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(Version Date: 3/9/2011)

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1.1   Members must not only abide by this IMPA Code of Ethics, but must also adhere to the spirit of this Code.

1.2   Members must work for the highest good and empowerment of all concerned—themselves, clients, and others. The principles of “Do no harm” and “Do right” are the epitome and ultimate paragon of this Code and should govern all other principles. Members must never use their gifts and natural talents for harm, ego, or personal power.

1.3   Members must not promote fear in clients and others by way of psychic readings, impressions, predictions, or doomsday prophecies; holistic diagnoses; cards, charts, or any divination device; superstitious beliefs; or by any other means.

 

2.1   Members must not advocate or express hatred or discrimination towards other people or classes regardless of, but not limited to, ethnicity, religion, background, national origin, personal beliefs, gender, gender preference, or financial status.

2.2   Members must act with equal consideration and due diligence whether being paid or working in a voluntary capacity.

 

3.1   Credentials and Affiliations.

a.       Members must represent their qualifications, educational achievements, credentials, certifications, and affiliations truthfully.

3.2   Professional Fees.

a.       If members charge a professional fee for services provided, said fees must be fair, reasonable, and consistent.

b.      Any professional fees must be published and freely accessible on the member’s website. No hidden fees or “bait and switch” schemes are permitted.

c.       Members may not charge by the minute for services rendered.

3.3   Advertising.

a.       Advertising must be clear, honest, unambiguous in nature, and not make outlandish claims, e.g., “Our psychic surgery is 100% effective.”

b.      Members may not advertise a claim to cure or heal any condition as a result of their services, treatments, remedies, or products.

c.       Members may not offer guarantees regarding the results of any therapies, procedures, remedies, or products, but may offer satisfaction guarantees on their services and products.

d.      Members are prohibited from exploiting clients for financial or other gain through inferences or misrepresentation of any sort.

3.4   Informed Consent.

a.       Members must explain their services and the processes involved to clients before services are rendered.

b.      Members must never practice their art or gifts on clients without the client’s consent.

c.       Minors and those without the mental capacity for self-direction and decision-making must be accompanied by a legal guardian, or have bona fide written consent of a legal guardian before a member may perform services. However, the wishes of the individual must override consent by a third party.

d.      Audio or video recording, and/or photographic imagery of a client or a client session is allowed only with written client consent.

3.5   Informed Consent/Disclosure Statement.

a.       Members must obtain a signed Informed Consent/Disclosure (disclaimer) statement from a client before any services are rendered. This statement must provide the following information to the client:

1.    The member’s training, credentials and/or certifications, scope of practice, professional fee structure, code of ethics, policies, potential benefits, expectations, and limitations of the service(s) to be performed. A medical disclaimer statement must be included if the member is not a licensed healthcare professional. Such a statement should include the following or a close facsimile thereof:

                                                                                I.        “Staff members of this practice are not state licensed medical or mental healthcare professionals and do not prescribe drugs, diagnose medical/mental conditions, or provide therapeutic treatment or advice for such conditions. Nothing contained in any information provided by the staff or this practice, either verbally or in print, is intended to constitute or be construed as professional medical or psychotherapeutic advice for diagnosis or treatment. The methods used are transpersonal coaching, spiritual counseling, general personal growth and empowerment techniques, positive suggestion, psychic readings, energy work, guided imagery, visualization, relaxation techniques, and/or non-therapeutic hypnosis (DSM-IV-TR, V68.20 Request for Expert Advice).” You may delete any cited methods which you do not use.

2.    The member’s affiliation with the International Metaphysical Practitioners Association (IMPA), the IMPA’s web address, and the provision for clients to lodge complaints with the IMPA if necessary must be included in client information. This statement must read:

                                                                                I.       “[Member Name] is a Professional Member of the International Metaphysical Practitioners Association (IMPA) in good standing and adheres to the high standards of the IMPA Code of Ethics for the benefit of all concerned and in the spirit of “Do no harm.” Comments, testimonials, or complaints may be submitted on the IMPA website at www.MetaphysicalAssociation.org.”

 

4.1   All client information is to be deemed confidential and private unless released in writing by the client. Members must not divulge confidential client information to the public (including friends, family, other practitioners, and the media). Protected information includes client name, address, telephone number, and neighborhood, or any other personally identifiable information.

4.2   Members may consult with other practitioners on client cases, but cannot reveal personally identifiable details without the client’s consent.

4.3   Circumstances in which members are required to reveal client information to the proper authorities are:

a.       The practitioner is directed by court order or by law to disclose.

b.      A client presents a serious risk of suicide or threatens to harm any person, animal, or property.

c.       Mandated Reporting. If a client intends or threatens to harm, molest, maltreat, neglect, or abuse a child, elder, handicapped, or vulnerable adult, members are required by this Code and often by law to report such matters to the proper authorities. This supersedes ecclesiastical privilege. The client, parents, or legal guardians of any potential victims are not to be informed prior to notifying authorities.

 

5.1   Members must maintain the highest standards of professional and personal conduct in the metaphysical field.

5.2   Members must practice self-respect, self-responsibility, and respect for free will in all aspects of their lives, and never attempt to exploit, control, manipulate, or mistreat clients, colleagues, or anyone else.

5.3   Members must represent IMPA and the broad metaphysical field in a professional, ethical, grounded, sensible, and courteous manner. Competition and in-fighting among members or colleagues is absolutely prohibited. A spirit of cooperation, collaboration, and mutual sharing must prevail.

5.4   Members must respond promptly and constructively to legitimate questions, concerns, criticisms, and complaints, and avoid ad hominem (personal) or vindictive attacks.

5.5   Members should avoid responding to hard-core skeptics and unreasonable individuals simply bent on ridicule and faultfinding as it is a waste of time. Therefore, unless extenuating circumstances demand otherwise, members do not acknowledge nor answer any attacks made on them by said individuals or unreasonable people (there is nothing to be gained by doing so). Explanations rarely explain.

5.6   Members must have a mission statement and code of ethics, but in no case will these supersede the code herein for the purposes of membership and governance.

5.7   Members must exercise good judgment and refuse to participate in unethical procedures or in procedures for which they are not duly trained or competent.

5.8   Members may not be employed by nor offer a psychic hotline service.

 

6.1   Members must not provide client services while their ability to practice is impaired mentally, emotionally, or physically.

6.2   Members must avoid alcohol and mind-altering drugs prior to or while providing professional services.

6.3   Members must not offer services or advice that is beyond their scope of training, ability, licensing, and expertise.

6.4   Right to Refuse or Refer.

a.       Members must retain the right to refuse or postpone their services to anyone for any valid reason including clients who appear to be unstable or intoxicated.

b.      Members must use discretion and refuse to render service to clients they cannot reasonably help, or believe they cannot reasonably help, in which case, members must refer such clients to another qualified practitioner or licensed healthcare provider if possible.

c.       Members certified in hypnosis must not use hypnosis with clients whose mental state is in question, who are epileptic, who have bi-polar disease, schizophrenia, any other mental disease or disorder, or who are on psychoactive medication for mood and behavioral modification unless they are academically qualified and properly licensed in the field of psychology or psychiatry.

6.5   Medical Non-Interference.

a.       Members must never claim, either explicitly or implied, to be able to cure any physiological or psychological disease or disorder.

b.      Members must never diagnose symptoms or medical conditions nor prescribe medication unless they are also licensed healthcare professionals.

c.       Members must never suggest that a client change a prescribed medical treatment or otherwise interfere with or countermand the treatment of a medical doctor or other licensed healthcare provider.

d.      Members must never suggest, either explicitly or implied, that their services are a substitute for prudent medical or psychological treatments or therapy by licensed healthcare professionals.

6.6   Client Dependency.

a.       Members must use prudence and recognize when a client may become overly dependent on the member-practitioner for advice, counsel, direction, and/or guidance. Members must encourage clients to think for themselves and to make their own decisions.

b.      Members must never say or imply that the member can fix a client’s problems. Only clients can fix their own problems.

c.       Members must discontinue providing services to clients who show a continuing and chronic pattern of practitioner dependency or unhealthy transference. Continuing in such a relationship would be doing harm to the client.

6.7   Psychic Predictions, Spells, and Curses.

a.       Members are prohibited from representing psychic predictions as facts. The future is not set and such predictions undermine a client’s free will.

b.      Members are prohibited from offering services that involve the casting of spells, hexes, or curses, or the removal of spells, hexes, or curses. This includes psychic services that offer to help someone attract love, money, or anything else.

c.       Members are prohibited from offering psychic impressions or predictions involving the feelings or actions of third parties. This includes psychically answering questions such as, “Does he love me? Is she cheating on me? Should I invest in XYZ stock? Is my girlfriend pregnant?” and so on. Doing so harms the client.

 

7.1   Members must maintain proper hygiene and grooming, and dress in an appropriate and professional manner consistent with their professional practice and accepted local customs. Dirty, sloppy, suggestive, or wrinkled clothing should be avoided.

7.2   Professional Website.

a.       Members must have a website with a professional appearance and content that does not violate this Code of Ethics.

b.      The website must include the member’s mission statement, code of ethics, and other policies in the spirit of full disclosure.

7.3   Business Location and Modality.

a.       Business premises, whether commercial or residential, must present a professional, clean, organized, and orderly image to clients.

b.      Business premises must be safe and afford sufficient privacy for client sessions.

c.       Members may not offer client services strictly by email or chat room; they must also offer clients the option of face-to-face and/or telephone sessions.

7.4   Titles.

a.       Members must use titles that reflect a professional and sensible disposition. Titles such as “Fortune-Teller” and “Gypsy” are prohibited.

b.      Members may not use terms in their titles that are protected under their state or country law unless they are legally licensed to do so. Protected terms/titles may include single words or variations of certain terms such as, “therapist, psychologist, marriage counselor, licensed, clinical,” etc. Members must consult the law of the state or country in which they reside to determine protected titles.

7.5   Media Interviews and Appearances. Members must be professional and responsible when issuing statements to the media or doing interviews bearing in mind that they are representing themselves, IMPA (unofficially), and the entire metaphysical field.

a.       Members may not represent IMPA in an official capacity unless duly authorized by IMPA Administration.

 

8.1   Members are prohibited from offering services that require clients to disrobe unless the member is duly licensed to require such by an official governmental agency, e.g., licensed doctors and massage therapists. In such cases of proper licensure, the will of the client prevails.

8.2   Members are prohibited from touching or making physical contact with the private areas of a client’s body, e.g., the genital or breast areas. Members performing energy work in these areas must use a hands-off approach.

8.3   To ensure that practitioner-client boundaries are maintained and to avoid the appearance of impropriety, members must use discretion and prudence when performing services for a client of the opposite sex in an isolated setting, i.e., when no other people are within the immediate surrounding vicinity. In such settings, it is always prudent to have the client bring a friend who will observe or wait nearby, as the case and type of service warrants.

8.4   Dual Relationships. A Dual Relationship is any relationship with a current client other than the practitioner-client relationship.

a.       Members must avoid dual relationships that would create a conflict of interest and/or over-familiarity with the client thus jeopardizing the positive nature of the practitioner-client relationship and potentially resulting in harm to the client.

b.      Members must maintain appropriate and professional boundaries with current clients and refrain from engaging in any activity that may result in harm to the client.

8.5   Sexual Harassment Policy.

a.       Sexual Harassment Policy Statement. Sexual harassment is a form of misconduct that undermines the integrity of a colleague and/or client relationship. Everyone has the right to practice in an environment free from all forms of discrimination and conduct which can be considered harassing, coercive, or disruptive, including sexual harassment.

b.      Definition of Sexual Harassment. Sexual harassment is defined as any unwanted physical, verbal or visual sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other sexually oriented conduct which is offensive or objectionable to the recipient, including, but not limited to:

1.       Derogatory, suggestive, and/or offensive comments, epithets, slurs, gestures, and/or propositions.

2.       Touching and any other bodily contact such as scratching or patting a person's back, grabbing a person around the waist, or interfering with a person’s ability to move.

3.       Repeated requests for dates that are turned down or unwanted flirting.

4.       Transmitting or posting emails or pictures of a sexual or other harassment-related nature.

5.       Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, drawings, or posters.

c.       Conditions of Sexual Harassment. Determining what constitutes sexual harassment depends upon the specific facts and the context in which the conduct occurs. Sexual harassment may take many forms—subtle and indirect, or blatant and overt. For example:

1.       It may be directed toward a member of the opposite sex or the same sex.

2.       It may occur between peers or between members in a hierarchical relationship.

3.       It may be aimed at coercing a person to participate in an unwanted sexual relationship.

4.       It may have the effect of causing a person to change behavior or performance.

5.       It may consist of repeated actions or may even arise from a single incident if sufficiently egregious.

d.      Unwelcome sexual advances (either verbal or physical), requests for favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:

1.       Submission to such conduct is either an explicit or implicit term or condition of a continued relationship, continued collaboration, or continued service to a client.

2.       Submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as a basis for determining whether a practitioner will provide services to a client or colleague, or invite or recommend a client or colleague for membership or employment in any organization.

3.       The conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual's performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.

e.      Sexual harassment does not refer to occasional compliments of a socially acceptable nature. It refers to behavior that violates a person’s boundaries, is not welcome, is personally offensive, that debilitates morale, and that interferes with a person’s effectiveness.

f.        Reporting Sexual Harassment. Clients, colleagues, or fellow IMPA members may report potential sexual harassment on the IMPA website at www.MetaphysicalAssociation.org.

 

 

9.1   Members must be aware of and conform to all state and federal laws regulating or governing their practice.

9.2   Members are strongly encouraged to carry appropriate public liability and professional indemnity (Errors & Omissions; malpractice) insurance where available for the services they provide.  

9.3   Members who are not licensed healthcare professionals may not represent themselves as such (see Section 6.3), and must disclose this fact to clients (see Section 3.5.a.1).

 

10.1  Members must maintain full client records, including details of advice offered and services performed, for a period of at least seven years from the time of the last consultation. This period is subject to any applicable superseding requirement or law.

10.2  Records must be clear, honest, and factual.

10.3  Records must be kept safe and confidential. The disposal of any records must be complete and not allow confidential client information to be exposed.

10.4  Members may transfer records to another practitioner upon the client’s written request.

 

11.1  New IMPA members are required to complete and pass an online ethics course before they can become full members. This course is included as a benefit of membership.

11.2  Members are strongly encouraged to complete approved Continuing Education (CE) courses as a matter of routine and a positive attitude toward life-long learning.

11.3  Contributions to the Field.

a.       Members are strongly encouraged to make contributions to the metaphysical field in general, and specifically to their chosen area of specialization.

b.      Contributions may be made in a number of ways including writing, teaching, research, pioneering new methodologies and philosophies, and paying it forward by offering services at a reduced rate or for free to those in need.

 

12.1  Members who teach metaphysical and holistic concepts and modalities must do so with professionalism, integrity, insight, and respect for the higher good and benefit of their students.

12.2  IMPA Accredited Organizations must adhere to the same high standards of professionalism as IMPA members.

12.3  IMPA Accredited Organizations must disclose accreditation status in printed and online materials with the following statement:

a.        “[Organization Name] is accredited by the International Metaphysical Practitioners Association (IMPA) and adheres to the high standards of the IMPA Code of Ethics for the good of all concerned and in the spirit of “Do no harm.” More information is available at MetaphysicalAssociation.org.”

 

13.1  If this Code of Ethics should conflict with established federal, state, or county law of any country, the law shall prevail.

13.2  This Code of Ethics, the IMPA Integrity Oath, Membership Requirements, and Accreditation Requirements are dynamic in nature and are updated as appropriate and reasonable.

13.3  Members agree to abide by future updates of this Code.

 

 

 

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