKINOW.
This is now my path in Reiki and though it will not be easy, I hope that this inspires other healers to focus on your special talent. Allow Reiki to speak to you on ways to integrate your gift in your practice. Do your research and decide the best method for you to accomplish your goal. It may seem intimidating at first, but like me, you will see your path clearly.
From my heart chakra to yours, do your best!
Article by LaTanya L. Hill, JD
Free eBook download: We’ve created an eBook with our best articles on this topic, and offer it for free to all our newsletter subscribers.
LaTanya L. Hill, JD is the creator of KA® Reiki, a spiritual healing technique that taps into ancestral energies while strengthening a person’s inner spirit; the sole proprietor of IMREIKINOW®, an energy healing company based in Los Angeles, California, and an Approved Provider for the California Board of Registered Nursing. She is also a certified Reiki Master Teacher in Usui Reiki Ryoho, Holy Fire III, and Karuna Reiki® and a Chakra Healing Master. Her Reiki handbook, “Reiki Vibrations with 33 Meditations and Affirmations,” is available online and offers healers and lay persons Reiki advice, meditations, and affirmations that may be used in both daily and work life. LaTanya is also an expert teacher on the Insight Timer App with Reiki meditations and courses published internationally. She has been featured in and written for multiple Reiki and business organizations and has been interviewed about Reiki on various podcasts. For more information go to www.imreikinow.com and follow LaTanya on social media @imreikinow, to see video testimonials of Reiki sessions, certifications, and more.
Leave a Reply