The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (2013) is the largest professional organisation for counselling and psychotherapy in the UK. It is devoted to social diversity, fairness and inclusivity of treatment without discrimination of any sort. BACP implement an ethical framework that guides the practice of counselling and psychotherapy, this ensures that practitioners do not lose sight of how they are working which then provides safety and boundaries for the client.
Ethical framework for good practice in counselling and psychotherapy is put in place to notify and reassure all members of society, both actual and potential clients, who search for the help of counsellors and those alike. It is vital to form an attitude of responsible helping regardless of the perceived level of the helping activity. This ethical framework, or rules of conduct, whether you are a doctor, nurse or counsellor, all aim to ensure a secure setting in which helpers can work, provide boundaries and practice safe methods so clients can receive the best help possible. Saunders (2011, p. 23) defines ethics as “a set of moral principles or rules of conduct. ” BACP’s (2013) ethical framework supports practitioners by being receptive to differences in client abilities, needs, culture and accountability. The key issues in this framework fall into three categories, values, principles and personal moral qualities. All of these ethical issues are drawn together in order to guide good practice. Consequently, without an ethical framework, practitioners may be influenced by their own values and beliefs which could lead to clients being exploited or manipulated into making decisions based on the practitioners own values.
The Essay on Conceptual Framework & Ethical Dispositions
Conceptual Framework & Ethical Dispositions Dr. Susan Meredith Framework and Ethical Dispositions Comparison Matrix Instructions: In the left-hand column, list 7 instances of overlap between the two documents by asserting the comparison of the overlapping statements. Be sure to cite each appropriately. In the right-hand column, state the priority from 1-7, (“1” being the most important) ...
Saunders (2011) suggests there are many ways in which a practitioner could act unethically if there were no ethical guidelines, such as; being overenthusiastic in a way that cannot be maintained, personal problems may get in the way, having a vested interest in a particular outcome, helping more than you are qualified to or to exploit your client for personal gain. Some of the central values of counselling and psychotherapy consist of; ensuring the integrity of practitioner-client relationships, increasing personal effectiveness, enhancing the quality of the relationship between people and alleviating personal distress and suffering.
These values signify a vital way of stating an overall ethical commitment, when these values are put into action they are known as ethical principles. Ethical principles are a reference point for practitioners and it is their responsibility to apply these principles by choosing the most appropriate one for that particular circumstance when necessary, choosing between principles may be required and practitioners are accountable for decisions made. BACP (2013) state that there are six core principles, these are; fidelity, autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and self-respect.
The respecting of a client’s confidentiality is vital in developing trust within a therapeutic relationship. Rogers (1995, p. 117) states that, “practice, theory and research make it clear that the person centred approach rests on a basic trust in human beings, and in all organisms. ” However, there are limitations for confidentiality and trust, for example, if a client has informed you that he is using cocaine as a way of relaxing on the weekend this creates an ethical dilemma.
The Term Paper on Crossing Ethical Boundaries Between Counselor and Client
Eli Coleman and Susan Schaeffer, authors of the article _Boundaries of Sex and Intimacy Between Client and Counselor_, write, “_Dilemma_. A woman comes to see a male counselor and complains of anxiety and depression associated with her recent divorce. She is also deeply concerned about her attractiveness and ability to attract another partner. The thought of single life frightens her. After ...
In other words, an ethical dilemma is any situation in which guiding moral principles cannot determine which course of action is right or wrong. In this scenario, keeping confidentiality could be classed as breaking the law, however, as a practitioner it is you responsibility to follow the BACP (2013) ethical principles of fidelity, autonomy and beneficence. The BACP (2013) aims to assist practitioners to identify situations where confidentiality may need to be breached and identify situations where legal or other professional advice would be appropriate.
Confidentiality within counselling is conditional and explicit; this must be made clear from the start, verbally and via an administrative contract. Confidentiality and boundaries will be breached if the practitioner feels the client may be a danger to themselves or others, human or drug trafficking and also at the practitioners supervision sessions. In conclusion, working in an ethical manner will unavoidably result in situations where there are challenging obligations.
The ethical framework provided by BACP (2013) assists practitioners by acting as a guideline which directs attention to the diversity of ethical issues that may need to be considered. No ethical code of practice can completely ease the struggle of making professional decisions, especially when there is so much change and uncertainty in society. However, by becoming a member of the BACP, practitioners are making a commitment to working in an ethical manner, even if that means making harsh decisions.
