11/05/2026
Writing about ethics for your CTA?
Let’s make it more accessible (not easier, because it’s not meant to be easy!).
As professionals, we are bound by ethical codes put forward by associations such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy or the International Transactional Analysis Association.
The BACP Ethical Framework consists broadly of:
1️⃣ Commitment to clients — a client-friendly outline.
2️⃣ Ethics — underpinning values that inform principles and translate into personal and moral qualities.
The principles correlate broadly with those described by Kitchener (1984) and Thompson (1990), summarised by the acronym BANFUJ (literally: ban 🛑 fudge 💩):
Beneficence — Does the client benefit?
Autonomy — Does the process foster self-determination?
Non-maleficence — Is harm minimised?
Fidelity — Are promises such as confidentiality upheld?
Universality — Would you recommend this treatment to everyone?
Justice — Is everyone treated fairly and without discrimination?
3️⃣ Good practice — implementing the principles in real clinical work.
For example, we sometimes need to prioritise safety over a client’s explicit wishes, maintain standards through supervision, or keep accurate records.
The ITAA Code of Ethics (revised in November 2024 🔥) highlights Educational and Remedial functions while emphasising restorative justice practices.
In simple words: ethics is not about catching culprits, but about thinking together through difficult situations.
When writing your CTA, cite the specific principles guiding your actions.
And remember: an ethical dilemma is not simply confronting a client who repeatedly misses sessions.
A dilemma occurs when TWO PRINCIPLES CLASH and you need to prioritise one over another.
For example, you may breach confidentiality in favour of protection if you believe a client is in danger ‼️
