The Human Givens Institute
| Ethics and professional conduct policy | ||
Section 5: Therapists should: 5.1 Work within the limits of their experience and training, remaining aware, in particular, of the limits of their knowledge about medical matters. 5.2 Negotiate clear and ethical contracts with patients and always operate on the basis of informed consent. This should be explicit consent on the part of the patient. Working with young people requires careful consideration of the extent to which they can give consent independently of a parent or legal guardian. If patients are to be recorded or observed, or their personal experiences are to be used for research or training purposes, their consent must be clearly sought and explicitly gained. 5.3 Be straightforward and accountable about the financial transactions involved in therapy, for example, by avoiding any possible confusion or false expectations about therapy being a “course of treatment” by not accepting payment in advance. 5.4 Have respect for patients and their autonomy. Be sensitive, courteous and straightforward in communicating with them. 5.5 Keep records of all treatments. Records should contain sufficient detail, including a description of the patient's presenting situation, their expectations of therapy, the treatment provided and the outcome. 5.6 Respect and maintain patient confidentiality at all times, ensuring that case notes and records for each patient are kept in a secure place, and remaining cognizant of their responsibilities under the Data Protection Act, other legal requirements and the right of patients to see their records should they so wish. 5.9 Take out and maintain comprehensive professional liability insurance. Have the highest level of Criminal Records Bureau disclosure possible. 5.8 Beware of conflicts of interest arising between patients, particularly in couple therapy, where they may have to choose between patients if they break up during therapy. Think whether it would be best to stop seeing either party and advise that each gets another therapist. If a conflict of interest arises, notify those concerned in writing. 5.9 Remain vigilant about the possible consequences of multiple relationships, i.e. when the therapist has more than one relationship with the patient, e.g. client and friend, supervisor and trainee. 5.10 Consider the implications of therapeutic interventions on other people in the patient's life: friends, family and colleagues. 5.11 Take as few sessions as possible and develop sensitivity about when to refer on and when to end therapy. 5.12 Remember that in therapy, patients are highly suggestible and so avoid the labelling that can reinforce the pathology of their problem. Furthermore, care should be taken not to inadvertently create illusory memories about events in the past. 5.13 If the need arises, advise the patient that you are obliged to inform the appropriate authority should they divulge to you any illegal or potentially harmful act. 5.14 Seek good relationships with their fellow practitioners and other health-care professionals, co-operating with them where appropriate. 5.15 Be accountable to the patient and to the Human Givens Institute for the quality of their practice. Therapists should never: 5.16 Make any kind of sexual advance towards, or sleep with, a patient. 5.17 Steal money or time from a patient, either directly or indirectly; for example, by keeping the individual in treatment for longer than is necessary. 5.18 Barter treatment, because it creates a confusion of roles. Do not accept upfront payment for a ‘series' of treatments, either at discounted rates or for full price. 5.19 Impose their own world-view on their client, e.g. by implanting ideas of an ideological, religious or behavioural nature that fall outside the consciously agreed therapeutic goals. This includes, by definition, ideas about childhood sexual abuse, implanted by the therapist, to be ‘recovered' later by the client. 5.20 Abuse, manipulate, or otherwise indulge in any kind of cult behaviour or practices which bind client or patient to the therapist. 5.21 Take advantage in any other way of the inevitable power invested in the role of ‘therapist'. Return to top << Main ethics policy menu
|
> Membership Levels > Ethics and professional
|
|