Creative Ethical Practice in Counselling & Psychotherapy

Can I be a creative therapist without overstepping boundaries and risking complaints?

Can I practise safely and ethically whilst remaining true to my humanistic values?

This book answers ‘Yes’ by offering a safety net to trainees and therapists working in the context of today’s ‘complaints culture’. Exploring what safe and creative practice means in relation to the key cornerstones in therapy, the authors offer practical guidance to assist the reader in reflecting on and negotiating the challenges of boundaries, legalities and defensive practice. Creative Ethical Practice for Counselling & Psychotherapy considers the necessary structures and processes that must inform creative, humanistic practice for it to be a safe, ethical therapeutic framework.

Packed with reflective exercises, summaries, case examples and step-by-step guidance, this book takes the reader from establishing the therapeutic relationship to worst-case scenarios like complaints procedures and legal action. It is essential reading for legal & ethical modules on all counselling courses.

Patti Owens, Michael Wilson and Bee Springwood are all humanistic and integrative therapists and members of the UK Association of Humanistic Psychology Practitioners (UKAHPP) as well as the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).