Ethical Guidelines

EAIP Ethics guidelines

Please note : These are guidelines only and need to from the basis of your Ethics Code.

1. Introduction

1.1 The purpose of a Code of Ethics is to define general principles and to establish standards of professional conduct for psychotherapists in their work and to inform and protect those members of the public who seek their services. Each member organisation of the European Association for Integrative Psychotherapy will include and elaborate upon the following principles in its Code of Ethics.

1.2 All psychotherapists are expected to approach their work with the aim of alleviating suffering and promoting the well-being of their clients. Psychotherapists should endeavour to use their abilities and skills to their client’s best advantage without prejudice and with due recognition of the value and dignity of every human being.

1.3 All psychotherapists whose oragnizations are members of the EAIP are required to adhere to the Codes of Ethics and Practice of their own organizations which will be consistent with the following statements and which will have been approved by EAIP Ethics Committee.

2. Codes of Ethics

Each Member Organisation of EAIP must have published a Code of Ethics approved by the EAIP appropriate for the practitioners of that particular organisation and their clients.The Code of Ethics will include and elaborate upon the following ten points to which attention is drawn here. AII psychotherapists are required to adhere to the Codes of Ethics of their own organization.

2.1 Qualifications:

Psychotherapists are required to disclose their qualifications when requested and not claim, or imply, qualifications that they do not have.

2.2 Terms, Conditions and Methods of Practice:

Psychotherapists are required to disclose on request their terms. conditions and, where appropriate, methods of practice at the outset of psychotherapy.

2.3 Confidentiality:

Psychotherapists are required to preserve confidentiality and to disclose, if requested, the limits of confidentiality and circumstances under which it might be broken to specific third parties.

2.4 Professional Relationship:

Psychotherapists should consider the client’s best interests when making appropriate contact with the client’s general practitioner, relevant psychiatric services. or other relevant professionals with the client’s knowledge. Psychotherapists should be aware of their own limitations.

2.5 Relationship with Clients:

Psychotherapists are required to maintain appropriate boundaries with their clients. They must take care not to exploit their clients. current or past, in any way, financially, sexually, or emotionally.

2.6 Research:

Psychotherapists are required to clarify with clients the nature. purpose and conditions of any research in which the clients are to be involved and to ensure that informed and verifiable consent is given before commencement.

2.7 Publication:

Psychotherapists are required to safeguard the welfare and anonymity of clients when any form of publication of clinical material is being considered and to obtain their consent whenever possible.

2.8 Practitioner Competence:

Psychotherapists are required to maintain their ability to perform competently and to take necessary steps to do so.

2.9 Indemnity Insurance:

Psychotherapists are required to ensure that their professional work is adequately covered by appropriate indemnity insurance.

2. 10  Detrimental Behaviour:

(1) Psychotherapists are required to refrain from any behaviour that may be detrimental to the profession. to colleagues or to trainees.

(ii) Psychotherapists are required to take appropriate action in accordance with Clause 5.7 with regard to the behaviour of a colleague which may be detrimental to the profession, to colleagues or to trainees.

3. Advertising

Member organisations of the EAIP and individual psychotherapists are required to restrict promotion of their work to a description of the type of psychotherapy they provide. Psychotherapists are required to distinguish carefully between self-descriptions,as in a list. and advertising seeking enquiries.

4. Code of Practice

Each Member Organisation of the EAIP will have published a Code of Practice approved by the EAIP and appropriate for the practitioners of that particular organization and their clients. The purpose of Code of Practice is to clarify and expand upon the general principles established in the Code of Ethics of the organization and the practical application of those principles. All psychotherapists  whose member organizations are members of the EAIP  will be required to adhere to the Codes of Practice of their own organisations.

5. Complaints Procedure

Each Member Organisation of the EAIP must have published a Complaints Procedure,.including information about the acceptability or otherwise of a complaint made by a third party against a practitioner; approved by the EAIP and appropriate forthe practitioners of that  particular organisation and their clients. The purpose of a Complaints Procedure is to ensure that practitioners and their clients have clear information about the procedure and processes involved in dealing with complaints. All psychotherapists are required to adhere to the Complaints Procedure of their own organisation.

5.1 Making a complaint:

A client wishing to complain shall be advised to contact the Member Organisation.

5.2 Receiving a complaint:

A Member Organisation receiving a complaint against one of its psycho-therapists shall ensure that the therapist is informed immediately and that both complainant and therapist are aware of the Complaints Procedure.

5.3 Appeals

After the completion of the Complaints Procedure within an organisation, provision must be made for an appeal, stating time limits, grounds and procedures.

5.4 Reports to the EAIP:

Where a complaint is upheld the member organization will inform the EAIP executive.

5.5 Complaints upheld and convictions:

Psychotherapists are required to inform their Member Organisations if any complaint is upheld against them in another Member Organisation, if they are convicted of any notifiable criminal offence or if successful civil proceedings are brought against them in relation to their work as psychotherapists.

5.6 Conduct of colleagues: Psychotherapists concerned that a colleague’s conduct may be unprofessional should initiate the Complaints Procedure of the relevant Member Organisation.

5.7 The resignation of a member of an organisation shall not be allowed to impede the process of any investigation as long as the alleged offence took place during the person’s membership.

6. Sanctions

Psychotherapists who are suspended by, or expelled from, a Member Organisation are automatically excluded from the EAIP.

7. Monitoring Complaints

7.1 Member Organisations shall report to the EAIP executive annually concerning the number of complaints received, the nature of the complaints and their disposition.