This page will help you prepare for the transition by providing information about the review process, as well as feedback which helped shape the new framework and supporting resources.

We've been reviewing our Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2018 for the past four years and we’ve been keeping you updated on that journey. Shaped by your feedback, we’re delighted to present the new Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2026, which will support you in making ethical decisions and delivering safe, effective practice.  

The new framework commits members to working collaboratively, with the people using our professional services and accounting for our ethical decision-making. We hope it continues to be a living framework that can respond to changes affecting the counselling professions, such as new legislation or research.

New Ethical Framework documents 

Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2026 (Word)
Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2026 (PDF) 

Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2026 Glossary (Word)
Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2026 Glossary (PDF) 

Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2026 FAQs (Word)

*Please note, members are still committed to using the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2018 to support all aspects of their practice until Tuesday 3 November 2026, at which point the new Ethical Framework 2026 will become mandatory.*

Background to the review

Thank you to all our members who took the time to feedback during all our consultations and shared your thoughts with us, your voices have helped to shape our new Ethical Framework for Counselling Professions 2026.  

The Ethical Framework review was completed in three phases. Phase one involved scoping out the project with professional experts who looked at the format of our Ethical Framework and compared it with ethical codes and frameworks of other professional organisations.   

In phase two, we recruited a team to support the project including members with specific ethics and EDI expertise and staff members. A robust consultation plan was created so that members were able to contribute fully to the review process, which included qualitative and quantitative surveys, focus groups, email, event, and social media feedback.  

We also reviewed the data collected by BACP since 2018 relating to ethical challenges raised by members and the public our through the ethics service, our get help with counselling concerns service, and the professional conduct process. This 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. 

We’re now in phase three. We created the first draft of the new Ethical Framework and shared this with members, trainers, services, staff and other stakeholders as part the second consultation. Our second consultation (2025) focused on what support you may need to use the new framework, any barriers to implementation and what additional resources we can provide to support you in being able to effectively use the new Ethical Framework.  

We also completed impact and equality impact assessments to make sure that any changes to the Ethical Framework were considered for practitioners, supervisors, trainee counsellors, courses and services. We’ve now launched the new Ethical Framework but we’re still working on ensuring that it’ll be available in a range of different, accessible formats, and that there’s supplementary resources available. 

What are the key changes to the new Ethical Framework?  

The new Ethical Framework is now made up of three sections:

  • working ethically within relationships
  • ethical principles
  • core responsibilities

The first key change is that it asks members to focus on working ethically within all professional relationships including, but not limited to, the practitioner-client relationship.

A second key change is that it asks members to provide a rationale for their ethical decision making, which they can use to:

  • discuss their work in supervision
  • reflect on their ways of working
  • guide them towards suitable CPD
  • provide a rationale for decisions made, if required to do so, by courts or professional conduct panels for example.

The final key change is that it sets out core responsibilities of how we expect members to meet the standards set out, and how this framework applies across all professional relationships. This section also includes new guidance on the use of AI and digital technology.

What resources will be created to support members?

A series of Ethics Essentials videos explaining in more detail the different sections of the new Ethical Framework are available to view.

We’re currently working on further resources to support you implement the new framework including a range of short and more detailed resources such as e-learning modules, text-based resources and videos. These are being informed by the feedback from you within our second consultation.

We’re also reviewing, updating and expanding all the resources currently available on the Ethics Hub. The current Good Practice in Action (GPiAs) resources are currently being updated and will be available in three new categories of Ethics Essentials, Ethics in Practice and Legal Resources.

What happens next? 

The new Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2026 will sit on this page for three months giving you the chance to familiarise yourself with the changes and resources before it becomes mandatory for all members at 12:01am on Tuesday 3 November 2026. 

We're committed to making the Ethical Framework accessible in a variety of formats and the full range will be available in November 2026, together with further supporting resources and guidance. If you’d like to contact the Ethical Framework team, please email efnew@bacp.co.uk

Reports

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

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 
4. Public perception survey report 2024 
5. Get help with counselling public feedback report
6. Focus group data report 
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 
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

2nd consultation

21. Analysis of second consultation data informing the Ethical Framework 2026
22. Practice-related resources member consultation
23. Equality Impact Assessment on the Ethical Framework 2026
24. Impact Assessment on the Ethical Framework 2026

Introduction to the new Ethical Framework transcription (Word 108kb)

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.