Contents
1. General rules
1.1. Limits of Competence
(a) Psychologists-consultants engage in professional activities only within the limits of their competence, which is determined by education, forms of advanced training and relevant professional experience.
(c) Counseling psychologists engage in professional activity in new areas or use new techniques only after they have been appropriately studied, trained, supervised and / or consulted by specialists competent in these areas or techniques.
(c) In areas where acceptable standards of training have not yet been developed, counseling psychologists do their best to improve the competence of their work and protect clients from possible harm, etc.
(d) A counseling psychologist, in making a professional decision, should take into account his qualifications and experience in working with clients with certain individual differences (age, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, type of psychological problem, physical or mental disorder, language or socio-economic status, etc.).
(e) Counseling psychologists only assign to their subordinates, supervisees, and assistants the responsibility that they can handle on the basis of their competence (education, experience, training, etc.), whether acting alone or under supervision. .
1.2. Description and / or explanation of the results of psychological work
(a) When working with non-professional clients, counseling psychologists use terms and explanations that are understandable to them.
(c) If for any reason (a contract on non-disclosure of the results obtained, the illegality of reporting the results to certain groups of people) psychologists-consultants cannot communicate information to those who need it and to whom it applies, then they must warn them in advance about the impossibility of using this information. information.
1.3. Respect for the right of others to remain different
In their professional activities, counseling psychologists respect the rights of other people to attitudes, opinions, moral standards, etc., different from their own.
1.4. Non-discrimination
In their professional activities, psychologists-consultants in every possible way avoid any discrimination on the basis of age, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, any physical or mental disorder, language, socio-economic status or other sign specified in the law.
1.5. Infringements on the honor and dignity of clients
Psychologists-consultants have no right to carry out actions that may offend or humiliate the honor and dignity of clients.
1.6. Attitude to personal problems
(a) Counseling psychologists are well aware that their personal problems can affect the effectiveness of their professional activities. Therefore, they avoid those areas of their professional activity in which these problems can be particularly acute and cause any harm to the clients involved in this activity.
(c) Counseling psychologists must make every effort to recognize as early as possible the formation and/or existence of their own personal problems that may be an obstacle in the exercise of their professional activities.
(c) In order to eliminate the detected intrapersonal obstacles in the implementation of their professional activities, counseling psychologists seek professional help from colleagues and determine for this time the restrictions imposed on their professional activities.
1.7. Doing no harm
Psychologists do everything possible to prevent or reduce undesirable consequences from their professional activities, as well as to save and protect clients from such consequences.
1.8. Misuse of psychological knowledge
Recognizing the power of psychological knowledge, counseling psychologists go to great lengths to prevent anyone’s personal, financial, social, organizational, and political influence to coerce the misuse of psychological knowledge.
1.9. Misuse of psychologists-consultants • results of their work
(a) Counseling psychologists do not engage in activities the results of which may be used to discredit psychology.
(c) If counseling psychologists become aware of misuse of their work, they will do their best to eliminate and/or correct the errors.
1.10. Barter with clients
Psychologists generally refrain from accepting gifts and favors from clients in return for their assistance, as this practice is a serious source of conflict, exploitation, and devaluation of professional relationships. A consultant psychologist can participate in barter only in cases where it does not interfere with professional activities and does not lead to manipulation.
1.11. Cash reward
• Psychologists-consultants solve the issues of monetary reward as payment for their work at the earliest stages of psychological interaction with the client, but in any case until the moment of psychological intervention (intervention).
1.12. Maintenance of professional and scientific documentation Consultant psychologists properly document their professional work in order to generalize and disseminate their experience, facilitate further activities, and also to be able to present their work in other instances.
2. Public speaking and publications
Public speaking and publications include brochures, newspaper and scientific articles, summaries, media interviews, lectures and oral presentations, paid or free advertising, and any materials distributed electronically (Internet, electronic conferences, etc.).
2.1. Avoiding False or Incorrect Claims
(a) Psychologists-consultants in public speeches and publications do not allow false and / or incorrect statements and do not use unverified information,
(c) To confirm their professional status, counseling psychologists use only those documents that are officially recognized by the state and the psychological community.
2.2. Evidence and confirmation
Counseling psychologists do not use or appeal to the testimonies and testimonies of clients whose work is not completed.
3. Testing, evaluation and intervention
3.1. Assessment and diagnosis
(a) Psychologists-consultants carry out assessment, diagnostic work and intervention only within the limits determined by professional relations.
(c) Psychological conclusions, reports, recommendations and diagnoses are based only on information obtained through valid psychological instruments.
3.2. Using psychological tools
(a) Using any psychological toolkit, counseling psychologists must be sure that this toolkit is adequate for solving the tasks set, and its use takes into account the limits of applicability.
(c) Counseling psychologists using the tool know the limits of validity, validation, standardization, and other features of using the tool.
(c) Counseling psychologists do not allow unskilled use of psychological tools.
(d) When it comes to diagnosing, evaluating, and prognosticating a client, counseling psychologists pay special attention to the limitations in the use of the instrument and the interpretation of the data obtained from it,
(e) Counseling psychologists make every effort to identify situations in which psychological techniques or tools may be used inappropriately or where appropriate restrictions should be placed on their use.
3.3. Data interpretation
When interpreting data, including automated interpretations, counseling psychologists try to take into account factors that depend both on this toolkit and on a particular subject, which may affect the psychological conclusion or the reliability of interpretations. Counseling psychologists note any significant factors that affect the validity or limitations of interpretations.
3.4. Create Test Scores and Interpretations
Counseling psychologists distributing a psychological toolkit to other professionals must clearly state the goals, norms, validity, validity, applicability of procedures, and qualifications required to use the toolkit, and are responsible for the correct application and interpretation of the results, whether or not they have performed a count. and interpretation themselves or it was done automatically.
3.5. Explanation of the results
The results of the survey should be explained to clients in a language they can understand, regardless of whether the survey was conducted by a counseling psychologist, an assistant, or in automatic mode.
3.6. Ensuring the safety of psychological tools
Counseling psychologists do their best to maintain the integrity and safety of psychological tools in accordance with the law, the obligations assumed and the standards of this Code of Ethics.
4. Procedural rules
4.1. Informing the client
(a) When establishing a professional relationship between counselor and client, it is important to discuss as early as possible what will happen during the session(s), how confidentiality will be maintained, and how financial matters will be handled.
(c) If a supervisor is involved in the work of a counseling psychologist, then this fact is stipulated in the previous discussion, indicating the surname, name and patronymic of the supervisor, if he is responsible for this case.
(c) Psychologists-consultants, in order to avoid any misunderstanding, make every effort to answer all questions of clients about the forthcoming counseling.
4.2. Informed Consent
(a) Counseling psychologists must obtain informed consent for counseling in language that is understandable to counseling participants. The content of the consent given will depend on many circumstances; however, informed consent generally reflects that the client:
(1) able to give consent; (2) received relevant information regarding all procedures; (3) gave his consent on the basis of free will and without outside pressure; (4) this consent is properly executed.
(c) In cases where the client is not formally able to give informed consent, counseling psychologists obtain informed permission from those legally responsible for the client.
(c) In addition, psychologists-consultants: (1) inform incapacitated clients about the interventions being carried out, in accordance with their mental state and characteristics; (2) seek their approval; and (3) take into account personal preferences and interests.
4.3. Relationships with couples and families
(a) In cases where counseling psychologists provide services to several people at once, between whom there are close and / or family relationships (husband and wife, parents and children getting married, etc.), counseling psychologists in the very In the beginning, they try to clarify: (1) which of them is the client and (2) what kind of relationship the psychologist-consultant will have with each of the participants in the consultation.
(c) As soon as the counselor is faced with potentially conflicting roles (for example, a husband and wife marital counselor and a witness to one of these parties in a divorce proceeding). he must make a choice in the direction of one of them.
4.4. Carrying out work with clients supervised by other psychologists
When making service decisions for those already receiving mental health support, counseling psychologists carefully weigh treatment issues and their impact on the client’s well-being. Counseling psychologists seek information from clients or those who formally represent their rights, in order to reduce the risk of misunderstanding or conflict with those who already provide psychological services, and in order not to disturb the therapeutic process.
4.5. Consultations and interaction with colleagues
Counseling psychologists organize the necessary consultations and interaction with colleagues, based on the interests of their clients and with their consent.
4.6. Interrupting help
(a) Counseling psychologists plan to continue working with clients in cases of unexpected termination of their services due to illness, incapacitation, relocation, or financial constraints, and notify the client in advance.
(c) If the relationship between the client and the psychologist-consultant is determined by a contract or contract of employment, then the latter, in the event of the expiration of the contract or contract, take measures for the subsequent provision of assistance to clients.
4.7. End of professional relationship
(a) Counseling psychologists don’t abandon clients.
(c) Counseling psychologists stop their intervention when it becomes clear that the client no longer needs his services and / or further work is not working, and its continuation may harm the client.
(c) Before terminating therapy, the counseling psychologist ascertains the current status of the client and makes appropriate preparations for terminating work or makes efforts to transfer the client to other professionals.
5. Informal relationships
5.1. Non-professional relationship with clients
(a) In situations where counseling psychologists cannot avoid extra-professional relationships with clients, they should be especially careful and considerate and consider the power of their influence.
(c) Counseling psychologists should strive to avoid non-professional contact with clients in situations that could harm them.
(c) If, due to circumstances, the counseling psychologist cannot prevent harm from non-professional relationships, then the problem should be resolved based on the interests of the weak party, and in full accordance with the Code of Ethics.
5.2. sexual relations
(a) Counseling psychologists respect the sexual integrity of all people and strive to ensure that it is not violated.
(b) Counseling psychologists do not have sexual relationships with clients, students, or supervisees.
5.3. Counseling for former sexual partners
Counseling psychologists do not accept as clients those with whom they have had a sexual relationship.
6. Confidentiality
6.1. Discussing privacy restrictions
(a) Counseling psychologists discuss with clients and/or organizations. with whom they establish a professional relationship:
(1) privacy issues; (2) the necessary restrictions on the possible use of information obtained during the work.
(c) Discussing confidentiality issues should take place at the earliest stages of psychological work.
(c) Any kind of recording of the session obtained with the consent of the client is protected from their misuse by clients.
6.2. Maintaining privacy
Counseling psychologists protect the privacy rights of all clients with whom they have worked.
6.3. Minimizing the invasion of the inner world
(a) To minimize the intrusion into the inner world of the client, psychologists-consultants in written and oral reports, conclusions, etc. include only the information for which the professional interaction was carried out.
(c) Counseling psychologists discuss confidential information received from clients, students, experimental participants, supervisors only in accordance with scientific or professional purposes and only with those who clearly understand the boundaries of the discussion of this information.
6.4. Ensuring the safety and integrity of the collected information
Counseling psychologists are responsible for the necessary level of confidentiality in the collection, processing, transfer and preservation of written, automated or otherwise existing information. Counseling Psychologists retain and use the confidential information they collect in accordance with the law and the Code of Ethics.
6.5. Information Disclosure
(a) Counseling psychologists disclose confidential information without the consent of the client only in cases prescribed by law, and also if it is aimed at: (1) providing the necessary professional assistance to clients; (2) providing necessary professional advice; (3) customer protection.
(c) Counseling psychologists may disclose confidential information with appropriate permission from the client.
(c) In consultation with colleagues, psychologists do not share confidential information that could lead to the identification of a client, unless permission has been obtained or disclosure of confidential information has been permitted. Psychologists-consultants provide only the information that is necessary for the consultation.
6.6. Database confidential information
(a) When entering confidential information into a database or record system that is accessible to people for whom access to confidential information has not been negotiated with clients, counseling psychologists should use coding or other techniques to prevent intrusion of personal data.
(c) When making recordings available to third parties, counseling psychologists must ensure that they do not contain information that could identify the participants in those recordings.
(c) If it is not possible to erase participant-identifying information from storage media, the counseling psychologist must obtain permission from identifiable participants to provide this information to third parties, otherwise such storage media will not be transferred to third parties.
6.7. Use of confidential information in teaching, publications and public speaking
(a) In publications, lectures, or other public appearances, counseling psychologists do not disclose confidential information that could identify clients, unless their written or oral consent has been obtained.
(c) During scientific or professional communication, counseling psychologists must change the confidential information about the persons discussed so that they cannot be identified by third parties, and the discussion does not harm them if they recognize themselves.
6.8. Protection of records and data
The counseling psychologist must be prepared in advance to protect confidential information in case of incapacitation or death, as well as seizure or theft of records and data.
7. Dealing with ethical issues
7.1. Knowledge of the Code of Ethics
Counseling psychologists should be familiar with this Code of Ethics and other ethical provisions and be aware of the applicability of these standards to their work. Ignorance, misunderstanding or confusion about ethical standards cannot be an excuse for unethical behavior.
7.2. The emergence of ethical questions
In cases where a counseling psychologist cannot independently resolve ethical issues regarding his actions in any situation, he turns to other psychologists who are more experienced in ethical issues, as well as to psychological public associations or government organizations for help.
7.3. Contradictions between ethical standards and official duties
If the official duties of a counseling psychologist are in conflict with the Code of Ethics, he must identify the essence of the contradiction as early as possible and eliminate it in favor of professional ethical standards.
7.4. Informal elimination of ethical violations
In cases where counseling psychologists become aware of the ethical violations of another counseling psychologist, they draw his attention to these violations and limit themselves to this if such an appeal led to an acceptable resolution of the situation.
7.5. Reporting ethical violations
If an ethical violation cannot be eliminated informally or it has not been eliminated in an acceptable form, counseling psychologists take actions aimed at involving the psychological community in order to stop these violations.
7.6. Unfounded claims
Counseling psychologists do not tolerate litigation over ethical claims that are not sufficiently substantiated, are anonymous, or are intended to discredit another counselor psychologist.