Home  | Counselling Ethics 2005

Recently the convenor of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors, Rhonda Pritchard, conducted a workshop for Hawkes Bay Members.

 

This was a timely reminder for members to reflect on their practice and to raise their awareness of counselling ethics, to enable them to give their clients the highest degree of excellence and respect.

 

Counsellors have the privilege and responibility to assure clients of a service which is competent, respectful and safe.

 

It is important for the community to be aware, that when choosing a counsellor they find out if they belong to their professional body, like the New Zealand Association of Counsellors.

 

This can give the client assurance that the counsellor’s practice will be guided by the core values of:

If these core values are not practiced the counsellor can be reported to the Ethics Committee of their Professional Association and an investigation held. If the complaints are upheld, disciplinary action will be taken.

 

At the Napier Family Centre all our Counsellors and Psychotherapists practice under these core values, and in fact, all our workers,including Budgeters, Family Support Workers, Early Childhood Education and Care Workers practice under these codes.

 

Our Counselling Service has experienced a huge increase in referrals over the last few months.
We are delighted to see an increase in men ringing for appointments, to find ways of improving their relationships and becoming better fathers and partners.

 

There is a large increase of people presenting with stress and anxiety.

 

Our economy, the media tell us, is great and booming but from where I sit there is a human cost to individuals and families.

 

The lack of time for care and attention given to relationships, of all kinds, partners children and friends is, in my opinion, responsible for much unhappiness and breakdown in our society.

 

Today, to whom can you give more love and care?