A humanistic ideology which emphasizes self-determination, self-reliance, and personal responsibility in decision making, is congruent with the goal of community psychiatry to integrate the ex-institutionalized psychiatric client in the community. The following applications of this ideology in a small community mental health center are described: (a) development of client advisory boards; (b) client selection of available services; (c) client involvement in problem defining, goal setting, and goal attainment rating; (d) "demythologizing" seminars for ex-institutionalized clients; (e) staff efforts to reduce manipulative-dependent client behaviors; and (f) explication, through contracting, of the decision rules regarding involuntary hospitalization. (Author)