#1 //Autonomy
A GPsyC practitioner promotes their clients' autonomy by ensuring that client decision-making is not determined or unduly influenced by the practitioner.
#2 //Client Welfare
A GPsyC practitioner holds client welfare as being central to psychotherapy practise, and will encourage clients to consider alternative or additional support should their situation require interventions beyond that of a psychotherapeutic nature or of the practitioner's area of expertise.
#3 //Collaboration
A GPsyC practitioner will work with other professionals and/or services collaboratively while respecting the rights of their clients. They will be clear with all parties concerning conflicts or overlaps which might impact the interests of a client, such as, confidentiality, areas of expertise, treatment expectations, etc.
#4 //Communication
A GPsyC practitioner will communicate - in whatever form (e.g. text, email, letter, verbally) - respectfully, transparently, and clearly, ensuring all clients (and/or guardians) or organisations/services fully understand any information being conveyed or any matters under consideration.
#5 //Compassion
A GPsyC practitioner will demonstrate compassion and care for all clients, ensuring empathy and sensitivity remain core features of their psychotherapeutic approach.
#6 //Competence
A GPsyC practitioner will work with client caseloads to which their training and education has adequately skilled them to do so.
NB For example, practitioners will be cautious about providing formal diagnoses, only doing so if they have undergone relevant education in diagnostic or medical interventions.
#7 //Concerns/Complaints
GPsyC practitioners co-operate fully with the General Psychotherapy Council’s concerns and complaints processes, and understand that failure to engage with contentious matters concerning themselves may lead to dismissal from the General Psychotherapy Council in line with its termination policy. GPsyC practitioners facing disciplinary or legal issues from other bodies will also inform and update the GPsyC Registrar of any proceedings.
NB For the benefit of all parties, the General Psychotherapy Council takes great care to ensure that issues raised concerning registered practitioners are dealt with in a respectful and constructive manner. Unconstructive or vexatious conduct by any party will not be engaged with or tolerated.
#8 //Confidentiality
A GPsyC practitioner holds confidentiality as an essential component of psychotherapeutic practise, and will clearly explain to clients their policy on confidentiality, which can include, for instance, what supervision entails and what might bring about a breaching of confidentiality. GPsyC practitioners ensure they are cognisant of any legal requirements that might impact the maintaining of confidential client material.
NB Caution must be taken when deciding to breach confidentiality; practitioners who deem it necessary to breach confidentiality may be called upon to explain their rationale for doing so.
#9 //Consent
A GPsyC practitioner will obtain relevant consents from clients (or guardians) where applicable, for instance: if required to convey client material to other parties; if working with minors or vulnerable adults; or if writing up and presenting case studies.
#10 //Contracting
A GPsyC practitioner will strive to establish trust and confidence in those they work with by maintaining a consistent and professional framework of practise, which includes the clear and effective contracting of provisions, such as: fees, cancellation policies, settings, confidentiality, timings, expectations, etc.
#11 //Dual Relationships
A GPsyC practitioner is aware of the complexities that arise from dual relationships, and, in contexts where dual relationships exist, will manage those circumstances by ensuring boundaries are maintained and contracting is clear.
#12 //Expertise & CPD
A GPsyC practitioner will remain up to date with relevant psychotherapeutic theories and practises, undertaking suitable continuing professional development (CPD) activities consisting of no less than three days annually.
NB CPD consists of courses, seminars, workshops, and conferences; records are to be kept for audit purposes; audits look into practitioners' annual CPD activities from January to Decemeber in any given year.
#13 //Gifts
A GPsyC practitioner is vigilant of the issues that could arise from giving or receiving gifts.
NB To protect the integrity of the practitioner, guidance from the General Psychotherapy Council should be sought especially if in receipt of extravagant or monetary gifts.
#14 //Governance
A GPsyC practitioner will hold the necessary administrative documentations for the psychotherapeutic work they undertake, which might include, for example, a Data Protection Registration Certificate, Professional Indemnity Insurance, or a Disclosure Barring Service certificate if working in specialised settings (i.e. prisons, hospitals, schools) or with children/minors and/or vulnerable adults.
NB A GPsyC practitioner will only agree to practice in settings (or for institutions) that maintain policies and procedures which are not at odds with client-centred psychotherapy or compromise sound therapeutic practises or the practitioner’s psychotherapeutic approach.
#15 //Inclusion & Discrimination
A GPsyC practitioner appreciates the significance of issues surrounding, inclusion, diversity, and discrimination, and will strive to ensure factors, such as, religion, culture, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, etc, do not negatively impact their psychotherapy work.
#16 //Institutional Policies
A GPsyC practitioner will ensure they are familiar with relevant goverance e.g. deprivation of liberties, mental health and mental capacity Acts, and any associated procedures, when working within institutional settings.
#17 //Marketing
A GPsyC practitioner will advertise themselves, their credentials and their services, honestly, clearly and accurately.
#18 //Notes
For audit purposes, a GPsyC practitioner will keep an administrative record, i.e. diary/calendar entries, of sessions they have with clients for a period of three years after the conclusion of any therapy work.
A GPsyC practitioner may produce and hold therapy/process notes to aid their work with their clients; these are not medical records, and every effort will be made to ensure the material is anonymised where possible.
A GPsyC practitioner will inform clients of their note taking and/or audio recording activities, or any institutional requirements regarding note taking, and seek unambiguous confirmation from the clients that they agree to such activities.
A GPsyC practitioner will store client notes/records securely and confidentially, ensuring any data held digitally (i.e computer/phone) will conform with Information Commissioners Office (ICO) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines.
NB It is recommended that therapy notes are minimal in nature, made as anonymous as is reasonably possible, and discarded at twelve months post the conclusion of a psychotherapy relationship. Therapy notes should only be held longer than twelve months should the practitioner have reason to deem it necessary.
#19 //Physical Contact
A GPsyC practitioner will act with caution and prudence when encountering or utilising a form of physical contact with a client, i.e. hand-shaking or embracing. A GPsyC practitioner is prohibited from engaging in any sexual conduct or relationship with clients.
NB Entering into a sexualised relationship with a client will result in dismissal from the General Psychotherapy Council in line with the organisation's termination policy.
#20 //Respect
A GPsyC practitioner will respect the expressed wishes of their clients, and will seek to support those wishes where reasonable and appropriate.
#21 //Self-awareness
A GPsyC practitioner is aware of their own moral values and predilections and takes measures to ensure these do not adversely affect the psychotherapy work with clients.
A GPsyC practitioner is aware of their own limitations or constraints, and will refer on a client should circumstances find it necessary.
#22 //Self-care
A GPsyC practitioner will take responsibility for looking after their own needs and health, ensuring they are psychologically and physically capable of undertaking psychotherapy work. Practitioners will advise clients at the earliest opportunity should they become unable to continue providing psychotherapy, and will, where possible, endeavour to signpost clients to other psychotherapeutic services/practitioners.
#23 //Settings
A GPsyC practitioner will provide settings in which the facilities offered to clients are suitable and appropriate for the psychotherapy service being provided, ensuring privacy is unimpeded.
NB A GPsyC practitioner will recommend clients to seek a private space should online psychotherapy work be carried out; consideration should be given to postponing a session should privacy be unsure.
#24 //Socialising/ Friendships
A GPsyC practitioner will endeavour to avoid forming friendship/socialising relationships with clients during contracted psychotherapeutic work. GPsyC practitioners are advised to consider carefully and hesitantly if/when social media connections are being requested or formed.
#25 //Supervision
A GPsyC practitioner will receive regular individual consultative supervision and/or peer supervision. Supervision input serves to support practitioners in addressing their psychotherapy work, it’s impact upon the practitioner, and any matters that affect the practitioner’s capacity to work authentically or safely. Supervision must be commensurate and appropriately aligned with the practitioner’s work circumstances. It is recommended that supervision should not be less than 3 hours per yearly quarter, and peer supervision groups should consist of no more than four members. Practitioners will increase their supervision hours to meet and suit the needs of their work and caseloads.
NB If not a registered GPsyC practitioner, consultative supervisors are expected to meet the minimum requirements of the General Psychotherapy Council’s registered practitioner qualifications.