What does a practitioner who thinks and acts ethically look like?

The vision and values of the psychotherapy profession are embodied in the attitudes, character, behaviours and practice of its practitioners.

In the context of complex professional practice and judgment, practitioners must take a broad view of the concerns and issues they face, embracing and acting upon the principles and standards set out in UKCP’s Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (2019), both individually and collectively.  

Practitioners who think ethically and act ethically: 

• make the care of clients their first concern
• are reflective, self-critical, non-judgmental, aspirational, adaptable and flexible
• are always seeking to develop and do better
• respect clients’ autonomy and self-determination, striving to assist them in expressing their thoughts and feelings to promote self-understanding and agency
• maintain appropriate boundaries
• avoid imposing themselves, their thoughts, and their feelings on clients
• engage in collaboration and negotiation from a position of expertise
• are robust enough to tolerate and work with uncertainty and anxiety, to bear the emotional pain and disturbance of hearing about clients’ experiences, and to know when their limits for either have been reached
• understand their own limitations and seek to enhance their competence, skills and self-knowledge through self-reflection and continuing developmental activity
• manage the risk of harm to clients, themselves and others
• recognise the power dynamic in the therapeutic relationship and manage conflict in a professional manner
• keep up with legal and other requirements relevant to their practice
• seek advice about professional conduct issues they observe in their own or colleagues’ practice
• acknowledge and put plans into place for their practice if they are unfit to work, for example through bereavement or illness
• continue to develop by engaging in appropriate supervision and seeking advice and guidance
• adopt approaches for which there is a sound basis, paying attention to clinical outcomes
• take opportunities for training, education and professional development.

Practitioners should regularly and self-critically review their practice in relation to ethical implications and issues, addressing questions such as:  

• Do you recognise the requirements of good practice presented in the UKCP Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (2019), and are you demonstrating all or most of the qualities described?
• Are you the best and most effective practitioner you can be?
• What are you doing to acquire and hone these important qualities so both you and your clients can feel confident in your work?
• If you’re not moving towards aspects of this ideal, do you have good reasons for not doing so?
• Can you account for deviations in your practice in a way that is justifiable before your peers, supervisors the public and clients?

The 2025 Ethics Committee acknowledges and is grateful to members of its predecessor committee for the above description of ethical practice, which has been modified slightly to take account of UKCP’s current Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (2019).