Code of Conduct

​Membership and Qualifications

  • I hold appropriate qualifications, which can be viewed on my profile page. 

  • I am a member of professional governing bodies, including the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). I adhere to their Ethical Statement and Codes of Conduct

Accessibility and Eligibility of the service

  • My service aims to provide short and long-term therapy for a wide range of issues; however, I am not a crisis service. Should a client be actively suicidal, they will be encouraged to contact the emergency services. Crisis support may also be found at the Mental Health Hub at NHS 111; the Samaritans at www.samaritans.org or by calling 116 123; or by contacting Breathing Space at www.breathingspace.scot or on 0800 83 85 87.

  • Should my service for any reason be unsuitable and we have to decline working with a client, I would always aim to suggest an alternative service which may be better able to meet your needs. I do not advise undergoing therapy with more than one service at a time, as this can interfere with the therapeutic process.  Therefore, I do not work with anyone currently undergoing treatment with another therapy service.

Data Protection Policy

  • I am responsible for keeping client session notes and ensuring these are held securely and in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR 2018). Personal details are also held securely, separately from session notes, to ensure anonymity. All notes and personal details are kept either in a locked cabinet to which only I have access or in a password-protected file on a password-protected computer. These are stored for up to 7 years after our sessions end before being destroyed.

Confidentiality​

  • All sessions will be conducted in confidence. I follow strict ethical codes of conduct from my governing bodies. These can be viewed at BACP and BABCP. These policies aim to ensure I provide a secure, respectful, and trusting relationship and space in which you can share. Therefore, everything we discuss in our sessions is confidential, except in the following circumstances:

    •  You disclose something that, based on my professional judgement, suggests that you or someone else is at risk of serious harm.

    • You disclose something I have a legal obligation to share with the relevant authorities, such as information about an act of terrorism or a child safeguarding issue.

In these cases, I would always aim to make a shared plan about how to report the issue.  However, this may not always be possible, and in exceptional circumstances, I may have to break confidentiality without your consent.

  • As a fully qualified therapist, I each take part in clinical supervision with an appropriately qualified therapist. In these sessions, we may discuss client work in a way that does not identify you. This helps to ensure I am providing the best and most ethical care possible for you.

Code of Ethics

Everyone at Culmination Therapy will treat service users, colleagues and freelance contractors as individuals, respecting their rights to privacy.  This means I/we will:

  • Ensure we have written consent from clients before beginning therapy

  • Maintain appropriate boundaries

  • Ensure lines of communication are clear and open

  • Challenge discrimination

  • Be polite and considerate

  • Listen and take into account any feedback given

  • Be open and transparent in all I do and set out to achieve

  • Continue my professional development as part of my commitment to supporting clients' mental health journeys

  • Provide information when requested in a timely and understandable way

  • Work collaboratively with partners, colleagues and freelance contractors

  • Practice only in the areas in which I have appropriate knowledge, skills and experience

  • Keep updated with new laws and regulations to ensure compliance and prudence

  • Respect confidentiality and ensure I work to General Data Protection Regulations (May 2018) – see above

  • Deal with feedback and complaints as appropriate

  • Act in an honest and non-judgemental way

Therapy Sessions

Supervision and compliance

  • I will receive regular clinical supervision and be compliant with all the practice and legal requirements of my professional and accrediting bodies.

Feedback and Complaints

I welcome any feedback offered so that I can ensure that clients want to recommend my services and return when needed. 

A copy of my complaints procedure is available on request.  I encourage clients to discuss any concerns they may have with us, in whatever format feels the most comfortable. Details of my complaints procedure can be found in the client contract.