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 6th 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.
- 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/
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.
- 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
Wales Government website Coronavirus Covid-19 guidelines
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
At the ACHO online Practitioner zoom meeting held on 6th 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