You're working on a client. Perhaps it's Massage Therapy or Hypnotherapy or Acupuncture or Coaching. Then, you feel it - you get the sense that they could benefit from some Reiki... So, can you just go ahead and sneak it in?

No.

Before we can begin any kind of work with anyone, we need consent. We know this, right? We certainly know this when it comes to manual therapies, but it seems to me that some people are a bit confused about what it means when it comes to energy healing.

Let me be clear: Before you do any energy work on anyone, you must have their consent. If it wasn't given before your session started, ask for permission. Very simple.

This consent is obviously implied when someone books a Reiki (or other energy healing) session with you, but NOT if they booked in for something else. Just because somebody has asked you to do one particular thing, does not automatically mean they have allowed you to do something else.

Consent, consent, consent. Whether it's a hands-on energy healing or a remote (distance) healing, give your client the respect and agency they deserve by asking them for their consent.

Remember, just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you SHOULD. Or that you're the right person to do it, assuming they need that work at all!

I'd like to offer two angles on this, the client-centered and business-centered angle.

The Client-Centered Perspective

From a client-centered perspective, we need to honor their autonomy, agency, and personhood. We don't impose our wishes on other people, and certainly not our paying clients who are trusting us to work with them in the vulnerable field that energy healing is.

Clients love to be given the opportunity to try different modalities, so asking them if they would like some Reiki during their session is a wonderful option. But remember that's what it is - an OPTION. Which means that they should feel free to refuse with absolutely no consequence.

You can say: "You mentioned that you're really stressed and that you want your massage to focus on relaxation to help bring your anxiety down. We can definitely do this, and I also think you can benefit from Reiki, because it can be very helpful in grounding energy and is deeply relaxing. Would you be interested in having some Reiki done in the last 10 minutes of your session as well?"

Do NOT say: "Wow, your energy is all over the place. I think you really need some Reiki right now. I'm gonna go ahead and do some Reiki for you before your session ends, okay? You REALLY need it".

I don't always offer Reiki as an add-on, and I'll tell you why - I already offer a service that explicitly states that both Therapeutic Massage & Reiki will be performed. So if somebody books only Massage, and requests a focus on nervous system regulation (my specialty!), I have to assume that they already saw the option to add Reiki and didn't choose it. I also have Reiki-only sessions, and that's also I'm known for, so if someone wanted to book Reiki with me, they already would have (most likely).

Exceptions: Sometimes I will have clients booking in with me who don't know I do Reiki - if I get the sense this is the case, I MAY offer it, if it's relevant to why they're seeking treatment that day.

What about other forms of energy work? YES, consent is so good to have! If I am doing Reiki work on a client and I get the sense that they could benefit from tuning forks, I absolutely ask them if I can use the tuning forks. Same with crystals, although I almost always work with crystals in my Reiki sessions, so I always ask/advise them at the beginning of the session: "I also work with crystals in my Reiki sessions, are you okay with that?".

I find it especially important to get consent with tuning forks and crystals if you are touching them to the client's body. And again, clients love to know that they have the option. Giving them the gift of saying yes to an additional modality adds to their experience.

Where I draw the line: I don't explain the work. Your client is responsible for booking in and committing to receiving energy healing; you are responsible for doing your work professionally. They trust that you know what you're doing.

All this to say, if you're attuned to Usui Reiki, Holy Fire Reiki, Angelic Reiki, Violet Flame Reiki, Earth Reiki, Faerie Reiki, Crystal Reiki, etc., there's no need to ask your client what "flavor" of Reiki they want. YOU'RE THE PROFESSIONAL. They're already trusting that you are attuned to, and can channel, and broad spectrum of healing energy; YOUR job is to do it for the client's highest good.

Anyway, I'm sure you can see the difference. Bottom line: It is in your client's best interest to ask for their consent before performing different healing modalities on them, regardless of how "subtle" they are. They have the right to refuse, and they also deserve the opportunity to learn about and experience different modalities. Consent is the key that unlocks this opportunity.

The Business-Centered Perspective

Listen, you're there to do a job. You are being paid to show up and do the work, so do the work that you're being paid to do - no more, no less. You're not doing yourself or your client any favors by randomly changing their "order".

Here's a loose analogy: If you ordered Fish & Chips, you wouldn't be too impressed if the server came back with Fish & Caesar Salad. It may be the best Caesar Salad in the world and they may have had the best of intentions, but it's NOT what you ordered. Get it? (I did say it was a LOOSE analogy...).

Also, this is an amazing opportunity for you to market your different services! If your client would truly benefit from Reiki or Crystal Healing, wouldn't it be smart to let them know that THAT'S what worked? What good is it for you to "sneak" a modality in, only for your client to have no idea what made the session so special?

Perhaps during your treatment, you feel that they could benefit from some Reiki. Rather than only offering them the option of having it included in the current session, you could also offer it as something they could try NEXT time. The vast majority of people will take you up on this (if they refuse it for the current session).

Being a good practitioner leads to good business. If you honor and respect your client, they will feel that, and they will trust you. And if they trust you, they will refer you to their friends and family. Good business all around!

A Final Warning

Believe it or not, there are tons of people who do NOT want Reiki. For all the reasons. It may go against their religious beliefs, or they simply don't care for subtle forms of healing. It doesn't matter, because to each their own.

Can you imagine telling someone after their session that you decided to give them some Reiki, and instead of receiving gratitude you end up with a very upset client who feels violated? Quelle nightmare. Not respectful, and very bad business.

So, just ask. Again, just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should - no need to be a show-off. You've got nothing to prove, only a variety of professional skills to offer. Get consent, and you and your clients will be all the more empowered for it.

With deep reverence,