THE BEST WAY OF ENDING A REIKI APPOINTMENT
My last post was about how we can end a Reiki session from the perspective of bringing our clients around when they have gone into a deep and less conscious place. Finding ways to bring them back gently, and avoiding jarring them out of what is hopefully a blissful state.
Now there is of course another way in which a treatment needs to be closed and that is when the appointment itself needs to come to an end.
There will be times when it comes to a very natural conclusion. Both parties can sense that all is complete and goodbyes are said with your client’s inner smile strengthened, such that it reflects more truly the outer smile that politeness often dictates.
However, part of our role as Practitioner will likely place us occasionally in the role of timekeeper when a client is pressuring us to overrun.
This in itself may not be an issue. There are plenty of examples of when the conversation is so pleasurable and/or so healing, that time feels inconsequential. And in those instances, it will be.
That isn’t always the case though. It might be that you have another client due to arrive at any moment and respect for their time must take precedence. It can also happen when a client is simply ‘taking’ too much, though remember they may not be aware of that fact.
Whatever the cause, it can be helpful to have a few ways of signalling it is now time to depart, whilst ensuring you do so with kindness and care.
Some of the methods that you may like to consider employing include:
• Adjusting the lighting. For instance you may have dimmed a light, or drawn a curtain for the treatment to take place. After all it can be a nice way of creating a cosy atmosphere that helps a recipient to switch off and relax more easily. Turning the lights back up, or opening a curtain can serve as a way of indicating that the appointment is ending.
• Switching off music. If you have been playing music during the treatment, pressing the stop button can act as another reminder that the treatment is now finishing.
• Clearing away a blanket/towels/paper couch roll. Pre-Covid, I would place clean towels over the therapy couch for each client, and offer a blanket for me to place over them – helping their muscles to relax and ensuring they would keep warm as they lay still for the treatment. Nowadays, even if paper couch roll has become more in fashion, it still provides the opportunity to fold away or bin an item that has been associated with a session. When I ran face-to-face treatments, if the post treatment discussion was becoming too extended, I would continue listening, whilst standing up and moving back to the therapy bed. The removal of these items then usually drew sufficient attention to the need to wind things up.
• Picking up the client’s coat. Overly extended appointments can also be brought gently to their conclusion by retrieving your client’s coat or jacket. As with all these options, we’re looking for a soft close, so I would always make it clear I was still engaging with whatever was being discussed. But helping someone into their outdoor apparel does rather carry the message that it is time to leave.
Occasionally I was left with no other option than to explain that I needed to clear the room. Always said gently. And in my experience, never then leading to anything other than an apologetic response for taking up too much of my time. It has never caused a problem.
Perhaps you have some other options? Please share them with us if you do, by adding them as a comment.
Until next time, be well and happy,Sarah x
Sarah Cooper is the author of the book “Working with Reiki” available on Amazon: “Great book full of down to Earth wisdom, speaks from the heart. Some great tips. Loved it.” MT
“A really good book for anyone wanting to start their own business as a reiki practitioner, but also full of useful info for those of us just thinking about it and full of useful tips. Written in easy to understand terminology. Everyone should have a copy.” ZL https://www.amazon.co.uk/Work…/dp/1070357723/ref=sr_1_1…
