K/601/7629

Assignment K/601/7629  

Q 2.1 Evaluate the need for an ethical framework for counselling and psychotherapy.
“Ethical standards are important in promoting safe and professional counselling and psychotherapy practices. These are important in order that members / registrants deliver a professional level of service that caters for the best interest of their clients, and the public at large. Professional accountability is also key in ensuring public protection and allows the profession to move forward enjoying the public confidence in the services provided.
(http://www.bacp.co.uk/profconduct/)
Most counsellors work within the ethical framework of the BACP. (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) It is important to have a code of ethics in order to keep both the client and counsellor safe. It also protects against abuse such as physical, financial and emotional. It ensures people get the right help and boundaries are firmly in place which the counsellor sets out in the contracting agreement. It sets expectations for quality of work. Although the code of ethics is not law it is a guidance on good practice, without it there is a risk of counsellors using approaches they are not adequately trained in. This can result in the client receiving a poor quality of therapy resulting in a breakdown of trust between the client and counsellor and could prevent the client seeking the help they need thus resulting in damaging the reputation of the counsellor and the profession.   Some counsellors may not have adequate supervision resulting in a poor quality of service and the reputation of counselling going into disrepute.

Q 2.2 Explain the main elements of one recognised ethical framework for counselling and psychotherapy.
A counsellor will have values, morals and principles in order to effectively practice and work ethically with clients.
The morals of a counsellor should include empathy, sincerity, resilience and respect.
The values of a counsellor are...