Codes of Ethics and Professional Practice

All Full Member Organisations of UKAPC are required to have a published Code of Ethics and Professional Practice which is compatible with the UKAPC Code below.

A         Jurisdiction

B         Intention

The code of Ethics and Professional Practice Guidelines is intended to:

B1    Protect and inform members of the general public who are inquiring about, or receiving, the clinical services of Members of UKAPC.

B2    Make clear and explicit the standards of professional practice of Members of UKAPC and promote good practice.

B3    In the event of an alleged breach of Ethics and Professional practice by a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor then the Complaints Procedure of the Member Organisation may be invoked.  Each Full Member Organisation of UKAPC will therefore possess a published Complaints Procedure containing clear and explicit guidance to person/s wanting to make a complaint.  Appeal to UKAPC by person/s against a decision of a Full Member Organisation may be made only after the Member Organisation's procedures have been exhausted, including appeal to the member organisation's External Moderator.  Appeal to UKAPC may be made on procedural grounds, ie if a Member Organisation has not followed proper procedures in processing the complaint or if new evidence has come to light which, if available during the hearing, may have significantly impacted on the outcome. Member Organisations must ensure that at least one member of a Complaints Panel is a lay member.

C    Initial Contracting

C1    Contracts with clients, whether written or verbal, will be explicit regarding fees, payment schedule, holidays, cancellation of sessions by client or Psychotherapeutic Counsellor.  The length of therapeutic counselling, transfer of clients and terminations are discussed with clients and mutual agreement sought.  This will be done at the outset before any commitment is made to ongoing therapeutic counselling.  Subsequent changes to the contract will be negotiated and agreed with the client.

C2    If requested by a client Psychotherapeutic Counsellors will provide information about their qualifications and experience.

C3    If requested by a client Psychotherapeutic Counsellors will provide information about their UKAPC Member Organisations Codes of Ethics and Professional Practice and Complaints Procedure.

C4    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors will inform clients if they become aware of any relevant conflict of interest at the initial interview or at any subsequent stage of therapy.

C5    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors are responsible for setting and monitoring the boundaries between a professional relationship and a social one, and for making explicit such boundaries to the client.

D    Competence

D1    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors will accept clients commensurate with their training, skill and supervision arrangements.

D2    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors will pay attention to the limits of their competence.  Where a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor recognises they are reaching their limit then consultation with a colleague and/or supervisor is essential.  It may be appropriate to refer the client to someone else.

D3    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors have a responsibility to maintain their own effectiveness and ability to practice.  Psychotherapeutic Counsellors will not work with clients when their capacity is impaired because of emotional problems, illness, alcohol or any other reason.

D4    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors are responsible for their own physical safety when engaged in therapy.

D5    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors will secure professional indemnity and public liability insurance to protect themselves in the event of legal action being taken against them or against the owners of premises in which they work.

D6    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors will have appropriate therapeutic and supervisory support to maintain ethical and professional practice.

E    Supervision

E1    Supervision provides a challenging and supportive context for Psychotherapeutic Counsellors to share their work, enhance their effectiveness and protect the client.  Members will not practice without appropriate levels of supervision.

E2    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors, together with their supervisors, share responsibility for maintaining a focus on supervision which is purposeful and relevant to the Psychotherapeutic Counsellors clinical practice.

F    Continuous Professional Development

F1    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors have a particular responsibility to continue their personal and professional development through any or all of the following: personal therapy, regular supervision, further training, research, publication.

G    Records

G1    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors will keep adequate client records which must be kept safely under secure conditions.

G2    Minimum records will include:

• name, address and telephone number
• name and telephone number of general practitioner
• details of any current involvement with other members of the caring professions
• information regarding significant medical problems
• ongoing case recordings

G3    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors will ensure that computer-based records comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

H    Advertising

H1    Advertising will be confined to descriptive statements about the services available and the qualifications of the person providing them.  Advertising will not include testimonials, make comparative statements or in any way imply that the services concerned are more effective than those provided by other schools of therapy or organisations.  Psychotherapeutic Counsellors will refrain from claiming competence they do not possess.

H2    Trainees in Psychotherapeutic Counselling will not describe themselves in such a way as to imply they are fully qualified in Therapeutic Counselling.

H3    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors should not describe themselves as affiliated to any organisation in such a manner that inaccurately and improperly implies or suggests authorisation or sponsorship by that organisation.

I    Research

I1    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors are obliged to conduct any research in Psychotherapeutic Counselling within a stated ethical framework.

J    Legal Proceedings

J1    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors will be reasonably conversant with the legal implications of their work and have access to legal advice.

J2    A Psychotherapeutic Counsellor who is convicted in a Court of Law for any criminal offence or is the subject of a successful civil action by a client will inform his/her UKAPC Member organisation.

J3    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors who become aware of a specific crime in the course of their clinical practice, whether current or past, will seek supervisory and legal advice immediately.

K    Responsibilities to the Profession

K1    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors will not accept anyone as a client in ongoing Psychotherapeutic Counselling if they are already the client of another Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, without the explicit agreement of the other Psychotherapeutic Counsellor.

K3    Psychotherapeutic Counsellors will conduct themselves, personally and professionally, in ways which promote the confidence of the general public in the profession of Psychotherapeutic Counselling.