Guide5 min readUpdated 8 September 2026

Questions to ask before booking a healer or reader

Questions to ask a healer or reader in New Zealand before you book: fees, training, cancellation terms, what a session involves, and what if it is not a fit.

A few minutes of questions before you book saves a lot of awkwardness later. Good practitioners expect them and answer easily. This guide gives you a short list you can copy into a message, and explains why each question matters.

The short list

If you only ask five things, ask these.

1. What does the session cost, and how long is it?
2. What happens in the session?
3. What training or experience do you have?
4. What is your cancellation policy?
5. What happens if it is not a good fit for me?

Everything below expands on those.

Fees and time

What is the total price? Ask whether it includes GST, booking fees and any extras such as a recording or written notes. Ask what a follow-up costs, in case you want one.

How long is the session? Thirty minutes and ninety minutes are very different experiences. Some practitioners include the pre-session chat in the time, some do not.

Is a deposit required? If so, is it refundable, and under what conditions?

How do I pay? Bank transfer and card leave a record. Be cautious about cash-only practitioners you have not met, and never pay by gift card or crypto.

If no price is agreed before a service, the Consumer Guarantees Act says you only have to pay a reasonable price. It is far simpler to agree the price up front.

What happens in the session

What will you actually do? For a reading: cards, no cards, a specific question or a general reading? For healing: hands-on or hands-off, clothed, lying down or seated, any tools?

Can I say no to parts of it? You should be able to decline touch, prayer, or any element you are not comfortable with, without ending the session.

Will you record it? If yes, where is the recording kept and who can access it?

Is it private? Some readers work at markets or in shared rooms. If you want to talk about something sensitive, you need a closed door.

Training and experience

New Zealand does not regulate readers, Reiki practitioners, crystal healers, spiritual healers or naturopaths under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act. Anyone can use those titles. That puts the checking on you.

What training have you done, and where? Reiki practitioners can name their level and their teacher. Naturopaths can name their diploma or degree and the college. Readers may have done courses, mentoring or decades of practice.

Are you a member of a professional body? Bodies such as Reiki NZ Inc. and Naturopaths and Medical Herbalists of New Zealand set standards and codes of ethics for members. Membership is voluntary, but it signals that a practitioner has agreed to be accountable.

How long have you practised, and who do you usually see? A practitioner who mainly works with grieving people is a different choice from one who mainly does festival readings.

Do you have insurance? Professional indemnity insurance is a sign that someone treats their practice as a serious business.

Health and safety

If the practice touches your health, add these.

How do you work alongside doctors and medicines? The right answer is some version of “I encourage you to keep seeing your doctor and I will never tell you to stop treatment.”

What do you not treat? A practitioner who can name their limits is safer than one who says they can help with anything.

Are you a registered health professional? If a practitioner says yes, they will be registered with a responsible authority, such as the Nursing Council or the Physiotherapy Board, and can show a current practising certificate.

Cancellation and what-ifs

What is your cancellation policy? How much notice do you need, and what happens if you cancel with less? Consumer Protection notes that providers may charge a cancellation fee, especially for short notice, but it should reflect a real loss.

What if you cancel on me? A fair practitioner refunds any deposit or reschedules at no cost.

What if the session is not a good fit? This is the question people are shy to ask, and it is the most useful. Good practitioners have an answer: “Tell me in the first ten minutes and we will stop, and I will not charge you”, or “I will refund half”, or “I will refer you to someone who suits you better”. A practitioner who bristles at the question is telling you something.

What if I want to stop partway through? You can, always. Ask how they handle it.

Your rights, in brief

• Under the Consumer Guarantees Act, services must be provided with reasonable care and skill and be fit for the purpose you made known.
• Under the Fair Trading Act, a practitioner must not mislead you or make claims they cannot back up. Consumer NZ notes that traders “must have reasonable grounds for making any claim”.
• The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights sets out ten rights for people using health services, including respect, informed consent and the right to complain. It is a good standard to expect from anyone who works with your body or your wellbeing.

Red flags in the answers

• Vague or shifting prices.
• “Just trust me” in place of a description of what happens.
• Promises to cure, fix or guarantee an outcome.
• Any mention of curses, blocks or attachments that cost extra to remove.
• Pressure to buy a package before you have had one session.
• Irritation at being asked.

After the session

If something went wrong, tell the practitioner first. Most problems are fixed with a conversation. If money is involved and you cannot agree, the Disputes Tribunal handles claims up to $30,000 for a small fee. If your concern is about safety or conduct in a health-related service, you can contact the Health and Disability Commissioner’s advocacy service, which is free.

Use this list with our guides on what readings and healing sessions cost and preparing for your first reading.

This guide describes what a practice involves and what people seek from it. It is general information, not medical advice. These services do not replace care from a registered health professional. If you have a health concern, talk with your doctor or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.

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