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Documentation is a fundamentalcomponent of a professional prac-tice. As our Reiki practices grow

and evolve, it is important that we clearlydescribe in writing the services we are pro-viding our clients. A simple definition ofdocumentation is the “preparation andmaintenance of records that describe apatient’s care.” (6, p.2)

Readers of this article will have vary-ing levels of training and years of experi-ence in working with Reiki and willcome from different backgrounds. Manypeople are offering treatments to familyand friends in a casual or non-profession-al manner. They may not feel the need todocument their treatments to the extentdescribed in this article. This informa-

tion is intended for those whose Reikipractices are becoming more professionaland for those practitioners who arelicensed health care providers operatingin hospitals and other clinical settings.Practitioners with education in healthcare professions such as nursing, socialwork, counseling, chiropractic and phys-ical / occupational therapy will haveknowledge of many concepts presentedin this article. They will have a greatercomfort level in documenting Reiki ses-sions. For new practitioners and for thosewithout a healthcare background, docu-mentation may be viewed as challengingor intimidating. But this is a skill whichcan be learned with guidance, practiceand persistence.

Documentation can also provide evi-dence of personal growth as a practitioner.In reviewing my own client notes over aperiod of years, I can see how I haveevolved in my own Reiki practice—ingaining confidence, trusting my intuition,using new symbols and other techniques,increasing my sensitivity to working ener-getically, and improving my writing skillsin describing my work.

As practitioners develop new tech-niques or uses for Reiki symbols, docu-mentation is essential in capturing thisprocess. The practitioner can trackclients’ responses over time as the tech-nique is perfected or refined.

Clearly written documentation canalso be used as the basis for client case

studies. A case study is a form of qualita-tive research that is primarily non-experi-mental and descriptive in nature. It offersthe opportunity to look closely at individ-ual clients by conducting an in-depthexploration of their specific conditions,thoughts, feelings and actions. Case stud-ies can become a springboard for largerresearch studies. Detailed client notes areessential in this type of research.

Components of the Client RecordBasic components of a client record

include the following: demographic infor-mation (name, address, contact informa-tion, date of birth), a signed informedconsent form, an intake form and docu-mentation for each Reiki session.

Purpose of DocumentationDocumentation can be used to evaluate

and enhance the services that you provideas a Reiki practitioner. “If you documentwith attention to detail, you will clearlyshow the quality of care your clientsreceive, the outcome of that care and thetreatment they still need.” (6, p.2) Whenwriting notes, I include the client’s currenthealth status, physical and emotional stres-sors, and personal healing intentions. Fol-lowing the session, the symbols and tech-niques I used and the client’s impressionsare both notated. I also document anyother client contacts that I may have byphone or email. When clients return, Ihave detailed information that helps meprovide continuity of care. I am able to

track and evaluate each client’s progressover time. Documentation is important ina busy Reiki practice. It would be difficultto recall clients’ individual issues and per-sonal health concerns without detailedprogress notes.

Documentation is a means of commu-nicating with professionals in the greaterhealth care community. Our clients mayrequest that we send copies of our docu-mentation to other providers. Healthcare professionals will begin to recognizethe validity and efficacy of Reiki throughwell-written client notes. In my ownwork with a case management group, Ihave routinely submitted progress notesfor review by the nurse and social work-er on the team.

Documenting Reiki SessionsB Y J A N E V A N D E V E L D E , R N , D N P

Clearly written documentation that is illustrative of the positive outcomes we are

experiencing with Reiki clients is vital to our acceptance by the health care industry.

I encourage Reiki practitioners to document their client sessions on a regular basis...

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Clients have the right to access theirown medical records under HIPPA.They can also request that their med-ical records be amended for accuracy.This is why it is important that yourdocumentation be factual, objectiveand clearly stated. I always documentReiki sessions with the thought thatsomeone else may someday read thisentry and interpret what occurred dur-ing the session.

Client records must be stored securely,preferably in a locked file cabinet. Recordsshould not be available for others toreview inadvertently. If you keep electron-ic files, make certain that the files arepassword protected and that you routinelyback-up your files onto an external devicethat is securely stored.

For more specific information aboutHIPPA regulations, go to the Departmentof Health and Human Services Web siteand access “HIPPA—Frequent Ques-tions.” (2)

The Basics of Documentation(Complete Guide to Documentation, 2nd

ed. 2008)

• Write neatly and legibly using cor-rect spelling and grammar.

• Write in clear, concise sentences.• Write in ink, preferably black ink,

which photocopies better.• Use accepted or easily understood

abbreviations. Include key to abbre-viations.

• Chart in chronological orderincluding the date of all entries.

• Chart promptly to ensure thatimportant details are not later for-gotten.

• When you record clients’ state-ments, use their exact words.

• Document objectively, recordingexactly what you see, hear and do.

• Sign each entry with your first nameor initial, full last name and any pro-fessional licensure/credentials.

• Never erase, obliterate or alter aclient record.

they are taking. This data serves as a refer-ence point for the client’s condition priorto receiving Reiki. Based on this informa-tion the practitioner and client can deter-mine what kinds of effects the Reiki ishaving over time. Clients need to knowthat on-going Reiki treatments can havean affect on medications prescribed forsymptoms such as pain, anxiety, depres-sion, or high blood pressure. Reiki practi-tioners should always advise their clientsto consult with their physicians aboutmonitoring and managing their medica-tion regimens (8).

Client Rights and ConfidentialityAll client information must be kept

confidential. If you are asked for a copy ofyour client’s record or an opportunity toview it by another health care profession-al, you cannot release the record withoutthe documented consent of a competentclient. (6) The Health Insurance Portabil-ity and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of1996 protects the privacy of patients. Itsgoal is to provide safeguards against theinappropriate use and release of ProtectedHealth Information (PHI) which includesall medical records and other billing andinsurance information that can be linkedto an individual, whether electronically,on paper, or orally.” (6) (3)

An authorization for release of PHImust specify certain elements whichinclude a description of the protectedhealth information to be disclosed, theperson who is authorized to release theinformation, the person or entity whowill be receiving the information, anexpiration date, and the purpose forwhich the information may be used ordisclosed. (4)

Sample PHI authorization for releaseforms are available on the internet andcan be found by entering the phrase“release of protected health informationforms” into your search engine. Include inyour search the U. S. state in which youpractice Reiki because individual statesmay have specific provisions regardingrelease of information.

D O C U M E N T I N G R E I K I S E S S I O N S

An informed consent form should bereviewed and signed by the client on thefirst visit. Informed consent means thatthe client understands the proposedtherapy and agrees to receive the thera-py. This form is important for a numberof reasons:

(a) It describes the nature and purposeof a Reiki session, including the benefitsand limitations.

(b) It defines the practitioner’s scope ofpractice, e.g., the kinds of services that thepractitioner can legally and ethically pro-vide. Practitioners, whether professionallylicensed or not, need to have a clearunderstanding of their scope of practiceunder the prevailing legal guidelines ofstates in which they provide services.Each state and locality may have differentlaws or regulations that might impact apractice. Practitioners may need to con-sult a local attorney that specializes inhealth related law (9).

(c) It emphasizes that Reiki practition-ers do not diagnose, prescribe or interferewith the care being provided by theclient’s licensed physician or other healthcare professional.

(d) It assures that client confidentiali-ty will be maintained. The client’s signa-ture on this document implies their fullknowledge and understanding of theseconcepts. If you are providing Reiki serv-ices to a minor, the parent or guardianmust sign the consent form. Examples ofthese forms are available through theInternational Center for Reiki Trainingand International Association of ReikiProfessionals.

An intake form is also completed onthe initial visit. It includes more detailedinformation that clients share about theirhealth history and the symptoms they arecurrently experiencing that have led themto seek Reiki treatments. It is importantfor Reiki practitioners to have a basicknowledge of their clients’ overall healthstatus, including any treatments or thera-pies they are receiving and medications

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es, the practitioner will have a sense as towhich areas of the body and energy fieldare in need of Reiki. The practitioner willdetermine which symbols and/or tech-niques are appropriate for the client. Thismay include a variety of Reiki symbols,affirmations, visualizations, chanting, ton-ing, crystals, healing attunements andaura clearing, as well as other techniques.The Reiki treatment or intervention isthen offered.

4. Evaluation: When the session iscompleted, the practitioner evaluates theeffectiveness of the treatment. Clientshave the opportunity to describe and dis-cuss any sensations, thoughts, images,emotions or questions that occurred tothem during the Reiki session. It is impor-tant to note, that sometimes the effects ofReiki are not immediately noticeable andmay not be reported until the next ses-sion. At this time, the practitioner mayalso give recommendations for follow-upcare to the client, such as referrals toother health care providers, books toread, breathing techniques, journaling.All recommendations should be consis-tent with the practitioner’s scope of pro-fessional practice.

This may seem like a great deal ofinformation to put into writing but gooddocumentation can take time. You willfind that some of your client notes will bevery detailed while others are not. Youmay have clients who simply come toexperience Reiki with no particular issuesthat need to be addressed, so your noteswill be brief.

If you are solely practicing Reiki, it isimportant to document only what youobserve and do during a session. Reiki treat-ments are primarily about balancing energy,promoting relaxation and stress reduction.As Reiki practitioners, we do not diagnoseor treat disease. Licensed practitioners whoincorporate Reiki into their professionalpractices will function under the guidelinesof their scopes of practice (8). Their docu-mentation will differ from Reiki practition-ers who are unlicensed.

D O C U M E N T I N G R E I K I S E S S I O N S

Formats for Charting Within health care, a number of differ-

ent formats are used in documentation.One example is SOAPIE, an acronym forsubjective-objective-assessment-plan-intervention-evaluation. Other formatsinclude DAR (data-action-response) andPIE (problem-intervention-evaluation).These formats offer us a way to organizeour client notes in a meaningful and con-sistent manner. SOAPIE can be easilyadapted for documenting Reiki sessions.

1. Subjective: Begin your sessions bylistening to your clients. Why are theycoming for Reiki? What is their currenthealth status, physically, mentally, emo-tionally and spiritually? Have their healthcare providers prescribed changes in theirmedication or treatment regimens sincetheir last treatment? What are their levelsof pain and stress? How did they feel aftertheir previous Reiki session? Listen to thekind of language are they using: “I am feel-ing drained and empty.” “I am feeling scat-tered.” These statements are often indica-tive of the client’s energetic state ofhealth. Clients can also formulate affirma-tions or healing intentions for their ses-sion. Write their exact words using quota-tion marks in this section of your notes.

2. Objective / Assessment: These arethe observations you make about yourclients, i.e., facial expressions, speech pat-terns and body language. How do theymove their physical bodies as they walk orclimb stairs? Do they need assistance ontothe bodywork table? Observations contin-ue once the session begins and the practi-tioner scans and assesses their energyfields. A practitioner may receive intu-itive insights or images and will note anyareas of blockage or congestion as well asthe quality of the energy flow throughoutthe client’s system. A pendulum or thepractitioner’s hand can be used to checkthe openness of clients’ chakras.

3. Plan / Intervention: Based on thesubjective, objective and assessment phas-

The Language of Energy WorkAs energy workers, it can be challeng-

ing for us to find words that accuratelydescribe what we are sensing and observ-ing. Most commonly, practitioners havekinesthetic, visual and auditory sensa-tions when working with Reiki. But thesenses of taste and smell can also be stim-ulated. One approach in documenting isto use words linked to your five senses.Think in terms of what you see (client’sfacial expressions), hear (client’s tone ofvoice) and feel (warmth in areas ofclient’s energy field). Think creatively.Tap into inner guidance when document-ing. Develop your own list of descriptors.Use a thesaurus to find new words.Review your documentation with a moreexperienced Reiki practitioner to learnabout the language they use in describingtheir work.

Reiki can enhance the practitionerand client’s intuitive capabilities. Theseexperiences are described as clairvoyance(inner seeing), clairaudience (innerhearing), clairsentience (inner feeling)and claircognizance (inner knowing). Itis appropriate to document intuitiveimpressions, keeping your descriptions ofthese experiences simple and straightfor-ward. Also make note of your clients’responses to impressions that you sharewith them. Always allow your clients tointerpret the meanings of these impres-sions for themselves.

Common Descriptorsof the Energy Field

(Healing Touch Level 2 Notebook, 2007)

Movement—congested, heavy, flow-ing, pulsating, denseTemperature—hot, warm, burning,cool, cold.Disruptions—empty, blocked, bumpy,prickly, irregularSensation—tingling, full, buzzing,hard, smoothVisual—colors, lights, images, symbolsAuditory—words, phrases, tones,sounds

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Streamlining DocumentationSimple formats: You can develop your

own documentation form that includesbasic categories of information so youcan simply fill in the blanks for each ses-sion. I first started documenting Reikisessions in a spiral notebook using a briefnarrative style. As my practice grew, Ineeded individual client files, so I havedeveloped my own forms, which can becompleted more quickly.

Abbreviations: Abbreviations canstreamline charting but must be used judi-ciously so as not to confuse the reader. A“key” to your abbreviations should beavailable in your documentation. Forexample, the names of Reiki symbols canbe abbreviated. The Mental/Emotionalsymbol becomes SHK, the Power symbolbecomes CKR and the Usui Master sym-bol becomes UDKM. Sentence fragmentsor phrases can also be used in charting.

Checklists: Symbols and treatmentscan be listed on a form in a checklist for-mat to save writing time.

Scales: Scales are a simple tool that canbe used to assess various symptoms such aspain, stress or worry. Scales provide boththe practitioner and client a visual andnumerical indication of progress towardshealing goals. Scales are commonly set upin increments of 0-10, with “zero” indicat-ing the absence of the symptom and “ten”being the highest possible manifestation ofthe symptom as perceived by the client.When using scales, it is important to assessthe client both before and after the sessionto determine the client’s response to theReiki treatment. (7)

Diagrams and figures: Many practi-tioners use simple human figure diagramsto depict the differences in a client’s ener-gy field such as areas of congestion,warmth, coolness, tingling, or emptiness.Before and after assessment of chakras canalso be noted on such diagrams.

Sample Documentationusing SOAPIE format

Reiki client Ms. A. was dealing withlong-term family issues and was planning

D O C U M E N T I N G R E I K I S E S S I O N S

ular basis, set up basic systems for main-taining client records and seek to con-stantly improve their writing skills. It isimportant that we in the Reiki communi-ty support and mentor each other indeveloping these essential skills. 1

Thanks to Reiki Practitioners ColleenBenelli, Linda Holmes, Kathie Lipinski,Cyndy Paxton and Marianne Streich for gen-erously sharing information about documen-tation in their private Reiki practices.

—Jane Van De Velde can be contacted byemail at Janevdv@sbcglobal.net or throughher Web site: www.inspiretoheal.com.

References:1. Benjamin, B. & Sohnen-Moe, C. The

Ethics of Touch. Tucson, AZ: SMA Inc.,2005.

2. Department of Health and HumanServices, “HIPPA—Frequent Questions,”www.hhs.gov/hipaafaq/index.html

3. Department of Health and Human Ser-vices. “Medical Privacy—National Standardsto Protect the Privacy of Personal HealthInformation.” www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa

4. Department of Health and HumanServices. “What is the differencebetween “consent” and “authorization”under the HIPAA Privacy Rule?”www.hhs.gov/hipaafaq/use/264.html

5. Gordon, L. and others (eds.), HealingTouch Level 2 Notebook, Golden, CO:Healing Touch Program, 2007.

6. Hager, L., & Munden, J. (eds.) Com-plete Guide to Documentation, 2nd ed.Ambler, PA: Lippincott & Williams, 2008.

7. Hutchison, C. “Hints for Document-ing Healing Touch Sessions.” Energy Mag-azine, June, 2007, www.healingtouchpro-gram.com/energy/index.shtml

8. Lipinski, K., “Client Release Formsand Documentation.” Personal teachingmaterial. Private communication.

9. Willard, J. “Informed Consent,” Ener-gy Magazine, August, 2007, www.healing-touchprogram.com/energy/index.shtml

to move out of state. She was receivingtwice-monthly Reiki sessions as well aspersonal counseling. She expressed adesire to heal and shift her life.

12-2-08. Third session. Sixty minutes. S: Client shared feelings about mov-

ing away from her elderly mother. “I feeltied to my mother.” Healing intention:“To be able to talk to my mother aboutmy plans without fear.” Denies any phys-ical problems.

O / A: Client tearful and appearedfatigued. Hand scan of energy fieldrevealed heat over throat and heartchakras, density over sacral and rootchakras. Pendulum reveals root / sacral /throat chakras closed. Solar plexus /heart / 3rd eye / crown with small circu-lar swings.

P / I: Series of sweeps to clear / openenergy field. Symbols: TFS, UDKM,TDKM, SHK, CKR. Reiki offered to allmajor chakras, lower extremities andfeet. Intuited image of concrete blockover lower abdomen. Energy flowtowards client sluggish at first butincreased throughout session. Focusedenergy to sacral / root areas with CKRand additional sweeps. Chakra balancingtechnique performed. Client rested qui-etly during session.

E: Pendulum: all chakras open andspinning post Reiki. Energy fieldsmooth. Client stated, “I could feelwarmth over my heart.” Described arelease of energy through the soles of herfeet. “My body feels much lighter.”Encouraged client to continue work withtherapist. Suggested journaling her feel-ings about her mother. Return appoint-ment in two weeks. Call with questions /concerns. Jane Van De Velde, RN, ReikiPractitioner

Clearly written documentation that isillustrative of the positive outcomes weare experiencing with Reiki clients is vitalto our acceptance by the health careindustry. I encourage Reiki practitionersto document their client sessions on a reg-