Counsellors' experiences of ethical conflicts working in IAPT

ABSTRACT

This qualitative study of 15 relational counsellors explores the experiences and ethical quandaries of counsellors working within an IAPT service. The data was analysed using the Voice Relational Method [Brown, L. M. & Gilligan, C. (1993). Meeting at the crossroads: Women's psychology and girls' development. Feminism & Psychology, 3(1), 11--35]. Three main themes were identified: client experience, counsellor experience and relationships. Findings indicate that the therapeutic relationship with clients is crucial, but there is often a disparity between working as a relational counsellor and the expectations and demands of working within IAPT; a pressure on doing and achieving goals rather than a focus on the therapy relationship. Supportive managers were essential to enable counsellors to balance IAPT expectations with ethical and therapeutic relationships with clients. This research also questions the ethical basis of the IAPT system.

KEYWORDS:

• Ethics
• values
• work culture
• IAPT
• voice relational method
• ethical conflicts

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gillian Proctor

Dr Gillian Proctor is the programme lead for the MA in psychotherapy and counselling at the University of Leeds, UK. She is a clinical psychologist with a particular interest in ethics, politics and power. Her publications include “The dynamics of power in counselling and psychotherapy” (2017: PCCS books) and “Values and ethics in counselling and psychotherapy” (2014: Sage). She worked in the NHS for 22 years (including in IAPT) before moving to lecturing

Sue McKelvie

Sue Mckelvie is a Psychotherapist who works with adults and children in private practice and with Noah’s Ark Centre, Halifax, UK. Sue’s research interests are spirituality in counselling. Her MA research was an autobiographical account considering her experience of motherhood: being mothered and being a mother, influences of her Christian faith and significance as a psychotherapist.

Maeta Brown

Maeta Brown is a psychotherapist with a background in radical, person-centred crisis work. She works as a counsellor in the charity, education and private sectors and co-ordinates a new crisis service for young people in Leeds, UK. Her MA research explores the pernicious and often re-traumatising impact of Borderline Personality Disorder diagnoses and the marginalisation, oppression, and mistrust of the female voice.

Shlomo Cohen

Shlomie Cohen studied on the MA in psychotherapy and counselling at the University of Leeds, UK. He previously qualified as a Rabbi and now works as a part-time teacher. His MA research was an auto-ethnographic study exploring the power dynamics associated with growing up as a Hassidic-Jew and the subsequent impact on his work as a relational psychotherapist.