We’re reviewing our Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2018 to ensure that it’s more accessible for all members, to inform their ethical decision making and to embed equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) at the heart of ethical thinking. 

Our Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2018 sets out the expected ethical principles, values and good practice standards for BACP members. All our members must work in accordance with the Ethical Framework and commit to complying with the Ethical Framework as part of their terms and conditions of membership.  

The Ethical Framework was last reviewed and updated in 2018. Since then, the world, and the way our members work, has changed. Because it’s a living document, the Ethical Framework needs to continue to develop, adapt to the changing ways our members work and the ethical challenges they face, and encompass current issues and legislation.  

We’re therefore launching a review of the current Ethical Framework with the aim of making it more accessible for all members. We want to ensure that BACP has an evidence based Ethical Framework that is clear, easily understood by members, enables members to embed ethics within their practice and has equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) at its heart. ​The revised Ethical Framework will continue to support members’ ethical decision-making process. 

This is a significant project which will affect all our members and we want to make sure that you are involved throughout. It’s important that your voices are heard as part of our review. We’re still in the very early stages of the project and are currently reviewing next steps. However, we’ll be updating members with information on how you can get involved, as soon as we’re able to. We want our Ethical Framework to continue to support members in the best way possible.  

For more information about the review and to answer some of the questions you might have please visit our Developing the new Ethical Framework web page.

In the meantime, if you have any feedback or questions about this review or the current framework, please email the Ethical Framework team.