The HGI always recommends that members of the public should, in the first instance, attempt to resolve their complaint with the individual HG practitioner concerned.

If, however, this does not prove satisfactory, complainants can then make a formal complaint to the HGI Complaints Committee (appointed by the HGI Board) which will investigate any such complaint about an HGI Registered Member (MHGI or FHGI, as applicable) by members of the public.

All HGI Registered Members, when renewing their membership, sign an annual testimonial reaffirming their commitment to the HGI Ethics and Professional Conduct policy, and their professional conduct should always reflect this.

For a complaint to be considered by the Complaints Committee, it must be against a current Registered Member of the HGI, who was also a Registered Member at the time of the alleged incident(s). HGI will not normally consider complaints after two years from the date of the alleged incident(s).

How to Complain

All complaints must be presented in writing and should describe clearly the conduct or behaviour which the complainant believes contravenes the HGI Ethics and Professional Conduct policies.

Please address your written complaint to the 'Complaints Committee', c/o the HGI Secretary, HGI, Chalvington, East Sussex, BN27 3TD, and mark it 'Private and Confidential'.

For points to include in your complaint: click here

When a complaint is received, the HGI will acknowledge it, and the member complained against will be contacted and asked to comment on the issues raised. Once these comments have been received, the matter will be considered by the Complaints Committee when it next meets.

What the HGI can and cannot do following a complaint

The HGI is a self-regulated professional members association which takes its role to uphold standards in human givens counselling and psychotherapy very seriously.

What the HGI can do:

• Investigate complaints within its jurisdiction against its members;
• Give formal advice to its members;
• Suspend a member from the HGI Practitioners' Professional Register and from HGI membership. If a compliant is of sufficient seriousness, the Complaints Committee can recommend to the HGI Board that a member be struck off the Professional Practitioners' Register. This decision must be ratified by the Board before it can be made effective. The decision will also be published in the HGI newsletter for the purposes of educating practitioners and members of the public, improving practice standards, and updating or clarifying, where necessary, the HGI ethics policy.

What it cannot do:

• Fine a member or recover any monies paid to a member for services;
• Arrange for any form whatsoever of compensation;
• Adjudicate on negligence as an alternative to the courts;
• Adjudicate on fees charged as an alternative to the courts.

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