Learning Journal 7

Ethical & Legal Requirements

This week we discussed and explored the ethical and legal requirements around practicing as a counsellor and brought into my consciousness the elements of values, morals, principles and professional boundaries that will guide me, I hope, as a practitioner. The importance of this is highlighted by the fact that the very first criteria for the course, 1.1.1 is working within an ethical framework. We also attempted to work within our professional and ethical boundaries when faced with clients that wanted to push these boundaries, exceeding those that are safe to operate in as counsellors in role-plays.

An ethical framework is a basis from which to know how we should practice as therapists. It pulls together a sense of what is good and safe practice by covering aspects of what our values will be as members adhering to this governance. Values are what we hold dear to our core. They are the foundation of all we are. It is universal that people hold values however values themselves are not universal. What a document such as the BACP ethical guidelines seeks to achieve I feel is a bringing together of what we hold as irrefutable core values as professionals seeking to provide a helping service.

Further to core values of respect, protection of rights and alleviating stress and suffering to name but a few, the guidelines pursue the administration of such value driven practice through principles of practice. The principles of practice open out a discussion for us all to be overtly aware of how our good practice, ideals and values can be conceptualised in terms of operating with a client group. That we should do no harm, be trustworthy and promote autonomy are but some of these ethical principles and by stating them clearly they are there for all to read, be clear about and debate and refine. That is what good practice is all about to me.

The reasons for working within an ethical framework are for me so that it unifies the best standard of practice and also provides a reference point for us all as practitioners to go back to. Ethical dilemmas will come up given that working in a helping role is challenging and we will encounter times when we feel there are different pulls on what we may wish to do as practitioners. But by having a best practice code of conduct it is an open document for all to know how we as a profession feel all decisions should be underpinned. Perhaps we all operate within our own set of values but are these in line with what is held by the majority involved with this profession to be most suitable for working with clients? By having this document it can bring together but also filter out who may or may not be suitable for working in a helping way, as determined by such an organisational code.

For me it’s incredibly important to have this ethical code as it serves as reference point, a guide and a clarification of what may not have been brought to my consciousness. I may think or feel like I operate in a ‘good’ way and that I’m ok for this reason. But when pushed to make challenging decisions or simply having a discussion with myself about what my values are this document unpacks them and explores them. I can then see if my values match or mismatch and what that then means for example. It is in the very nature of a helping profession that this foundation of practice is there, and also for it to be there to discuss and to make overtly accessible for all.

I did a role-play scenario as the counsellor, which went rather poorly in terms of holding the ethical boundary. I was there to counsel a lady who unable to pay her way for sessions; as a private practitioner I may face this dilemma and so it was a good one. What unfolded was me being tested in terms of would I allow this person to negotiate not paying and I was unable to parry somewhat of a barrage as I didn’t really have a clear picture in my mind of how to be safe and boundaried. On reflection I wasn’t well grounded and perhaps its just as well this did go badly from a learning perspective as I felt that I can take more away from it this way.

When the lady began intimating that she was unable to afford the sessions I felt like I wanted to accommodate this. I wanted to budge on the costing and allow her this movement. What I felt inside was discomfort and desire to allow this change to the arrangement. I wanted to give in, to be nice, to help. This is a curious feeling as why would I want to do something for free? Also what does it say about my self-respect as a practitioner if I can effectively be unpaid? What does it say about my confidence in my own worth or ability?

I dithered and didn’t handle this matter well at all. I did not weigh up the ramifications of allowing the clients desire to get free sessions. I moved more with a gut desire to ease the unpleasantness of being pushed to allow this to happen. It tells me a good deal about myself. Firstly I lack confidence in my own ability, which is probably not such a bad thing given my level of training. Secondly, I must be clear with boundaries. They are there for the clients and my safety. Once one boundary is eroded, the rest can be pressured and the whole sense of a safe and secure environment has begun to ebb away. This cannot then be a safe place to practice and although its simple, my default position when I’m not focussed needs to change. This is a matter that I would like to be more mindful of in every walk of life, boundaries. Thirdly, it’s probably better to go second or last in a role-play so I can sense the rules of the game. Going second or third just may have been a fraction easier as I could have learned by others imperfections and sensed what it was exactly I was supposed to achieve. That being said, on this occasion I am very glad I went first and made a hash of it as I can take the learning very seriously. Its good to see how bad it can get so I know what needs to happen.

On one hand it is not being just in my treatment of all clients as I am offering one client a different service. Even if she had no means of accessing counselling any other way, it is disrespectful to the process and other clients to treat clients differently. If I could act differently with one client, then I could shift other boundaries for others perhaps.

This was a very important session for me. I floundered in the role-play and felt out of my comfort zone, out of my depth and unsafe to practice. Because of this I have I feel taken a very good look at myself and what it means to be ethical and boundaried and very much what it is to be ‘safe’ to practice. I hope that by seeing this necessity to be so boundaried I can move forward and be in a more solid place to practice in future. I was not really disheartened, more conscious of incompetence and reflective on what it will mean to be doing this role. I feel I have an understanding of what I need to become.