Ethics

All counselling, coaching and training services provided by Philip Johnson and/or choosingchange or working on behalf of Philip Johnson are done so in good faith.
Phil Johnson of choosingchange aims to help identify the ways counselling and psychotherapy can make changes in people’s lives with clear presentation of ideas, concepts, methods and resources for change. This attempts to demystify counselling, psychotherapy, psychology and psychiatry. Ultimately, this process will allow the layman to make decisions and choices for her or himself, facilitating pathways toward effective change in their lives.

Any information gathered by completing any forms is kept private and no information is ever is ever sold or passed on excepting where legal requirements declare such a procedure. This process is discussed and agreed upon at the first session of any consultation…
Code of Practice, Ethics, Principles.

1. Counselling, Counsellors and Clients

1-a. Counselling — The fundamental reason for the existence of ChoosingChange is to impart knowledge to people about counselling. To this end all effort is made to provide accurate and helpful data to enable the layperson to gain knowledge that will benefit and enhance their welfare.

1-b. Counsellors —Every person who provides professional or lay advice or counselling via ChoosingChange does so with the this code of practice in mind; it is a condition of their involvement. Where necessary counsellors and advisors will refer to another person, source of information or organisation if it is considered appropriate and profitable for the enquirer or client.

Counsellors will engage with clients under contractual conditions: clients are made aware of the plan and possible/probable outcomes from any association with choosingchange.
1-c. Clients — The dignity and respect due to all people is especially relevant in a relationship where one is seeking the assistance of another. At ChoosingChange it this principle that stands supreme in our minds as we foster caring and concerned relationships with people seeking our help.

Clients are considered the pivotal position in any relationship: they dictate the terms and conditions while the counsellor acts as guide toward steering the client in directions that may illuminate and inspire if the client wills it so.

2. Professional Responsibility

2 a. Competence — All people involved with providing information or services related to ChoosingChange are required to do so within the areas of their experience and expertise. They will have trained and practised in any area they discuss or write about.

Further, their commitment in this regard is to continue such education and training and to continually strive for personal and professional psychological awareness.

2-b. Expectations — Counsellors and information providers are expected to understand and follow this Code of Ethics, Principles and Standards of Practice as a matter of course.

2-c. Advertising and Gaining Clients —ChoosingChange participants (therapists) are required to always provide truthful information about themselves and their areas of expertise.

2-d. Accreditation — Their accreditation must always be available for perusal including details of where their credentials are obtained. Only counselling, psychology or behavioural science are appropriate for presentation to clients. Where degrees and experience from other areas of expertise are passed onto clients it must be made clear that these credentials are incidental to their current counselling practice.

2-e. Discrimination and Prejudice — The dignity and respect due to all people is further emphasised here, in that all people are to be treated fairly and in a non-discriminatory manner. The inalienable rights of person kind are to remain paramount in the minds of all people working or assisting with information from ChoosingChange. Discrimination principles include (but do not limit themselves) to ethnic grouping, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, economic status, gender or culture.

2-f. Sexual or Physical Involvement — Sexual and physical contact is never appropriate in a counselling relationship. It is considered that any involvement between counsellor and client of a sexual nature is counter productive, discriminatory and demeaning. 2-g. Approaches — Counsellors and counselling covers many modalities. Most counsellors utilise several of these many approaches and do so with the knowledge that different clients require/desire different treatments and different outcomes.

At ChoosingChange all people involved are expected to be respectful of these different approaches. Counsellors are asked to always speak from a personal/professional point of view and state clearly their preferences without demeaning any of their colleague’s work.

3. Confidentiality

3-a. Privacy — Clients are respected at all times and are guaranteed the right to nondisclosure of any information they impart to their counsellor.

3-b. Excepting — where it is a legal requirement to inform the authorities (clear or imminent danger to client or other person by self or others.

These conditions must be made clear to the client before counselling proceeds.

3-c. Disclosure — Where disclosure is required (by Law) it is desired that it is kept to a minimum and only appropriate information is passed on.

4. Supervision and Ongoing Training

4-a. Modelling. — Counsellors and health professional act as models to clients and those seeking assistance in life changing issues and as such it is expected that they maintain a high level of personal and professional training in order to substantiate their accreditation. Human behaviour is varied and complicated; in order to impart the best information to clients professionals will endeavour to have the latest information at their disposal.

4-b. Supervision — Counsellors and health professionals are required to undergo continual professional supervision in order to ethically deal with clients and their own issues. Registration with professional bodies make supervision mandatory.

Where this is not automatically undertaken through a regulatory body, ChoosingChange expects all people involved with dissemination of information or face-to-face counselling sessions to undergo supervision with a professional in their appropriate field at least ten percent of their client contact hours.

4-c. Sexual and personal relationships —Counsellors and people giving advice are required to develop a clear policy regarding contact with people (peers and clients) of a personal and/or professional nature. The climate surrounding such contacts is muddied by personal involvement.

It is expected that everyone at ChoosingChange make this a top priority when forming such relationships. Sexual relations, financial involvement, supervisory placement and any other relationship likely to contaminate the counsellor/client commitment and are forbidden. Compromised relationships can do enormous harm to the people and the institution.

5. Disagreements

5-a. Unethical Behaviour — Where it is suspected that ethical standards are being abused or violated it is the responsibility of any person associated with counselling or dissemination of information from ChoosingChange to make this known to the person involved. Care and consideration is to be exercised but the safety and consideration of the client is to be held paramount. Reporting: Reporting any suspected breaches is invited.

5-b. Reporting — Where reasonable suspicion is found to make a report counsellors are encouraged to settle disputes with each other and then proceed to 5b. Unwarranted complaints. Where continual or harassment-like complaints are made association with the complainer will be discontinued..

To make enquiries in order to resolve concerns contact PACFA – Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia or CAPA Counsellors and Psychotherapists Association NSW