Professional Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy
Ethics and the Law
Developing and maintaining a secure framework for professional practice is a core part of any counselling and psychotherapy training, as all therapists need to understand the key values, ethics and laws that underpin the profession today. But what does being a member of a 'profession’ actually mean, and what does being a ‘professional’ actually involve?
Structured around the BACP Core Curriculum, and with the help of exercises, case studies and tips for further reading, this book covers everything from the requirements of the BACP Ethical Framework to broader perspectives on good professional practice.
It includes:
- Practising as a therapist in different roles and organizational contexts.
- Working with key issues, including difference, vulnerable clients and risk.
- Understanding the law and relevant legal frameworks for practice.
- Working ethically, including contrasting models and approaches to ethics.
This book provides a solid overview of the legal, ethical and organisational frameworks within which we work as a profession.
This is a book for our time, worthy in its aim to support counsellors and therapists in developing their risk assessments skills, decision-making processes, and in dealing with the legal minefield in our litigious and risk-averse society.
I believe this book fills an important gap, which goes beyond counsellor training programmes. There is a good mix of theory and practice, with further reading, resources and areas for clinical supervisors to consider. I think it may become a well-thumbed tome on many counsellors' bookshelves.
I believe it would be of equal relevance to a trainer, supervisor or manager, both on a personal level in their own practice, as well as enhancing understanding from their role perspective of what it might be like for a student or supervisee.
