IFCAPP: Code of Ethics
Code of Ethics
1. Structuring the relationship with the client.
A. Qualifications disclosure. Practitioners are required to disclose their qualifications
when requested, and not to claim, or imply, qualifications they do not possess.
B Contract with the client. Practitioners are required to disclose their terms and
conditions and (when appropriate) their method of practice, at the outset of
psychotherapy.
C. Changes and planned breaks. The practitioner must give adequate notice of any
changes in the scheduling of treatment, and of planned breaks.
D. Non-discrimination. Practitioners must follow a policy of non-discrimination on the
basis of race, religion, ethnic origin, gender, and sexual orientation.
E. Workplace. Practitioners shall provide suitable and safe accommodation, and
appropriate working conditions, for working with clients.
F. Appropriate modalities. The practitioner must consider whether his/her own method
of practising is appropriate for the particular client and the client’s particular presenting
symptoms and profile. At this stage the practitioner should refer on appropriately if this
appears to be in the client’s best interest.
G. Inappropriate clients. The practitioner must not undertake a therapeutic relationship
with any of his/her own relatives or friends, nor generally with anyone closely
connected with an existing client. It is recognised that Child and Adolescent therapy
may involve work with a child/adolescent’s family as part of the therapeutic process.
2. Confidentiality and protecting the client.
A. General. Practitioners are required to preserve confidentiality, and to disclose, if
requested, any limits to confidentiality, and any circumstances under which it might
be broken to specific third parties. Confidentiality should be kept as complete as
possible.
B. Relationships with other professionals: general. The practitioner must consider the
client’s best interests when making, with the client’s consent, appropriate contact
with the client’s GP, or with the client’s psychiatrist or psychiatric services.
C. Exceptions to confidentiality. Exceptions to obtaining the client’s consent in breaking
confidentiality may have to be made in certain circumstances, such as
(1) When there appears to be a possibility of violence from the client to him/herself,
to the practitioner, or to a third party; or
(2) In the management of a client who becomes psychotic, or needs to be hospitalised.
(3) Where there appears to have been or to be a possibility of abuse of a child or vulnerable person.
All exceptions must be carefully considered, and whenever possible, made in
consultation with a colleague or colleagues. The practitioner must be prepared to
demonstrate that the exception is justifiable.
D. Boundaries with clients; friendships. Practitioners are required to maintain appropriate boundaries with their clients, taking care not to exploit their clients, current or past,
financially, sexually, or emotionally. Occasionally, the therapist-client relationship has
the potential to develop into a lasting friendship; if this is the case, an appropriate
time interval should elapse before entering into any joint activities, so as to respect
the possibility of persisting transference influences. In the event of a relapse or
the emergence of important new material, the former client should be referred on.
E. Social contacts. During the period of therapeutic treatment the practitioner must
exercise restraint in regard to social contacts with the client. Social contact with a
client’s relatives should be approached with great caution, and should occur only
with the client’s knowledge and consent. Following the conclusion of therapy, the
practitioner should also keep in mind the inevitable continuation of transference and
countertransference influences, and should use discretion in any social contacts.
F. Research and publication. A practitioner is required to clarify with the client the
nature, purpose, and conditions of any research in which the client is to be involved;
the practitioner must ensure that informed and verifiable consent is obtained before
commencement. A practitioner is required to safeguard the welfare and anonymity of
clients when any form of publication of client material is being considered, and to
obtain the client’s consent whenever possible. A practitioner must not make audio or
video recordings of a client, nor use, or permit observation of the client through, a
one-way screen or mirror, without the client’s consent.
3. Maintenance of professional competence.
A. Ongoing training. Generally, practitioners are required to maintain their ability to
perform competently, and to take the necessary steps to do so. This includes notably
keeping abreast of current clinical and theoretical advances in our field.
In particular, each practitioner is expected to maintain a programme of ongoing
professional training, involving ongoing supervision, reading-group attendance,
and attending professional seminars and lectures. The fundamental element here is
reasonably frequent participation in discussions with other, usually senior,
practitioners, involving client material and client problems. Mere solitary reading
or academic study is not sufficient for this requirement. This technical contact with
colleagues helps guard against countertransference drift.
B. Practitioner’s physical and mental health.
The practitioner is required to maintain his/her own physical and mental health. The
practitioner must refrain from practising if his/her physical or psychological condition
is seriously impaired, for example, as a result of alcohol, drugs, illness, or personal
stress. In such a situation, the practitioner must ensure appropriate referring-on of their
clients and seek professional and/or psychotherapeutic help as appropriate.
C. Legal compromises. If a practitioner is convicted of any serious criminal offence, or
becomes the subject of any legal action pertaining to his/her work as a member of the
ICP, the practitioner shall forthwith inform the executive committee of his/her own
member organisation, and ensure that the committee of the Analytic Section is likewise
informed.
D. Litigation and accident insurance. All registered practitioners are required to
maintain both kinds of insurance, to levels complying with ICP and EAP
requirements.
E. Detrimental behaviour. Practitioners are required to refrain from any behaviour
that may be detrimental to the profession, to colleagues, or to trainees.
Practitioners are expected to take appropriate action with regard to the behaviour
of a colleague which may be detrimental to the profession, to colleagues, or to
trainees.
F. The practitioner as supervisor. A practitioner shall ensure that those working under
his/her direct supervision be aware of, and comply with, this code of ethics. The
practitioner-supervisor will ensure that those working under his/her direct
supervision shall not exceed the limits of their competence.
G. Executive Committees’ Duties of Ethics Training. The executive committees of the
member organisations of the Analytic Section, and the committee of the Analytic
Section, shall ensure that all practitioners for whom they are responsible shall have an
understanding of this code of ethics.
