Reiki healer
Reiki healers use their palms to help clients relax, and have a better sense of wellbeing.
Salary Range: Variable
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- specialist courses run by private training organisations
You could start with an introductory course at a college or community learning centre, then take further courses up to a Level 3 Diploma in Reiki.
Entry requirements
There are no set entry requirements for this route.
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Volunteering and experience
Before you begin a training course, you need to get personal experience of reiki healing, and show an understanding of the treatment and its methods.
Other routes
You can train with a reiki master and start by going through a series of ‘attunements’ or initiations.
These are procedures performed by the reiki master to ‘attune’ or connect you to energy so you can receive it and pass it on to others.
It can take up to 3 years of training to become a full reiki master and to teach. You’ll be expected to practise reiki regularly on yourself and others during this time.
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Career tips
You may find it helpful to have experience or qualifications in anatomy and physiology. Experience of working in a caring profession can also be useful.
Professional and industry bodies
You may wish to join the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council, which has a voluntary register of reiki healers.
Further information
You can find out more about reiki from the UK Reiki Federation, The Reiki Council and The Reiki Association.
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- sensitivity and understanding
- excellent verbal communication skills
- active listening skills
- customer service skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to work well with your hands
- the ability to work on your own
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Day-to-day tasks
During a session you’ll:
- explain the process
- take a medical history from the client
- make sure the client is comfortable
- place your hands in a sequence of positions covering the whole body, to guide energy and activate the healing process
Working environment
You could work in a therapy clinic or from home.
With qualifications and experience, you could go on to offer training in reiki healing.
You could also offer other forms of complementary therapies like massage, aromatherapy, or reflexology.