How to Handle Ethical Dilemmas in Therapy with Heather Dale

Good Enough Counsellors

In this episode of Good Enough Counsellors, Josephine Hughes is joined by Heather Dale - an experienced therapist, supervisor, and writer - to explore the often misunderstood world of counselling ethics. With over 40 years of practice and a BACP Fellowship under her belt, Heather brings warmth, clarity, and a touch of humour to topics that many find daunting.

Together, Josephine and Heather unravel what truly makes an ethical dilemma, why ethics might just be sexier than you think, and how to navigate common challenges - like supervision issues, gifting clients, confidentiality after death, and encountering clients in small communities.

They also explore the risks of being a therapist, how to make ethical decisions with confidence, and the tricky line between compassion and boundaries. This episode is a must-listen for trainees and experienced counsellors alike.

Takeaways

• What really makes something an ethical dilemma
• The six core principles of the BACP framework
• Why you can’t claim to follow the BACP code if you're not a member
• Ethics in action: gifts, notes, and stand-up comedy
• Confidentiality after death and how to handle court requests
• Internal vs. external supervision and the ethics of disagreement
• What to do if you spot unethical practice in a colleague

Resources Mentioned:

• BACP’s Good Practice in Action Guides
• Heather Dale’s article Can Ethics Be Sexy?
• The BACP Ethical Framework

You can find Heather HERE

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

Keywords:

ethical dilemmas in counselling, BACP ethical framework, Heather Dale BACP, counselling ethics, therapy ethics, therapy supervision ethics, real life ethical dilemmas

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.