thats not good at all Lois.....and yet the UK Fed try and perpetuate the idea that only practitioners with all the 'appropriate' credentrials, may join ........things that make you go hmmmmm!!!

glad to here that not being affiliated to any organisation hasn't held you back in anyway.... I used to think these organisations acted as a saftey net and supportive group when we come across issues regarding our practice..... not the case.....

as long as we are all insured to practice and abide by a strict code of ethics and practice....then we should all be ok I may look into some other organisations as I believe some government rules are changing regarding the practice of certain 'holistic' therapies....but even on that regard I found the info coming from the UK fed highly confusing and counterproductive!! EEK!!

the person had certifcates and lineage, Master teacher Level too, so I suppose UK Reiki Fed's hands were tied, I find it all very confusing there are so many organistations to join!! But how should memebers be asessed, so many styles, types of Reiki, different Crystal Therapists work in different ways...not an easy task!!
Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council is the council that is endorsed by Prince Of Wales, this is the one I would consider joining as Prince Charles has always been an advocate for complementary therapists.
Love Light and Hugs xx

Lois wrote:the person had certifcates and lineage, Master teacher Level too, so I suppose UK Reiki Fed's hands were tied, I find it all very confusing there are so many organistations to join!! But how should memebers be asessed, so many styles, types of Reiki, different Crystal Therapists work in different ways...not an easy task!!
Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council is the council that is endorsed by Prince Of Wales, this is the one I would consider joining as Prince Charles has always been an advocate for complementary therapists.
Love Light and Hugs xx

Except that the CNHC does not yet accept Reiki Practitioners or Crystal Therapists on its register.

Reiki is amongst those therapies which will be covered from late 2009/early 2010 though, apparently.

Also, it gets very confusing because here in the UK there are 3 levels of beaurocracy when it comes to professional Reiki!

There are "professional" organisations, such as the UK Reiki Federation and Reiki Association, who, in the case of the UKRF say : "We are an independent federation of individuals who have been attuned to Reiki, with the objective of forming a national umbrella organisation for education, training and guidance in the public practice of Reiki."

There is the UK Reiki Council which consists of the main professional organisations, such as the UKRF and Reiki Association etc. who say : "We are the lead advisory body for Reiki Practitioners in the UK. Through our member associations we represent the views of people giving Reiki to the public across the four countries of the UK We are a non profit-making body that sets standards and guidelines and provides information and advice"

Then there are also the Federal Regulatory organisations, made up of representative from the councils of the various complementary therapies being regulated. These organisations also hold a national register of practitioners. Examples of these are the General Regulatory Council for Complementary Therapies (GRCCT), British Complementary Therapies Regulatory Council (BCTRC) and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) - although only the first two currently cover Reiki. These Federal Regulators say :

" Acts in the interest of the public and has processes open and accountable to the public and the profession

• Independent of professional bodies

• Promotes the process of regulation

• Administers a single register of practitioners who meet agreed criteria.

• Works with the profession to agree and oversee minimum standards.

• Sets requirements for generic continuing professional development (CPD)

• Publishes codes of conduct and/or ethics

• Has a 'council' or governing body which includes lay and professional representatives

• Has published complaints & disciplinary procedures

• Provides information to the public about the therapy and what to expect.

• Liaises with government and other organisations when required.

• Operates Fitness to Practise procedures to remove practitioners from the register "

All of which have been set up for something which has not yet been scientificaly proved to the satisfaction of mainstream science, is still not generally medically accepted (in most cases) and will cost an arm and a leg each year for the practitioners in both finanical terms an time doing possibly unnecessary extra courses to make up their quota of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)points!

OK...rant over!

Ai to Hikari
Colin

oh my Colin, I am soooo confused, I was aware the CNHC do not have Reiki or Crystal Therapy on their list, and being honest I dont really want to belong to any organisation, because I feel a lot are more about status and money than standards and support did I just say that out loud??!! But I also have a fear that the government are increasingly more likely to regulate Reiki Practitoners and Other Therapists, and that if I am not a member they will stop me from practicing. Maybe that's a unrealistic fear??!
I am also looking at studying the diploma in Crystal Therapy at college also, becasue my training was 'in-house' - but it is a little frustrating that the syllabus is not as indepth as the training I have had....but it will however mean that I would have a government recognised qualification .....yes this subject gets me on a rant from time to time too
Love Light and Hugs x

thanks for all that Info Colin, ( still very confusing) and I forgot all about the CPD's but luckily I'm covered on the points front for a while yet...