A Guide to Self-Help Workbooks for Mental Health Clinicians and Researchers by L'Abate Luciano;

Author:L'Abate, Luciano;
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1596503
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group

Appendix A

Informed Consent, Long Form

AGREEMENT ABOUT THE USE OF MENTAL HEALTH WORKBOOKS FOR HELPING PURPOSES AT A DISTANCE FROM A PROFESSIONAL HELPER THROUGH THE MAIL, FAX, OR INTERNET

Informed consent is an explanation for writing procedures (i.e., mental health workbooks) administered through regular mail. This form presents benefits as well as possible discomforts or risks reasonably expected from working with written homework assignments sent through the mail. Any questions about this and other procedures can be raised at any time in writing and will be answered to your complete satisfaction.

Please note that distance-writing procedures are relatively new and experimental and not yet in the mainstream of psychological practice. These procedures differ from those of other mental health professionals to the extent that written homework assignments are to be completed on the basis of regular, weekly appointments in your living quarters. After signing this informed consent form and completing a battery of short screening tests, written homework assignments will be prescribed one week at a time. You will receive the same test battery on completion of a workbook, and again six weeks after that completion.

These workbooks must not be administered to retarded or extremely distressed individuals in need of psychiatric attention, violent individuals in need of medication or incarceration, distressed couples with a history of abuse and neglect, and chaotic families in chronic and extreme distress.

The greatest risk in using distance writing without face-to-face, verbal contact with a professional helper (psychotherapy) is expecting that these workbooks alone will solve or resolve all your problems or concerns. That is too much to expect from any psychological intervention. There are many alternatives to the process of helping through distance-writing assignments that may be better or, at least, more effective for you, such as: (1) face-to-face verbal, individual psychotherapy with a professional helper; (2) hypnosis; (3) self-help groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous; (4) marital or family therapy; (5) group therapy; and (6) medication. You should consider and discuss pros and cons of each alternative with your family, friends, clergy, or your physician before agreeing to participate in this program.

Another risk in writing assignments lies in an increase in underlying conflicts, especially at the start of a workbook. Thus, do not be surprised or displeased if and when you find yourself becoming more passionate or intense, even angry or hurt about whatever issues you may face while working on a workbook. For instance, any discussion of past and present relationships will involve a certain amount of personal distress or discomfort that may affect your current, close relationships. This distress is necessary if you wish to confront and deal with important and crucial issues in your life. Of course, you must absolutely discontinue writing assignments if they bring about a level of distress you cannot handle. You must let whoever is working with you on this program know about your discomfort as soon as you feel unable to deal with or control it. Professional assistance will be available to you in case of an emergency.

Please note that

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