I have wanted, for a while, to introduce a sliding scale approach for my private energy healing Reiki sessions, similar to the approach in my community group classes.
I have seen approaches that are based on gross household income, but something about the approach didn’t seem to encompass the broader concerns behind supporting access.
In particular, I was looking for a way to support access to the Eastern holistic healing space for those of us that are more impacted by existing systems of racism, colonialism, patriarchy, transphobia, and more.
My practice is very trauma-focused, and I have seen first-hand in community practices (including incarcerated individuals, survivors of gender-based violence, disabled individuals), that it is the racialized (IBPOC), the disabled, the members of the 2SLGBTQIA+, women, single parents, that are less able to afford access to these healing modalities due to existing social systems and structures of oppression.
As a racialized practitioner in this space, the fact that we as racialized people experience barriers from accessing the very healing modalities that come from our very cultures does not sit right with me.
The approach
I am introducing an anti-oppressive fee structure that takes into account not only considerations for household income, but opportunities for higher education, access to financial stability and generational wealth, whether one can pay their bills, whether you’re supporting dependents, etc.
The approach includes a self-assessment of 10 questions that is adapted from the Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance (AORTA). I was inspired by seeing other practitioners and organizations that implemented adaptations of this system, including Healing in Colour, Silk Road Healing, and Kenya Crawford.
How does it work?
Complete the questionnaire, and based on the number of “yes” answers, you will match up with a category that aligns with a fee level.
The idea here is that those who have financial and socio-economic privilege, who can afford to pay more, do so to help support access to those in more marginalized communities that are impacted by systematic oppression and barriers.
Questionnaire
- Are you and your family homeowners or landowners? (This does not apply to Indigenous individuals.)
- Are you able to make minimum payments on bills or credit cards?
- Are you able to travel recreationally?
- Are your earning powers NOT limited due to being Disabled, Chronically Ill, or formerly incarcerated?
- Do you have zero to no debt and/or do you have disposable income? (This might look like being able to afford to dine out/take out and small splurges.)
- Do you have a safety net composed of “financially stable” or wealthy family and friends?
- Do you have Canadian citizenship?
- Does your income only support you, and not other loved ones?
- Have you or do you expect to inherit money or property?
- Have you (or could you have) attended college or university?
Rating scale based on answers to the questionnaire
Answer the questionnaire and the rating scale is based on your total number of “yes” answers. Our fee scale is organized as follows:
- Redistribution: Yes to 7-10 questions
- Full Cost: Yes to 4-6 questions
- Sustain: Yes to 2-3 questions
- Solidarity: Yes to 1 question
- Reparations: Yes to 0 questions
I have also made a version of this questionnaire available that totals the number of “yes” questions for you: questionnaire for anti-oppressive fee structure.
Reflection
I’m just one person doing what I can do, and it may be small but I know the work I do has value and I’m hoping that this work inspires some reflection.
Equal is not fair. I invite those of us who are practitioners in holistic wellness spaces to reflect on and consider what we can do to support each other (especially racialized and marginalized practitioners), and to increase access in these spaces. It might mean sharing posts online, it may mean private DMs of encouragement, it might mean standing on each other’s shoulders to feel safer to speak up.
Nourish The Yin 