11th Street - the story of the 1st full time Integrated Therapist in Philadelphia's conventional healthcare system

This month we're pleased to introduce guest writer Arlene McCullough. Arlene is a Reiki practitioner, grad of our school, and employee at The 11^th Family Street Health Center of Drexel University (11^th Street).  We asked her to share the story of creating a full time (with benefits), salaried position  of  Integrated Therapy Practitioner at 11th Street.  This position slowly grew from an interest in Reiki to a wide demand for wellness services in the community.  It's a great example of truly integrated cared in conventional medicine.Imagine going to your primary care doctor for your annual exam or blood pressure check. At The 11^th Family Street Health Center, in Philadelphia, one also has the option of seeing a Integrated Therapist for Reiki treatment. How did this come about? It was facilitated through the skillfulness of Reiki practitioner Jenny Bohrman. In 2007, Bohrman worked at 11^th Street as a fitness coordinator along side of the physical therapist. She was also studying to be a Reiki Master Practitioner at The Reiki School + Clinic. Jenny approached 11^th Street’s director, Patricia Garrity, with the premise of introducing Reiki to the center.Garrity agreed, and as Bohrman began working with patients who had high blood pressure, MS and those recovering from strokes, the word got out. Patients desired more knowledge about Reiki, and the staff at 11^th Street also began to inquire about receiving sessions. What started as an occasional added service slowly became a daily program. Both patients and staff reported that Reiki helped with stress reduction and relaxation.Time slots were put in place for staff to schedule appointments. These sessions enriched the staff; the workplace was calmer and flowed with better teamwork. As a result of these Reiki sessions, committees were established to forge better communications and ideas amongst staff. Jenny, who is now studying to become a physician, reported that it was easy to initiate a Reiki program at 11^th Street.  She found the staff open and supportive regarding patient wellness.When Jenny left 11^th Street to go to medical school, the administration recruited practitioners to continue what was started. Tania Alexandra, a former staff member at The Reiki School + Clinic, was hired to perform Reiki and massage, and to offer Yoga classes. Yoga became very popular and patients and staff began requesting more wellness services for 11^th Street. When Tania departed for a move out-of-state, Helaina Johnson (also a staff member and Reiki School grad) entered, offering weekly Reiki and massage. Helaina was hired as an interim employee.  The desire for wellness services became so paramount, a position was created for a full-time Complementary Integrated Therapist (CIT). This therapist would receive a salary and benefits. As the search for a full-time, paid CIT got underway, Helaina filled-in so services would not lapse.In 2010, after many months of selective interviews, Kathleen Guidotti was offered the CIT position. Certified in many modalities including massage, reflexology, Reiki, yoga, and meditation, Guidotti had been a practitioner for many years. At 11^th Street she works alongside nurse practitioners as well as health/physical therapists. Patients may request her services individually, or as a part of a visit to another health care provider. Some of Kathleen’s services include stress reduction, breathing techniques, massage, Reiki treatment and yoga classes.Kathleen posts positive affirmations throughout the space, in the restrooms, or found on a door inviting you to breathe, smile or have a peaceful moment. Staff meetings are introduced with meditation or deep breaths. Who knew this would come to pass? When Reiki was introduced at 11^th Street Family Health Center so was wellness. Reiki created a space for openness to other modalities. It fit with the center’s philosophy of people healing themselves, their community and the planet. From the research I’ve done, it is my understanding that this is the first full-time, paid position for an Integrated Therapies practitioner in any medical or health care setting in Philadelphia.The journey of bringing Reiki to 11^th Street was relatively seamless. At the time, I didn’t know all that was involved. While exploring the evolution of the CIT position, I found an appreciation of the hard work and efforts to initiate the Reiki process. Patients as well as staff have become more educated as well as proactive when participating in community wellness. Patient’s lives have been transformed, witnessed first hand by myself. This has made me value working at 11^th Street Health Center; my experience of this process has also influenced my own decision to become a Reiki practitioner. After reviewing articles where Reiki is offered in hospitals and clinics, its influence is becoming definitive. It appears that as time goes on complementary care will be a standard in the future.