Introduction

This statement of Working Principles for Counselling unifies all the codes for counsellors, trainers and supervisors- and is applicable to counselling research, the use of counselling skills, and the management of these services within organisations. It is intended to inform the practice of each member of the IAAAC.

In this Statement the term 'counsellor' is used generically to refer to anyone with responsibility for the provision of counselling. 'Counselling' includes anyone undertaking the role(s) of counsellor, trainer, educator, supervisor, researcher, provider of counselling skills or manager of any of these services. The client may be an individual, family, group or other specifiable social unit. Alternative names may be substituted for 'counsellor' and 'client' in the practice-setting, according to local understanding.

Ethical principles are well suited to examining the justification for particular decisions and actions. However, reliance on principles alone may detract from the importance of the counsellor's personal qualities and their ethical significance in the counselling or therapeutic relationship. The provision of culturally sensitive and appropriate service is also a fundamental ethical concern. Cultural factors are often more easily understood and responded to in terms of value. Therefore, professional values are becoming an increasingly significant way of expressing ethical commitment.

Values of Addiction Counselling
The fundamental values of counselling include a commitment to:

Values inform principles. They represent an important way of expressing a general ethical commitment that becomes more precisely defined and action orientated when expressed as a principle.

Ethical Principles of Addiction Counselling.

Principles direct the attention to important ethical responsibilities. Each principle is described below and followed by examples of good practice that have been developed in response to that principle. Ethical decisions that are strongly supported by one or more of these principles without any contradiction from others may be regarded as reasonably well founded. However, practitioners will encounter circumstances in which it is impossible to reconcile all the applicable principles and choosing between principles may be required. A counsellors obligation is to consider all the relevant circumstances with as much care as is reasonably possible and to be appropriately accountable for decisions made.

Fidelity: honouring the trust placed in the counsellor Being trustworthy is regarded as fundamental to understanding and resolving ethical issues. Counsellors who adopt this principle, act in accordance with the trust placed in them; regard confidentiality as an obligation arising from the client's trust and restrict any disclosure of confidential information about clients to furthering the purposes for which it was originally disclosed.

Autonomy: respect for the client's right to be self-governing This principle emphasises the importance of the client's commitment to participating in counselling, usually on a voluntary basis. Counsellors who respect their client's autonomy ensure accuracy in any advertising or information given in advance of services offered; seek freely given and adequately informed consent; engage in explicit contracting in advance of any commitment by the client; protect privacy; protect confidentiality; normally make any disclosures of confidential information conditional on the consent of the person concerned and inform the client in advance of foreseeable conflicts of interest.

Beneficence: a commitment to promoting the client's well-being The principle of beneficence means acting in the best interests of the client based on professional assessment. It directs attention to working strictly within one's limits of competence and providing services on the basis of adequate training or experience. There is an obligation to use regular and on-going supervision to enhance the quality of the services provided and to commit to updating practice by continuing professional development. An obligation to act in the best interests of a client may become paramount when working with clients whose capacity for autonomy is diminished because of immaturity, lack of understanding, extreme distress, serious disturbance or other significant personal constraints.

Non-malfeasance: a commitment to avoiding harm to the client Non-malfeasance involves: avoiding sexual, financial, emotional, or any other form of client exploitation; avoiding incompetence or malpractice; not providing services when unfit to do so due to illness, personal circumstances or intoxication. The counsellor has an ethical responsibility to strive to mitigate any harm caused to a client even when the harm is unavoidable or unintended. Holding appropriate insurance may assist in restitution. Counsellors have a personal responsibility to challenge, where appropriate, the incompetence or malpractice of others; and to contribute to any investigation and/or adjudication concerning professional practice which falls below that of a reasonably competent counsellor and/or risks bringing discredit upon the profession.

Justice: the fair and impartial treatment of all clients and the provision of adequate services.

The principle of justice requires being just and fair to all clients and respecting their human rights and dignity. Justice in the distribution of services requires the ability to determine impartially the provision of services for clients and the allocation of services between clients. A commitment to fairness requires the ability to appreciate differences between people and to be committed to equality of opportunity, and avoiding discrimination against people or groups contrary to their legitimate personal or social characteristics. Counsellors have a duty to strive to ensure a fair provision of counselling services, accessible and appropriate to the needs of potential clients.

Self-respect: fostering the counsellor's self-knowledge and care for self. The principles of self-respect mean that the counsellor appropriately applies all the above principles as entitlements for self. This includes seeking counselling or therapy and other opportunities for personal development as required. There is an ethical responsibility to use supervision for appropriate personal and professional, support and development, and to seek training and other opportunities for continuing professional development. The principle of self-respect encourages active engagement in life-enhancing activities and relationships that are independent of relationships in counselling.

Personal Qualities
Personal qualities to which counsellors are strongly encouraged to aspire to include: Back to top

Back to Previous Page