Please read this Code of Ethics which explains and details what you can – and cannot – expect from me during counselling.
Code of Ethics
- Julie Taylor lives in Canada and her contract with you for the work you do together falls under the laws and jurisdiction of Canada.
- Julie will take some notes and make an assessment at the beginning and throughout the counselling sessions but if you require a formal clinical assessment, this likely needs to be done by a psychologist.
- Today AI is often used by clients and this may or may not be accurate, confidential or support our work together. Please let Julie know so that you can discuss what you have read.
- The client agrees not to record any clinical sessions without the written consent of counsellor, client and any other person present in the sessions.
- Julie will provide a means for evaluation of progress, – if requested in advance. Open discussion of goals and progress is encouraged but note keeping is minimal.
- If Julie does not have the skill level to provide the help needed, she will refer you to another qualified professional.
- Julie will preserve her client’s right to confidentiality and will not release any identifying information verbally or in writing without the client’s signed permission. Exceptions are: a threat of suicide, homicide or suspected child abuse; or when ordered to release information by a Canadian court of law.
- Julie will not engage in a romantic or sexual relationship with the client.
- Julie will avoid statements to the client which suggest blame for current difficulties but will allow insight and recovery of memories to come from the client.
- Julie will remind the client that mental images which emerge during hypnosis or guided imagery may not be memories of actual events.
- Julie will provide a safe, private setting for counselling in her office or online, to the best of her ability.
- Julie will not require payment of a fee for service before the service has been provided in her office. For work online – or fees for a ‘missed appointment’ – payment may be required before service and will be refunded if service is not provided.
- Julie will not introduce spiritual concepts unless clients is previously known to the client as a provider of spiritual or pastoral counselling or at the request of the client.
- Julie will make every effort to relate to the client intentionally for a predictable therapeutic outcome.
- Julie will take care to properly assess, prevent and document the possibility and potential of suicidal or homicidal expressions and behaviour by a client.
- Julie will immediately (within 24 hours of discovery) report the sexual or physical abuse of a child to local police or other authorized persons to the best of her ability. Where possible, the client will be supported to report such incident his or her self.
- Julie will not give a client the false hope that this counselling relationship can ever be anything other than a professional counselling relationship or that the counselling relationship can be permanent.
- Julie will take direct steps to inform a potential victim of homicidal threats made by a client and will report the potential incident to local police. Julie will also report to local police a homicidal threat to my client. Please note that online counselling relies on the voluntary disclosure of the location of a client which may or may not be accurate.
- I will not use hypnosis or guided imagery as part of the treatment for a client who has disclosed that they have been hospitalized for psychosis or major depression.
- Julie will not devalue the competence of another practitioner in the presence of a client but will direct any complaints to the appropriate professional disciplinary body.
- Julie will avoid expressing anger or reacting emotionally to the client (except intentionally and for therapeutic effect).
- Julie will not pressure a client to remain in a counselling relationship against the client’s expressed desire to terminate.
- Julie will not advise a couple to separate or to end their relationship. Counselling may be refused or temporary separation may be recommended where there is current physical or sexual abuse.
- Julie is committed to her own personal growth and professional supervision as part of effective counselling.
- Julie will not provide counselling while either client or counsellor are under the influence of alcohol or drugs however drug, alcohol and other addiction counselling in this practice is not dependent on abstinence.
- Julie is committed to continuing professional education, receiving supervision and to expanding her repertoire of skills and understanding of current counselling practice.
- Julie is willing to see partners in a marriage both together and singly, should this be acceptable to both partners. Care will be taken to separate confidentiality, but acknowledges the possibility of human error. Many partners prefer separate counsellors and Julie is equally happy to work this way.
I have read, understand and agree with this Code of Ethics.
Please consider my typed name here as a legally binding signature.
Please do not forget to fill out the Intake Form and the Limits of Confidentiality too. Thank you!