Charles E Lindner, M. Div.
NH Licensed Pastoral Psychotherapist
20 West Park Street
Suite 214
Lebanon, NH 03766
603 448 2414
charlielindner@nhtherapist.com
Questions and Answers
about Licensed Pastoral Psychotherapists They are clergy and lay people who have completed extensive clinical and academic training in individual, marriage, couple, and family therapy at a doctoral level and have achieved State licensure as psychotherapists. In New Hampshire, qualified Pastoral Psychotherapists must be licensed by the NH Board of Mental Health Practice. LPP’s possess a depth of training that is unique among mental health professionals. Theirs is a discipline which respects the natural connection between the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. It is now recognized across the mental health field that understanding and supporting this connection fosters a sound and lasting foundation for the treatment of the whole person. The LPP is well equipped to work with the total person by integrating the spiritual dimension when the client wishes to do so. The education and training of the LPP consists of a bachelor’s degree from a college or university, a three year professional degree from an accredited theological seminary, and a post-graduate degree in psychology and clinical studies. A significant portion of the post-graduate education is spent in clinical training, including over 400 hours of clinical supervision, and extensive personal therapy to increase awareness and sensitivity to clients’ needs. LPPs provide clinically competent as well as spiritually sensitive care to those who seek their assistance. They are specially trained to help clients utilize their spiritual resources, but they do not impose their values on the client. The spiritual commitments and religious traditions of those who seek assistance are fully respected. LPP’s work with the classified mental and emotional disorders and utilize a variety of approaches to psychotherapy. Yes. LPPs provide therapy for people with or without a religious interest or orientation. LPPs adhere to the Code of Ethics of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and the American Psychological Association. These Codes require them to work in conjunction with others and not in isolation. They also receive ongoing consultation in order to provide optimum treatment and collegial input. It is the prevailing ethic of pastoral psychotherapy that every effort be made to treat everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. MENTAL HEALTH BILL OF RIGHTS "This Mental Health Bill of Rights is provided by law to persons receiving mental health services in the State of New Hampshire. Its purpose is to protect the rights and enhance the well being of clients, by informing them of key aspects of the clinical relationship. As a client of a New Hampshire Mental Health Practitioner, you have, without asking, the right: (1) To be treated in a professional, respectful, competent and ethical manner consistent with all applicable state laws and the following professional ethical standards: a. for psychologists, the American Psychological Association; b for independent clinical social workers; the National Association of Social Workers; c for pastoral psychotherapists; the American Association of Pastoral Counselors d. for clinical mental health counselors; the American Mental Health Counselor Association; and e. for marriage and family therapists; the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists. (2) To receive full information about your treatment provider’s knowledge, skills, experience and credentials. (3) To have the information you disclose to your mental health provider kept confidential within the limits of state and federal law. Communications between mental health providers and clients are typically confidential, unless the law requires their disclosure. Mental health providers will inform you of the legal exceptions to confidentiality, and should such an exception arise, will share only such information as required by law. Examples of such exceptions include but are not limited to:
a. abuse of a child; b. abuse of an incapacitated adult; c. Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulation compliance; d. certain rights you may have waived when contracting for third party financial coverage; e. orders of the court; and f. significant threats to self, others or property. (4) To a safe setting and to know that the services provided are effective and of a quality consistent with the standard of care within each profession and to know that sexual relations between a mental health provider and a client or former client are a violation of the law (RSA 330-A:36). (5) To obtain information, as allowed by law, pertaining to the mental health provider’s assessment, assessment procedures and mental health diagnoses (RSA 330-A:2 VI). (6) To participate meaningfully in the planning, implementation and termination or referral of your treatment. (7) To documented informed consent: to be informed of the risks and benefits of the proposed treatment, the risks and benefits of alternative treatments and the risks and benefits of no treatment. When obtaining informed consent for treatment for which safety and effectiveness have not been established, therapists will inform their clients of this and of the voluntary nature of their participation. In addition, clients have the right to be informed of their rights and responsibilities, and of the mental health provider’s practice policies regarding confidentiality, office hours, fees, missed appointments, billing policies, electronic communications, managed care issues, record management, and other relevant matters except as otherwise provided by law. (8) To obtain information regarding the provision(s) for emergency coverage. (9) To receive a copy of your mental health record within 30 days upon written request (except as otherwise provided by law), by paying a nominal fee designed to defray the administrative costs of reproducing the record. (10) To know that your mental health provider is licensed by the State of New Hampshire to provide mental health services. a. You have the right to obtain information about mental health practice in New Hampshire. You may contact the Board of Mental Health Practice for a list names, addresses, phone numbers and websites of state and national professional associations listed in Mhp 502.02 (a)(1)(a-e). b. You have the right to discuss questions or concerns about the mental health services you receive with your provider. c. You have the right to file a complaint with the Board of Mental Health Practice." (b) A licensee shall post a copy of the above mental health bill of rights in a prominent location in the office of the mental health practitioner and provide a copy upon request. (c) A licensee shall provide a copy of the mental health bill of rights to the client and/or agency if the assessment, consultation or intervention is provided outside the office.
Who are Licensed Pastoral Psychotherapists?
What is unique about Licensed Pastoral Psychotherapists?
What specifically are their training requirements?
Do Licensed Pastoral Psychotherapists use a religious approach as part of the psychotherapeutic treatment they offer?
Can people without a religious tradition or interest seek help from Licensed Pastoral Psychotherapists?
What are their Ethical Standards?
(Adapted and Excerpted from Questions and Answers about Licensed Pastoral Psychotherapists published by the New Hampshire Pastoral Psychotherapists Association)
Where can I learn more abour Pastoral Counseling and Psychotherapy?
The American Association of Pastoral Counselors has an excellent website: http://www.aapc.org
What is the NH Mental Health Bill of Rights?