Greetings!
Happy Autumn and we are back! The TRSP Newsletter has been on hiatus for a while. But during that time, we have been very busy. There is lots of good news we want to share about Reiki in Healthcare.
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Reiki in Healthcare: Helping Professional Staff
Reiki Master Carrol Stovold has been a licensed clinical social worker in a community hospital for over 30 years. During her career, she has assisted thousands of patients and families by providing information, counseling, and comfort. She understands the challenges that healthcare professionals encounter in providing patient care.
Carrol took her first Reiki class in 2008 and quickly realized that Reiki as a healing practice can be significantly helpful in managing stress, worry, and anxiety. In 2013, she received her Reiki Master Teacher certification and set up a private Reiki practice in her community.
In 2014, Carrol reached out to her hospital's leadership to explore ways that she could share Reiki with her colleagues. "I knew that sharing Reiki with professional staff could be a powerful way to help them manage the daily stress of their work."
Between January and September 2015, Carrol offered 85 Reiki sessions to co-workers during their busy days at the hospital--nurses, physicians, social workers, chaplains, and patient care technicians. She created a peaceful space in the ICU/CCU staff lounge with her massage table, soothing music, and aromatherapy. Carrol asked staff to rate their pain and feelings of anxiety on a scale of 0-10 before and after their Reiki sessions. She also asked for verbal comments.
In reviewing the compiled data, Carrol is not surprised by the outcomes of her Reiki sessions (see chart below). "The feedback I received from the staff was overwhelmingly positive. The numbers tell the story, but it is the comments that mean so much to me. Receiving 15 minutes of Reiki had a meaningful impact on the physical and emotional well-being of our professional staff. That small break in the middle of the day was energizing and allowed them to return to their work with a smile and a good attitude."
Carrol plans to continue sharing Reiki with staff and eventually hopes to offer Level I Reiki classes for healthcare professionals.
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Reiki's Impact on the Pain and Anxiety of Healthcare Professionals
in a Community Hospital
Before the Reiki session, staff reported:
- Feeling tightly wound
- Very anxious, very tense
- Mind racing
- Abdominal discomfort
- Very tired, exhausted
- Stressed, a lot of things to do
- Back pain and pain in my hands
After a 15 minute Reiki session, staff reported:
- Feeling more relaxed with clearer thoughts
- Experiencing a sense of calm
- "A giant weight has been removed from my shoulders"
- Feeling more energetic and happy
- Very helpful for peace of mind
- Re-energized, ready to take on the challenges ahead
- Feeling more at ease and free of stress
Submitted by Carrol Stovold, MSW, LCSW, RMT (2015) (Note: Many thanks to Carrol for sharing her story and data.)
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Reiki Volunteer Program in Cancer Center
The Nancy W. Knowles Cancer Center at Elmhurst Hospital (Illinois) has a Reiki volunteer program which started in 2012.
To date, over 500 Reiki sessions have been offered to patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation, family members and staff. To learn more about this program, click on the link below.
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A Gathering of TRSP Reiki Masters
These are amazing Reiki practitioners who are making a difference in people's lives by sharing Reiki in many ways on a daily basis. They also make The Reiki Share Project "happen" by teaching classes, volunteering for community events, and by offering guidance and support to me. My love and gratitude to all--Anne, Janice, Sandy, Karen, Ellani, Theresa, Rose, Sue, Gloria, & Greg. My thanks also to Ellie, Kathy, Sandra, and Heather who were not able to attend our gathering. Let's continue to REIKI ON!
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Thank you for reading our October newsletter. If you have any questions or feedback about the work we are doing, please let us know. Send us an email! We would love to hear from you.
Wishing you all many blessings.
Sincerely,
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Jane
Jane Van De Velde, DNP, RN
Reiki Master Teacher
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