Are you starting out as a counsellor? You’ll know all too well from having it drilled into you during your qualification that this is a profession that demands a good, trustworthy reputation for success. Therefore, you’ll need to understand how to protect your business, both on a professional and personal level, as you begin this career path.
Understanding the legal obligations
Now that you’re qualified, you’ll need to consider how you want to proceed. If you want to set up your own practice, there are the standard legal requirements that come with setting up any business venture, such as registering a new business with HMRC.
Accreditations are also important as these indicate you’ve undergone the correct training. The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) keeps a register of practitioners who meet professional standards – being able to point to your presence on such lists is valuable.
Before you can begin to help clients, you’ll also need to provide them with a consent form, establishing their understanding of the process and agreement to participate. It also demonstrates you’ll maintain their confidentiality.
Navigating client confidentiality
Every session you have with a client must be kept confidential. Notes and records must be stored in a secure location in line with GDPR. This is especially important as you’re processing very personal data.
You’ll know from your training, however, that you may encounter a situation where confidentiality can and must be broken. For instance, if there have been any illegal offences or threats of serious harm, you are legally obliged to report this information.
In some cases, it’s appropriate to let your client know you’re going to break their confidentiality and to get their approval to do so but, in others, you may have to disclose what you know to the authorities without their consent.
The importance of professional boundaries
Your clients will share some deeply personal information with you. Understandably, you might want to comfort them. But it’s vital to maintain professional boundaries at all times. Stick to your training and remember that you need to keep some distance between yourself and your clients to be able to do your job properly, safely and legally.
The training you’ve had will have taken you through these ethical implications. The BACP, British Psychological Society and National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society each have a framework to abide by. These all require that you respect your clients and set firm boundaries – after all, they’re in a vulnerable position when they use your service.
Managing career risks
This is a delicate balance to strike. You’re in a position of trust and have a duty of care to your clients.
Should you promote an ethical counselling practice and enforce boundaries, you’ll be in a position to offer a first-class service and can expect things to run smoothly. Even when doing everything right, though, you might find it wise to explore counsellor’s insurance as a potential safeguard against unexpected situations or disputes with clients, which can always happen.
By being compliant from a legal and ethical standpoint, you can work to build a strong reputation in the industry while also taking the best steps to protect yourself and your career.
