Ethical Use of the PMAI® Instrument

If you use the PMAI instrument with other people, it is essential that you understand the theory on which the instrument is based. You should study the PMAI^® Manual and Awakening the Heroes Within by Carol S. Pearson, which articulate these theories.

You do not have to be certified to administer the PMAI instrument. This means that you can use it with your family, friends, co-workers, and clients as well as yourself. Nevertheless, it is ideal for individuals to have expert help in understanding their archetypes and for those facilitating the use of the PMAI instrument professionally to have experience in using self-assessments.

Confidentiality
One's life journey is among the most personal of experiences. To share that exploration with another is both an honor and a sacred trust. We suggest that you share your results only with someone you have reason to trust. Those people professionally able to support you in this discovery process are required to treat that information with respect and to insure it is never revealed to anyone without your express permission. This means your facilitator may not write or talk about your results, and he or she must keep secure and confidential any copies of your PMAI responses, results, and notes. If you are helping someone else to understand his or her results, be sure to maintain this confidentiality.

Sensitivity
These archetypal systems are designed for self-understanding and to facilitate peer communication. PMAI results should never be used to discount your own or another's experience. Do not try to tell a person about his or her journey and do not let anyone—even an expert—tell you about yours. The person who has taken the PMAI instrument should do most of the talking. It is the job, however, of the counselor, coach, or friend to listen carefully and ask questions to foster understanding and to explain anything about the concepts in the reports that seem confusing. A good facilitator for this material will explain the results and the theory clearly and directly, separating facts (e.g., one's scores on a given archetype) from hypothesis (e.g., how an archetype may be expressed in one's life at this time). The person taking the PMAI instrument makes the final decision about what is true for him or her.

When communicating the PMAI results, it is as important to listen as it is to talk. The PMAI language is very accessible, but the concepts are often new to people. It is important to explain the results and the theory clearly and directly, separating facts (e.g., one's scores on a given archetype) from hypothesis (e.g., how an archetype may be expressed in this person's life at the current time). A facilitator should check frequently to insure the person understands. Recognize that the most helpful understanding comes not from your brilliant synthesis but from your client's personal interpretation.

An important aspect of this sensitivity involves supporting the client's journey regardless of your own feelings or observations. Although as a counselor or facilitator you might believe that the activation of specific archetypes might be helpful, you need to be sensitive to where a person is in his or her personal journey. It is not your place to encourage premature action but to suggest observations and offer tools for the action should the person want to take it.

Studies of personal change have found that there is a predictable sequence beginning with the lack of awareness of the need to change; moving to awareness and internal wrestling; making the decision to change; taking the action necessary to change; and, finally, maintaining change. Your assistance is best offered in helping a person recognize where he or she is in that journey and what archetypes are activated or might be activated to facilitate the beginning of that change process (Miller and Rollnick 1991).

Being Alert for Crises
Sometimes the call to a journey is precipitated by a crisis in one's life. Initially, the person may need help managing the crisis state before you can offer resources for understanding the call and assisting the person to move forward in the journey. Crisis counseling and the knowledge of crisis resources can be important tools for the facilitator of the PMAI instrument. Be alert to signs that the person is overwhelmed, unable to manage, or desperate. Help the client access professional care if you are not experienced or comfortable to intervene in such situations.

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