Last Updated: 26/05/2026

1. Purpose

Mystic Wellness Ltd is committed to delivering all in-person therapies, treatments, and wellbeing sessions in a safe, ethical, respectful, and consent-led manner.

This Touch Consent Policy explains when and how physical touch may occur during in-person sessions and confirms every client’s right to choose a fully non-touch treatment option.

This policy applies to all in-person Sound Bath, Gong Bath, Meditation, Mentoring, Reiki, and related holistic wellbeing services delivered by Mystic Wellness Ltd.

By booking or attending an in person session, clients confirm that they have read, understood, and agreed to this policy.

Online sessions are generally delivered on a non-touch basis; however, this Policy remains relevant where touch-related techniques or demonstrations are discussed for educational purposes.

This policy should be read alongside our Therapy Session Policy, Contraindications and Safety Policy, Safeguarding responsibilities, and general Terms and Conditions.

2. Commitment to Informed Consent

Mystic Wellness Ltd recognises that personal boundaries, comfort levels, cultural beliefs, trauma history, and individual preferences around physical touch vary significantly.

For this reason, informed consent is a fundamental part of all in-person sessions.

No physical contact will occur without the client’s knowledge and consent.

Clients have the right to:

• give consent;
• decline consent;
• limit where touch may occur;
• withdraw consent at any time during a session.

Consent is always voluntary and can be changed at any stage without explanation.

Consent can only be provided by a person who has the capacity to make an informed decision. Where capacity, safeguarding, intoxication, or vulnerability concerns arise, Mystic Wellness Ltd reserves the right to refuse or postpone treatment

Consent will always be prioritised over any treatment structure, technique, or planned session delivery

3. Where Touch May Occur

Certain in person therapies delivered by Mystic Wellness Ltd may involve light, professional, therapeutic touch where relevant to the modality being provided.

Examples may include:

Reiki

• light placement of hands on or slightly above the head, shoulders, arms, hands, knees, or feet;
• energetic hand placements without physical contact depending on client preference;
• all placements are optional and fully consent-based.

 

Sound Healing / Sound Bath / Gong Bath

• occasional gentle touch may be used to position instruments safely around a client;
• adjustment of blankets, bolsters, cushions, or mats for comfort or safety;
• where specifically agreed, gentle grounding touch such as touching shoulders or feet may occasionally be offered.
• With prior consent and agreement with the client, Vedic/Himalayan Singing Bowls may be placed near and or on top the body.

Meditation / Mentoring

• touch is generally not required;
• any touch will only occur where necessary for safety, grounding, or support, and always with prior consent.

Mystic Wellness Ltd will never use unnecessary or inappropriate physical contact.

Any touch used will always be professional, limited, and relevant to the session being delivered.

All touch is:

• minimal;
• professional;
• therapeutically appropriate;
• client-led.

Touch will never be used as a requirement for receiving any service.

4. Fully Non-Touch Treatment Option

Mystic Wellness Ltd fully respects a client’s right to request a 100% non-touch treatment.

All Reiki, Sound Bath, Gong Bath, and related sessions can be adapted to provide a fully non-touch option.

This means:

• Reiki can be delivered entirely hands-off;
• sound healing instruments can be used without physical contact;
• therapeutic benefit is not dependent on touch;
• clients may receive the full session without any direct physical contact.

Choosing a non-touch session will never affect the quality of care, respect, or professionalism provided.

Clients are encouraged to state this preference before the session begins, but they may also request non-touch treatment at any time.

5. Therapies Involving Children and Young People

Where touch-based or hands-on therapies are provided to individuals under the age of 18, Mystic Wellness Ltd requires:

• prior written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian before any session takes place;
• a parent or legal guardian to remain present throughout the entire session;
• confirmation that the therapy is appropriate for the child’s age, wellbeing, and individual needs; and
• all touch to be professional, appropriate, necessary, and delivered in accordance with safeguarding requirements, practitioner competence, professional ethics, and insurance conditions.

Children and young people will be treated with dignity, respect, and appropriate safeguarding measures at all times.

We reserve the right to refuse, stop, or modify any session involving a minor where consent requirements are not met, safeguarding concerns arise, or the therapy is not considered appropriate or in the child’s best interests.

Any safeguarding concern, disclosure, or risk identified during a session may be recorded and shared with appropriate safeguarding authorities or relevant agencies where required or permitted by law.

6. Vulnerable Clients and Additional Safeguards

Mystic Wellness Ltd recognises that some clients may have heightened sensitivity around touch due to trauma history, disability, neurodiversity, cultural beliefs, or personal boundaries.

Practitioners will approach all sessions with heightened sensitivity, awareness, and professionalism.

Additional safeguards may include:

• enhanced verbal explanation;
• repeated consent checks;
• adapted session positions;
• fully non-touch delivery where preferred.

Where safeguarding concerns arise, practitioners will act in accordance with UK safeguarding legislation and guidance, including the Children Act 1989 and Care Act 2014 where applicable.

Safeguarding always overrides consent if there is risk of harm to the client or others.

7. Professional Boundaries

All physical contact must remain professional, ethical, and therapeutically appropriate.

Mystic Wellness Ltd maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward:

• inappropriate touch;
• boundary violations;
• sexualised behaviour or misconduct;
• any conduct that compromises client dignity or safety.

All practitioners are required to operate within their training, competence, and professional scope of practice.

Practitioners also retain the right to maintain appropriate professional and personal boundaries during all sessions.

Any allegation of inappropriate conduct will be taken seriously and may be investigated in accordance with safeguarding, disciplinary, and legal procedures where appropriate.

Any breach of professional boundaries may result in immediate removal and referral to relevant authorities where necessary.

8. Ongoing Consent During Sessions

Consent is not a one-time event; it is an ongoing process.

Before any touch occurs, the practitioner will explain:

• what type of touch may occur;
• why it may be used;
• where it may occur.

During the session, practitioners may check in verbally to ensure the client remains comfortable.

Clients may say:

• “no”;
• “stop”;
• “please don’t touch that area”;
• “I’d prefer hands-off treatment”
•  

All instructions will be respected immediately, without question, judgement, or interruption of care.

Clients are never required to justify, explain, or defend their decision to refuse or withdraw consent

If consent is withdrawn, all physical contact will stop immediately.

9. Documentation of Consent

For certain therapies, treatments, consultations, touch-based services, safeguarding situations, higher-risk services, services involving minors or vulnerable adults, or where otherwise considered necessary, clients may also be required to complete and sign a written consent form before treatment or participation.

Adult clients may also be required to complete written consent, health, consultation, intake, or liability forms where reasonably necessary for safety, insurance, safeguarding, professional practice, legal compliance, or service delivery purposes.

Where appropriate, verbal consent may be obtained and recorded in client notes prior to treatment or services being provided.

Client records, consent documentation, and related information will be managed and retained in accordance with:

• UK GDPR;
• Data Protection Act 2018; and
• applicable safeguarding, insurance, and professional obligations.

Consent records may be retained where reasonably necessary for safeguarding, legal compliance, insurance, complaints handling, dispute resolution, fraud prevention, or regulatory purposes.

10. Documentation of Consent (Children and Vulnerable Adults)

Where services are provided to children, young people, or vulnerable adults, Mystic Wellness Ltd will maintain appropriate records of consent and safeguarding documentation in accordance with professional, legal, and safeguarding requirements.

For individuals under the age of 18, consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian before services are provided.

Where a vulnerable adult may lack capacity or require support in decision-making, we may require consent, involvement, or confirmation from an authorised representative, carer, guardian, advocate, or other appropriate person where lawful and appropriate.

Consent records may include:

• signed consent forms;
• confirmation of parental, guardian, or authorised representative authority where reasonably required;
• records of the therapies or services consented to;
• session notes and safeguarding records where appropriate; and
• any withdrawal, limitation, or amendment of consent.

All consent documentation and safeguarding records will be stored securely and processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy, safeguarding obligations, the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and applicable safeguarding legislation.

We reserve the right to refuse, suspend, or discontinue services where appropriate consent, safeguarding, supervision, or capacity requirements are not met or cannot be reasonably verified.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time to reflect legal, regulatory, safeguarding, or operational changes. Any updates will be published with a revised “Last Updated” date.

Continued use of the website constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.

12. Acknowledgement and Consent

By attending an in-person therapy or wellbeing session with Mystic Wellness Ltd, clients confirm that they:

• understand where touch may occur during treatment;
• understand that all touch requires consent;
• understand they may refuse or withdraw consent at any time;
• understand they may request a fully non-touch treatment;
• voluntarily consent to treatment on this basis.
• acknowledge they are responsible for communicating their comfort levels during session

Clients confirm that consent may be withdrawn immediately and without explanation at any time.

This policy should be read alongside the Contraindications and Safety Policy, Therapy Session Policy and Ethics Policy