Ethics and Professional Practice for Brennan Healing Science Practitoners
Principles of Practice
Adopted by the Faculty of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing – March 3, 2003
Preamble
These Principles of Practice are intended to aid the
healing work of the Brennan Healing Science Practitioner
(“BHS Practitioner”), and to assist the public in selecting a
healer with whom to create a rewarding healing relationship.
As a graduate of either the four-year Bachelor of Science
Degree or Professional Studies Diploma Programs of the
Barbara Brennan School of Healing (“BBSH”), the BHS
Practitioner has completed an intensive study and practice of
personal transformation, energy awareness and High Sense
Perception, hands-on healing techniques, professional practice,
creative arts, integrative care, and awareness of the connections
between mind, body and emotions.
The BHS Practitioner’s primary objective is to support each
client in his or her unique healing journey with competence,
integrity, and compassion. The BHS Practitioner’s commitment
is to create a safe, empathic, and life-affirming container to
best facilitate the client’s healing and transformational process.
In the broader context of community and world service, the
BHS Practitioner applies his or her knowledge and training
in support of the evolution of the human spirit.
In any given client session, the BHS Practitioner may
employ varied techniques and incorporate elements of
multiple modalities depending on the unique circumstances
and needs of each client, and on the qualifications and skills
of the BHS Practitioner. No set of rules can fully anticipate
or regulate the variety of situations that the BHS Practitioner
may face. The following Principles of Practice instead address
important aspects of the BHS Practitioner’s intentionality and
consciousness that the BHS Practitioner honestly monitors
and clarifies during the course of the client relationship,
both generally and in the moment.
Intention, Integrity, and Professional Responsibility
1. The BHS Practitioner commits to use his or her training,
skills, and intention in service of the health, welfare, and
spiritual healing of the client.
2. The BHS Practitioner provides those services commensurate
with his or her training and competence, and refers the
client to other healers and care providers in other
disciplines as appropriate and necessary.
3. The BHS Practitioner keeps current and competent in his
or her field(s) of practice, through supervision, consultations,
and continuing education.
4. The BHS Practitioner does not offer, promise, or provide
medical diagnoses or prescriptions (unless otherwise
licensed to do so), and does not promise medical cures
or recoveries.
Client Communication and Professional Boundaries
5. The BHS Practitioner clearly, accurately, and truthfully
communicates to the client, prior to commencement of
services, the general nature of the services that may be
provided, fees and billing practices, and other policies
and procedures of the BHS Practitioner. The BHS Practitioner
also obtains the client’s consent to these services, or as
appropriate the consent of the client’s legal guardian,
prior to service.
6. The BHS Practitioner maintains professional boundaries with
the client. The BHS Practitioner is sensitive to real and
ascribed differences in awareness and power between the
BHS Practitioner and the client, and does not exploit such
differences or perceptions during or after the professional
relationship for the personal gratification or benefit of the
BHS Practitioner. The BHS Practitioner supports the client
in avoiding or resolving dependency on the BHS Practitioner.
7. The BHS Practitioner does not suggest, initiate, or engage
in any romantic or sexual activity with the client. The BHS
Practitioner does not engage in sexual or other harassment
of the client, whether by sexual solicitation, physical or
energetic advances, or verbal or nonverbal conduct that is
unwelcome, is offensive, or creates a hostile or unsafe
healing environment. The BHS Practitioner does not engage
in sexual relations with a former client for at least two years
after termination of the client relationship, and only
then after a good faith determination through appropriate
supervision that there is no exploitation of, or harm to,
the former client.
8. The BHS Practitioner avoids or promptly removes himself
or herself from improper and potentially harmful conflicts
of interest and dual or multiple relationships with clients
and former clients.
Honoring the Client and Community
9. The BHS Practitioner respects the fundamental dignity,
worth, and personal journey of all clients, regardless of age,
gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual
orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status.
The BHS Practitioner strives to be aware of and sensitive
to cultural, individual, and role differences.
10. The BHS Practitioner respects the right of each client to
hold values, attitudes, beliefs, and opinions that differ
from the BHS Practitioner’s. The BHS Practitioner does
not attempt to pressure or coerce the client into any action
or belief, even if the BHS Practitioner believes such act or
belief would serve the best interests of the client. The BHS
Practitioner supports each client’s self-empowerment,
self-determination, and transformational processes in
learning to make life choices, and understanding the
consequences of those choices.
11. The BHS Practitioner is aware of his or her role in
maintaining the integrity of healing and the healing
profession with regard to clients, to the society in which
the BHS Practitioner lives, and to the global community
of the sacred human heart.
Client Confidentiality
12. The BHS Practitioner honors and does not disclose to
anyone the client’s confidences or client records, if any,
including the name or identity of the client or identifying
information, except: (A) if and to the extent authorized
by the client; (B) as required for the BHS Practitioner’s
professional supervision where the client remains
anonymous, and only to the extent necessary to achieve
the purposes of the supervision; (C) when disclosure is
required to prevent clear and imminent danger to the
client or others; (D) as required by law; and (E) if the
BHS Practitioner is a defendant in a civil, criminal or
disciplinary action arising from the client relationship
(in which case client confidences may only be disclosed
in the course of that action).
13. At the client’s written request or approval, and according
to the capabilities, good conscience, and professional
judgment of the BHS Practitioner, the BHS Practitioner
may consult with the client’s other healers, therapists,
physicians, and spiritual teachers, as appropriate to
maximize the benefits to the client.
BHS Practitioner Self-Responsibility, Client
Welfare, and Termination of Services
14. The BHS Practitioner commits to his or her own self-care
and ongoing personal healing, and also recognizes that
this commitment is key to serving as an instrument of
healing for the client.
15. The BHS Practitioner commits to regular individual
supervision sessions with a qualified professional. The BHS
Practitioner is obligated to be alert to signs of, and to obtain
professional assistance for, any unresolved personal
problems, countertransference, and emotional reactions,
in order to prevent impairment of the client relationship.
16. The BHS Practitioner is not under the influence of alcohol
or of any medication, drug, or substance during a client
session that might impair the work of the BHS Practitioner
or the client relationship.
17. The BHS Practitioner terminates a client relationship when
it becomes reasonably clear that the client no longer needs
or is not benefiting from continued service. The BHS
Practitioner terminates services if and as advisable due
to any physical or mental illness, or unresolved personal
issues, of the BHS Practitioner. The BHS Practitioner does
not maintain a client relationship solely for financial
reasons, but may terminate a relationship if the client is
unable or unwilling to pay for such services. Prior to any
termination of service, if and to the extent applicable and
practicable, the BHS Practitioner gives reasonable notice
to the client of the termination and assists the client in
finding alternative professional services.
Adopted by the Faculty of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing – March 3, 2003
Preamble
These Principles of Practice are intended to aid the
healing work of the Brennan Healing Science Practitioner
(“BHS Practitioner”), and to assist the public in selecting a
healer with whom to create a rewarding healing relationship.
As a graduate of either the four-year Bachelor of Science
Degree or Professional Studies Diploma Programs of the
Barbara Brennan School of Healing (“BBSH”), the BHS
Practitioner has completed an intensive study and practice of
personal transformation, energy awareness and High Sense
Perception, hands-on healing techniques, professional practice,
creative arts, integrative care, and awareness of the connections
between mind, body and emotions.
The BHS Practitioner’s primary objective is to support each
client in his or her unique healing journey with competence,
integrity, and compassion. The BHS Practitioner’s commitment
is to create a safe, empathic, and life-affirming container to
best facilitate the client’s healing and transformational process.
In the broader context of community and world service, the
BHS Practitioner applies his or her knowledge and training
in support of the evolution of the human spirit.
In any given client session, the BHS Practitioner may
employ varied techniques and incorporate elements of
multiple modalities depending on the unique circumstances
and needs of each client, and on the qualifications and skills
of the BHS Practitioner. No set of rules can fully anticipate
or regulate the variety of situations that the BHS Practitioner
may face. The following Principles of Practice instead address
important aspects of the BHS Practitioner’s intentionality and
consciousness that the BHS Practitioner honestly monitors
and clarifies during the course of the client relationship,
both generally and in the moment.
Intention, Integrity, and Professional Responsibility
1. The BHS Practitioner commits to use his or her training,
skills, and intention in service of the health, welfare, and
spiritual healing of the client.
2. The BHS Practitioner provides those services commensurate
with his or her training and competence, and refers the
client to other healers and care providers in other
disciplines as appropriate and necessary.
3. The BHS Practitioner keeps current and competent in his
or her field(s) of practice, through supervision, consultations,
and continuing education.
4. The BHS Practitioner does not offer, promise, or provide
medical diagnoses or prescriptions (unless otherwise
licensed to do so), and does not promise medical cures
or recoveries.
Client Communication and Professional Boundaries
5. The BHS Practitioner clearly, accurately, and truthfully
communicates to the client, prior to commencement of
services, the general nature of the services that may be
provided, fees and billing practices, and other policies
and procedures of the BHS Practitioner. The BHS Practitioner
also obtains the client’s consent to these services, or as
appropriate the consent of the client’s legal guardian,
prior to service.
6. The BHS Practitioner maintains professional boundaries with
the client. The BHS Practitioner is sensitive to real and
ascribed differences in awareness and power between the
BHS Practitioner and the client, and does not exploit such
differences or perceptions during or after the professional
relationship for the personal gratification or benefit of the
BHS Practitioner. The BHS Practitioner supports the client
in avoiding or resolving dependency on the BHS Practitioner.
7. The BHS Practitioner does not suggest, initiate, or engage
in any romantic or sexual activity with the client. The BHS
Practitioner does not engage in sexual or other harassment
of the client, whether by sexual solicitation, physical or
energetic advances, or verbal or nonverbal conduct that is
unwelcome, is offensive, or creates a hostile or unsafe
healing environment. The BHS Practitioner does not engage
in sexual relations with a former client for at least two years
after termination of the client relationship, and only
then after a good faith determination through appropriate
supervision that there is no exploitation of, or harm to,
the former client.
8. The BHS Practitioner avoids or promptly removes himself
or herself from improper and potentially harmful conflicts
of interest and dual or multiple relationships with clients
and former clients.
Honoring the Client and Community
9. The BHS Practitioner respects the fundamental dignity,
worth, and personal journey of all clients, regardless of age,
gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual
orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status.
The BHS Practitioner strives to be aware of and sensitive
to cultural, individual, and role differences.
10. The BHS Practitioner respects the right of each client to
hold values, attitudes, beliefs, and opinions that differ
from the BHS Practitioner’s. The BHS Practitioner does
not attempt to pressure or coerce the client into any action
or belief, even if the BHS Practitioner believes such act or
belief would serve the best interests of the client. The BHS
Practitioner supports each client’s self-empowerment,
self-determination, and transformational processes in
learning to make life choices, and understanding the
consequences of those choices.
11. The BHS Practitioner is aware of his or her role in
maintaining the integrity of healing and the healing
profession with regard to clients, to the society in which
the BHS Practitioner lives, and to the global community
of the sacred human heart.
Client Confidentiality
12. The BHS Practitioner honors and does not disclose to
anyone the client’s confidences or client records, if any,
including the name or identity of the client or identifying
information, except: (A) if and to the extent authorized
by the client; (B) as required for the BHS Practitioner’s
professional supervision where the client remains
anonymous, and only to the extent necessary to achieve
the purposes of the supervision; (C) when disclosure is
required to prevent clear and imminent danger to the
client or others; (D) as required by law; and (E) if the
BHS Practitioner is a defendant in a civil, criminal or
disciplinary action arising from the client relationship
(in which case client confidences may only be disclosed
in the course of that action).
13. At the client’s written request or approval, and according
to the capabilities, good conscience, and professional
judgment of the BHS Practitioner, the BHS Practitioner
may consult with the client’s other healers, therapists,
physicians, and spiritual teachers, as appropriate to
maximize the benefits to the client.
BHS Practitioner Self-Responsibility, Client
Welfare, and Termination of Services
14. The BHS Practitioner commits to his or her own self-care
and ongoing personal healing, and also recognizes that
this commitment is key to serving as an instrument of
healing for the client.
15. The BHS Practitioner commits to regular individual
supervision sessions with a qualified professional. The BHS
Practitioner is obligated to be alert to signs of, and to obtain
professional assistance for, any unresolved personal
problems, countertransference, and emotional reactions,
in order to prevent impairment of the client relationship.
16. The BHS Practitioner is not under the influence of alcohol
or of any medication, drug, or substance during a client
session that might impair the work of the BHS Practitioner
or the client relationship.
17. The BHS Practitioner terminates a client relationship when
it becomes reasonably clear that the client no longer needs
or is not benefiting from continued service. The BHS
Practitioner terminates services if and as advisable due
to any physical or mental illness, or unresolved personal
issues, of the BHS Practitioner. The BHS Practitioner does
not maintain a client relationship solely for financial
reasons, but may terminate a relationship if the client is
unable or unwilling to pay for such services. Prior to any
termination of service, if and to the extent applicable and
practicable, the BHS Practitioner gives reasonable notice
to the client of the termination and assists the client in
finding alternative professional services.