Ethical practice

As a member of the BACP, I am bound by their Ethical Framework. A full copy is available here: https://www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/ethical-framework-for-the-counselling-professions/

A brief outline of key points

Clients need to be able to participate freely as they work with practitioners of the counselling professions towards their desired goals. This requires clients to be able to trust their practitioner with their wellbeing and sensitive personal information. Therefore, as members or registrants of BACP, we take being trustworthy as a serious ethical commitment. We have agreed that we will:

  1. Put clients first by: a. making clients our primary concern while we are working with them, b. making clients our primary concern while we are working with them, c. providing an appropriate standard of service to our clients.
  2. Work to professional standards by: a. working within our competence, b. keeping our skills and knowledge up to date, c. collaborating with colleagues to improve the quality of what is being offered to clients, d. ensuring that our wellbeing is sufficient to sustain the quality of the work, e. keeping accurate and appropriate records.
  3. Show respect by: a. Valuing each client as a unique person, b. protecting client confidentiality and privacy, c. agreeing with clients how we will work together, d. work in partnership with clients.
  4. Build an appropriate relationship with clients by: a. communicating clearly what clients have a right to expect from us, b. communicating any benefits, costs and commitments that clients may reasonably expect, c. respecting the boundaries between our work with clients and what lies outside that work, d. not exploiting or abusing clients, e. listening out for how clients experience our working together.
  5. Maintain integrity by: a. being honest about the work, b. communicating our qualifications, experience and working methods accurately, c. working ethically and with careful consideration of how we fulfil our legal obligations.
  6. Demonstrate accountability and candour by: a. being willing to discuss with clients openly and honestly any known risks involved in the work and how best to work towards our clients’ desired outcomes by communicating any benefits, costs and commitments that clients may reasonably expect, b. ensuring that clients are promptly informed about anything that has occurred which places the client at risk of harm or causes harm in our work together, whether or not clients are aware of it, and quickly taking action to limit or repair any harm as far as possible, c. reviewing our work with clients in supervision, d. monitoring how clients experience our work together and the effects of our work with them.

Privacy policy

Our work is confidential and I am bound by the BACP ethical standards. The limitations of this confidentiality are legally set. If I believe you may be at risk of significant harm, or that you may significantly harm others, I am obliged to disclose my concerns. In most cases, if this happens I will discuss this with you and negotiate a course of safe action.

Data security

Data collection for therapy is recorded to meet legal and ethical requirements. As I am working toward accreditation (a special post-qualification process to evidence a high standard) I must keep notes until after the process is complete. This is likely to be around the end of 2025.

Data is anonymised, not connected with a recognisable name. It is stored in a password protected file.

Digital policy

To maintain an authentic relationship with you, I will not conduct internet searches about you, preferring to work with our lived experience together. I request that you do the same If you find me on social media please do not follow me, until after our work is complete.

Regarding online working, please use the digital space as you would in the room, i.e. avoid smoking/drinking etc. prepare for the session by making sure you have a private space, will not be disturbed and have what you might need for the duration. Should we get cut off, I will call you to decide what to do, or email you a fresh link.