Ethics and Hakomi

The Hakomi International Ethics Committee (HIEC) is a volunteer committee of the Hakomi Institute.

The committee’s goal is to enhance the Hakomi Method and the professionalism of our colleagues by encouraging a high standard of ethical behavior among Hakomi practitioners. We consider ethical behavior to be the right use of power and influence and, as such, to be a lifelong process of engagement in learning about and taking responsibility for one’s impact in all relationships, especially those involving different degrees of power, such as teacher/student, or therapist/client.

You can read more about the Hakomi Institute’s commitment to ethics by reading the Institute’s Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics.

Ethical Grievance Process

HIEC offers an Ethical Grievance Process for responding to ethical complaints and resolving conflicts. This process is available to anyone who feels they have been injured by the unethical behavior of a member of the Hakomi network (therapist, practitioner, student, assistant, teacher, trainer, organizer) and who has not been able to resolve the issue directly with the person they believe has caused them harm. Rather than a punitive process, the Ethical Grievance Process aims to be a process of education, reflection, and restoration of relationships.

Care & Repair Process

HIEC also offers a Care and Repair Process to Hakomi Faculty, Training Assistants, and Hakomi Organizers. The intention of this process is to empower those in conflict to resolve and repair conflictual relationships that do not fit the criteria for a grievance review.

View our Ethical Review Procedures HERE.

See our Grievance Process Flow Chart HERE.

HIEC History

HIEC was formed in 1993 under the dedicated guidance of Hakomi Trainer, Cedar Barstow. Dr. Barstow chaired the committee that wrote the ethics code and the ethical grievance process. Her curriculum for the ethics component of Hakomi Trainings is outlined in the Hakomi Institute textbook. She is the author of Right Use of Power: The Heart of Ethics (Many Realms Publishing, 2005 and 2015) and founded the Right Use of Power Institute. Her leadership within the Hakomi Institute created a strong foundation for ethical practice and process. The current members of HIEC have carried this work forward since Dr. Barstow’s retirement in 2021.

Current Membership

Dr. Suhari Mommsen-Bohm, Certified Hakomi Trainer NZ, Psychotherapist NZAP, PBANZ, ND

Sarah Tait-Jamieson, Certified Hakomi Teacher, Masters of Health Science, Psychotherapy; MNZAP; PBANZ

Linda Baird, MA, LPC, Certified Hakomi Therapist, Colorado

Deah Baird, ND, LPC, Certified Hakomi Trainer, PNW region, U.S.A

Shyamaa M. Creaven, PhD, LPC, Spiritually-integrated Gestalt Therapist, Colorado