Code of Ethics and Professional Practice

Introduction

The purpose of this Code is twofold: (1) to define the general values and principles underpinning Gestalt therapy, to establish standards of professional conduct for Gestalt therapists and training institutes; and (2) to inform and protect members of the public who seek such services.

Gestalt therapists are responsible for adhering to the principles outlined in this Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (the Code), which is intended to guide good practice rather than serve as a minimum standard. The Code protects both clients and therapists by clarifying professional boundaries and accountability.

The general aim of psychotherapy is to promote the psychophysical and socio-environmental wellbeing of the individual, groups, and the wider community. Gestalt therapy affirms this aim, particularly emphasising the phenomenological and subjective nature of wellbeing as shaped by one’s relational context (the field).

Since this aim is pursued through a dialogical approach grounded in respect for autonomy and self-regulation, this Code and the accompanying Concerns, Grievances and Complaints Policy provide a framework for resolving difficulties between two or more parties through dialogue and exchange, rather than through a hierarchical system of judgment and consequences.

This Code applies to all members of VAGP and will be periodically reviewed and revised to reflect emerging best practices and evolving professional norms. Complaints against training institutes or the majority of a training staff will be addressed by the VAGP Ethics Committee, with provision for consultation as required.

Each member adopts and adheres to this Code and the Concerns, Grievances and Complaints Policy. The Concerns, Grievances, and Complaints Policy outlines how concerns about the professional conduct of a member may be raised and, where relevant, referred to the Ethics Committee for investigation. The VAGP Ethics Committee is responsible for maintaining an overview of the Code of Ethics.

A. Values and Principles

1. Affirmation of the equal worth, uniqueness, and dignity of every individual.
2. Appreciation of diversity, including differences in cultural background, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity or orientation, differing abilities, age, religion or spiritual tradition, language, social or economic status.
3. Recognition of the importance of autonomy and self-regulation of the individual in the context of contactful interpersonal relationships.
4. Commitment to culturally reflective practice, recognising how the therapist’s own culture, values, attitudes, assumptions, and beliefs influence their work within and beyond the therapeutic space.

B. Professional Responsibilities and Practice Standards for Gestalt Therapists

B.1 Competence

1. B.1.1 Gestalt therapists undertake only those tasks for which they are competent, in order to support the client’s therapeutic process.
2. B.1.2 When a Gestalt therapist recognises the limits of their competence, they seek supervision, refer the client, or collaborate appropriately.
3. B.1.3 If therapy continues, the Gestalt therapist is responsible for taking steps to enhance their competence.
4. B.1.4 The Gestalt therapist protects their work and the profession from unqualified activities (e.g., lectures, public interviews, seminars) that are not in correspondence with the professional standards set out in this Code.
5. B.1.5 The Gestalt therapist seeks individual therapy when facing personal crises, burnout and/or difficulties in safeguarding boundaries.
6. B.1.6 The therapeutic approach must serve the aims and developmental needs of the client.
7. B.1.7 Gestalt therapists maintain and develop their competence throughout their professional lives and remain informed about relevant developments in the field of Gestalt psychotherapy or in other fields of research and practice.
8. B.1.8 The Gestalt therapist maintains careful documentation of their work with the client and observes the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Victorian Health Records Act 2001.
9. B.1.9 Gestalt therapists engage in culturally reflective practice, acknowledging and examining how their own culture, values, attitudes, assumptions, and beliefs influence their professional work and therapeutic relationships.

B.2 The client/therapist relationship

1. B.2.1 The client/therapist relationship is a professional relationship within which the welfare of the client is the therapist’s primary concern.
2. B.2.2 Gestalt therapists recognise the importance of the relationship for effective therapy and are aware of the power and influence and the issues of dependency inherent in this situation. The Gestalt therapist will act in a manner consistent with this recognition and will not exploit or abuse clients in any form (financially, sexually, emotionally, politically, or ideologically) for personal gain or the gain of another person or institution.
3. B.2.3 Gestalt therapists are aware when other relationships or external commitments conflict with the interests of the client. When such a conflict of interests exists, it is the responsibility of the Gestalt therapist to bring it openly into the field of the therapeutic relationship and take necessary action to resolve the issue.
4. B.2.4 Physical contact in the therapeutic process is exclusively orientated to the welfare of the client and requires special professional reflection and care. In the handling of physical contact in the therapeutic process, the consent of the client is of primary importance.
5. B.2.5 Gestalt therapists recognise that familial and romantic relationships are always incompatible with the therapeutic process. Other forms of dual relationships (e.g., collegial, social, organisational) may also create risks, particularly due to the inherent power differential between therapist and client. In such cases, therapists will exercise careful judgement, seek supervision or consultation, and take appropriate steps to safeguard the client’s wellbeing and the integrity of the therapy.
6. B.2.6 When providing services to more than one client simultaneously (such as in couples, families, groups, or other relational systems), the Gestalt therapist must ensure that this mode of intervention is ethically appropriate for all involved.

B.3 Confidentiality

1. B.3.1 All exchanges between the Gestalt therapist and client are regarded as confidential, subject to clauses B.3.12 and B.7.
2. B.3.2 Gestalt therapists store client data in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic), including any applicable amendments.
3. B.3.3 The Gestalt therapist takes care that personally identifiable information is not transmitted through overlapping networks of confidential relationships, such as supervision.
4. B.3.4 Using client material for publication or presentation requires explicit consent and complete anonymisation.
5. B.3.7 Audio, video, or photographic recordings require the client’s explicit written consent, or that of their legal representative.
6. B.3.8 When a Gestalt therapist seeks to obtain relevant data about a client from third parties, they observe the right of the client as regulated by Federal and State law. This also applies to the handling of written data regarding the client.
7. B.3.9 A Gestalt therapist takes into consideration the right of the client to access their records as described in Federal and State laws and is thoughtful in the handling of these documents towards the client.
8. B.3.10 When public or private institutions, such as law courts, insurance companies etc. request data regarding a client, the Gestalt therapist observes relevant Federal and State laws. In doing so, the Gestalt therapist enters into a discourse with the client and proceeds in a manner that is the most beneficial to the therapeutic process.
9. B.3.11 When the client is a minor, the Gestalt therapist applies all the above considerations to the therapeutic relationship. In addition, the Gestalt therapist will conform with all relevant Federal and State laws regarding the responsibilities of professionals in cases involving suspected abuse or neglect.
10. B.3.12 In the event that the Gestalt therapist has reasonable concerns about the safety of the client and/or other persons, they may breach confidentiality to inform those officials or professionals who are able to intervene and prevent the assumed danger or risk. Wherever possible, the Gestalt therapist needs to inform the client about such steps.

B.4 Contracting with the client

1. B.4.1 Any contract made between a Gestalt therapist and a client is binding for both parties, whether written or verbal.
2. B.4.2 Both therapist and client may terminate the contract at any time. Wherever possible, a closing session should be arranged to reflect together on what worked well and what did not.
3. B.4. The Gestalt therapist is clear and open regarding their competence, expertise and experience when negotiating a therapeutic contract with the prospective client.
4. B.4.4 Any recording (audio or video) or observation of therapy sessions will be discussed with the client, and their explicit informed consent will be obtained and documented prior to commencement.
5. B.4.5 Contracts should specify key practical elements: fees, timing, location, breaks, cancellations, etc.
6. B.4.6 No communication will occur with third parties connected to the client without explicit consent.
7. B.4.7.1 Where a therapist receives a request for information from someone close to the client (e.g., parent, partner, sibling, or friend), no psychotherapy-related information will be provided. The therapist will inform the client of the contact and report transparently what was communicated.

B.5 Advertising

1. B.5.1 Advertising will be confined to descriptive statements about the services available and the qualifications of the therapist. Advertising will not make comparative statements, or imply that services are more effective than those provided by other colleagues, other schools of therapy, or organisations.
2. B.5.2 Gestalt therapists must not misrepresent services, qualifications, or outcomes through marketing or social media. Gestalt therapists give careful consideration to the use of self-disclosure in any advertising, marketing, or public communication, ensuring that it reflects professional integrity and does not serve the therapist’s personal needs.
3. B5.3 Gestalt therapists must not use client testimonials in any form of advertising, marketing, or social media, as this may compromise client confidentiality, autonomy, and the integrity of the therapeutic relationship.

B.6 Safety

1. B.6.1 The Gestalt therapist will take all reasonable steps to protect clients from physical, psychological, and emotional harm during therapy, whether conducted in person or online.
2. B.6.2 The Gestalt therapist will provide privacy for therapy sessions so that they will not be overheard, recorded, or observed by anyone other than the therapist without informed consent.
3. B.6.3 Gestalt therapists are required to ensure that their professional work is adequately covered by appropriate indemnity insurance.

B.7 Exceptional circumstances

1. B.7.1 There may be circumstances where the Gestalt therapist needs to take action to protect the client and/or their social environment when the client is not deemed capable of exercising adequate self-control. In such circumstances, the therapist will seek the client’s informed consent to alter the agreement regarding confidentiality whenever possible, unless there are clear grounds to believe the client lacks willingness or capacity to take responsibility for their actions.
2. B.7.2 When entering into a contract with a client who is experiencing exceptional circumstances, the Gestalt therapist will invite the client to nominate another person who may enter into the contract on the client’s behalf. Such arrangements are to be confined to what is necessary in terms of factual information and timeframe, until the client regains the capacity to assume responsibility for their own actions. Throughout such circumstances, the Gestalt therapist will remain under appropriate professional supervision.
3. B.7.3 In circumstances of individual and/or collective emergency (e.g., danger to life, natural disasters, social unrest, or armed conflict), the Gestalt therapist will give due consideration to the particular context, and will seek to preserve the client’s autonomy, safety, and confidentiality wherever possible.
4. B.7.4 Where the psychotherapeutic process is part of a broader process concerning the client’s wellbeing (e.g., in hospital, organisations, with minors, or when working in a team with other health care practitioners), the Gestalt therapist will protect the client’s autonomy and confidentiality to the extent possible. The Gestalt therapist will clarify the terms of such arrangements at the outset, and will only contact a third party with the client’s explicit consent.

B.8 Management of therapist’s role in society

1. B.8.1 The Gestalt therapist is informed and aware of the current law as it applies to their professional work and the conduct of their practice and is careful to observe the relevant legal prescriptions.
2. B.8.2 The Gestalt therapist will consider any request to participate in or contribute to research that supports the advancement of psychotherapeutic and diagnostic practice. The Gestalt therapist is also encouraged to make their own research work accessible to the wider therapeutic community.
3. B.8.3 In conducting or publishing research, the Gestalt therapist will respect the intellectual property of colleagues and adhere to relevant copyright standards.
4. B.8.4 The Gestalt therapist remains accountable to professional peers and employers as appropriate, but their responsibility is first and foremost to respect the privacy, needs and autonomy of the client.
5. B.8.5 The Gestalt therapist must not misrepresent the availability or nature of a service or qualifications in any public communication as this may deprive the client of using the offer of such a service elsewhere.
6. B.8.6 The Gestalt therapist will provide clients with information about the availability of additional or alternative professional services through other practitioners and public institutions, when this is in the client’s best interest.
7. B.8.7 The Gestalt therapist respects, both in public and private, the work of other colleagues, recognising the value of diverse perspectives and practices within the field.
8. B.8.8 The Gestalt therapist will not accept economic or personal benefits for referring clients to another colleague or institution.
9. B.8.9 A Gestalt therapist who becomes aware of the behaviour of a colleague which is likely to bring the field of psychotherapy into disrepute has a professional duty to raise the concern directly with the individual where appropriate, and/or report the matter to the relevant professional body or association.
10. B.8.10 The Gestalt therapist will not engage in any professional or private activities that may be detrimental to the reputation of the psychotherapeutic profession and/or the VAGP.
11. B.8.11 The Gestalt therapist is aware of the sociopolitical implications of their work and the sociopolitical factors influencing the contexts of their clients.
12. B.8.12 If the Gestalt therapist finds themselves in an ethical conflict or dilemma they are unable to resolve independently or through supervision, they should consult the VAGP Ethics Committee for guidance.
13. B.8.13 If a therapist is under investigation by a regulatory body (e.g., AHPRA, PACFA), they must inform the VAGP Ethics Committee.
14. B.8.14 Only individuals who are registered members of the VAGP as Gestalt therapists or supervisors may use the professional titles “Registered Gestalt therapist” and “Registered Gestalt Therapy Supervisor”, respectively. Members and students must accurately represent their status and must not imply qualifications, membership, or professional standing they do not hold.

B.9 Relationship with former clients

1. B.9.1 The Gestalt therapist must never engage in a sexual relationship with a client during therapy. Following the conclusion of therapy, no sexual relationship may occur for at least five years. Even after this period, such relationships remain ethically problematic and are strongly discouraged. If a therapist does enter into a sexual relationship with a former client and the matter comes before the Ethics Committee, the therapist must be able to demonstrate that there has been no exploitation of the former client.

B.10 Legal proceedings

1. B.10.1 Any Gestalt therapist who is a member of the VAGP and is convicted in a court of law for any criminal offence or is the subject of a successful civil action by a client will inform the VAGP.

B.11 Telehealth

1. B.11.1 The ethical dimensions of professional practice as a psychotherapist are the same whether such practice is in person or at a distance, whether via the Internet or some other non-direct means. Therapists must not use AI-assisted tools (e.g., chatbots, diagnostic aids) during a therapy session unless consent has been provided by clients. Practitioners will use their best endeavours to educate themselves about the nature of such tools, including where client data is stored, who has access to it, and the potential risks to privacy and confidentiality.

C. ETHICS COMMITTEE AND INVESTIGATIONS

C.1 Members of the Ethics Committee

C.1 The Ethics Committee comprises the Chair of the VAGP (ex officio) and two other senior members of the Gestalt community (who may or may not be Members of the VAGP) appointed by the VAGP Committee.

C.2 Initiating an investigation

C.2 The Ethics Committee may initiate an investigation into the ethical conduct of any Member. This may follow a referral from the Complaints Committee, information received from another Member, or may arise on the Committee’s own initiative, or for any other justifiable reason.

C.3 Informing a Member of draft findings

The Ethics Committee may investigate the ethical conduct of a Member in any way it sees fit and will inform the Member of its draft findings and decisions before making them final, giving the Member the opportunity to respond with additional information.

C.4 Findings and decisions

The Ethics Committee will, after its investigation, and any response from the Member under clause C.3, make findings and decisions in relation to the Member’s conduct. Decisions may include:

• Exoneration of Member
• Formal written caution
• Rehabilitation, which may include special supervision, education and further training
• Requirement for cessation of certain behaviour
• Limitation of practice
• Suspension or removal of membership.

C.5 Written response

Once the Ethics Committee has made its findings and decisions, it will send a written response to the Member, outlining the decisions and detailing any action to be taken.

C.6 Compliance and disclosure

1. C.6.1 The VAGP Committee takes responsibility for overseeing the implementation of decisions, or any issues related to the Member’s compliance.
2. C.6.2 When a decision is made that requires the Member to cease a particular behaviour or behaviours, is of sufficient gravity, has a direct impact on the membership, and/or results in the removal of membership, the wider membership will be informed via email. Such communications will be made in a manner that protects the individual’s confidentiality, unless public interest necessitates disclosure.
3. C.6.3 In applying for reinstatement of membership, members who have been either expelled or suspended need to demonstrate just cause for reinstatement. Applications for reinstatement will be dealt with by the VAGP Committee.

C.7 Appeals

1. C.7.1 If a Member does not accept the determination of the Ethics Committee, and has reasonable grounds for appeal, they may take the matter to appeal.
2. C.7.2 Appeals need to be made in writing to the Chair of the Ethics Committee within 14 days of the Member being notified of the decision under clause C.5. The appeal must outline the grounds for appeal. Grounds for appeal include:
   • Key material was overlooked
   • The Ethics Committee did not follow the procedures documented in this policy.
3. C.7.3 The Appeal will be referred to an Appeals Panel comprising three members: one representative of the VAGP Committee, and two experienced professionals with relevant expertise. The panel members must be independent of the original Ethics Committee decision.
4. C.7.4 The Appeal Panel will investigate the matter, including any new material relevant to the complaint, and make a determination.
5. C.7.5 The Appeal Panel’s decision will be final and binding.