Every CAPT member will have agreed to adhere to a code of conduct or training in professional ethics from their home institution(s). For public assurance, and to make transparent our common spirit, we have also agreed to a general common code:
- The primary concern of each CAPT member is the welfare of his/her clients, and CAPT members will strive to ensure that all interactions with their clients reflect this commitment.
- CAPT members will clearly explain the nature and parameters of their service at the beginning of the psychotherapy.
- Confidentiality should be of the highest possible order. Confidential information can be shared only when the law demands it or with the client’s consent, as appropriate.
- With their clients, CAPT members must avoid business dealings, sexual engagement, or any other relationship that exploits the client.
- CAPT members must practice within the limits of their competence. They should refer clients to competent professionals when the client’s requirements exceed the limits of the therapist’s expertise.
- CAPT members, in their professional conduct, are expected to take responsibility for their own emotional, mental, and physical health.
- CAPT members are expected to continue their education and professional development in order to maintain and improve their level of competence.
- Without limiting any of the preceding principles, CAPT members accept the guiding light of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and any human rights code in the province where they work.
If you practice psychotherapy in a province in which the profession is regulated, you are also required to abide by practice and ethical standards as mandated by your regulatory body.