We've been reviewing our Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions听2018 and as part of the review our first consultation (2023 to 2024) was designed to understand where clarity and changes were needed in terms of the purpose, content and structure of the Ethical Framework.

Thank you to all members who took the time to feedback during our first consultation and share their thoughts with us, your voices have helped to shape our new Ethical Framework draft.

We want to ensure the new Ethical Framework works for you, so the second consultation focuses on what you may need to use it in your practice, any barriers to implementation and what additional resources we can provide to support you in being able to effectively use the new Ethical Framework.

New draft Ethical Framework documents听

Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2025 (Word)
Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2025 (PDF)听
Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2025 FAQs (Word)

We want to hear from you

You helped shape our new Ethical Framework draft 鈥� now we want to make sure it works for you in practice. Please share your thoughts by completing our or emailing us directly at efnew@bacp.co.uk The survey should take approximately 10 to 20 minutes to complete and your responses are anonymous.

If you would prefer to complete the survey by Word, please use the document below and send the complete survey to efnew@bacp.co.uk

New Ethical Framework draft second consultation survey鈥�(Word)

How can members get involved in the second consultation?听

You can take part in many ways during this second consultation.听听

  • a 听
  • webinar which will be held on Tuesday 18 November, book your place
  • workshop in January 2026 - details and booking information (TBC)
  • inviting you to share how this new Ethical Framework draft will support you in practice through our dedicated email address at efnew@bacp.co.uk which closes on Saturday 31 January 2026
  • a consultation with accredited courses and services, organisational members, 麻豆原创 staff and other stakeholders - email efnew@bacp.co.uk for more information
  • our Making Connections and other events will also be an opportunity for you to share feedback and ask questions to relevant 麻豆原创 staff and to learn more about how to get involved

We want to make sure members are aware of the review and what this means to your practice. It's important that you all have a chance to share your feedback.听

We鈥檒l be updating this page to include details of the data from the second consultation as they emerge and will be keeping you up to date through regular member communications.听

When will the second consultation close?听

The second consultation opens on Tuesday 7 October 2025 and will end on Saturday 31 January 2026.听

What happens in the second consultation?听听

The second consultation will help us understand how the changes to the Ethical Framework will affect practitioners, supervisors, trainee counsellors, training courses, and services. All feedback gathered during this stage will be carefully reviewed and used to shape the final version of the Ethical Framework, along with supporting materials and Good Practice in Action (GPiA) resources. These will help members confidently apply the updated Ethical Framework in their work.

We鈥檙e committed to making the Ethical Framework available in a variety of accessible formats. The final version will be published by Autumn 2026, and it'll become鈥痬andatory three months after publication and launch.听

Reports

These reports are all the data and feedback we collected during the first consultation and since beginning the Ethical Framework review, which has helped to inform the draft.

1. Historical data report
1.(S) Historical data report executive summary
2. Literature review of contemporary ethical issues for counselling practitioners report 2018 to 2024
2.(S) Literature review of contemporary ethical issues for counselling practitioners report 2018 to 2024 executive summary
3. Public perception survey report 2023听
4. Public perception survey report 2024听
5. Get help with counselling public feedback report
6. Focus group data report听
6.(S) Focus group data report executive summary
7. Organisational member courses and services consultation report
8. Organisational member courses and services day informal feedback report 2023听
9. Complex ethical queries (EFIG) historical data amendment for March 23 to March 24 report
10. Informal feedback report
11. Ethics service data report January 2023 to March 2025
12. Member survey, quantitative data report
12.(S) Member survey, quantitative data report executive summary
13. Member survey qualitative data report
14. Email and social media feedback report
15. Good practice in action resources feedback report
16. Member survey report addendum
17. Professional conduct data report
18. Artificial intelligence and technology in therapy member survey report
18.(S) Artificial intelligence and technology in therapy member survey report executive summary
19. Good practice in action resources survey report
20. Analysis process of consultation data report

Professor Andrew Reeves and Myira Khan introduce the new Ethical Framework draft. Watch as they discuss the development of the new Ethical Framework draft, how they intend to use it and how it'll work for practitioners.听