Category: Therapists

*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date.

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11:44:26 GMT • 14 January 2025

What are the 7 types of Massage?

11 January 2021

•

7 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

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The practice of using touch as a healing method dates back thousands of years ago. Ancient civilisations found that massage could heal injuries, relieve pain, and produce deep relaxation. Today, if you need a massage, you can choose from about 200 different types of massage, each providing a wide variety of pressures, movements, and techniques.

Moreover, massage therapies often offer a complex combination of holistic healing practices that involve physical, emotional and spiritual elements. Whether you’d like to relax, or have a health condition or injury, choosing your massage style can be confusing if you’re not quite sure what it involves. Here is our list of the most popular 7 types of massage.

Protectivity provides specialist Massage Therapy Insurance. We protect thousands of holistic therapy businesses across the UK.

1. Swedish Massage

What does it involve? Swedish massage is known as classic or standard type of massage, which is widely practiced in most clinics, gyms, spas, and wellness centres. Using lotion or oil, massage therapists combine kneading, deep circular motions, and long flowing strokes in the direction of the heart.

What are the main benefits? Swedish massage provides full-body muscle relaxation, and it can be especially helpful if you are recovering from minor injury. But the benefits of Swedish massage go beyond relaxation. It can help increase the level of oxygen in the blood, improve circulation and flexibility and help you with pain and muscle rehabilitation.

If you are a therapist and need Swedish Massage Insurance, you can get a quote and purchase it from Protectivity.

2. Sports Massage

What does it involve? The main purpose of the sports massage is to manipulate the body’s soft tissues and emphasis on certain muscle groups depending on which sport the athlete plays. During the treatment, the therapist applies strokes that are generally faster than a typical Swedish massage. They may also include compression, pressure point therapy, friction and joint mobilization.

What are the main benefits? Sports massage was originally used by athletes to prepare for or recover from sporting events. Although the treatment was intended for sports persons in the past, it is now sought out by amateur gym-goers and even those who suffer from stress. The application of sports massage, prior to and after exercise, may enhance performance, aid recovery, and prevent injury.

If you are a therapist and need Sports Massage Insurance, you can get a quote and purchase it from Protectivity via the above link.

3. Hot Stone Massage

What does it involve? A hot stone massage is a type of massage therapy during which basalt heated stones are placed on specific parts of your body. The massage therapist holds the stones while giving the massage. The stones are heated to between 54 and 63 degrees Celsius and normally retain their heat for an hour.

What are the main benefits?
Hot stone massage is used to help you relax and ease tense muscles and damaged soft tissues throughout your body. Hot Stone Massage has been specifically associated with symptom relief in people with autoimmune disorders. It also promotes good sleep, increases joint flexibility, and reduces inflammation and muscle spasms.

You can get a quote and buy Hot Stone Insurance from Protectivity via the above link.

4. Aromatherapy

What does it involve? Aromatherapy massage involves soft, gentle pressure in combination of scented essential oils. During the aromatherapy massage, you’ll receive a full-body massage while inhaling essential oils through a diffuser and absorbing them through your skin. Sometimes an aromatherapy massage will only focus on your back, shoulders, and head.

What are the main benefits? Aromatherapy massage is ideal for people who want to add an emotional healing component to their massage. This type of massage can help boost your mood, reduce stress, relieve muscle tension and pain.

If you are therapist and need Aromatherapy Insurance, you can get your quote and cover here.

5. Reflexology

What does it involve? Reflexology is a type of massage that uses gentle to firm pressure on key points such as your feet, hands, and ears. Reflexologists believe that those pressure points correspond to other parts of your body and massaging them stimulates your nervous system to heal itself. It is normally preferred by people who are not comfortable being touched over their entire body and they can remain fully clothed during the treatment.

What are the main benefits? Reflexology is linked to many potential benefits, but only a few of them have been evaluated in scientific studies. People claim that this type of massage could help you improve your immune system, boosts blood circulation, reduces stress and toxins.

You can get a quote and buy Reflexology Insurance from Protectivity via the above link.

6. Thai Massage

What does it involve? Thai massage is an ancient healing practice and uses very different technique compared to the standard Swedish massage. It’s a unique combination of assisted yoga, passive stretching, and pressing massage movements. The therapist uses rhythmic compression along the body’s energy lines and moves and stretches you in a sequence of postures, usually on a mat on the floor.

What are the main benefits? Thai massage can benefit your health in numerous ways, many of which are supported by scientific studies. Thai massage aligns the energies of the body and helps reduce stress, promotes relaxation, and improve flexibility and circulation.

You can get a quote and buy Thai Massage Insurance from Protectivity via the above link.

7. Indian Head Massage

What does it involve? Indian Head Massage is a therapeutic method that sees pressure being applied in circles to the scalp, deep tissue massage strokes on the neck and shoulders, and tension-releasing stretches of the neck. It is a favourite option for people involved in office work who normally have bad posture as it helps relieve the tension that builds up in the head, neck and shoulders.

What are the main benefits? Indian Head Massage has numerous benefits, but it is mostly complemented for relieving migraine pains and stress, hair follicle stimulation and removing toxins not only from the upper body, but the entire lymphatic system.

Get a quote and buy Indian Head Massage Insurance from Protectivity by clicking on the above link.

Massage therapy is a treatment approach that is growing in demand and popularity. From helping with stress, pain management to injury recovery and muscle rehabilitation, you are now aware of what different types of massage can do for you. Hopefully, in this blog we’ve helped you decipher the many different styles and benefits of massage so you can book the one that’s best for you.

At Protectivity, we provide a wide range of what we believe are cost-effective insurance solutions for therapy professionals including Reiki Insurance, Counselling Insurance, Massage Insurance and many more. To see if your speciality can be covered, just visit our Therapy Insurance page and input your technique into the quote box. If we can cover the activity, we will provide you with an instant price.

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09:53:30 GMT • 14 January 2025

Understanding Chakra Stones and Healing Crystals

9 October 2019

•

7 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

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Chakra stones, or healing crystals, are thought to correspond to the seven chakras or centres of energy in the body. These energy centres are believed to govern our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. When they are in balance, energy flows freely and harmoniously. But when one or more chakras become blocked or imbalanced – often due to trauma, stress, or emotional distress – this can manifest as worry, insecurity, fatigue, or even a sense of disconnection from oneself.

As chakra therapists or those exploring the path, working with healing crystals is a powerful, intuitive way to support clients in their healing journeys. Chakra stones are often used in Reiki therapy as well, where practitioners place specific crystals on or around the body to align and activate the chakras during energy healing sessions. This combination of crystal healing and Reiki can help amplify energetic shifts, clear blockages, and restore balance on multiple levels.

In this guide, we explore the chakras, the crystals that resonate with them, and how to use these stones in your practice with depth and integrity.

What are Chakra Healing Crystals?

Chakra healing crystals, also known as chakra stones, are natural minerals thought to carry vibrational energies that interact with our own energy fields. The word ‘chakra’ originates from Sanskrit and translates to ‘wheel,’ referring to spinning centres of energy in the body.

Each of the seven primary chakras is associated with specific physical, emotional, and spiritual attributes, and each resonates with particular colours and frequencies. Chakra stones are chosen based on these qualities, to either balance, activate, or calm these energy centres.

This video from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads gives you a great overview.

The seven chakras and their healing crystals

Root Chakra (Muladhara)

Location: Base of the spine and pelvic floor
Associated with: Security, grounding, survival
When blocked: Anxiety, fear, feeling unsafe or unrooted
Crystals: Hematite, Black Onyx, Smokey Quartz

Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)

Location: Just below the navel
Associated with: Sensuality, creativity, emotional flow
When blocked: Low libido, creative blocks, guilt
Crystals: Carnelian, Sunstone, Orange Calcite

Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)

Location: Upper abdomen / navel area
Associated with: Confidence, personal power, will
When blocked: Low self-esteem, lack of direction
Crystals: Citrine, Pyrite, Yellow Jasper

Heart Chakra (Anahata)

Location: Centre of the chest
Associated with: Love, compassion, emotional balance
When blocked: Jealousy, grief, inability to trust
Crystals: Rose Quartz, Green Aventurine, Jade

Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)

Location: Throat
Associated with: Communication, truth, self-expression
When blocked: Fear of judgement, difficulty expressing oneself
Crystals: Lapis Lazuli, Aquamarine, Sodalite

Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)

Location: Between the eyebrows
Associated with: Intuition, insight, clarity
When blocked: Lack of direction, poor judgement, overthinking
Crystals: Amethyst, Fluorite, Iolite

Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

Location: Top of the head
Associated with: Spiritual connection, enlightenment
When blocked: Disconnection, isolation, apathy
Crystals: Clear Quartz, Amethyst, Moonstone

How to use chakra crystals in healing sessions

As a chakra therapist, your intuition is one of your greatest tools. You might begin a session by using a pendulum to assess energy flow in each chakra, or by simply sensing where there are imbalances in your client’s body or aura.

Crystal Placement: Place the appropriate stone on or near the corresponding chakra while your client lies down in a relaxed state. You might combine this with reiki, breathwork, or guided meditation.

Gridding: Use a sacred geometry grid layout to amplify the energetic impact, especially for deeper emotional clearing or spiritual connection.

Energy Sweeping: Gently move the crystal over the chakra in circular or sweeping motions to help shift stagnation or blockage.

Client Interaction: Encourage your client to hold or meditate with a crystal between sessions, to deepen their own connection with that chakra’s energy.

Choosing the right stones for your practice

Start with a basic set of the seven chakra stones and slowly build your collection based on your intuitive pulls or client needs. Keep an open heart – sometimes a stone will call to you without a logical reason, and that’s often exactly what you (or your client) need.

Dual-purpose stones like Amethyst (which supports both Crown and Third Eye) or Citrine (Solar Plexus and Sacral) are wonderful additions. Always work with ethically sourced stones when possible, honouring the earth from which they come.

How to care for your crystals

Crystals absorb energy, so regular cleansing is essential. Common methods include:

Placing them under the full moon
Smudging with sage or palo santo
Sound baths (using a singing bowl or chime)
Burying them in the earth overnight

You can also charge your crystals with an intention by holding them in your hand and mentally or verbally infusing them with purpose.

Integrating crystal healing with other practices

Crystals work beautifully alongside other holistic tools and modalities. Depending on your training and personal style, consider incorporating:

Meditation and Breathwork – Let your client hold a stone during guided meditations focused on chakra activation.
Sound Healing – Use singing bowls or tuning forks aligned with the vibrational frequency of the chakra being worked on.
Aromatherapy – Diffuse essential oils that complement each chakra’s energy (e.g., patchouli for Root, peppermint for Throat).
Movement Practices – Introduce gentle yoga poses or intuitive movement to help open blocked energy centres.

How to assess chakra imbalances

Being able to intuit or assess where energy is stuck is a vital skill. Some methods to explore include:

Pendulum Dowsing – Hold a pendulum above each chakra and observe the movement.
Body Language Cues – Hunched shoulders may point to a closed Heart Chakra, while crossed arms can signal defensive energy.
Client Dialogue – Ask simple reflective questions about their emotions and physical sensations.
Energy Scanning – With practice, many therapists sense energetic shifts or stagnation by moving their hands over the body.

Empowering clients between sessions

Give your clients tools to stay connected with their healing journey:

Crystal Meditations – Simple daily meditations with a chosen crystal.
Chakra Journaling Prompts – Encourage writing about themes of each chakra to deepen awareness.
Crystal Carrying – Recommend keeping a stone in their pocket or wearing crystal jewellery.
Chakra Affirmations – Pair affirmations with specific stones (e.g., “I am safe and grounded” with Hematite).

Navigating science and scepticism

Some clients (and therapists) might feel uncertain about the metaphysical aspects of crystal healing. It helps to:

Acknowledge the energetic and symbolic value of crystals even if not scientifically proven.
Embrace the placebo effect as a valid and powerful component of healing.
Speak from personal experience and observation rather than rigid belief.
Frame crystal work as complementary, never a replacement for conventional care.

Ethical practice and intuitive integrity

Always approach crystal healing with responsibility and humility:

Recognise that each client is on a unique path.
Avoid spiritual overreach or pushing ideas that don’t align with their belief systems.
Clearly communicate that crystal therapy is supportive, not curative.
Continue to educate yourself and seek mentorship from experienced energy healers.

Get Chakra Healing Reiki Insurance from Protectivity

Whether you incorporate chakra stones into your Reiki sessions or focus purely on energy healing, having good-quality therapist insurance is essential. It not only protects you and your business against potential claims, but also ensures that any investment you’ve made in ethically sourced healing crystals and equipment is covered in case of damage or loss.

At Protectivity, we offer specialist Reiki insurance policies designed for practitioners, including Public Liability, Professional Indemnity, and equipment cover. Whether you practise chakra healing, crystal Reiki, or traditional energy work, our flexible and affordable plans give you the peace of mind to focus fully on your clients. Why not get a quote today and safeguard your practice with confidence?

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10:22:23 BST • 11 April 2025

10 Traditional Reiki Hand Positions

1 October 2019

•

3 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation which also promotes healing. The belief behind this treatment is that a life energy is flowing through our bodies and if this energy is low then we are more vulnerable to illness and stress.

Reiki treatments increase this life energy by placing hands on, or just above the body, creating beneficial emotional and physical effects, healing pain, reducing stress and anxiety.

A typical Reiki session

During a Reiki Treatment, a client will lie on a massage table, or a chair if they prefer. There is no significant pressure applied during a Reiki session, instead a practitioner will gently place their hands on a client.

There are a series of key hand positions which, when done in the correct way, will generate the effects needed. Here is a guide to some of the most popular hand positions.

1. Place the palms of your hands gently on your client’s forehead and cover the eyes. Take care not to cover the nose and restrict your client’s breathing.

2. Place hands gently around the temples.

3. Cradle the head by rocking the head very gently from one open palm and then to the other eventually achieving a balanced hold. Your own hands can rest on the table underneath your clients head.

4. Hands are gently placed over your client’s throat. If they don’t feel comfortable with this then your hands can be placed under the throat instead.

5. Hands are placed over the heart and the heart chakra (located between the breasts). They are then placed gently over the upper abdomen.

6. Hands are placed gently over your mid abdomen (solar plexus).

7. At this point, you, as a Reiki Practitioner might continue treatment to include your client’s legs.

Both hands are placed gently on the leg. Repeat for the other leg.

8. Put one hand on the bottom of each foot.

9. The next step would be to ask your client to roll over to their front and for you to apply pressure to your client’s shoulder blades and middle back and then the lower back.

10. At the end of a treatment you may move your hands all over your client’s body to cleanse and remove any leftover debris, transforming any negative energies into positive ones.

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09:41:26 GMT • 14 January 2025

5 Marketing Channels for your Therapy Business

8 July 2019

•

5 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

Are you looking for some tips on how to successfully promote your therapy business? Here are 5 strategies to consider when writing your marketing plan.

About Us

Protectivity provides specialist Therapy Insurance to thousands of UK professional therapists each year. Our policy includes public liability and professional indemnity as standard along with several other benefits which can be added to your policy.

Digital

Whether you are online savvy or don’t know where to start, the digital marketing channel can be a very efficient way of communicating. It is essential to have an impactful and informative website as this can be one of the best ways of advertising your business.

There are plenty of agencies that will design a website to meet your brief or there are tools available so you can build it yourself, keeping costs down. With social media channels such as Facebook and twitter there are a lot of ways you can reach a targeted audience at a relatively low cost. Often it is trial and error to see the most effective combination for you.

Pros – Relatively low cost and easy to switch ‘on’ or ‘off’ depending on what is working (or not).
Cons – unless you employ someone to manage the digital aspect for your business, you will need to get some basic knowledge and training to make effective use of this channel.

Networking

Networking events are a great way of making your business name known amongst fellow business leaders but is unlikely to result in an instant increase in clients. But whether you are starting up a new business or looking to achieve growth for your therapy practice they can be useful for promoting your business as well as learning from others. There is an increasing trend for digital networking events so that you can benefit without even having to leave your practice.

Pros – You can meet fellow business owners, promote your business and share knowledge. They can promote your business and you can promote theirs.
Cons – Typically you pay to attend these events and you are not always likely to get direct business as a result, making it difficult to measure the impact of attending.

Local media

One of the more traditional marketing channels, local media can still have a role to play in advertising your business. Get in touch with your local newspaper or other publications distributed in your area. Many of these have good readership numbers and are placed in doctors surgeries, dental surgeries and libraries meaning that your business name can be seen by a number of prospective clients.

If a publication chooses to feature you, due to an event or offer that you might have, then this can be a cost-effective way of promoting your therapy business.

Pros – There are a range of options available from a small ad to featuring in an editorial piece and, if you select the right publication, you can reach a relevant audience.
Cons – Print ads can be expensive and don’t always offer a high return. Do some research and find out if this channel is right for your business and will generate a return on your advertising spend.

Partnerships

Partnerships can offer a great opportunity to do joint promotions, share advertising costs and reach a new client base. It is important to find someone who complements but does not compete with your own business, so for example nutritionists, physiotherapists, reflexologists etc.

Maybe you could get a few of you to host an event to promote your businesses, chat to potential clients and even give a little taster of the treatments that you offer?

Pros – You can share knowledge, costs and responsibilities.
Cons – There is a risk that your business name and proposition might be lost amongst the other businesses and that a promotion might not be as targeted as you might like.

Print

Whilst much of the world is turning to the digital platforms for a lot of their information there is still a role to be played through having leaflets in the right place.

Some well-placed and informative leaflets located in doctors and dental surgeries, community centres and libraries can reach a different audience. Carry leaflets and business cards with you and have them available at your practice for clients to take with them so that they can recommend you.

Pros – Print is a great way of physically getting information into the hands of potential clients.
Cons – Your message can get swallowed up in the large amount of junk mail that we all deal with every day. Not very environmentally friendly.

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09:35:45 GMT • 14 January 2025

Do You Need a Licence to be a Holistic Therapist?

12 April 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

When operating any form of business, it is important to recognise the requirements around licensing. And if you are offering any form of holistic treatments such as reiki, massage or reflexology, there is a chance you may require a therapy licence.

However, it’s not a straightforward answer. Not everyone will require a licence to practice their chosen therapy. The necessity will depend on your location and treatments offered, with business licensing matters handled by local authorities.

That’s why your local council is always the best place to find out if you need a licence to practice.

Different types of licence

Many regions will not require you to attain any licence to carry out therapy treatments, other than for you to register your business with HMRC.

As well as your location being a factor, the treatments you offer will have some form of impact. For example, if you are carrying out any form of acupuncture, where you are piercing a client’s skin, it is more than likely that you will require a licence of some form.

Often this is bundled together with massage treatments with a Massage and Special Treatments Licence.

Massage and Special Treatments Licence

This type of licensing requirement is commonplace in London, with many boroughs in the capital providing this service.

Usually, the local authority will require you to have obtained a nationally recognised qualification in the services you are offer. This could be a City and Guilds, an NVQ or the equivalent, but must meet the National Occupational Standards.

Sometimes, if you are a member of an organised body, an exemption can be made. This is the case for members of The Federation of Holistic Therapists and British Reflexology Association as well as many others. However, it is always best to check with your local council in the first instance.

The cost of a Massage and Special Treatments Licence, again, can vary. Fees can range from around £180 if you are offering treatments such as manicures and pedicures to over £700 for some of the more invasive treatments.

Special Treatments Premises Licence

Like the Massage and Special Treatments Licence, this document is more commonly required within London. The Special Treatments Premises Licence is designed, as the name suggests, to cover the premises that the treatment is being offered, as opposed to the individual therapist.

Massage treatments, as well as a number of beauty-related treatments fall under this licensing requirements. Like the therapy licence for the individual therapist, there are often exclusions for members of some organisations.

It’s important to remember that unlike some other business licenses, tacit consent is unlikely to apply. That means, that whereby some licensing processes will allow you to practice while at the application stage, you will not be able to practice until you are given this licence.

Awareness is key

While many treatments covered by Protectivity’s Therapist Insurance will not require you to obtain a license, checking with your local council is so important.

If you are found to be providing a service that you are unlicensed for, you could be liable for a hefty fine, and the revocation of your right to trade as a business. Although licensing issues can be confusing or time-consuming, ignorance is unlikely to be taken as an acceptable excuse.

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09:34:06 GMT • 14 January 2025

Which Treatments Does Holistic Therapy Insurance cover?

25 March 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

As a therapist it is important to understand what your therapy insurance policy covers. As well as including a range of differing benefits most policies will include coverage for a large number of therapy treatments.

These activities stretch far and wide and aim to deal with client’s issues and grievances with a variety of different techniques.

At Protectivity, our Therapist Insurance policy can provide cover for over 250 different treatments. These can generally be grouped together by treatment types, to best illustrate the cover we can provide.

Here are just some of the treatment types available with our cover:

Massage therapy

The most common type of massage practised by the therapists that we cover, with a wide range of varieties in itself. From Thai Massage to No Hands Massage, we can provide cover for massage therapists providing dozens of different services.

Each policy provides public liability cover in case of injury caused to a client, perhaps through a over-zealous massage or due to a negative reaction to the oils you choose to use.

Yoga therapy

The popularity of yoga in this country is growing. One source estimated that up to 460,000 people participate in the exercise on a regular basis in the UK, and it appears that the power of yoga is now being embraced by therapists.

Using yoga to help alleviate aches, pains and other ailments, yoga therapy practitioners are becoming commonplace.

Variants covered under Protectivity’s Therapy Insurance product include laughter yoga, baby yoga and Thai yoga, as well as the more traditional method.

Spiritual therapy

A huge group of therapy practices, therapists that focus on the spiritual side of things make up a large portion of Protectivity customers. Activities that fall into this therapy type include angel card reading, mediumship and treatment using chakra healing stones.

Under our policy, we provide cover for professional indemnity. This would protect a therapist should any of the advice they give lead to a client suffering an injury to themselves.

Counselling

When we say the word ‘therapy’, counselling may be the immediate practice that springs to mind. Talking through our problems is something that is being encouraged more and more prominently in everyday life, and those who provide these services should ensure they have adequate cover.

A range of different counselling techniques such as addiction counselling and psycho-therapeutic counselling can be covered by our counsellor insurance policy.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Another therapy type that is more focused on mental health is cognitive behavioural therapy. Like counselling, CBT can be implemented to help clients deal with a huge range of stresses in their day-to-day lives, through a variety of techniques and therapy treatments.

Activities such as mindfulness therapy, stress management and smoking cessation can all be covered under Protectivity’s Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Art therapy

The use of art therapy is another way that could help their clients. Implementing art based activities in a therapeutic environment, art therapists provide a safe space for individuals to express their problems and stresses in the form of art.

Other arts that can be used in a therapy environment include dance therapy and play therapy which helps people to express themselves in a way that helps their mental well-being.

With over 250 individual therapy treatments covered under Protectivity’s policy we haven’t listed them all in this blog. To see if your speciality can be covered, just visit our Therapy Insurance page and input your technique into the quote box. If we can cover the activity, we will provide you with an instant price.

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09:32:43 GMT • 14 January 2025

Your Guide to Therapy Courses and Certification

18 October 2018

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

If your starting out your journey to becoming a therapist, it’s inevitable that you will planning to undertake some training. There are a plethora of therapy courses out there and knowing which ones you should take can be a daunting decision.

Depending on what type of therapy you will be practising it may be that you don’t need to have any qualifications to legal practice that activity. As most types of therapy are likely to have their own governing body or association, it is worth checking with your relevant body to see what standards they require you to meet.

Reiki practitioners, for example, don’t necessarily need any formal training to operate. However, attempting to market yourself as a reiki therapist may be a bit tricky if you do not have any educational collateral to your name.

Training courses can be found on a number of online databases. These can be searched by your local area and sometimes by your current skill level. HotCourses and UCAS are just a couple of resources that you can find a training module to suit you.

Joining an organisation

Generally, the need for specialist therapist qualifications become strengthen when you wish to become a member of a professional body. The UK Reiki Federation are no different in this case.

Should you wish to join as an ‘Associate’ or ‘Practitioner’ member, you are required to hold a minimum of a Reiki 1 and Reiki 2 certificate respectively.

Similarly to become a ‘Professional’ member of the National Association of Massage Therapists one must hold at a qualification to the level of ITEC Level 3 Massage at the bare minimum.

Perhaps one of the most intensive training processes in the therapy industry is bestowed upon would-be counsellors and psychotherapists. The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) recommends a three step approach to any training.

Introduction

Firstly, they recommend taking an introductory course into the subject of counselling and what becoming a therapist is all about. Here you will get an idea about the level of commitment a career in therapy would require.

Certification in counselling

The BACP then suggests that the next step of counselling training is to seek out a local college, university or adult education centre to learn the required skills to succeed as a counsellor or psychotherapist. These courses will generally give you an understanding of the advice you will be giving, and the theories that surround them.

Core practitioner training

The third step in the transition to becoming a therapist in the eyes of the BACP and many other organisational bodies is to take an accredited course. This is likely to be at a Bachelors or Masters degree level and will provide you with an in-depth knowledge of the advice and treatment you should be giving. It will flesh out your understanding and leave you in the best place to deliver your therapy treatment of choice.

Although this three step approach is specifically referenced by the BACP, it is a useful approach to take whether you are a psychotherapist, massage therapist or chakra stone healer.

By having specific therapist qualifications to your name, you improve your chances to succeed two-fold.

Firstly you increase your level of knowledge and skill level in your chosen profession. But secondly, you can also put your customers and clients into a better position where they trust you to deliver the service they require. By improving their trust and satisfaction, you also increase the chance of them referring you to their friends and associates.

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