Basic principles

Responsibility and Respect: Professionals act responsibly, with integrity and respect in their field, aware of their influence on people, their environment, and society. They ensure their work is not misused, and they stand for honesty, equal treatment, and transparency. Protecting the privacy, dignity, and autonomy of those involved is paramount, as is supporting their independence, provided it aligns with their professional responsibilities and the law.

Expertise and Boundaries: In their work, professionals acknowledge their limits of expertise and experience. They focus on tasks for which they have the necessary education, training, and experience. This applies to the methods and techniques they use in their field. They are careful not to create unrealistic expectations about the nature, effects, and outcomes of their services.

Respect for Individuality: Professionals respect the individual characteristics and circumstances of each client. They recognize that their own values, norms, and identity can influence their professional activities and strive to incorporate culture and diversity into their work.

Autonomy and Self-determination: In their professional activities, professionals respect and promote the autonomy and self-determination of the individuals involved. This includes the right to decide whether to engage in, continue, or terminate the professional relationship.

Confidentiality

Maintaining Confidentiality: Professionals are obligated to keep everything they learn in their work confidential. This also applies to their professional assessment of the individuals involved. This confidentiality obligation continues even after the professional relationship ends.

Protecting Sensitive Information: In their communication with clients or others, whether written, by phone, or electronically, professionals take necessary measures to prevent sensitive information from being shared with third parties without the client’s consent.

Exceptions to Confidentiality: Professionals are not required to maintain confidentiality if they have a valid reason to believe that breaking confidentiality is the only and last resort to prevent a direct threat to individuals, or if they are legally or court-ordered to do so. If such a situation is likely, professionals should inform the involved parties that confidentiality may need to be breached, unless such notification would pose a direct threat.

Minimal Disclosure: If professionals decide to breach confidentiality, it should not go beyond what is necessary under the circumstances. They must inform the involved parties about their decision unless it poses a direct threat. Professionals are obligated to claim the right in court not to testify if it would violate their confidentiality duty.

Legal Disclosure: Legally required disclosure of information to third parties does not require client consent, but the client must be informed beforehand.

Research and Publications: For scientific research, data can be provided to third parties in a way that does not identify the client, unless it is impossible due to the research’s purpose. In such cases, data can only be provided with the client’s consent. For scientific publications, educational purposes, quality assurance, supervision, and peer review, only data and opinions that do not identify the client can be used. The combination of data and circumstances must not lead to the client’s identification by third parties, unless the client has given consent.

Expertise

Continuous Improvement: Professionals critically reflect on their work and the personal values and motives involved. They regularly discuss their work with colleagues during peer supervision. They stay informed about relevant legislation and comply with it.

Ongoing Learning: Professionals keep their knowledge up to date and develop it further in line with recent developments in their field. They engage with relevant literature and participate in relevant continuing education. They choose methods that are effective and efficient and are aware of the limitations of these methods.

Transparency and Boundaries: Professionals are open about their professional and personal boundaries. They seek expert advice and support and advise clients on more appropriate support if necessary. They respect the limits of their expertise in their work and do not accept assignments for which they lack the necessary expertise.

Clear Objectives: All assignments are based on a clearly defined goal or question. Professionals do not accept assignments that fall outside their field of expertise or for which available methods and techniques are inadequate for appropriate intervention or answering the question.

Qualified Methods: Professionals use only methods for which they are qualified by their education, training, and/or experience. They can account for their work in light of current scientific knowledge, as described in the professional literature.

Self-awareness: Professionals recognize early signs of personal, mental, or physical problems that could negatively impact their work. They seek timely expert advice and support to prevent or mitigate these problems. If their mental, physical, or judgmental capacity is impaired in a way that hinders professional conduct, professionals cease their work until the situation is resolved.