Forms and Pragmatic Letters

This chapter highlights the various contracts and pragmatic letters that therapists may have clients sign or may send to clients before or during the course of therapy. Therapy is a contractual endeavor. While this contract should be verbally agreed upon, it is imperative to have it in a written format and signed and acknowledged by the client. To do so, therapists use many different forms and contracts which help them adhere to the various ethical codes that we operate by as well as to assist in treatment by welcoming clients into therapy, encouraging people in the client’s relational field to join the therapy session, maintain the client’s engagement in therapy, or as a means of terminating therapy. This chapter covers the predominant forms and contracts that serve the purpose of educating the client on services, providing them or others pertinent information about the treatment, and providing a medium to enhance participation in therapy.