Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Purpose of the Code of Ethics
To define general principles and establish standards of professional conduct for psychotherapists in their work, and to inform and protect their clients: children, youth, their families, adults, and, where applicable, others.
Each member organization of EIATSCYP, EAIP, and EAP shall incorporate, consider, and operate under the following principles of the Code of Ethics.
1.2. Responsibility
All psychotherapists/supervisors are expected to approach their own business with the goal of alleviating suffering and promoting their clients. Psychotherapists/ supervisors should strive to use their abilities and skills for the greatest benefit of clients without prejudice and discrimination, as well as to recognize the values and dignity of every human being.
1.3. Discrimination
Discrimination shall be any exclusion, restriction or privilege based on real or perceived grounds against any person or group of persons on the basis of their race, color, language, religion, ethnicity, disability, age, national or social origin, affiliation with a national minority, political or other beliefs, wealth, education, social status and gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual characteristics, as well as any other circumstance that has the purpose or consequence of denying or threatening any person, enjoyment or enjoyment on an equal basis, rights and freedoms in all areas of life. (Anti- Discrimination Law, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
1.4. Zero Tolerance for All Forms of Abuse
All members of BHIDAPA are obliged to respect the goals and activities in accordance with the Association’s Statute, with the aim of advocating an explicit zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of abuse and neglect, as well as sexual exploitation and abuse – Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse – PSEA (in accordance with the UN definition).
1.5. Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
BHIDAPA-EAPTI follows the policy, strategy, and rules regarding Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse – PSEA, and in line with these, monitors, reports,creates support, and raises awareness among members of the Association and its beneficiaries regarding abuse (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse – PSEA). It includes mandatory training for all members on PSEA policies and procedures of the organization, and responsible action through response and reporting of violations.
1.6. Ethical Standards and Practice
All professionals whose organizations are members of EIATSCYP, EAIP, and EAP are obliged to adhere to the Code of Ethics and practices of their respective organizations, which are aligned with the following declarations and approved by the BHIDAPA Ethics Committee in accordance with EIATSCYP, EAIP, EAP, SPUuBiH, and the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
1.7. BHIDAPA Ethics Committee
2. ETHICAL CODE
BHIDAPA must publish a Code of Ethics approved by EIATSCYP and EAIP, appropriate for practitioners of that organization and their clients. The Code of Ethics includes and elaborates on the following ten points that are addressed. All psychotherapists/counselors/supervisors are required to adhere to their organization’s Code of Ethics.
2.1. Qualifications
Psychotherapists are required to disclose their qualifications upon request when requested and not to claim and imply qualifications they do not have.
2.2. Terms and Methods of Practice
Psychotherapists/counselors/supervisors are required to disclose on request their terms. conditions and, where appropriate, methods of practice at the outset of psychotherapy/counseling/supervision.
2.3. Confidentiality
Psychotherapists/counselors/supervisors are required to maintain confidentiality and, if requested, provide a limited amount of information to a third party in special circumstances. Psychotherapists/counselors working with children and young people need to know the nature and extent of confidentiality when working in an interdisciplinary team or across sectors. Psychotherapists should clearly seek information on who has major clinical responsibility in the team. With children and young people, the limits of confidentiality are assessed in the context of the most important welfare of the child or young person in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
2.4. Professional Relationship
Psychotherapists/counselors should consider the best interests of the child when they have appropriate contact with the child’s general practitioner, general practitioner, relevant psychiatric services and/or other relevant professionals, with the client’s knowledge. Psychotherapists/counselors/supervisors need to be aware of their limitations.
2.5. Client Relationships
Psychotherapists are required to set appropriate boundaries with clients and to ensure that they are not exploited in any way, financially, sexually or emotionally.
2.6. Research
Psychotherapists are required to explain to clients the nature, purpose and conditions of any research in which they participate and to ensure that informed and verifiable consent is given before beginning.
2.7. Publication
Psychotherapists/counselors/supervisors should ensure the well- being and anonymity of clients when considering any form of clinical material disclosure and obtain their consent wherever possible.
2.8. Practitioners’ competencies
Psychotherapists/counselors/supervisors are required to perform their duties competently and to use procedures accordingly. Psychotherapists/counselors/supervisors should be aware of their limitations.
2.9. Insurance indemnities
Psychotherapists/counselors/supervisors are required to ensure that their professional work is adequately covered by adequate insurance.
2.10. Harmful Behavior
(1) Psychotherapists/counselors/supervisors are obliged to discontinue any behavior that is harmful to their profession, colleagues or trainees. (2) Psychotherapists/counselors/supervisors are required to take appropriate action in accordance with clause 5.7 with regard to the behavior of colleagues who may be harmful to the profession, colleagues or trainees.
3. ADVERTISING
Members of BHIDAPA and individual psychotherapists need to restrict the promotion of their work to the description and type of psychotherapy they provide. Psychotherapists are required to carefully emphasize information about themselves, psychotherapy they provide, as well as on the list and in advertising.
4. CODE OF PRACTICE
BHIDAPA, as a full member of EIATSCYP and EAIP, adheres to European standards of the Code of Practice (practical application of the principles of the Code of Ethics), aligned with the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina. All psychotherapists/counselors/supervisors who are members of BHIDAPA are also members of EIATSCYP, EAIP, and the Association of Psychotherapy Professionals in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SPUuBiH), and are required to comply with the Code of Practice.
In their work with children and minors, the psychotherapist shall respect the individuality of the child in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (New York, 1989) and shall obtain written consent from the parent or legal guardian.
5. APPEAL PROCEEDINGS
BHIDAPA has a Complaints Procedure including information about the acceptability or otherwise of a complaint made by a third party against a practitioner; approved by BHIDAPA and appropriate for practitioners and their clients. The purpose of the Complaint Procedure is to provide practitioners and their clients with clear information about the complaint procedure and the process involved in the complaint. All therapists must adhere firmly to the Appeal Procedure of their organization or umbrella organization, if any. Continue reading
6. SANCTIONS
Psychotherapists/counselors/supervisors suspended or expelled from BHIDAPA are automatically expelled as members from EIATSCYP, EAIP and SPUuBiH.
7. MONITORING COMPLAINTS
BHIDAPA Member is obliged to annually inform EIATSCYP and EAIP of the number of complaints received, also the nature of their content and the timetable of the decision.
8. ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND ISSUES IN WORKING WITH CHILDREN
In the context of psychotherapy, as a form of treatment, while protecting the rights of children, the professional standard, and the code of ethics (which regulates the field of developmental psychotherapy in developed countries), there are three fundamental ethical issues that have their specificities in the treatment of children:
- the question of the psychotherapist’s competencies,
- the question of giving consent for treatment, and
- the question of confidentiality.
The application of adult psychotherapy modalities and methods in working with children is considered not only inadequate but also unethical. Therefore, the code of ethics stipulates that therapists working with children, youth, and their families must be specially trained for this work.
The issues of giving consent stipulate that it is unethical to conduct therapy without the child’s consent, and without the informed consent of their parents/guardians (which was previously the practice, e.g., at the request of a school or court). Furthermore, it is ethical for the child to be informed about the treatment planned for them, the session dynamics, the jointly defined goal, and to be included in the decision-making process, i.e., giving consent for the treatment. Professional discussions revolve around the age, cognitive, and emotional maturity at which a child is considered developmentally ready to participate in these processes. Some consider this to be the age of seven, while others move this boundary to between 11 and 13 years of age (Bojanin & Popović, Deušić, 2012).
The next ethical question is: should children have the same right to privacy and confidentiality in counseling/psychotherapy/treatment as adults? The code of ethics in working with children is in line with the Child Protection Policy and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, in their best interest, and clearly specifies the limitations of this right in cases of suspected child abuse and neglect, and expressed intent to harm oneself or others. In this case, the health worker and associate are obligated and responsible to immediately notify the competent institutions (and to inform the child and parents beforehand): the guardianship authority according to the child’s place of residence, the police department, a healthcare institution (hospital), and in some cases, the competent prosecutor’s office.
Careful attention is paid to protecting the privacy of children and their families in the storage and preservation of documentation.
All professionals are required to respect the ethical principles of their profession and the ethical principles of research with children.
Čerkez, Bera, Sesar, Badurina, Daneš, Puvača et al., 2019.