HPRP is a for profit vendor of the State of Michigan that provides mental health and substance abuse treatment for health professionals. The health professionals pay for their own treatment. The program is expensive and once a health professional signs a contract or even just contacts HPRP, the corporation may use the threat of license loss to full effect. Once the corporation is contacted in any manner, consequences commence.
A health professional should call me before even thinking about contacting HPRP by phone or email. Often, there are other ways of handling issues- without HPRP.
HPRP has a policy of refusing to speak to its patient’s lawyers. HPRP instead wants to speak directly to the patient at all times. This in my opinion is an unethical policy by HPRP. All mental health professionals and lawyers know about the concept of undue influence and transference phenomenon.
HPRP builds a rapport with its patients to facilitate substance abuse or mental health treatment. That very rapport permits HPRP to have undue influence over the patient. HPRP refuses to talk to patient’s lawyers.
There is no legitimate reason why HPRP cannot speak only to patient’s attorneys about business issues. There are however serious ethical issues presented when HPRP exerts pressure on patients over money and therapy issues. This issue of rapport and undue influence is precisely why the mental health professions and their insurance carriers frown upon romantic and sexual relationships between a mental health practitioner and her patient. It is very hard to say no to a therapist who can affect your professional license. Call me if you have any such problems.