Counselling, Psychotherapy, Ethics and the Law

Law is rarely included as a core part of our initial trainng as therapists. This can lead to uncertainty about the extent of our professional obligations towards employers and clients, and to concerns about our own legal liability, as evidenced in the increased use of terms such as ‘duty of care’ within our professional discussions. This participative workshop aims to clarify the basic contours of the law in relation to our therapeutic practice and to translate these concepts into more familiar ethical concepts. The key concept of ‘duty of care’ towards clients will be explored and unpacked by discussing a landmark case of alleged therapist negligence, and by identifying some of the main implications for practising in a safe and competent manner.