Ethical Framework Review
10 April 2024

Programme

Ethical Framework Review

This online webinar will give members an opportunity to hear about where we are in the review process and what we have learnt so far. There will also be an opportunity give your own feedback on the current Ethical Framework and to offer suggestions for what might need to be considered when producing an updated version. You’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions you have about the review process, the Ethical Framework, or about the presentations.

We want to find out more about how we can ensure that the Ethical Framework supports your practice, and your feedback can help us to do that.

The event will include 2 presentations followed by a Q&A session after each presenter and closes with a panel discussion.

To find out more information on the ethical framework review please visit our Developing the new Ethical Framework webpage.

Book your place

Programme

Click on the sessions to find out more. If you are viewing this page on a mobile, rotate your screen to view the programme.

9.30am - 9.50am	Welcome & Overview of the Ethical Framework review
9.50am - 10.20am	Reshaping the Ethical Framework, presented by Andrew Reeves and Marita Morahan
10.20am –10.25am	Break
10.25am –11.05am	Co-producing ethical practice, presented by Mhairi Thurston and Nicola Blunden
11.05am –11.15am	Break
11.15am –11.45am	Panel Discussion
11.45am	Event close

This programme is subject to change.

Presentation information

9:50am - 10:20am

Reshaping the Ethical Framework, presented by Andrew Reeves and Marita Morahan

In this session Andrew Reeves and Marita Morahan aim to look at the Ethical Framework through new lenses.

By the end of this session you will be able to:

to Look at the EF through a lens of relational ethics
to Look at the EF through a decolonisation lens
to examine the opportunities for the new EF
to examine how the new EF might feed into practice
to identify the continued consultation on the new EF

Andrew Reeves is a Professor of Counselling Professions and Mental Health at the University of Chester, a Registered Social Worker, EMCC Senior Accredited Coach and Coach Supervisor and BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist (at the time of writing). Andrew has published widely in counselling and psychotherapy, including the bestselling An Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy: From Theory to Practice – 3rd Edition (Sage), amongst other key texts, book chapters and journal articles.

Maria Morahan (aka as Marita). Marita is the Ethical Framework Review Lead and works within a team to review the existing Ethical Framework and update it in line with the changes since 2018.

Marita's role is to contribute to the review, development and implementation of an updated BACP Ethical Framework and contribute to overseeing the development of any supporting guidance to enable members. The aim is to embed the framework and professional standards within practice.

Marita additionally is a Senior Lecturer Practitioner in Counselling and worked for many years in academic research in psychology.

10:25am - 10:55am

Co-producing ethical practice, presented by Mhairi Thurston and Nicola Blunden

In this session Mhairi Thurston and Nicola Blunden explore the concept of co-producing ethical practice in counselling.

This session aims to:

understand the importance of both the therapist's and client's voices in therapy design
reflect on real-world examples of co-design to enhance ethical and best practice
examine the challenges and benefits of co-producing therapy

By the end of this session, participants should be able to:

describe the principles of co-production in therapeutic practice
identify ways to flatten power dynamics between therapist and client, promoting an anti-oppressive practice
apply concepts of co-production to therapy, including continuous consent and mutual reflexivity, to develop a shared understanding and approach to therapy
recognize challenges in co-producing therapy, such as ethical accountability and modality coherence, and discuss strategies for addressing these challenges
reflect on their own practice and consider how co-production can enhance justice and ethical practice in counselling

Dr. Mhairi Thurston is a registered, accredited counsellor, a former Governor of BACP and a Senior Lecturer in Counselling at Abertay University. She is interested in the social and emotional impacts of acquired sight loss, and broader themes of disability, equality, and inclusion. Winning the BACP New Researcher Prize in 2009, she sees herself as an 'academic activist,' using research and collaboration to make practical changes for people with sight loss. She developed a Pluralistic model of counselling, tailored for people with sight loss and collaborated with RNIB to create an award-winning training course for counsellors. Additionally, her collaboration with Retina UK resulted in a free online resource supporting mental well-being in the visually impaired community. Previously, she served as an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education and currently she sits on the Editorial Board of Disability and Society. Mhairi, herself, is severely sight impaired.

Nicola Blunden (she/they) is programme leader for the MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy at UWE Bristol. She is author of the third edition of Next Steps in Counselling and Psychotherapy, due out this Summer. She has also written about pluralistic person-centred therapy for the new edition of Tribes of the Person-Centred Nations (in press). She is passionate about decolonising counselling research, co-design of therapy, neurodivergence, and plural identity. She lives and works as a therapist and supervisor in the South Wales valleys.