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PCA (Tas) Code of Ethics ©
2009
1. Preamble
2. Relationships with Clients
3. Principles of the Code
4. Procedures of the Code
5. Statement of Definitions
6. Complaints about professional practice from a member of the public
1. Preamble
The Nature of Counselling.
Counselling can profoundly affect an individual’s life. It is the purpose of these ethical principles to advocate for the empowerment and safety of those who participate, by establishing an optimum standard of ethical care. The Professional Counselling Association Inc. (Tasmania) will consider Counsellors who aspire to these principles as upholding, contributing to, and promoting a high standard of conduct and service.
The aim of counselling is to support the client to resolve problem situations and develop personal resources and opportunities. The term ‘counselling’ includes work with individuals, couples or groups of people herein referred to as ‘clients’.
The nature of the counselling relationship is collaborative where the needs of the client are the primary focus. The Counsellor (note section 5 Statement of Definitions) values and upholds a respectful, genuine and competent approach while facilitating the client’s development of resources.
Counselling is concerned with developmental issues: addressing and resolving specific problems; making decisions; coping with crises; developing personal insight, empowerment (note Section 5 Statement of Definitions) and knowledge; and working through feelings of inner conflict or improving relationships with others. Responsibilities of the Counsellor stem from the following tenets of the counselling process:
· Each person has the right to both respect and dignity as a unique human being, and to counselling services regardless of gender, religious belief, race, cultural background, age, sexual orientation, disability or socio-economic background.
· Each person has the right to privacy and thereby the right to expect the counsellor-client relationship to comply with all laws, policies, and ethical standards pertaining to confidentiality.
All members of this
Association are required to abide by the code as cited in this document. This
Association has a complaints procedure, which may lead to the expulsion of
members for breaches of its Code of Ethics.
2. Relationships
with Clients
Voluntary Participation.
Counselling by its nature is a voluntary process, and it is recognised that the efficacy of counselling can be undermined without full client commitment. The client makes decisions on the direction counselling will take and has the opportunity to review the progress at any time during the counselling process.
Dual Relationships.
Counsellors make every effort to avoid dual relationships (note Section 5 Statement of Definitions) with clients, that could potentially impair professional judgement. Any conflict of interest with the client, either current or possible, is identified. Examples of such dual relationships include, but are not limited to, provision of counselling services to employees, students, close friends, relatives or those supervised.
Right to Privacy.
The client is entitled to private and confidential counselling sessions, unobserved by a third party or subjected to electronic recordings unless informed consent is given.
Sexual Relationships.
Counsellors must not engage in sexual relationships with existing clients. A Counsellor must not engage in a sexual relationship with a past client, post therapy (note Section 5 Statement of Definitions), for two years.
Financial Arrangements.
Fees should be stated and negotiated at the onset of the first session. Counsellors must not solicit consultations with clients or accept remuneration for referring clients for professional services.
Termination of Relationship.
Counsellors monitor their personal effectiveness and take all reasonable steps to safeguard clients ongoing safety (note Section 5 Statement of Definitions) and welfare. The Counsellor must give reasonable notice to a client before discontinuing services and be reasonably assured that discontinuation will cause no harm to the client.
Mandatory
Reporting.
Counsellors have an
obligation to prevent self-harm to clients, as well as potential harm to others
or their property. Members will practice within the requirement of current
legislation.
3. Principles of
the code
Professional Training and Development
Members are responsible through personal initiative to maintain and build upon professional competence, as it relates to innovations and trends in the profession. This acknowledges that professional and personal growth is continuous throughout the member’s career. Members are required to monitor and evaluate their practice through research and communicate new knowledge to others in the field. Members are also required to have at least 15 hours of professional training per year. (1hour =1 point) and/or a total of forty five hours/points per three years.
Supervision
Members are required to have 10 hours supervision annually from a PCA registered or recognised supervisor in order to monitor and develop counselling skills, provide accountability and ensure quality of service.
Student Members.
Student members of the PCA can ask to be paired with a member in a mentoring relationship.
Mentoring Relationship.
Counsellors delegate to their employees, students or those being supervised, only those professional responsibilities that such persons can perform competently. Within the limitations of their agency or other roles, Counsellors provide proper training or supervision to employees or those being supervised. Counsellors also take reasonable steps to see that such persons perform these services responsibly, competently and ethically.
Membership
Renewal
Members are required to renew their membership every three years and will need to produce a statement which outlines the particulars of their required supervision and the fulfilment of the required hour/points of training.
Membership Certificates
Membership certificates are issued in line with financial status
Registered Clinical Members must produce annual proof of professional indemnity insurance.
Membership Certificate Specifies Category
The certificate shall portray the specific category of the member
Advertisements
Counsellors accurately represent their competence, training, education, and experience relevant to their practices. This practice includes using:
· Advertising that informs clients and the public about the true and accurate identity, responsibility, source, and status of those practising under that title.
· Professional identification (eg. business card, office sign, letterhead, or listing) that does not include statements that are false, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading.
· Counsellors correct, wherever possible, false, inaccurate, or misleading information and representations made by others concerning their qualifications, services, clinical materials or research findings.
Endorsement.
The Professional Counsellors Association authorises the endorsement of its professional logo through written requests of members to the Management Committee.
Confidentiality.
The sharing of client information with other agencies shall occur only with the client’s informed written consent.
4. Procedures of the code
Invocation of the Code.
The Counsellor is obligated to both protect others from unethical situations and to ensure that work conditions reflect the standards set out in the code.
Familiarity with Ethics Code.
Counsellors have an obligation to be familiar with this Ethics Code, other applicable ethics codes, and their application to Counsellors work. Lack of awareness or misunderstanding of an ethical standard is not itself a defence to a charge of unethical conduct.
Confronting Ethical Issues.
When a Counsellor has doubt about whether a particular situation or course of action would violate this Ethics Code then they ordinarily consult with:
· Other Counsellors knowledgeable about ethical issues.
· State or national counselling ethics committees.
· Other appropriate authorities in order to choose a proper response.
Conflicts Between Ethics and Organisational Demands.
If the demands of an organisation with which Counsellors are affiliated conflict with this Ethics Code they:
· Clarify the nature of the conflict.
· Make known their commitment to the Ethics Code.
· To the extent feasible, seek to resolve the conflict in a way that permits the fullest adherence to the Ethics Code.
Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations.
When Counsellors believe that there may have been an ethical violation by another Counsellor, they attempt to informally resolve the issue by bringing it to the attention of that individual in a helpful way, whilst respecting any confidentiality rights that may be involved.
Reporting Ethical Violations.
If an apparent ethical violation is not appropriate for informal resolution or is not resolved properly in that fashion, Counsellors take further action appropriate to the situation. If the matter remains unresolved the Counsellor should express their complaint in writing within seven days to the Management Committee. The complaint will be dealt with according to the PCA complaints procedure ( refer to flow chart Annexure A)
Cooperating With Ethics Committees.
Counsellors cooperate in ethics investigations, proceedings, and resulting requirements of the PCA (Tas) or any affiliated state association to which they belong. Failure to cooperate is itself an ethics violation.
Prejudicial Behaviour of a Member.
The Management Committee may resolve to caution, suspend or expel any member from the Association who deliberately refuses or neglects to comply with the Code of Ethics or behaves in any way that prejudicial to the Associations interest.
Improper Complaints.
Counsellors do not encourage the filing of ethics complaints that are frivolous or intended to harm the respondent.
Signatory Consent.
Each Counsellor will provide signatory consent to abide by the code prior to acceptance of membership.
5. Statement of Definitions
A. Definition of Counsellors
The term ‘Counsellor’ that is used in these ethical principles represents all individuals who are Members of the Professional Counselling Association Incorporated Tasmania (PCA).
B. Definition of Student
A student member is a person currently undertaking and successfully completing units on a regular basis in a recognised post-graduate or undergraduate program in counselling which the PCA recognises as suitable training for counselling practice. They are subject to the code of ethics as per member. They receive the PCA newsletter and may attend meetings, but they have no voting rights.
C. Definition of Registered Supervisor
The PCA has a register of people who are eligible to supervise members. Registered supervisors are qualified and trained to supervise counselling or are members who have at least ten years experience in counselling practice. It is recommended that supervisors have proven qualifications and experience in the theoretical disciplines that are being mentored to the member.
D. Definition of Empowerment
Empowerment is both individual and collective. Empowerment is a process of enhancing awareness and realising personal potential enabling greater decision-making power and control, leading to transformative action.
E. Definition of Safety
It is recognised that clients are
vulnerable and all care must be given to protect their well being.
F. Definition of Post Therapy
Counsellors understand that the process of therapy may be ongoing over a long period of time even though intervention or treatment may only have been relatively brief. Therapy concludes with the client’s recognition of resolution.
G. Definition of Dual Relationship
A Dual Relationship is one that crosses the boundaries of the Counsellors role. It impairs the therapeutic relationship, the judgement of the Counsellor, and ultimately exploits the client.
Acknowledgments
PCA (Tas) acknowledges the use of the Ethical Guidelines from the Australian Board of Certified Counsellors (ABCC), American Psychologists Association (APA), The Australian Psychological Society (APS), Australasian Subconscious-mind Therapists Association (ASTA), The Child Protection Board of Tasmania, Nursing Board of Tasmania (NBT), Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group (TAPG), and the previous guidelines of Professional Counsellors Association Tasmania (PCA).
6. Complaints about professional practice from a member of the general public