REGULATION

Currently in the UK we have voluntary self-regulation for complementary therapies i.e. it is not compulsory. It is the person doing the Reiki who is regulated, not the Reiki itself, i.e. it is how they work and their interaction with the public.

In February 1996, HRH Prince Charles proposed the Integrated Medicine initiative to encourage orthodox and complementary healthcare to work together within the NHS for the benefit of the British public. For this to happen, complementary therapies were required to be self-regulated and to develop robust systems to ensure high standards of practice and levels of care, to bring them in line with other healthcare professionals who are also expected to hold nationally recognised qualifications.

The House of Lords (Science & Technology Committee) Report on Complementary Therapies in 2000 advised that Voluntary Self-Regulation be introduced for Complementary Therapies. As a result of this 12 different therapy groups were invited by the then Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Health (PWFIH), to be involved with the consultation and process towards Voluntary Self-Regulation. This went through what was called the “Federal Working Group” and culminated in the introduction of the CHNC as one regulatory body, although others have subsequently been formed.

As part of the UK Reiki Federation’s ongoing objective of promoting best practice and professional conduct, it has been involved with, and made a major contribution towards the regulation of Reiki as a profession, and in the development of minimum standards of training.