Reiki: a relevant therapeutic modality

Reiki is an energy based system of healing which has its origins in Japan.  The Reiki System was taught by Master Mikao Usui in Japan.  It was first brought to the West in 1938.  Mitchell (1996) defines Reiki as “Spirit Taking Breath” (p. 5).   She goes on to explain that Rei  refers to the “spirit” and Ki  is “an indicator of life itself” (p. 8).  This is sometimes simply explained as the universal life energy that is part of all living things.  On the first page of her book, Mitchell (1996)phrases the 5 reiki principles:

Just for today do not anger.

Just for today do not worry.

Honor your parents, teachers and elders.

Earn your living honestly.

Show gratitude to every living thing.

Practitioners train in levels with a Reiki Master Teacher.  The practice of Reiki involves the practitioner placing his or her hands on or over various parts of the recipient’s body.  The goal is to promote relaxation and self-healing. 

Helping someone to relax deeply can have an effect on their perception of pain.  The less pain someone feels, the better that person can participate in daily activities — self-care, work, and leisure.  In this manner of thinking, Reiki is as a relevant modality for occupational therapy practitioners.  For further information consult the references below.

References:

Mitchell, K.  (1996).  Reiki Beyond the Usui System.  Oregon:  Mind Rivers Publishing.  (ISBN 0-9640822-2-5).

Usui, M. & Petter, F.A.  (2011). The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui.  Twin Lakes:  Lotus Press.  (978-0-9149-5557-3)

 

Occupational Therapy and Integrative Health: A Meeting of the Minds

This blog is about occupational therapy and integrative health and where these distinct yet similar fields intersect.  “Integrative health” is an increasingly popular term.  According to the Oxford dictionary, the word “integrative” is an adjective meaning “serving or intending to unify separate things.”   Type the word “integrative” into your Google search bar and you will see a graph that shows that the use of the word “integrative” has increased over time.  I would speculate that some of this relates to its usage related to healthcare.

Dr. Andrew Weil is a leading physician in the field of Integrative Medicine.  According to Dr. Weil’s website, “Integrative medicine is healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person (body, mind, and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle.  It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conventional and alternative.”  Substitute occupational therapy for medicine in this definition and it makes sense.  As occupational therapists we address the whole person and lifestyle factors.  The therapeutic relationship is essential to the success of our interventions.   I would go so far as to say that using the term “integrative occupational therapy” is redundant, for the heart of occupational therapy is truly integrative in nature.

The objective of occupational therapy is “to support health and participation in life through engagement in occupations” (AOTA, 2008, p. 626).  Occupations  refer to the activities in which one engages.  How does participation in occupation influence a person’s health and quality of life?  How do we as occupational therapists support people in this process?  When I was in graduate school, my final research project was about the self-perception of health of community dwelling older adults.  Part of the study involved interviewing participants and asking them their definitions of health.  I will never forget the definition that one man gave.  He smiled and said, “I have made it to this age and I am here.”  At first glance, it may not seem like much of a definition of health and more a commentary on age.  A neater definition might be something more like that of the World Health Organization which defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”  However, the verbs used by our research participant “I have made it,” imply activity, creativity, and meaningful occupation.  These are the comments of a person who has made a journey and arrived.  What an interesting way to look at health!  That is what this blog is about:  supporting people in their lives through occupational therapy and creating integrative health — health of body, mind, and spirit through meaningful activities individually and in community.

References

Integrative. (2013). In Oxford dictionary. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/integrative

Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.

Lemley, Brad.  (October 2013).  What is Integrative Medicine? Balanced Living.  Retrieved from http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02054/Andrew-Weil-Integrative-Medicine.html

American Occupational Therapy Association.  (2008).  Occupational therapy practice framework:  domain and process (2nd Ed.).  American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 625-683.