Why I care about AHP

We are living in a cultural climate where the health care system is to a large extent defined and regulated by the forces of politics, economics, and fear of litigation. Many healing practitioners who are knowledgeable and skilled in humanistic, transpersonal, integrative, and/or certain indigenous healing modalities are governed by mainstream licensing boards and the conventional medical model standard of care, which generally does not recognize the validity of alternative healing approaches.

At the same time, a growing number of individuals are seeking professional assistance to grapple with deep issues of emotional growth, interpersonal relationship, somato-psychic distress, and psychospiritual upheaval. Many of these individuals rely on health insurance and managed care systems, which dictate not only who they can see professionally, but also what interventions are acceptable. Even though the client and the practitioner may understand the value of an unconventional or alternative approach, they are forced to comply with the established ideologies and practices of the conventional treatment which, in many cases, do not honor the essence of the human struggle. For this, we all suffer.

The Association for Humanistic Psychology is an organization founded on principles of existential freedom, and on a person’s innate capacity to be whole. We are a body of professional and lay persons who are committed to the belief in the individual’s inherent right to choose his/her own path of healing and growth. We believe that the most effective and growth enhancing therapeutic relationships are those that are fundamentally democratic and interactive between client and practitioner. It is within the sacred trust of such a relationship that the healing path of the highest integrity can be determined.

As the political, economic, and legal pressures continue to move us toward greater regulation within a narrow perspective, both clients and practitioners lose the freedom to vigorously and openly explore and pursue paths of healing which may be the most suited to the person’s need but are not supported or sanctioned by mainstream regulatory boards or financial institutions.

AHP represents a voice in the midst of this storm which proclaims a resounding unwillingness to capitulate to these forces. It is our belief that our times are calling for a revitalization and articulation of that voice in ways that will be practically, as well as inspirationally, beneficial to both clients and healing practitioners. Toward this end, AHP is initiating a Right to Choose project, intended to address the philosophical, ethical, political, legal, educational, organizational, and practical aspects of this issue. We heartily welcome practitioners, educators, and representatives of kindred organizations who share our deep concern about this problem, to join us in this historic project.

To support the Right to Choose Project and/or to get involved, now is the time to join or renew your professional AHP membership. To share your ideas and experiences with "choice" issues, to endorse the Project, and/or to dialogue about next steps regarding this very important Right to Choose Project, please contact Chip Baggert