My Ethical Commitments.

The principles that guide my work at Claire Marisa Counselling.

Choosing to begin counselling involves trust. Trust that you will be listened to, respected and treated with care. Trust that your experiences will be taken seriously and that you will have space to explore things at your own pace.

As a BACP-accredited counsellor, I am committed to working in accordance with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy's Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.

These commitments are not simply professional requirements or words on a page. They underpin how I work, the relationships I build with clients and the responsibility I take for the work we do together.

The principles that guide my practice.

Trustworthiness

I recognise the trust involved in sharing personal thoughts, feelings and experiences. I aim to provide a safe, consistent and respectful therapeutic relationship where confidentiality, honesty and professional boundaries matter.

Autonomy – your right to choose

You are the expert in your own life. I will respect your right to make your own decisions, explore your experiences and choose what feels right for you. Counselling is a collaborative process, not something that is done to you.

Beneficence – working towards your wellbeing

My intention is to support your wellbeing, understanding and personal growth. I will work alongside you, paying attention to what you need and what may help you move towards the changes or understanding you are seeking.

Non-maleficence – taking care not to cause harm

I recognise the responsibility involved in therapeutic work. I work within my competence, remain mindful of your emotional safety and take care not to push you beyond what feels manageable. I regularly reflect on my work through professional supervision.

Justice – fairness and inclusion

I believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect. I aim to provide an inclusive and accessible service that welcomes individual differences, backgrounds, identities and experiences. I recognise the importance of challenging assumptions and considering barriers that may affect access to counselling.

Self-respect – looking after the practitioner

I recognise that offering good counselling requires me to look after my own professional and personal wellbeing. This includes maintaining appropriate boundaries, continuing professional development, seeking supervision and recognising the limits of my knowledge and capacity.

The qualities I aspire to bring

Alongside these principles, the BACP Ethical Framework identifies personal qualities that support ethical practice.

These include:

Candour: Being open and honest, particularly when something has gone wrong.
Care: Being attentive to your needs, wellbeing and personal agency.
Courage: Being willing to face difficult conversations and uncertainties.
Diligence: Taking care and responsibility in the work I undertake.
Empathy: Seeking to understand your experience from your perspective.
Fairness: Treating people impartially and with respect.
Humility: Recognising the limits of my knowledge and being willing to learn.
Integrity: Being honest and consistent in my professional conduct.
Resilience: Maintaining the capacity to work responsibly with difficult experiences.
Respect: Valuing you as an individual and respecting your understanding of yourself.
Sincerity: Being genuine and consistent in my approach.
Wisdom: Using thoughtful judgement when navigating complex situations.
Identity: Recognising the importance of personal identity, relationships and responsibility.

I recognise that these are qualities to continually develop rather than things anyone can claim to demonstrate perfectly at all times.

Accountability and continuing reflection

Ethical practice is not about getting everything right all the time. It is about recognising the responsibility we hold, being willing to reflect, acknowledging when something needs attention and taking appropriate action.

I undertake regular professional supervision, continuing professional development and reflection on my practice. I welcome conversations about how you experience our work together and will take your feedback seriously.

If something concerns you, I want you to feel able to raise it with me.