Client Handbook

Client Handbook Guidelines and Information for New and Current Clients

AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR NEW AND PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS

The following "Client Guidelines for Evaluating Pastoral Psychotherapy Experiences" has been prepared by the Staff of New England Pastoral Institute, Inc. to better inform you of your rights and reasonable expectations in pastoral psychotherapy and to alert you to ways of protecting yourself. Some of these are:

1. You may talk (or not talk) about your pastoral psychotherapy to anyone you choose, however the pastoral psychotherapist is ethically obligated to maintain confidentiality (with some legal exceptions including suicidal ideations, homicidal ideations, child abuse, and non-payment of fees for pastoral psychotherapy).

2. You have the right to ask questions about the pastoral psychotherapist's credentials, training, and experience.

3. You are entitled to ask the therapist about the methods of pastoral psychotherapy, the techniques used, the duration of psychotherapy, fees, and any other facts about the pastoral psychotherapy or pastoral psychotherapist relevant to your therapy.

4. You may refuse any technique in pastoral psychotherapy which makes you feel unduly uncomfortable.

5. You are always entitled to a second opinion.

6. You have the right to terminate pastoral psychotherapy at any time.

The vast majority of pastoral psychotherapists practice from an ethical basis, and our expectation is that you will grow in the direction to which you and your pastoral psychotherapist have agreed.

We hope, with you, that you will come out of your pastoral psychotherapy experience more skilled in living, more personally empowered, more self-sufficient, more able to trust yourself and your attributes, more able to cope, and more able to enjoy life.

Some clients expect to develop a close personal relationship with the therapist while others do not; whichever is comfortable for you is all right. HOWEVER, A SEXUALLY INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP IS NEVER RIGHT. There are many ways for a pastoral psychotherapist to be human and humane without being sexual. BEING SEXUAL WITH A CLIENT IS A REPORTABLE ETHICAL VIOLATION.

For your well-being, we want you to know that there are definite pastoral psychotherapist attitudes which are considered healthy and growth-producing, and there are definite behaviors considered unethical and/or illegal. There may also be situations you have a right to question, get a second opinion on, take another look at, get further information about, and address one way or another. These occur whenever you get that "Oh-Oh" feeling and, for your sake, warrant another look. Please read the following guide and use it to aid your continued personal healing and growth.

Sincerely,
Senior Administrative Staff
New England Pastoral Institute

CLIENT GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING PASTORAL PSYCHOTHERAPY EXPERIENCES

	OK Attitudes and Behaviors	OH-OH: Take Another Look	NOT OK Attitudes and Behaviors
PROFESSIONALISM (Therapist's credentials and office practice)	office practices regarding fees and appointments are clear and professional training and experience are readily shared therapist skill is devoted to your concerns therapist maintains confidentiality	if therapist's behavior seems not professional (being friendly is OK, becoming your friend is not) if too much attention is on therapist's feelings or problems DON'T SUSPEND YOUR JUDGMENT CLARIFY WITH THERAPIST AND SOMEONE ELSE	avoiding or refusing information about credentials/licensing using alcohol or illegal drugs during sessions indulging in an erotic relationship with you during therapy DISCONTINUE THE RELATIONSHIP CONSIDER ENDING THERAPY CONSIDER A NEW THERAPIST
POWER (Use of therapist's authority and knowledge)	lets you learn how to deal with your life your way promotes any and all sources of positive change supports and encourages your self-confidence and ability to choose your own life path	if you're uneasy with insistence on drugs as the only treatment possibility if you can't tell whether you are giving in to the therapy, (the learning process) (OK) or giving in personally to the therapist (not OK) CLARIFY WITH THERAPIST GET SECOND OPINION RESPECT YOUR OWN JUDGMENT	degrading, humiliating, intimidating, shaming or pressuring you personally/emotionally or socially and/or physically/sexually for the purpose of exploitation DISCONTINUE THE RELATIONSHIP TERMINATE THERAPY CONSIDER A NEW THERAPIST
RELATIONSHIP (Quality and use of therapist's and client's feelings)	treats you with respect, care, and dignity willingly, professionally discusses your feelings for each other demonstrates how feelings can be safely discussed and understood rather than acted upon	if therapist suggests any mutual activity which makes you feel uncomfortable if you enjoy therapist's attention, but feel it's not right somehow TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS CHECK IT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE SUSPEND THERAPY	using inappropriate erotic comments touching you sexually having any sexual or social contact with you, in or out of the office, with or without your consent END THE RELATIONSHIP TERMINATE THERAPY SEE ANOTHER THERAPIST CONSIDER REPORTING THIS ACTION (see resource list)

RESOURCES FOR QUESTIONING OR REPORTING MISCONDUCT

Licensing/Certifying Boards

New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice
State Office Park South
Main Building
105 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-6762