ABSTRACT
Most CAM therapeutic relationships operate within the private sector. Unlike state-provided health care systems, where treatment is either provided free at the point of delivery or via health insurance, most CAM patients have a direct contractual relationship with their therapist, who agrees to provide care usually in return for fees. The force of a contract is that it is a legally binding agreement and either side can sue the other party for being in breach of the contract terms. The reality is that very few patients are dissatisfied to the point of suing their practitioner. Nonetheless, contracts are a vital tool for ensuring that both practitioner and patient know what they are bargaining for.1 Within the traditional health care setting, contracting with clients has been mostly used in the mental health and psychotherapy field as a way of increasing patient participation and maximising their autonomy. CAM practitioners committed to patientcentred practice might reflect on the value of contracting with patients.
