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A consideration of the new BACP Ethical Framework and its implications Peter Jenkins Professional ethics in the therapeutic world is currently dominated by discussion of the new version of the BACP Ethical Framework (2015). This has involved a major process of rewriting, consultation, comparison with other similar professional codes and membership acclimatisation prior to its introduction in 2016. The new Framework, as opposed to a code of ethics, builds on the previous version first introduced at the turn of the century. It acknowledges the growing impact of digital versions of therapy and the changing landscape of professional practice, incorporating, somewhat controversially, coaching along with counselling and psychotherapy as part of the counselling professions. The introduction of a new, extensively revised framework provides a useful opportunity to take stock of the BACP’s ethical journey so far and its current direction of travel. Inevitably, this also will involve frequen...

The Freedom of Thought Report is an annual survey on discrimination and persecution against non-religious people in countries around the world. The latest report is  available free to download . The first report was  published  in 2012 on International Human Rights Day, 10 December. In his preface to the report, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, said: “As a universal human right, freedom of religion or belief has a broad application. However, there seems to be little awareness that this right also provides a normative frame of reference for atheists, humanists and freethinkers and their convictions, practices and organizations. I am therefore delighted that for the first time the Humanist community has produced a global report on discrimination against atheists. I hope it will be given careful consideration by everyone concerned with freedom of religion or belief.” For the 2013 report ...

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By Juliet Newbigin IN THIS ISSUE of New Associations we hope to introduce you to some of the work of the BPC’s task group which was set up to consider ways of making the profession more open and welcoming to gay, lesbian and bisexual people. I imagine that some readers will wonder why this was necessary. The ban on acceptance of gay and lesbian candidates for psychoanalytic training on the grounds of their sexual orientation is surely a thing of the past? All member organisations are now bound by the Equality Act, and have signed up to the Position Statement that the BPC adopted in 2012, which stated that: The British Psychoanalytic Council opposes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. It does not accept that a homosexual orientation is evidence of disturbance of the mind or in development. Might this be another symptom of the unstoppable march of political correctness, which will lead to an intrusive policing of psychoanalytic training organisations? So why d...