Author Archives: ACHO Editor

This material has been compiled by Kelly Peacey Principal of Cotswolds School of Crystal Healing and Awareness and Secretary of ACHO after holding an online zoom meeting for ACHO school trained practitioners on Tuesday 6^th April with the purpose of practitioners discussing how best to return to safe practise during the presence of the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK.   I would like to thank everyone who attended that hugely supportive meeting and many attendees have since commented how helpful it was, especially to hear from those who returned to practise before this most recent lockdown.   I do hope it has instilled confidence for you all. I would also like to thank Lauren D’Silva, Principal of Touchstones School of Crystal Therapy and former ACHO Chair for co-hosting the zoom meeting and for your valued support and time in sifting through the mammoth amount of information to present key points for Crystal Healing Therapists.

It is intended that this article be a compilation list of useful ideas and practises (some of which were shared in the zoom meeting) and that it may prove helpful for practitioners returning back to Crystal Healing Therapy practise after the most recent lockdown.

Please note, that nothing shared in this article constitutes legal advice from the author and as such the author will not be held legally liable for any errors or omissions in this article.

Please note, the author of this article does not claim to be an expert in Covid-19 and if any part of this article is incorrect or if I have missed anything please do let me know asap so it can be amended.

It is my understanding that Crystal Healing Therapy is considered a “close contact service” and that over the next month (or 2) most governments in the UK are planning on gradually lifting restrictions and that close contact services may be able to return to work.  The timeline of this roadmap to “normality” varies in each country.  I must stress that it is your responsibility as a therapist to check the facts and legalities for yourself as the restrictions will vary dependent on where you practise.  England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland each have their own government website.  Checking your country’s government website regularly for updates is recommended as this situation is still gradually unfolding and therefor guidelines and legislation may change without prior notice.

To find your country’s government website please use the website link below and click on your country.

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus  – this link provides gives direct links to government websites for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

 

Below is a list for therapists returning to treatments that are in person and face to face (not in specific order)

Check your insurance policy

Check your insurance policy for professional indemnity.  If you are unsure, I recommend contacting your insurer for more clarity.  You may find phone lines for your insurer are busy this time and it’s worth emailing them as whatever they reply will be “hard-evidence” of their response.

I am aware that many practitioners are with Balens or Holistic Insurance Services and so have website links below.

Holistic Insurance Services FAQs including covid-19 guidance:

http://www.holisticinsurance.co.uk/faq/

Balens Specialist Insurance Broker:

https://www.balens.co.uk/Covid

 

Do a Covid-19 Risk Assessment

Assess the risks of re-opening. i.e. is it currently allowed in your county to do treatments in a centre, from your home or as a home-visit.  This may vary with each country.

Complete a risk assessment.  Many insurance companies are requesting that therapists do a risk assessment as part your cover and that this is updated every time you return to practise (after a lockdown).  As far as I am aware it is not a legal requirement for therapists unless they have 5 or more employees.  However, it is good practise and may prove helpful clarifying what changes are required so you can safely practise.  Doing a risk assessment helps to identify risks specific to activities, situations, environments, and individuals.  Identifying the risks helps you to make the necessary adjustments that minimalize or remove the risk.  You may find doing the process of creating a risk assessment brings greater clarity and having on show for your client or informing your clients that you have done this may instil confidence in them for returning to treatments.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provide excellent guidance on how to do a risk assessment as well as examples and templates.  Please see the links for HSE below.

HSE – Coronavirus (Covid-19): working safely.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/

HSE – what to include in your Covid-19 risk assessment.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/assets/docs/risk-assessment.pdf

 

Write a Covid-19 policy

A Covid-19 policy will vary for therapists offering treatments in a centre, doing it from home or doing home visits.  You may find a centre already has one in place that you can share with your clients.

A Covid-19 Policy allows clients and others to understand what is being done and what is expected of them.  It shows you are serious about following the government guidelines and that you are active in reducing the risk of spreading the virus to others.  It also shows a level of professionalism that may help instil confidence for your client in you as a practitioner.

You can share your Covid-19 policy using many creative ways such as create a video, audio, post or document that you share on social media or on your website.  You can also create a statement or document that you share via email with clients who are booking a treatment.

Examples of what a Covid-19 policy might include are: (remember to make it really clear what is expected from the client too)

• Your intention to adhere to the government guidelines and that of the NHS and other relevant authorities.

• You will be screening and monitoring your health as well as the people you live with (check your government guidelines on current guidelines on bubbles)

• How you will be monitoring the health of you and your clients to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19 virus.  This is often referred to as “Covid Screening” and involves a Health Check Questionnaire (aka a Declaration of Current Health) that is to be completed within 24 hours of the treatment. (Consider in your screening if you are going to ask them if they have recently been tested or vaccinated for Covid-19 – this is currently your personal decision to ask and is not a legal requirement but it could change.  The Health Check Questionnaire can be emailed to them or you might have a document link on your website where they can download it.  If they do not complete and return it, you can have a printed copy to hand when they arrive.  It must be signed and dated and have your GDPR policy on it. (If you will be taking their temperature, make sure you prewarn them.)

• You may cancel, defer, or offer an alternative such as distant/remote crystal healing therapy if your client has Covid-19 or is displaying any signs or symptoms of Covid-19.

• You may cancel or defer a treatment if you or someone you have been in contact with is displaying signs or symptoms of Covid-19.

• Your updated Cancellation Policy if you or your client have cancelled due to anything connected to Covid-19.  (Most therapists do not charge for treatments that have been deferred or cancelled that are because of Covid-19)

• Any enhanced cleaning or hygiene changes (daily deep cleans, between client cleaning protocols, this can include washing and disinfecting any non-porous surfaces and therapy equipment, such as chairs and couches, and replacing any non-porous or single-use items, such as towels and couch roll. Strict personal hygiene measures that you will adhere to, including regular handwashing/ sanitising.)

• Adapting your treatments (you may include that you will reduce the length of the session, do minimal contact, avoid head or face area or request that you do the consultation part over a phone call before.  You may also request that they come alone, wait in their car or a certain area prior to the session or make their payment cashless with either a bank transfer, sum-up card reader or PayPal – also PayPal have a QR code now for making easier cashless payments.  If the client will be paying in cash, they can put the cash in a money bag or envelope.  Other things you might include is asking them to bring their own bottle of water)

• Maintaining social distancing and ventilation in the treatment room.

• PPE expectations (what will you be wearing – mask and visor tunic or apron and what are they expected to wear – a mask – this may be different so check your governments guidelines concerning both you and your client – recommend that the client brings an exemption certificate to the treatment if they are exempt.  If you are exempt from wearing a face covering it is advisable to prewarn them)

Enhanced Hygiene Protocols

Your risk assessment and Covid-19 Policy will have identified these but it may help to have a checklist for your Deep Clean and a separate checklist for your Before, Between and After Clients clean.  You may have this on show as a chart that is signed, dated with a time to show your commitment and as a reminder.

This will vary for those of you who are doing it from a centre to those of you practising from home or doing home visits.  For instance, a centre may already have these lists in place and even have a cleaner that does it at the end or start of the day.

Consider the following:

• Social distancing and ventilation of space – check your governments website regularly for updates.

• Handwashing facilities and sanitiser (be aware of allergies – many people with allergies will bring and use their own sanitiser)

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

• Communications and Signage – you may need to remind clients to wash and sanitise their hands, or have signs reminding them and signs show how to wash hands in accordance with guidelines, signs clearly showing how donning and doffing PPE is done, or reminders to practise social distancing where possible and new signs for entrance and your exit.  Signs can be downloaded from your government website or you can create your own.

• Will you need to change the way you treat i.e hands off – create a bigger distance between you and the client?

• How will you set out your treatment space?   Space awareness and removal of non-essentials (refer to your risk assessment)

• What PPE will you need to use and keep in stock – this will need reordering from time to time.

• Following the government guidelines for donning and doffing of PPE -see website link below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-personal-protective-equipment-use-for-non-aerosol-generating-procedures

• PPE disposal – in a lined bin that is quarantined for 72 hours before putting with other waste.  (A centre might already have facilities and procedures in place that are specific to PPE)

• Your client may specify that they have an exemption certificate.  As far as I am aware no-one is legally obliged to provide evidence of this, however many places maintain it is mandatory.  You must consider if it is right (for you) to turn a client away for not having an exemption certificate.

• Will you rely on couch disposables or laundry?   Some clients may like to bring their own – the issue with this is that it may bring the virus to your practise.  If they insist it might be wise you ask them to quarantine it in a bag for 72 hours and bring it to the treatment in that same bag.

• Consider asking the client to wait in their car or outside prior to their treatment and request they do not arrive more than 5 mins early so as not to overlap with your cleaning and sanitising.

• If you are treating from home, you must consider how other home occupants might be affected.  How can you keep them separate and minimize the risk of spreading Covid-19.

• If you will be doing home visits – check you are insured and that your government currently allows.  Ask the client to sanitise the space you will enter prior to you arriving if possible.  Ask that you do not come into contact with any other members in the house and that the treatment space is well ventilated.

• Quarantine any paper documents brought in or completed by your client for 72 hours. An example would be a Health Check Questionnaire.

• Unfortunately, home remedies for sanitisation using oils and natural substances are discouraged by the government as they believe there is little or no proof that they would be adequate for reducing the spread of Covid-19.

 

Who will you be treating and what else might you need to consider?

• How many treatments will you do a day?  Many therapists have said that they cannot do the same number of clients in one day for many reasons including the additional time required between each client for cleaning and sanitising and clearing and maintaining their own personal energy integrity.  In the zoom meeting ACHO practitioners who had practised before this latest lockdown said that on average doing 2 treatments a day and at a stretch 3 treatments was all they could manage.  They suggested leaving 30-60 mins between treatments to ensure the room was Covid safe and ready and they were physically and mentally prepared.

• Will you do a client who is or lives with someone who is in the high-risk group (clinically extremely vulnerable)?  Will you do a client who is or lives with someone who is in the moderate risk group (clinically vulnerable)

As a therapist you must first check your insurance policy for clarity with your cover in relation to treating clients in either of the at-risk groups and if necessary, contact them via email or phone call.

You must further ascertain that the benefits of attending an appointment outweigh any risks it might pose to the client – the same applies to anyone the client lives with.

For more information on what these groups mean please visit the NHS website link below

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/other-conditions-and-coronavirus/

 

More considerations

These are listed as bullet points

• Covid-19 self-testing – The NHS are freely offering regular rapid coronavirus self-testing twice a week for people who have no symptoms of Covid-19.   For more information on this and where to obtain the LFD test please click on the NHS website link below.  Please also check this is available in your country.  The PCR test is still available for people who suspect they have the virus.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/regular-rapid-coronavirus-tests-if-you-do-not-have-symptoms/

• QR code for track and trace – it is not clear whether this applies to all countries and is now legally required by therapists.  Previously centres had to have it displayed and all visitors were expected to use it.  Visitors were not legally required to do it but could instead leave their names, addresses, date and time of visit and reason for visit. Usually, a form would be provided by the centre.  Most therapists used their Health Check Questionnaire as evidence of track and trace.  Because of the lack of clarity and the fact the government guidelines may vary between countries I recommend checking with your local authority as they should be able to let you know whether you personally now need a QR code for doing treatments in your home or for doing home visits or whether they have another system in place for track and trace.

• Keeping records of Health Check Questionnaire – many therapists are keeping these with the clients records and treating them the same relating to GDPR as nothing has been specifically advised yet.  Remember to state on the Health Check Questionnaire that you will be treating it the same as all others documents and provide them with evidence of your updated GDPR statement or policy.

 

Considerations for your crystals

Special care of crystals will be needed to prevent cross-contamination.

• Do not use crystals on a client that have not been sanitised.

• Cover your crystals with see through plastic covering.  People have substituted this for clingfilm.

• Discourage your client from handling the crystals.

• Avoid handling crystals that you are not using.

• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before and after touching crystals, particularly for a treatment.

• Where possible use crystals that can be washed in hot soapy water or wipe with an antibacterial wipe.  If the crystal is not washable or wipeable it must be placed in “quarantine.” (It is unclear how long the virus can remain viable on crystals but aim for at least 72 hours)

• All crystals need to be washed before and after each use – NB there are UV wands and new devices flooding the market which claim to eradicate the Covid-19 virus and other viruses and bacteria – it is unclear if these are accepted by the government.  Other methods of energy cleansing such as smudge or sound are not enough by themselves.

 

Please note this list is not exhaustive and I apologise if some parts are repeated. 

 

Additional websites that maybe helpful

England Government website page specific to close contact services

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/close-contact-services

England Government website page referring to NHS track and trace

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/maintaining-records-of-staff-customers-and-visitors-to-support-nhs-test-and-trace

Wales Government website Coronavirus Covid-19 guidelines

https://gov.wales/coronavirus

Scotlands Government website Coronavirus Covid-19 guidelines

https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/

Northern Ireland website Coronavirus Covid-19 guidelines

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-regulations-guidance-what-restrictions-mean-you

 

At the ACHO online Practitioner zoom meeting held on 6^th April attendee Heather Dawn Fields welcomed other practitioners to take a look at her website regarding implementing the government guidelines in England for Covid-19 to her practise.   She has been thorough in her research.  All her documents and forms are downloadable for her clients and include:

Guidelines for Attending (appointment)

Pre-Appointment Assessment

Covid-19 Policy

Your Privacy and Data Protection

General Risk Assessment

CV-19 Risk Assessment

Heathers website is: https://elementalhealth.net/covid-19.html

Thank you to ACHO registered practitioner Heather Dawn Fields for sharing this helpful information with everyone.

 

Maggie Clements, ACHO’s practitioner register is running regular online coffee mornings and has created a private group on Facebook called “Crystal Practitioner Support Group (ACHO)” The link for requesting to join this is below.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/487263779110562/

 

If your ACHO practitioner register listing has lapsed over the last few years please consider renewing.  The cost to register is just £15 and can be done online or via the post.  ACHO is keen to support all ACHO school trained practitioners as best as possible.  Please visit the ACHO website page for more information

Good luck in returning to your practise and I am sure your clients will be so grateful to see you again.

Kind regards

Kelly Peacey

ACHO Secretary

This has just been released by the British Register of Complimentary Practitioners (with all credit given)

It is important so please read carefully as Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are different in their approach.

From Monday 13 July, beauty salons, massage studios, physical therapy businesses and spas across England will be able to reopen safely.The guidance also applies to businesses that operate in different locations, such as massage therapists working in people’s homes, and those learning in vocational training environments.

Updated Covid-19 secure guidance found here:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/close-contact-services#close-contact-appendix sets out the measures that those providing close contact services should follow to protect staff and clients

Treatments that involve working in the highest risk zone – directly in front of the face – should not be made available to clients until government advice changes, due to the much greater risk of transmission.

Where 2 metre social distancing cannot be maintained, for example when providing a treatment, the person providing the service should wear further protection in addition to any that they may usually wear. This should be a clear visor that covers the face, or the use of a screen or other barrier that protects the practitioner and client from respiratory droplets caused by sneezing, coughing or speaking.

Businesses will need to keep records of staff and customers and share these with NHS Test and Trace where requested, to help identify people who may have been exposed to the virus. Practically this means that you will need to let your clients know that you may share their contact details when asked to as outlined on our News page at: https://brcp.uk/news/can-i-divulge-patient-details-to-tracing-officers

Businesses will only be able to open from these dates once they have completed a risk assessment and are confident that they are managing the risks. They must have taken the necessary steps to become Covid-19 secure in line with the current Health and Safety legislation found here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/index.htm

Employers should display a downloadable notice in their workplaces to show their employees, customers and other visitors to their workplace, that they have followed this guidance.

Regarding the devolved governments of Scotland, N Ireland and Wales:In N Ireland, the Executive Office ratified on 2 July that ‘close contact businesses’ – which they have indicated include those offering nail, hair, beauty, barbers, tanning salons, electrolysis, acupuncture, piercing, reflexology, massage, complementary therapies and spa (but not ‘thermal treatment aspects, including saunas and steam rooms, hydrotherapy pools and cold and ice room’) can re-open from 6 July, subject to them adhering to the necessary safe working and social distancing measures and there being no increase in spread of the Coronavirus.

As far as we can gather the Executive Office has not produced any sector-specific guidelines for reopening these businesses. Links on the Executive Office website eventually lead to nibusinessinfo.co.uk (the official website for business advice and guidance in N Ireland), which then provides a link to the close contact services guidelines for England at the link above. We therefore advise our members in N Ireland to follow the close contact services guidelines produced for England in conjunction with previous return to work considerations that we’ve sent out.

In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that from 10 July, the country will be officially moving to Phase 3 of its route map out of lockdown. As such, the government has indicated that ‘personal retail services such as beauticians […] can re-open’, providing they follow enhanced hygiene measures (please refer to this news item and Phase 3 route map available on the Scottish government’s website).

Please note the Scottish government is yet to give a clear indication when massage and complementary therapy services can reopen. In a letter published online from the National Clinical Director clarifying the opening of massage and complementary therapy services (8 July), it states that, ‘In coming to a decision on those private therapies which involve close personal contact for extended periods, we must first assess properly the available clinical evidence. That process is currently underway and we will amend Scottish Government advice at the earliest opportunity, based on the outcome of that assessment. In the meantime, our official position is that therapy businesses not subject to statutory professional regulation should remain closed for the time being.’ We recommend that our Scottish members read the full letter here.

In Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced that the Welsh government will consider a range of specific options for opening ‘personal care services’ with a view to these businesses being able to reopen on 13 July.

Best wishes and stay safe – ACHO

Advice for Crystal Healers

The latest Government guidance 24th June 2020: sports, massage therapy, well-being and holistic locations will remain closed until further notice.

The government have made it clear and although you may not feel that Crystal Healing fits into the categories of sports and massage therapy, well-being and holistic locations, we understand that Crystal Healing does fall into this category which is why we are advising Crystal Healers not see clients in this time.

You can read the full guidance for close contact services here: Gov.UK Coronavirus COVID-19 Guidance and Support

You may find that if you do not follow the law that your insurance provider will not cover you during this time.

Someday soon Crystal Healers will be able to practice again but until we have clear government support for this, our advice is to not practice.

Best wishes

Michael Eastwood

ACHO Chair

Wash your hands and ask your client to was theirs before and after a session.

Wash any crystals (assuming they aren’t affected by water) that have been in contact with the client’s skin. Alcohol wipes can be used on selenite or similar.

Cancel appointments if you are feeling unwell and ask clients to do the same.

Consider absent healing instead of face to face treatments.

If you contract the virus the NHS may want to get in contact with your clients to test them. You may need to consider a suspension of confidentiality agreement where by someone you elect (in the case you are hospitalized) canpass on clients contact details to the NHS (if required) As of 5th March, Covid19 has been listed as a Notifiable Disease, so we are required by law to report suspected cases.

The media frenzy around the virus will be triggering many anxieties and phobias. Fear and worry lower the immune system which of course will not help anyone fend off a virus. There are some ways which could help such as limiting your time reading the news, read books, spend time in nature, restand meditation.

Practitioners, tutors, and clients may need to understand that this is not a serious illness unless there are underlying medical conditions – mostly conditions affecting heart and lungs. Because it’s a new mutation, none of us have immunity, so everyone on the planet will eventually be exposed to and catch it at some point, giving us future immunity – what Public Health refersto as “herd immunity”.

Instead of regular antibacterial products from supermarkets use some natural alternatives like white vinegar, lemon juice, vodka, steam, some essential oils(notably tea tree), hydrogen peroxide and colloidal silver spray.

We recommend boosting immunity as a preventative measure and to reduce the damage it may cause, if contracted. The likes of temporary higher doses of Vitamin C 1000 mg, Zinc 25 mg and a B complex.

Other suggestions are : Echinacea, Elderberry extract, Sage tea to gargle, salt water to gargle, colloidal silver throat spray.

*None of the above is to be used as an alternative to a doctors recommendations. It is important to check that natural and supplementary remedies are not contraindicated for you*

Be sensible, look after yourself and others.

All writing and research by Michael Eastwood ACHO Chair, Janelle Scialla ACHO Treasurer, Kelly Peacey ACHO Disciplinary Chair and Practitioner Register Secretary and Sandra Hope-Maskell ACHO Secretary.

Information as of 16th March 2020.

Covid-19  In light of the most recent government advice, we strongly recommend our members and practitioners suspend all training courses and treatments until further notice.

We will keep you updated with any changes and challenges as the situation unfolds.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions and we will support you as best we can.

Hazel Raven is the founder and Principal of the Hazel Raven College of Bio-dynamics which is a member school of the ACHO and CTC.  She has had an active past in serving ACHO as the former treasurer and vice chairman.

She was naturally delighted to be asked to review Nicholas Pearsons most recent published book called “Stones of the Goddess.”

Here’s what Hazel Raven has to say…

“The Goddess and her stones has been a subject always close to my heart, all my life and especially when I began exploring the crystal kingdom more than thirty years ago. So you can imagine how excited and intrigued I was when Nicholas Pearson asked me to review his latest book. After reading it from cover to cover I was not disappointed. Stones of the Goddess is perfect for this unique time in our collective evolution. I highly recommend it.” (Hazel Raven, author of The Angel Bible and Crystal Healing)

Hazel actually met Nicholas many years ago when she was a presenter at The Crystal Conference in Ashland, Oregon, USA and Nicholas was an attendee.  How wonderful that their paths should cross again because of crystals!

To find out more about Hazel Raven, please visit her website http://www.hazelraven.com/

To find out more about Nicholas Pearson, please visit his website https://www.theluminouspearl.com/home

Stones of the Goddess

ISBN Number 978-1-62055-764-8

Author Nicholas Pearson.

Published by Destiny Books.

ACHO member schools offer professionally recognised training courses for those of you who wish to become a Crystal Healing Therapist. There are three levels of ACHO accredited training. Competency must be achieved to qualify at each level. The requirements are laid out in our ACHO Training Standards. By following a structured training programme we ensure the pathway towards becoming a qualified therapist is one of progression, building upon what has been previously learnt and practised. Each level of accredited qualification is robust enough to enable the practitioner to gain therapy insurance and work as a professional Crystal Healing Therapist.

Where schools offer all three training levels they must be studied in order. You will study in person with an ACHO Principal or Tutor, as we strongly believe you should be carefully supervised when learning to become a therapist. Distant learning and correspondence courses are therefore not recognised or accredited by ACHO.

Our three levels of accredited qualification are as follows:

• Foundation Level
• Certificate Level
• Diploma Level

Following Foundation and Certificate courses the Diploma studies will require a minimum of 10 additional days of classroom-based training. Some ACHO Member Schools choose to run standalone Diploma courses which encompass the entirety of the ACHO Core Curriculum courses plus their own specialist Advanced teachings. Standalone Diploma courses comprise a minimum of 20 days in-person tuition spread across two years.

 

Foundation Level Training in Crystal Healing Therapy

Foundation Level Training in Crystal Healing is the first level of accredited training available. It can be studied as a stand-alone course which consists of a minimum of 5 days of classroom-based training. Once you have completed all the course components to a satisfactory level, including the associated homework and case studies you will receive your Foundation qualification. You may apply to be listed on the ACHO Practitioner Register at this stage and will have a Bronze ACHO rosette displayed by your listing.

You can pause your training at this level if you wish to as the Foundation provides robust basic skills for the Crystal Healing Therapist, however most students choose to continue their journey and develop their knowledge of Crystal Healing Therapy by enrolling on a Certificate Level course. The Foundation and Certificate level courses cover the entirety of the ACHO Core Curriculum between them. Some schools refer to this as their ‘Year One’ training.

Certificate Level Training in Crystal Healing Therapy

Where the Certificate level course follows on from Foundation training students are required to attend a minimum of 5 additional days of classroom-based training. Some of our Schools do not offer Foundation level and instead run standalone Certificate courses which incorporate all of the ACHO Core Curriculum. These courses require a minimum of 10 days of training. On satisfactory completion of all the Certificate components, including additional homework and case studies you will receive a Certificate Level qualification. You may apply to be listed on ACHO’s Practitioner Register and your listing would be displayed with a Silver ACHO rosette to denote this level of qualification.

Diploma Level Training in Crystal Healing Therapy

Crystal Healing Therapy is a wide and diverse field of study. Our Advanced level tuition deepens your experience of Crystal Healing Therapy and the curriculum content varies between the ACHO schools. This enables each School to teach to their own specialisms and share their expertise. Careful selection of your training provider from the outset is advised, as the majority of our students want to train to Diploma level within the same School. We recommend that you request the School syllabus and look at the Diploma topics covered to ensure they are appealing and of interest to you.

The Diploma Level is sometimes referred to by Schools simply as ‘Year Two’. Although the ACHO Schools are responsible for setting their own Advanced Crystal Healing Therapy topics they must have submitted and agreed their syllabus with ACHO for accreditation.

To qualify at Diploma level you will need to complete the training and all the course components including homework and case studies. At this level you will also be asked to submit a Thesis, which is an opportunity to explore an aspect of Crystal Healing Therapy which interests you in more depth. On satisfactory completion of all the course components you will qualify to Diploma level and may apply to appear on the ACHO Practitioner Register where your listing would be shown with a Gold ACHO rosette to denote our highest level of qualification.

All Crystal Healing Therapists on ACHO’s Practitioner Register are expected to complete CPD (continuing professional development) annually to stay up to date with the latest developments and to further enhance their therapy skills. Many of our Schools run special interest days which may count towards your CPD portfolio

From 25th May 2018 the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force. This is a positive move as it is aimed at protecting the rights of the individual in the age of information.

With the explosion of technology and cloud data storage it has become evident that the old Data Protections Laws were not rigorous enough.  Hacking and identity fraud have been on the increase. Your data as well as the data you keep on others may be targeted for criminal purposes.

To understand the importance of Personal and Sensitive Data, imagine how you would feel if your own personal or sensitive data, such as your health information was leaked or stolen and became public…not good!

Every business needs to comply with the GDPR, from the smallest sole trader to big multinationals. Don’t bury your head in the sand and ignore the new rules!

There are some basic steps you need to work through to help you comply.

1. Consider what data you collect? Who do you collect from? Clients, students, enquirers? Data is any personal information, including name, age, address. email. Most of this data will be regarded as Personal Data, which should always be securely stored. However as a therapist or therapy school you almost certainly collect data on health; this will fall in to the new category of Sensitive Data. This information needs to be even more carefully stored as if there was a data breach and it leaked into the public domain it could potentially be very embarrassing or damaging for your clients. Think carefully about data you store on clients (for example records of initial enquiries, your treatment and consultation records) and, if you teach within an ACHO School, on students (for example enrolment forms, personal experiences submitted in course work, case studies). Make a list of what data you ask for. Check sure you are not collecting ‘data for data’s sake’. All the data you collect should be necessary for the records you keep. You should be able to state why you need to collect this information and how you use it.

2. Remember people have a right to enquire about the information you hold on them. They should be told why you are collecting their information in the first place and how long you will be keeping their information on file. Produce a printed statement regarding Data Protection for clients and students, ensure they have read it and sign and date to say they understand and agree to the conditions. This is called a ‘Data Retention Policy.’ Check with your insurance company how long they require you to keep client information for. Seven years is quite standard but this can vary from insurer to insurer. Be aware that clients, students and anyone else you hold data on also now have the right to request complete erasure of their data, the ‘right to be forgotten’. This is unlikely to be a common request but do notify your insurer if it happens to you. A ‘Subject Access Request’ must be responded to by 30 calendar days irrespective of holidays and weekends.
3. Keep the information you hold as securely as possible. A lot of therapists still collect their clients’ data on paper and then store it under lock and key. This old fashioned filing system is hard to ‘hack’! If you store data electronically you need to look carefully at your security arrangements. You may need to consider encrypted email for example and make sure you password protect your mobile phones, laptops, tablets, USB sticks, disks as well as all email accounts, social media, cloud, one-drive, google-drive, dropbox and so on. Think smart and never leave these ‘open’ on any device. Be particularly aware of securing devices that you carry out and about. Be aware of the potential for ‘shoulder surfing’ when in public spaces. Can anyone see the personal data on your mobile device? Get IT advice on securing the data you collect.
4. Look carefully at any data you collect for marketing purposes, such as newsletters. Newsletters should always be ‘opted into’ and clear and simple to unsubscribe from. Never share or sell the information of people on your list and make your policy clear in your sign up statement.
5. It is recommended that you create a ‘Data Breach Policy’ should your Data Protection be compromised. This should list all possible failings and give a step by step process of what you would need to do. You are most likely a ‘Data Controller’ for your business, but you may have individuals linked to your main business that are ‘Data Processors’. A Data Processor processes data on behalf of the Data Controller. These might be staff, book-keepers, admin support and so on. Do they have legitimate access to any personal data? If so what exactly? Your Data Protection Records should be reviewed regularly.  Ask yourself, ‘Is the data explicitly specific for a legitimate purpose.
6. Each business is subtly different so it is impossible for us to put out one set of guidelines to cover everyone. Some of your businesses will need to formally register with the Information Commissioner’s Office whereas others will be exempt, but may choose to register voluntarily:

ico.org.uk

There is a self-assessment on the ICO site for you to work through which will help you determine whether you need to register and a wealth of more detailed information for you to look at. The ICO say they want to help businesses to comply with the new Regulation so if you are unsure of what to do then please contact them.

Copyright Lauren D’Silva and Kelly Peacey

The ACHO AGM was held at the Chalice Well, Glastonbury on 23rd February 2018. We had a packed agenda and some lively discussions including teaching presentations to share best practice.

Seven schools were represented by their Principals. From left front row: Janelle Scialla Earthworks School for the Healing Arts, Lauren D’Silva Touchstones School of Crystal Therapy, Helen Meyrick Dreamstone Holistics – Therapies and Training, Sue Weaver Cornwall School of Crystal Healing, Michael Eastwood The School of Soul Medicine. From left back row: Kelly Peacey Cotswolds School of Crystal Healing and Awareness, Sandra Hope-Maskell Hope College of Crystal Healing.

Did you enjoy your ACHO accredited training? Join the 30th birthday celebrations and show the World that you were proud to train with an ACHO School! Post your photo to our Facebook page.

 

 

ACHO is 30 years old in 2018! In 1988 the Affiliation of Crystal Healing Organisations was formed to establish professional standards for Crystal Healing and is a nationally and internationally recognised body. We are celebrating with our new look logo and this fresh new website.

Our Registered Practitioners will be sent the logo when they renew their listing for 2018. Please note only our Member Schools and the Practitioners listed on our Register are entitled to use our logo.

Look out for more 30th birthday news over the course of 2018.