This page sets out the professional and ethical standards that all ABCAP members agree to uphold as a condition of membership. By joining ABCAP, you confirm that you have read and agreed to this Code of Ethics and to our Membership Terms and Conditions.
These standards apply to all individual members. Organisational members are subject to separate terms.
ABCAP members are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the following principles at all times in their professional practice.
a. Client welfare
You must prioritise the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of your clients above all else. You must not exploit clients physically, emotionally, financially, or sexually.
b. Confidentiality
You must keep client information confidential. Disclosure is only permissible where required by law, where there is a risk of serious harm to the client or others, or with the client’s informed consent.
c. Boundaries
You must maintain appropriate professional boundaries with clients at all times. Dual relationships (personal, financial, or otherwise) that could impair professional judgement or exploit the client must be avoided.
d. Competence
You must only practise within the limits of your training, qualifications, and experience. You must not misrepresent your qualifications, experience, or the services you offer.
e. Integrity
You must be honest and transparent in all professional dealings, including with clients, colleagues, and ABCAP. You must not make false or misleading statements about yourself, your practice, or other professionals.
f. Respect for colleagues
You must treat other therapy professionals with respect. You must not make derogatory or disparaging statements about colleagues that could damage the reputation of the profession.
g. Safeguarding
You must act promptly where you have reason to believe a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of harm. You must be familiar with and follow appropriate safeguarding procedures.
h. Professional reputation
You must not conduct yourself in a way that brings the therapy profession or ABCAP into disrepute, whether in your professional capacity or otherwise.
Insurance
If you are in active practice, it is your responsibility to hold appropriate professional indemnity insurance. ABCAP does not verify members’ insurance on an ongoing basis, but members who practise without suitable cover do so at their own risk and in breach of widely accepted professional standards.
Supervision
You are expected to engage in regular clinical supervision appropriate to your level of experience and practice. Supervision provides a space to reflect on your work and maintain the quality of your practice.
Fitness to practise
You must not practise if your ability to do so safely is impaired — for example, due to health, substance use, or personal circumstances. If your fitness to practise is called into question, you must notify ABCAP promptly.
Legal obligations
You must comply with all applicable laws and regulations relevant to your practice, including data protection law, equality law, and any relevant sector-specific requirements.
When you join ABCAP, we verify the information you provide, including your qualifications or evidence of study towards qualifications, professional body membership (where applicable), and professional indemnity insurance (where applicable).
You are responsible for keeping your ABCAP listing accurate and up to date throughout your membership. You must notify ABCAP promptly if any of the following change:
ABCAP does not actively monitor ongoing changes to member credentials after the point of joining. Members are responsible for ensuring their listing remains accurate. Providing false or misleading information is a serious breach of our Membership Terms and will result in immediate removal with no right of appeal.
Keeping your skills and knowledge current is an important part of professional practice. ABCAP expects members to engage in CPD activities relevant to their area of practice on an ongoing basis.
Eligible CPD activities include:
Members are required to keep records of their CPD activities. ABCAP may carry out periodic audits and request evidence of CPD as a condition of membership renewal. Failure to meet CPD requirements may result in suspension or termination of membership.
A breach of this Code of Ethics is a breach of your Membership Terms and Conditions and may result in your listing being suspended or your membership being terminated. ABCAP reserves the right to take action on complaints or concerns received about a member’s conduct, in accordance with our Complaints and Concerns Procedure.
ABCAP is not a regulatory body and does not investigate allegations of misconduct or make findings of wrongdoing. Where a complaint raises concerns that go beyond ABCAP’s scope — for example, serious professional misconduct or criminal conduct — we will signpost to the appropriate professional body, regulator, or statutory authority.
For more information on how complaints are handled, see our Complaints and Concerns Procedure.
This Code of Ethics was last updated March 2026. ABCAP reviews its policies periodically and will notify members of material changes.