Ethical Guidelines

Core Attitudes

The core attitude of systemic counsellors, therapists, supervisors and trainers is characterised by respect, appreciation and regard for individuals and systems. This includes acceptance of each person as they are, and an impartial stance toward all persons involved in a given system – regardless of age, gender, ethnic background, culture, status, sexual orientation, worldview or religion.
Clients are regarded as experts of their own lives. They are encouraged, supported and accompanied in discovering and using their own resources in a self-determined way.
Counselors and therapists are guided by the aim of expanding the clients’ and systems’ possibilities for action and supporting their self-organisation. Particular attention is given to themes arising from a gender perspective. Personal assumptions are subject to ongoing reflection.
For counseling and therapy the principle applies: as short as possible, as long as necessary.

Professional Competence

Members of the DGSF commit themselves to:

• acquiring the competencies required for their respective professional activities in accordance with the quality standards of the systemic professional associations
• subjecting their own attitudes and professional actions to continuous critical reflection and expanding them through regular training and study of relevant literature
• ensuring the quality of their professional work through intervision or supervision
• regularly evaluating any activity in teaching and further education
• offering only those services for which they have verifiably acquired competence

Self-Care

Reflected professionalism includes careful use and maintenance of personal and professional resources.
For the individual, this means:

• knowing the limits of one’s own capacity
• recognizing signs of strain in time
• making use of institutional and individual opportunities for relief
• finding a balance between one’s role and the mandate within the given context
• engaging with a reflective outside perspective (supervision, intervision, further training)

Confidentiality

Members of the DGSF commit themselves to treating all information shared by clients confidentially in accordance with legal provisions – including beyond the client’s death. Compliance with data protection regulations must be ensured by every member of the system.
Confidentiality must also be ensured in the event of illness, accident or death of the counsellor or therapist.
This obligation applies equally to supervision, intervision, publications, and activities in teaching and further training.
Client information may only be used with their written consent or with guaranteed anonymity in training or publications.
Documentation of client-related data must follow professional standards and comply with data protection regulations.

Information and Transparency

In the interest of clarity and transparency, DGSF members inform clients/customers in a comprehensible and appropriate manner about:

• their professional qualifications and membership in professional associations
• the nature and scope of the services offered and their possible consequences
• financial conditions
• confidentiality and professional secrecy
• the type of data documentation involved

Any misleading or untruthful advertising must be avoided.
Clients must be given the opportunity to decide without time pressure or situational coercion whether to accept a service.
If a desired service cannot be offered or cannot be continued, this must be communicated appropriately and assistance offered in finding alternative support.

Prohibition of Discrimination, Exploitation and Abuse

Systemic counsellors and therapists meet their clients with openness and interest, regardless of age, gender, ethnic background, culture, status, sexual orientation, personal orientation or religion.
They remain aware of differences between themselves and their clients and take responsibility for creating a trusting, protected and beneficial therapeutic relationship.
Members of the DGSF commit themselves to acting responsibly within the particular relationship of trust and dependency inherent in counselling, therapy and further training.
Using this relationship for personal, emotional, sexual, economic or social interests is a clear violation of the DGSF Ethical Guidelines.
In cases of confusion between professional role and personal interests, these must be separated immediately.
Relationships that compromise professional independence and judgement toward clients, supervisees or training candidates are to be avoided.
This rule of abstinence applies for at least two years after the end of the professional relationship.

Work with Children and Adolescents

The well-being of the child requires:

• recognition and appreciation of the parents and their authority
• respecting the loyalties to which children are bound, and acknowledging the rights of the child as defined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
• recognising that professional helpers neither act as parents nor can replace them
• striving for the informed consent of the minor regarding necessary measures, as well as the nature, scope and possible consequences of the services offered