ICP: Code of Ethics
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND CONDUCT:
Each member section of ICP must have a published Code of Ethics and Practice and Complaints Procedure approved by ICP, and which is applicable to practitioners of that section and their clients.
All psychotherapists on ICP Register are required to adhere to the Code of Ethics and Practice of their own sections, which will be consistent with the following points:-
CONFIDENTIALITY: Members are required to ensure that they preserve confidentiality, to indicate the limitations on confidentiality offered and, if appropriate, any circumstances under which it might be broken.
PUBLICATION: Members are required to ensure that psychotherapists safeguard the welfare and anonymity of clients when any form of publication is being considered, and to obtain the clients consent whenever possible.
ADVERTISING: Members are required to ensure that promotion and publicity material re their work reflects a true description of their work, and is not misleading by statement, implication or omission.
QUALIFICATIONS: Members are required to ensure that they disclose their qualifications, when requested, and not claim, or imply, qualifications which they do not have.
PRACTITIONER COMPETENCE: Members are required to ensure that they maintain their ability to practice competently and take the necessary means to do so.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND METHODS OF PRACTICE: Members are required to ensure that they disclose, on request, their terms, conditions and, where appropriate, methods of practice at the outset of psychotherapy.
RELATIONSHIP WITH CLIENTS: Members are required to ensure that they maintain appropriate boundaries with their clients, and do not exploit current or past clients in any way..
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS: Members are required to ensure that they consider the clients best interests when making appropriate contact with other relevant professionals with the clients knowledge. Psychotherapists should be aware of their own limitations.
RESEARCH: Members are required to ensure that they clarify with clients the nature, purpose and conditions of any research in which clients are to be involved, and to obtain their full and informed consent before commencement.
PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE: Members are required to ensure that they have adequate and appropriate Professional Indemnity Insurance.
RIGHT TO DIGNITY AND RESPECT: All psychotherapists working under the ICP umbrella work from models of therapy that have built in a deep respect for the persons with whom they work. Notwithstanding this, the ICP wishes to enshrine the key principle of right to dignity for all persons attending for psychotherapy and working with them.
In this regard, the ICP notes that no person should be discriminated against on grounds of ethnicity, colour, beliefs/religion, gender, sexual orientation, member of minority group or any other distinction that might be cause for discrimination. Each person has a right to be treated with dignity and respect. All organisations who are members of the ICP ascribe to these principles.
