Sometimes Service members or Veterans may express feelings or disclose issues to clergy members that they have not shared with their mental health provider or physician. For example, they may say that they intend to discontinue treatment or stop taking prescribed medications without discussing this with their health care provider. Both physical and mental health care proceed best when health care providers have the maximum amount of relevant information about their clients. In these instances, it is important for clergy members to encourage Service members or Veterans to share their feelings, reactions and plans with their health care provider.

In some circumstances it may be useful for the Service member or Veterans to have a combined session with both clergy and the health care provider(s) present. Mental health providers and physicians generally cannot speak with community clergy about a Service member or Veteran unless the Service member or Veteran has given written permission to do so.