Printable Version Here:

 

This document contains information for people wishing to raise concerns or make a complaint about an Accredited Pascha Therapist, a practicing Therapist (who is not yet accredited) or a member of NZAIPT (New Zealand Association of Intuitive and Pascha Therapists).

 

This document is also a reference for those NZAIPT members who have received a complaint about their practice.

 

Accredited Therapists and Practicing Therapists must be members of the New Zealand Association of Intuitive and Pascha Therapists and are required to comply with the NZAIPT Code of Ethics.

 

A copy of the Code of Ethics can be found on this website or can be obtained from the Secretary of the NZAIPT, at p.deroeper@gmail.com.  Download the Code of Ethics here 

 

Complaints received are dealt with by the Ethics Committee of NZAIPT. The Ethics Committee consists of the President and Vice President and at least four other senior Therapists or Pascha Teachers of NZAIPT.  New Ethics Committee members are invited to join the committee by the President.

 

Complaints about a NZAIPT member may be brought to the attention of the Ethics Committee by:

 

• a client or clients of the Therapist

• a legal guardian of a client

• another Therapist who is working with the client (the client’s written permission would be required)

• a colleague, supervisor or manager of the Therapist (consult your own supervisor before acting)

• a member of the public

 

Raising the Concern with the Therapist

 

If you have concerns about a Pascha Therapist you are encouraged to discuss these in the first instance, with the Therapist involved, provided the matter is not of a very serious nature. You may bring a support person if you wish. Pascha Therapists are educated to be self-aware and take responsibility for their actions and are always encouraged to be open to feedback, discussion and concern from clients.

 

If you would like help or guidance in having such a discussion, please contact the Vice President of the NZAIPT at jonathan@pascha.co.nz or the Ethics Secretary at p.deroeper@gmail.com.

 

If the matter is too serious or your concern is not resolved with this approach you may ask the Ethics Committee to investigate the complaint further.

 

In this situation, please write to either the President, (yasmeen@pascha.co.nz) Vice President (jonathan@pascha.co.nz) or Ethics Committee Secretary (p.deroeper@gmail.com) of the Association with your complaint. (Please see the guidelines for submitting a complaint at the end of this document).

 

Receiving Complaints

 

Complaints relating to a member of the NZAIPT will be considered if the alleged behaviour fails to meet the required standards in the NZAIPT Code of Ethics or may be considered:

​

• professional misconduct,

• behaviour which adversely affects the NZAIPT

• behaviour that brings disrepute to the profession of Pascha Therapy.

 

Definition of Roles

 

The terms “therapist” and “therapy” apply to all professional roles undertaken by NZAIPT Members with the Ethics Code applying to all Members in the full range of their professional practices. Professional practice may include work in the roles of: counsellor, supervisor, therapist, trainer, educator, Pascha Energy Healer, or group facilitator.

 

The term “Complainant” is given to the person who makes or lodges a complaint.

The term “Respondent” is given to the NZAIPT member who the complaint is made against.

 

Conflict of Interest

 

As the NZAIPT is a small association there is a possibility a member undertaking Ethics work on behalf of the NZAIPT may have a connection to the Complainant and/or the Respondent. This is especially likely if the Complainant is a current or former member. Or if a current or former member has recommended Pascha Therapy to a family member, friend or an associate who makes a complaint. The Ethics Committee will do their utmost to ensure that no conflict of interest arises.

 

Procedure

 

When a complaint is received the following process occurs:

 

1.  The Vice President or Ethics Secretary checks the person complained of is a member of NZAIPT and meets the criteria (see above) for receiving concerns and complaints. If not, information is provided about other options available to the Complainant.

 

2. If a member, two representatives of the Ethics Committee read through and consider the complaint. A decision may be made that there is no action to take. The Complainant will be informed of this and all material that NZAIPT holds relating to the complaint will be destroyed. The member complained about will also be informed of this decision.

 

3. If further inquiry is required, the Complainant will receive a copy of the procedures and a consent form which must be returned, signed and dated before the Ethics Committee can proceed with the matter.

 

4. Once the Complainant’s consent and any other information they may have added to their initial letter is received, the President/Vice President and the Ethics Secretary read and carefully consider the Complainants concerns and report back to the Ethics Committee for their decision.

 

5. The Complainant is then notified which of the following options will be taken:

 

a. Assistance provided for the Complainant to seek private resolution

 

If private resolution is considered the best option suggestions will be made about ways to approach the member and what support might be available to the Complainant e.g. supervision, legal representation, advocate, family meeting, the Privacy Commission, or other professional association.

 

b. No further action

 

No further action will be taken if the behaviour complained about does not meet the threshold for potentially professional misconduct or behaviour that adversely reflects on NZAIPT. The Complainant will be advised about other courses of action they might take. With their written consent a copy of the original letter of complaint is sent to the member for their information.

 

c. Request for a written response from the member (the Respondent)

 

A copy of the complaint is sent to the Respondent who has 20 working days to respond. They will be asked to write:

 

Part 1. their perspective of the situation.

Part 2. a reflection on their behaviour and actions – this remains confidential to NZAIPT.

 

If the Complainant chooses to see the Respondent’s account, the Complainant will be given a further 10 working days to reply to this. If the Complainant provides additional information this should be accompanied by further informed consent to send this to the Respondent.

 

The Respondent is then given 10 working days to submit their final response in two parts.

 

This final response stays with NZAIPT and is not shared.

 

After viewing both the complaint and the response The Ethics Committee meets and decides if any of the following steps should be taken.

 

1. No further action taken

 

Both parties are informed that no further action will be taken by NZAIPT, but other avenues may be suggested. The case is closed and may be reopened only on receipt of new information.

 

2. Seek further information

 

Further information is required from either the Complainant, from the Respondent or from other parties.

 

3. Refer to another professional or regulatory body for consideration

 

If the issue warrants further investigation but does not meet the NZAIPT criteria for accepting the complaint or is potentially outside of NZAIPT’s ability to manage, the case may be referred to another professional body, or to the Health and Disability Commission.

 

4. Resolve through communication with the President/Vice President or their representative/s  

 

Options available to the President/VP or their representative/s include; written correspondence between all parties, phone conversation with both or either party, or meeting in person with the member, with attendance of their supervisor a possible consideration.

 

The above option (number 4) may then lead to:

• no further action being taken,

• the identification of relevant educational and/or restorative steps the Respondent needs to take eg. further education or training, additional supervision or making an acknowledgment to the Complainant. In this case the Ethics Secretary will inform the Complainant of the outcome, or of progress towards an outcome, within 2-3 weeks of the meeting. The Complainant is informed if the Respondent has been given tasks to do but not the details of these.

• referral of the matter back to the Ethics Committee to consider alternative courses of action, for example, continued communication with the President/VP, further investigation, or the holding of a Formal Hearing (see below for details).

 

Formal Hearing Overview

 

A formal hearing is undertaken when complaints are of a serious nature and cannot be resolved with the above options. The process aims to determine the circumstances that led to the complaint and the ways in which the Therapist may have contributed to the situation. The complaint is now considered the Association’s, and the Respondent is required to answer to the NZAIPT Ethics Committee via two representatives who are known as the Hearing Panel.

 

If the complaint is upheld sanctions on the Respondent will be imposed by the Ethics Committee. Potential sanctions can be viewed in NZAIPT’s Constitution, on the NZAIPT website.

 

The Ethics Committee aims to complete the Formal Hearing process within three to four months. This may take longer if legal representation is required, or if the member has charges upheld and sanctions are applied.

 

Formal Hearing Process

 

1. The Complainant is invited to become a witness for the Ethics Committee’s case and can be assisted and advised by either the Ethics Committee Secretary or Ethics Committee Chairperson.

 

2. A Formal Hearing must follow the principles of natural justice. It must include the Respondent’s right to reply, may involve advocacy and/or the need for legal advice. This can take some months.

 

3. The NZAIPT Ethics Hearing Panel gathers information to determine whether the behaviour complained about occurred, whether it is deemed professional misconduct, or behaviour that adversely reflects on the NZAIPT.

 

4. The Hearing Panel will meet with the Complainant and Respondent, separately and if possible, together.

 

5. The Complainant is invited to attend as a witness for NZAIPT and to give their account of the events. The Complainant may be asked questions by: Panel members; the Respondent; and/or their legal representative. This communication occurs through the Panel Chair. Both the Complainant and Respondent are encouraged to bring a support person/s.

 

6. The Hearing Panel report their findings backs to the Ethics Committee who have the final decision in deciding if:  the described behaviour constitutes professional misconduct, reflects poorly on the NZAIPT, or brings Pascha Therapy into disrepute.  The Ethics Committee has the final decision on which sanction, if any may be imposed.

 

7. The Complainant will be provided a summary of the outcome.

​

How to Make a Complaint

 

To assist the Association in processing your concerns, it is helpful if you refer to the Code of Ethics to identify how the NZAIPT member has breached the Code. Please include as much as the following information in your complaint.

 

1. Your name, contact details and preferred method of contact. Best times to contact you.

 

2. The name of the Complainant ie: who is laying the complaint. If the complaint is on behalf of another, please include their details also and identify the relationship you have with them.

 

3. Name of the NZAIPT member whom you are complaining about (whom will be known as ‘the Respondent’).  If there is more than one therapist you have concerns about, please provide individual complaint forms for each one.

 

4. Identify the therapeutic relationship and the context of the relationship eg: was the therapist providing therapy under their own name, or were they employed by another organization. What type of therapy was provided? Eg private counselling, supervision sessions, educational or training workshops etc

 

5. When and where did the therapy take place? Please include dates if possible, or at least the month and year.

 

6. List the behaviour you are complaining about. Please provide as much detail as you can. Identify what was said or done that caused you to complain. If your concern is not about the member’s therapy work, please identify what the behaviour was and where and when it occurred. Were there any witnesses to this?

 

7. List any other steps you have taken to address your concerns e.g. talking to the member, contacting another professional association about the complaint etc

 

8. If your complaint becomes a formal complaint, a Formal Hearing may be organized. Please indicate whether, when and how you would be available to participate eg: in-person, online face to face call.

​