Last reviewed: 27 April 2026
1. Purpose of this policy
At Stronger Minds Psychology, ethical practice is central to the way we provide psychological assessment, therapy, clinical information and professional communication.
This Ethics Policy describes the personal, organisational and professional standards of behaviour expected in our work. It applies to clinical practice, website content, communication with clients and referrers, professional relationships, advertising, privacy, safeguarding, and decision-making.
Our aim is to act with integrity, respect, competence, fairness, transparency and accountability at all times.
2. Professional standards we follow
Stronger Minds Psychology is led by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and chartered with the British Psychological Society.
Our ethical standards are informed by:
- The HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics
- The British Psychological Society Code of Ethics and Conduct
- Relevant UK law and professional guidance
- Evidence-based psychological practice
- Good clinical governance and risk management principles
These standards guide how we make decisions, communicate with clients, manage risk, protect confidentiality, and maintain safe and effective professional practice.
3. Core ethical principles
Our work is guided by the following principles.
Respect
We treat clients, families, colleagues, referrers and members of the public with dignity, courtesy and respect.
This includes respect for a person’s background, identity, culture, beliefs, values, personal circumstances, communication needs and individual preferences.
We aim to create a therapeutic environment in which people feel listened to, taken seriously and treated as individuals rather than as diagnoses or problems.
Integrity
We aim to be honest, transparent and accurate in all professional activities.
This means that we do not make misleading claims about therapy, psychological outcomes, qualifications, experience, success rates or the likely benefits of treatment.
We present psychological information carefully and avoid exaggeration, false certainty or fear-based messaging.
Competence
We work within the limits of professional training, experience and competence.
Where a person’s needs fall outside the scope of our service, we aim to explain this clearly and, where appropriate, signpost to more suitable support.
We are committed to continuing professional development, reflective practice, supervision, and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of relevant clinical evidence and professional standards.
Responsibility
We take responsibility for the quality, safety and ethical integrity of the services and information we provide.
This includes maintaining appropriate boundaries, managing risk, protecting confidentiality, responding appropriately to concerns, and reviewing our policies and procedures.
Fairness and non-discrimination
We aim to provide services and information in a way that is fair, inclusive and non-discriminatory.
We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, neurodivergence, or any other protected or personal characteristic.
Where reasonable adjustments are required, we will consider how these can be made within the limits of the service.
4. Standards expected in clinical work
In clinical practice, Stronger Minds Psychology aims to:
- Obtain informed consent before assessment or therapy begins
- Explain the nature, purpose, limits and possible risks of psychological work
- Protect client confidentiality, subject to legal, safeguarding and risk-related limits
- Keep appropriate clinical records
- Use psychological methods that are clinically appropriate and evidence-informed
- Work collaboratively with clients
- Review progress and therapeutic fit
- Discuss concerns openly where therapy may not be helping
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
- Respond proportionately to risk, safeguarding concerns or serious deterioration
- Avoid conflicts of interest where possible, and manage them transparently if they arise
Therapy is not presented as a guaranteed solution. Psychological therapy can be helpful for many people, but outcomes vary depending on the person’s difficulties, context, goals, readiness, therapeutic relationship, and the suitability of the approach used.
5. Confidentiality and privacy
We treat personal and clinical information with care.
Client information is handled in accordance with professional confidentiality obligations, data protection law, and our Privacy Policy.
Confidentiality may need to be broken in limited circumstances, including where there is a serious risk of harm to the client or another person, a safeguarding concern, a legal requirement, or another professional duty that requires disclosure.
Where possible and appropriate, we aim to discuss this with the client before sharing information.
6. Safeguarding and risk
We take safeguarding and risk seriously.
If we become concerned that a child, young person, vulnerable adult, client, or another person may be at risk of serious harm, we may need to take action to protect safety.
This may include contacting emergency services, a GP, safeguarding services, or another appropriate professional or authority.
Our approach is to act proportionately, respectfully and in line with professional responsibilities.
7. Boundaries and professional conduct
We maintain clear professional boundaries.
This means that we do not exploit professional relationships, misuse trust, or enter into inappropriate personal, financial, sexual, social or dual relationships with clients.
We aim to communicate clearly and respectfully in all professional contexts, including email, telephone, video calls, written reports, website content and administrative communication.
8. Conflicts of interest
A conflict of interest may arise where personal, professional, financial or organisational factors could influence, or appear to influence, clinical judgement or professional conduct.
Where a potential conflict of interest is identified, we aim to:
- Recognise it promptly
- Consider its possible impact
- Discuss it transparently where appropriate
- Take steps to reduce or manage it
- Refer or signpost elsewhere if this is clinically or ethically necessary
9. Advertising and public communication
We aim for all public-facing communication to be accurate, responsible and proportionate.
This includes website pages, blog posts, service descriptions, professional profiles, search engine listings, social media content, and any other public information.
We do not knowingly publish misleading claims about psychological treatment, qualifications, outcomes, availability or expertise.
Marketing content should never pressure people into therapy or exploit distress. Any invitation to make contact should be clear, respectful and non-coercive.
10. Website content and health information
Website content is intended for general information and education. It is not a substitute for personal psychological assessment, diagnosis, therapy, crisis support, medical advice, or emergency care.
We aim to ensure that psychological and mental health content is:
- Clinically responsible
- Evidence-informed
- Clear and accessible
- Reviewed periodically
- Written with appropriate caution
- Transparent about uncertainty where relevant
- Free from unnecessary alarm, stigma or shame
Where content discusses mental health symptoms, diagnoses, treatment options or risk, we aim to present information in a balanced and clinically appropriate way.
11. Use of evidence
We aim to draw on credible clinical knowledge and evidence-based psychological practice.
However, psychology and mental health research often involves uncertainty, individual variation and evolving evidence. For this reason, we avoid presenting complex psychological issues as if they have simple or guaranteed solutions.
Where appropriate, we distinguish between well-established evidence, emerging evidence, clinical opinion and areas where evidence remains limited.
12. Equality, diversity and inclusion
We aim to provide an inclusive and respectful service.
We recognise that people’s psychological wellbeing can be affected by personal, relational, social, cultural, economic and systemic factors.
We aim to remain attentive to the role of identity, culture, discrimination, trauma, marginalisation and power in psychological distress and in the therapy relationship.
13. Accessibility and reasonable adjustments
We aim to make information and services as accessible as reasonably possible.
If a client or prospective client has communication, accessibility, sensory, disability-related, neurodiversity-related or other specific needs, we will consider reasonable adjustments where these can be safely and practically provided.
14. Corporate and organisational standards
As an organisation, Stronger Minds Psychology aims to operate with:
- Honesty
- Accountability
- Transparency
- Professional competence
- Respect for clients and colleagues
- Responsible use of personal information
- Clear financial and administrative communication
- Ethical marketing
- Responsible clinical record keeping
- Compliance with relevant professional and legal obligations
We aim to ensure that business decisions do not compromise clinical judgement, client welfare, professional independence or ethical responsibilities.
15. Financial ethics
Fees, payment expectations, cancellation terms and administrative processes should be communicated clearly.
We aim to avoid hidden charges, misleading pricing, or unclear financial arrangements.
Where a third party is involved in funding therapy, such as an insurer, employer, parent, solicitor or other organisation, we aim to clarify confidentiality, reporting arrangements and consent before information is shared.
16. Complaints and concerns
We aim to respond to concerns respectfully, promptly and constructively.
If someone believes that our service, communication, website content or professional conduct has fallen below expected standards, they are encouraged to raise this with us.
Concerns may relate to clinical care, communication, accessibility, confidentiality, accuracy of information, professional conduct, or administrative processes.
Please see our Feedback and Complaints Policy for information about how to raise a concern.
17. Corrections and content review
If inaccurate, outdated or unclear information is identified on the website, we aim to review it and make appropriate corrections.
Please see our Corrections and Content Review Policy for more information.
18. Independence and professional judgement
Clinical judgement is based on professional training, assessment, formulation, relevant evidence and the needs of the person seeking help.
We do not allow commercial, advertising, financial or third-party interests to override professional judgement, client welfare, confidentiality or ethical responsibilities.
19. Review of this policy
This policy is reviewed at least annually, or sooner if there are significant changes in professional guidance, legal requirements, service structure or organisational practice.
