Dealing with ethical dilemmas is one of the most challenging aspects of our work, but we can also learn a lot from the tricky stuff. The support and insight of fellow professionals in helping us decide on a course of action can be invaluable. So it’s perhaps no surprise that, according to membership surveys, the ‘Dilemmas’ section in Therapy Today is one of the most valued by readers. For confidentiality purposes, all questions are composite, but they are inspired by common dilemmas brought by members to the BACP Ethics hub.
In its first evolution, dilemmas were answered solely by members. The next version consisted of responses answered by the Ethics Team based on the Ethical Framework. The latest iteration, introduced in the September issue last year, takes a hybrid approach that includes both Ethics Team and Therapy Today reader responses. We hope we’ve now got the balance right!
This month’s dilemma tackles the perennial question of the ‘six degrees of separation’ factor that we often face with clients, especially if we work in our local area. The upcoming dilemmas are flagged at the end of each section and you don’t have to be an ‘expert’ to respond – if any resonate with you, please don’t hesitate to email your reflections – brief responses or longer ones (up to 350 words) are welcome.
A dilemma many of us face is when to move on to new challenges. Stepping away from work that has been part of our lives for a long time is never easy, especially if we believe we can make a difference. It’s with this in mind that we pay tribute to BACP’s outgoing President David Weaver in our ‘Big interview’ in this issue. David has done so much to raise awareness of cultural and racial issues in our profession during his time as President, Vice President and Governor, and I have personally gained much from working with him on our Black History Month issues.
Also stepping down this month is Nancy Rowland, Vice President and previously Deputy CEO and a member of the Board. Nancy has given so much to the profession over the years, driven by her passion to establish a research culture in therapy. It’s a reminder that our profession stands on the shoulders of many giants.
Sally Brown, Editor
