The first part of this page deals with training for complementary therapists, but much of the information is relevant for any type of training. The second part looks briefly at personal development training from Angel Workshops to Developing your Psychic and Spiritual Potential. 

Training for Holistic, Complementary and Beauty Therapists
There are so many courses out there – try plugging ‘Reiki Course’ into Google and it will return around 1, 290, 000 results…that’s right one million, two hundred and ninety thousand pages of Reiki Courses…so how on earth do you decide which one is the right one for you?

I have prepared some basic questions that you need to ask. 

 The very first question is this:
 ‘Do you want to be able to practice this on others?’

It is essential that you ask yourself this question for the following reason: 

If you want to practice a therapy on other people, for money, in a professional environment – then you will need to comply with certain legal requirements, not the least of which is some form of insurance.  For more information please visit the ‘Legal Requirements’ page. 

If you only intend practicing the therapy on friends and family and not charging a fee for the service, then you may feel that you do not need to comply with any legal requirements…although I would still be careful…we live in a society that likes to sue, Protect Yourself! 

If you are looking for a course with a qualification which will enable you to practice that therapy as a business then the following questions are essential in order to protect the investment you make in that training. 

  • Which organisation is the qualification registered with? 
    For example, the VTCT (Vocational Training Charitable Trust) offer diploma courses through the International Institute of Health and Holistic Therapies. They are the largest awarding body for beauty and holistic diploma courses.  If you are not sure about the validity of the diploma or certificate, then check it out before booking. 
  • Will you be able to get professional insurance as a result of having passed the course and gained a certificate or diploma?
    Insurance is a legal requirement for professional therapists.  If your qualification is not recognised by anyone offering insurance, it is worthless.  Ask your training provider this direct question: “Who can I get my insurance with?”
  • Is your training provider qualified to train you and are they themselves insured?  Is the certificate available for you to see?
    It is a legal requirement that some types of insurance are displayed, or are available to be viewed.  (See ‘Legal Requirements’ page)  Is the training provider willing to show you their certificates? 
  • Are you covered by Student Insurance whilst you are learning?
    Now this is not such a clear cut area.  The best training organisations ensure you are covered as you will need to carry out case studies whilst training, and to do that you have to practice of course!  However, not all training organisations offer this facility, or may charge extra for it.  You are least likely to be covered by student insurance with Reiki training; there is a special section on Reiki below. 
  • Does your training provider hold any professional memberships?
    You may need to hold a professional membership of yourself on qualifying – for example the FHT (Federation of Holistic Therapists) in order to be able to get that insurance –your training provider may also have to be a member in order to qualify to train you. 

And a further few points:

  • Remember that a slick website does not necessarily mean a professional company offering accredited courses.
  • Shop around.  Your local Further Education College may offer courses at a fraction of the cost of private training organisations – but they may take longer.
  • If you can, find people that can give you an idea of what to expect from the course and/or organisation. 
  • These training courses are not cheap!  Make sure you have the right course, with the right organisation, for your needs!
  • …and make sure you know all the costs…for example, there may be registration fees, course fees, exam fees, professional body membership fees and then insurance fees!  You may need to buy books or materials in order to complete the course – ask the questions and do your research properly before signing on the dotted line. 

Reiki Training
This spiritual healing therapy was brought to England from Japan and has become very popular in the UK.  It requires no special equipment or materials and is accessible to just about anyone. 

It was originally structured in three levels, Reiki I Reiki II and Reiki III, Reiki III being the highest level, indicating that the practitioner is a ‘Reiki Master’.  This third level appears now to have been split into two components in some circles, that of ‘Reiki Master Practitioner’ and that of ‘Reiki Master Teacher’. 

If you wish to practice Reiki professionally, it is essential that your Reiki Master, or Master Teacher is recognised by one of the Reiki Federations or by the FHT, or by another ‘umbrella’ organisation which insures a range of therapies. 

You will find it very difficult to get insurance if you cannot prove that your qualifications, experience and Reiki Attunements have been carried out by someone who is themselves insured and qualified.  The best Reiki Master Teachers, will not perform the attunements unless you have completed levels I and II to their satisfaction, together with your providing evidence in the form of case studies and testimonials.  If you are serious in wanting to practice…ask the questions.  Don’t get caught out. 

Personal Development Courses
These tend to be courses or workshops which will enrich your personal, spiritual and psychic development.  They are not designed (generally) to lead to professional qualifications.  However, in many senses the same rules apply.

  • Can you get any personal recommendations for the course or workshop?
  • What qualifications does the person have to run the course or workshop?
  • Do you feel that it is value for money?
  • How many others are on the course? (for your personal safety, it is recommended that there are some others, unless you know the person running the course – however, large workshops can feel a little intimidating, or impersonal.  If you are seeking an intense spiritual experience, would you really want to share it with another 50 people-or another 200 people?
  • …And of course, does the training provider have insurance to cover your safety whilst you are on the course or workshop!
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