Guidance for good practice in counselling and psychotherapy

Aims
To apply ethics to the contemporary challenges faced by talking therapies Strong emphasis on good practice
How good? How safe? How do you know?

Validate contextually appropriate good practice

Changes in voice
Guidance is directed towards general principles rather than specific behaviours [with exception of prohibition on sex with clients and obligation to receive supervision] [informed consent/contracts] Strives to be respectful of contextually appropriate good practice Creates platform for supplementary guidelines

Changes in content
Definition of practitioner as inclusive of range of roles Responsibility to clients set alongside responsibility to be adequately supported and the quality of relationship with colleagues Explicit consideration of competence and keeping trust Care of self as practitioner

Good quality of care and competent practice

Pitched to promote contextually appropriate practice
boundaries and dual relationships record keeping competence requires regular review and being up to date

Keeping trust
Key features:
quality of listening and respect cultural appropriateness respect for privacy and dignity careful attention to consent and confidentiality

harm to self and others at risk of harm by others young people

 Assumes that the guidance is generic and therefore applicable to these roles Sets out additional areas of responsibility beyond those of counsellor or psychotherapist Creates new challenges for determining contextually appropriate relationships Additional support planned

Teaching, supervising and researching

Resolving complaints: if things go wrong with own client

Prompt and appropriate response Attempt remedy if possible Mobilise professional support to reduce risk of repetition and increase understanding Insurance encouraged Second opinion for disputes over what is good practice - mediation Notify client of relevant procedures (BACP)

Local resolution and BACP

BACP welcomes and encourages:
local resolution of issues as quickly as possible appropriate use of local procedures use of PCP where the issue remains unresolved/is inappropriate for local resolution /substantial issues requiring a professional bodies consideration is desirable

our collective aim is the protection of the public

New balance in professional accountability

Greater flexibility in ethical responsibility envisaged in Ethics and Guidance for Good Practice balanced by greater emphasis on: honouring and keeping trust routine accountability to clients and colleagues/stakeholders a more accessible PCP