Realising your true potential
Chris Haygarth PGDHP RMAS UKCP
Clinical Psychotherapist
Supervising Clinician
Training Clinician
Clinical Psychotherapist
Supervising Clinician
Training Clinician
Realising your true potential
As a registrant of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and a member of Awaken School of Outcome Orientated Psychotherapies (RMAS) I adhere to the codes of Ethics and Practice for both organisations.
1.1 The purpose of a Code of Ethics is to define general principles and to establish standards of professional conduct for Psychotherapists in their work and to inform and protect those members of the public who seek their services. Each organisation will include and elaborate upon the following principles in its Code of Ethics.
1.2 All Psychotherapists are expected to approach their work with the aim of alleviating suffering and promoting the well-being of their clients. Psychotherapists should endeavour to use their abilities and skills to their client's best advantage without prejudice and with due recognition of the value dignity of every human being.
1.3 All Psychotherapists on the UKCP Register are required to adhere to the codes of Ethics and Practice of their own organisations which will be consistent with the following statements and which will have been approved by the appropriate UKCP Section.
Each Member Organisation of UKCP must have published a Code of Ethics approved by the appropriate UKCP Section and appropriate for the practitioners of that particular organisation and their clients. The Code of Ethics will include and elaborate upon the following ten points to which attention is drawn here. All Psychotherapists on the UKCP register are required to adhere to the Codes of Ethics of their own organisations.
2.1 Qualifications - Psychologists are required to disclose their qualifications when requested and not claim, or imply, qualifications that they do not have.
2.2 Terms, Conditions and Methods of Practice - Psychotherapists are required to disclose on request their terms, conditions and, where appropriate, methods of practice at the outset of Psychotherapy.
2.3 Confidentiality - Psychotherapists are required to preserve confidentiality and to disclose, if requested, the limits of confidentiality and circumstances under which it might be broken to specific third parties.
2.4 Professional Relationship - Psychotherapists should consider the client's best interest when making appropriate contact with the Client's GP, relevant Psychiatric services, or other relevant professionals with the client' knowledge. Psychotherapists should be aware of their own limitations.
2.5 Relationship with clients - Psychotherapists are required to maintain appropriate boundaries with their clients. They must take care to not exploit their clients, current or past, in any way, financially, sexually or emotionally.
2.6 Research - Psychotherapists are required to clarify with clients the nature, purpose and conditions of any research in which the clients are to be involved and to ensure that informed and verifiable consent is given before commencement.
2.7 Publication - Psychotherapists are required to safeguard the welfare and anonymity of clients when any form of publication of clinical material is being considered and to obtain their consent whenever possible.
2.8 Practitioner Competence - Psychotherapists are required to maintain their ability to perform competently and to take necessary steps to do so.
2.9 Indemnity Insurance - Psychotherapists are required to ensure that their professional work is adequately covered by appropriate indemnity insurance.
2.10 Detrimental Behaviour -
(i) Psychotherapists are required to refrain from any behaviour that may be detrimental to the profession, to colleagues or to trainees.
(ii) Psychotherapists are required to take appropriate action in accordance with Clause 5.7 with regard to the behaviour of a colleague which may be detrimental to the profession, to colleagues or to trainees.
Member Organisations of UKCP are required to restrict promotion of their work to a description of the type of Psychotherapy they provide.
Psychotherapists are required to distinguish carefully between self-descriptions, as in a list, and advertising seeking enquiries.
Each Member Organisation of UKCP will have published a Code of Practice approved by the appropriate UKCP Section and appropriate for the practitioners of that particular organisation and their clients. The purpose of Codes of Practice is to clarify and expand upon the general principles established in the Code of Ethics of the organisation and the practical application of those principles. All Psychotherapists on the UKCP Register will be required to adhere to the codes of Practice of their own organisations.
Each Member Organisation of UKCP must have published a Complaints Procedure, including information about the acceptability or otherwise of a complaint made by a third party against a practitioner, approved by the appropriate for the practitioners and their clients have clear information about the procedure and processes involved in dealing with complaints. All Psychotherapists on the UKCP Register are required to adhere to the Complaints Procedure of their own organisation.
5.1 Making a Complaint - a client wishing to complain shall be advised to contact the Member Organisation.
5.2 Receiving a Complaint - A Member organisation receiving a complaint against one of its Psychotherapists shall ensure that the therapist is informed immediately and that both complainant and therapist are aware of the Complaints Procedure.
5.3 Appeals -
(i) After the completion of the Complaints Procedure within an organisation, provision must be made for an appeal, stating time limits, grounds and procedures.
(ii) After the completion of all procedures in an organisation, an appeal may be made to the Central Final Appeals Committee of UKCP
5.4 Reports to UKCP Section - Where a complaint is upheld the Section shall be informed by the organisation
5.5 Report to the UKCP Registration Board - Member Organisations are required to report to the UKCP Registration Board the names of members who have been suspended or expelled.
5.6 Complaints upheld and Convictions - Psychotherapists are required to inform their Member Organisations if any complaint is upheld against them in another Member Organisation, if they are convicted of any notifiable criminal offence or if successful civil proceedings are brought against them in relation to their work as Psychotherapists.
5.7 Conduct of Colleagues - Psychotherapists concerned that a colleague's conduct may be unprofessional should initiate the Complaints Procedure of the relevant Member Organisation.
5.8 The registration of a member of an organisation shall not be allowed to impede the process of any investigation as long as the alleged offence took place during that person's membership.
6.1 Psychotherapists who are suspended by, or expelled from, a Member Organisation are automatically deleted from the UKCP Register
7.1 Member Organisations shall report to the Registration Board annually concerning the number of complaints received, the nature of the complaints and their disposition.
7.2 The Registration Board shall report annually to the Governing Board on the adequacy of Member Organisation' disciplinary procedures.
Clauses 1 to 14 of this document apply to all members of Awaken School. The aforesaid members shall, as a pre-requisite, be members in good standing with Awaken to whom clauses 1 to 10 only apply. All complaints other than those being dealt with by Courts of Law, shall, if conciliation attempts fail, be dealt with by the Complaints Committee of Awaken (hereinafter called the Complaints Committee), or otherwise on the recommendations of any Complaints body established under its authority (hereinafter called the Complaints Committee or the Committee).
1. The Complaints Committee shall consist of a minimum of 3 persons normally drawn from the Academic Board and will be attended and serviced by the Company secretary (hereinafter called the secretary). At least on person should be external to Awaken.
2. On receiving a complaint against any of its members, the Awaken Secretary shall immediately request from the complainant that full details of the complaint be submitted in writing to Awaken secretary (if this has not already been done).
It shall be made clear to the complainant that no investigation can be set in train unless the full nature of the complaint and the name of the complainant can be made known to the Complaints Committee and the therapist or trainer, as appropriate, and the complainant provides specific details of the complaint.
3. If the complainant wishes to proceed with the matter, the Secretary shall then, in writing, normally within 14 days, inform the other party/parties concerned, forwarding the full written details of the complaint and inviting a written response and comments, within 21 days.
4. After receipt of written material from both the complainant and the respondent, the secretary shall attempt conciliation towards a resolution acceptable to both parties. Conciliatory proposals may, with the agreement of the Committee, be conveyed in writing to each of the parties, within a reasonable period.
5. The complainant may either agree to the terms of the conciliation proposal, or may notify the secretary that he/she wishes the Committee to proceed with formal investigation. In either case, the complainant shall make his/her response, in writing within 21 days of receipt of the conciliation proposal, otherwise the Committee may consider the case closed.
6. If the respondent fails to agree, in writing, within 21 days, to the terms of the conciliation proposal, formal investigation by the Committee will proceed. Respondents may include Fellows to whom investigations and outcomes similarly apply.
The Committee will normally recommend one of the following outcomes:-
a) No case to answer; insufficient evidence of any breach of practice, conduct or ethics.
b) Complaint upheld wholly or in part; the Committee recommends an appropriate level of sanctions to the Executive. Sanctions may include
- letter of apology
- mandatory period of extra clinical supervision
- written reprimand and warning
- temporary suspension from membership
- restitution of fees - in whole or in part
- removal from membership
7. When the Complaints Committee completes the findings and recommendations, the outcome will be conveyed to both parties in writing, within 28 days.
8. Either party may appeal against the Committee's decision, in writing within a further 28 days, provided that fresh evidence can be shown to have come to hand since the complaint was heard. Information that was known at the time, but not presented - either by choice or omission - cannot be made the grounds for an Appeal. The Committee will decide if this is fresh evidence of sufficient import to warrant further consideration. If so, similar procedures as set out in 1. to 7. above shall be pursued.
If either complainant or other party seeks to canvass any member of the Complaints Committee about the complaint prior to publication of outcomes, the Committee member shall refuse to respond.
In any case of removal from membership, the ex-member is informed by the School, in writing, that the removal remains effective unless a successful application for restoration should be made, and that such application could not be considered until at least 12 months after the removal from membership, and would then be subject to conditions laid down by the School The ex-member is also informed that the School is taking steps to notify the insurers - and other national registers where appropriate - stating the reasons for removal of membership.
9. Any Awaken member concerned that the conduct of a student, a teacher or a colleague is unprofessional should initiate the complaints procedure as specified in this document.
The expenses of the Complaints Committee shall, in the first instance, be borne by Awaken. Thereafter, Awaken may reclaim such expenses from the complainant or respondent in whatever proportion the Committee considers to be fit and proper to either party.
10. All correspondence and notices to either party from the Committee and its Secretary will be deemed to have been duly given if posted or sent by prepaid post to the last known address.
Further procedures for members who are UKCP Registrants.
11. Appeal may be made to the UKCP Hypno-Psychotherapy Section for matters related to training. All other appeals must be through the Central Final Appeals process of the UKCP.
12. Members are required to inform Awaken if any complaint is upheld against them in another UKCP member organisation, if they are convicted of any notifiable criminal offence, or if successful civil proceedings are brought against them in relation to their work as hypno-psychotherapists.
13. Where a complaint is upheld on recommendation of the Complaints Committee, the Section shall be informed in writing by Awaken, who will also report to UKCP Registration Board the name of any member who has been suspended or removed from the Awaken Register. Removal of a member's name from the Awaken Register normally results in removal of that member from UKCP registration.
14. Awaken shall report annually to UKCP concerning complaints and outcomes.
1st June 2003.
Revised January 2004.
Revised June 2006.
Revised September 2006.
Revised June 2007
Revised May 2009
The practice of hypnotherapy/psychotherapy is an activity involving the acceptance of normal professional responsibilities towards clients, colleagues, and society as a whole. While the welfare of the individual client will be the therapist's first concern, it must nevertheless be recognised that there may occasionally be conflict between this and the welfare of other persons, when the therapist will have to exercise personal judgement in deciding where his or her duty lies. Members are required to refrain from any behaviour that may be detrimental to their profession, to colleagues, or to trainees.
Therapists are required to take appropriate action in accordance with the Complaints Procedures with regard to the behaviour of a colleague, which may be detrimental to the profession, to colleagues or trainees. The resignation of a member shall not be allowed to impede the process of any investigation as long as the alleged offence took place during that person's membership.
Information provided by clients is regarded as confidential. It is disclosed only with the client's consent, unless there is convincing evidence of serious danger to the client or others if it is withheld. Particular care must be taken when presenting case material to colleagues or the public; and where recordings are to be presented, whether of tape, film or video, the client's consent should be obtained in writing and should specify the use to which the material may be put.
Effective therapy depends on establishing a good working relationship with clients. Therapists recognise the power and influence, which this gives them. They do not permit their professional skills to be used in a way that manipulates people for the benefit of other persons or organisations. They do not engage in displays of stage hypnosis. Therapists are required to maintain appropriate boundaries with their clients and to take care not to exploit their clients, current or past, in any way, financially, sexually or emotionally.
The professional notices of therapists shall be kept to a dignified wording and shall not include testimonials, make comparative statements, or in any way imply that the services are more effective than those provided by other therapists. Claims of cures for specific problems are not permitted. The School may, at its discretion, declare a notice or method or publicising of services to be unacceptable.
Therapists are required to disclose their qualifications when requested and not claim, or imply, qualifications they do not have.
A therapist who is convicted in a court of law for any criminal offence or who is the subject of civil action by a client in connection with the professional services he or she has provided, shall report the facts to the School (even if these services constitute a different form of therapy).
Therapists respect the dignity and worth of the clients as individual human beings. They accept responsibility for encouraging and facilitating their self-development, with a view to increasing the range of choices available to them, and their ability to accept responsibility for the decisions they make. They should be open with their clients about their own qualifications and training, the nature of the therapy they are able to provide, and possible alternatives available.
Therapists should not practice discrimination against clients on grounds of difference, e.g. sexuality, race, culture. The therapist should at all times be aware of the need to avoid the introduction of any suggestion which could be misconstrued as a recovered memory by the client.
Therapists should be aware of the range of their skills, and of their limitations. They may not work beyond the limit of their level of competency. Therapists should monitor the progress of their work with each client, and discuss it with the client at appropriate intervals. If reasonable progress is not being made, the therapist has an obligation to so inform the client and to suggest termination or a change of therapist. It is part of their professional responsibility to seek information and advice from colleagues about different treatments where appropriate, and to refer clients to other therapists for a particular client is one sign of professional competence.
In accordance with regulations and guidelines issued from time to time by the School or UKCP, members are required:-
To maintain and develop their professional competence by means of further training, research, on-going clinical supervision and other consultative support;
To take formal steps to further awareness of their own psychological and emotional functioning.
All practicing members - of whatever status must be covered by comprehensive professional indemnity insurance.
Therapists are required to disclose their fees terms before commencement of therapy. They should inform clients of conditions with regard to all elements of the therapeutic contract, including such things as confidentiality, payments for missed appointments, holidays, etc. Arrangements regarding frequency of sessions, length of treatment, transfer to another therapist, and termination, are discussed with them where appropriate and mutual agreement sought. Therapists have a responsibility to ensure that the conditions in which they work are suitable for the type of therapy being provided.
Where there may be a physical aspect to the client's condition, the therapist should ensure, as far as reasonably possible, that the client has sought appropriate advice, although clients cannot be compelled to consult a medical or other practitioner if they have objections in principle to doing so. In any case it is desirable that the client's GP or other medical adviser should be informed that he/she is receiving hypno-psychotherapy but this needs to involve the client's consent.
In any case concerning a child under 16, the parents should be informed, in writing, that it is their responsibility to inform their GP or other medical adviser that they are seeking hypno-psychotherapy treatment for the child.
In no circumstances may the therapist advise a client to discontinue a medically prescribed course of treatment.
The therapist is forbidden to attempt treatment of epilepsy, and is also warned against treatment of mental illness other than mild neurosis conditions, except in special circumstances where treatment is undertaken with the approval and on-going support of the client's medical adviser.
Therapists should appreciate the need to keep up-to-date with research and new developments in the psychotherapy field generally. Researchers are required to clarify with clients or colleagues the nature, purpose and conditions of any research project in which they are to be involved, and to ensure that informed and verifiable consent is given before commencement. Such consent may be withdrawn at any time thereafter should any such clients or colleagues so choose.
The School or UKCP shall have power to interpret and enforce compliance with the Code of Ethics & Practice by its therapist, and to impose such sanctions as it sees fit for breaches of the Code by means of COMPLAINTS AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES.
Revised June 2007
Revised May 2009
