Reiki
How to Choose a Reiki Teacher or Course
Choose on the teacher, not the certificate. Because there is no central authority over Reiki training in the United States, two courses with the same name can differ greatly in depth, practice time and support. The International Center for Reiki Training itself publishes a list of questions to put to a prospective teacher, and the answers tell you what a title cannot.
Why does the choice matter so much?
The Wikipedia article on Reiki reports that there is no central authority controlling the use of the words “Reiki” or “Reiki master,” that certificates can be bought online for under $100, and that there is no regulation of practitioners or masters in the United States. In that setting, much of the quality of your training rests on the teacher you choose.
In the UK, Cancer Research UK points readers to the UK Reiki Federation and the Reiki Council, and to registration with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council, when looking for a practitioner.
What should you ask about the teacher?
The ICRT’s list of questions includes these about the teacher themselves:
- How long have you been working with Reiki?
- What training have you had, and what is your lineage?
- How often do you teach?
- How do you personally use Reiki?
- Will you support me afterward, and is there a support group nearby, or can you help start one?
- What is your attitude toward practitioners from other lineages? The ICRT asks whether the teacher is respectful regardless of lineage or affiliation.
What should you ask about the course?
From the same list: what qualifications are required to enroll, whether you will receive a certificate and a manual, whether you can take notes or record the class, and how many symbols you will learn. Add the practical questions of price, refund policy and class size.
What are the warning signs?
Using the questions above as a guide, be cautious of a teacher who:
- Will not say how long they have practiced or how they were trained.
- Discourages questions or note-taking without a clear reason.
- Pushes you toward the next level before you have practiced the current one.
- Suggests Reiki can replace medical care. The ICRT’s own guidance is that Reiki is used alongside a licensed health care professional, not instead of one.
Compare two teachers before you decide
Put the same questions to at least two teachers and write down their answers side by side. Notice which one gives specific answers, such as years, hours and what you will be able to do afterward, rather than general reassurance. Choose the one whose answers you could check.
This article is general information, not medical or psychological advice; talk with a licensed clinician about your own situation.