Practical Ethics in Counselling and Psychotherapy

Rather than relying on a set of ethical “rules” Linda Finlay is constantly reminding psychotherapist, counsellor, and coaches to question our actions: “Is my behaviour beneficial to this particular client’s welfare, at this point in time, and in this context?”

Linda Finlay′s new contribution to the helping professions is simply a relational jewel! A beautiful rare example of how practical ethics unfolds and is shaped through the context and its participants.

Her brilliant jewel throws a clear but sensitive light on the many facets of our ethical life and opens up really helpful directions in philosophical, theoretical and practical realms. This book is a gift to students, researchers and practitioners alike!

This book uses an engaging, informative approach to ethics rarely found within the field of counselling and psychotherapy. Linda Finlay uses her own experiences alongside those of others to offer in-depth explorations of and how ethics ‘dance and weave around us’ in the ‘vibrant immediacy of the relational context’ within which we live and work: a wonderful, rich, tapestry for practitioners at all stages.

This is an important contribution to counselling and psychotherapy. As always, Linda Finlay writes about complex processes in both an accessible and inspiring way. I have found her book refreshing and thought-provoking and can see it becoming a classic for all therapists looking for Ethical guidance

Linda Finlay is to be congratulated on this remarkable, well written and much needed book on not only practical but also relational ethics. It offers a vast amount of material and examples which reflect the complexities, challenges as well as new perspectives which inform ethical and contemporary relational practice.

Dr Linda Finlay is a relational-centred, existential Integrative Psychotherapist and Supervisor (UKCP registered) in private practice in York, UK. She also teaches psychology and counselling at the Open University (UK) and works as a freelance academic consultant. She has published many books and articles on psychotherapy, occupational therapy, reflexivity and phenomenological research. Her most recent books are psychotherapeutically focused: Relational Integrative Psychotherapy: Engaging Process and Theory in Practice (Wiley); Practical Ethics: A relational approach (Sage); and The therapeutic use of self in counselling and psychotherapy (Sage).