The BACP Ethical Framework 2026: what changes for your private practice

BACP launched a new Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions on 4 August 2026. It becomes mandatory for all members at midday on Tuesday 3 November 2026. Until then, the 2018 Framework still applies to your practice (BACP, Preparing for the 2026 Ethical Framework).

What to do now

In order of priority:

1. Read the 2026 Framework. It replaces the 2018 Framework from midday on 3 November 2026 (BACP, 2026 Framework PDF).
2. Risk-assess every AI or digital tool that touches client data. Get clients’ informed consent before you put their data in, and keep the decisions yours (section C 2.1 e).
3. Update your privacy notice. Name the digital tools you use and any limits to confidentiality (section C 3.1).
4. Check your contract. It should give clients a record of your working agreement, your fee, how and when to pay, and when you review fees. Replace any 2018 point numbers (sections C 1.2 b and C 3.4).
5. Write down your reasoning for ethical decisions. Use the six questions in section A and take the note to supervision.
6. Check your clinical will. Name someone bound by confidentiality who can contact your clients if you cannot (section C 4.5).

The rest of this article explains each change and where it comes from.

This article is for BACP members in private practice. It sets out what the new Framework asks of you, which parts are new and which carry over from 2018, and what to check in your own paperwork and habits. It is a summary, not a replacement: read the Framework itself. If you belong to NCPS, UKCP or another body, its own code applies to you, not this one.

Who it applies to

The Framework is for “all members of BACP” (2026 Framework, PDF). That covers counsellors, psychotherapists and coaches at every membership level, supervisors, trainers and members who use counselling skills in other roles. It covers your conduct with colleagues, other professionals, BACP and the public, not only with clients.

BACP’s Professional Conduct panels use the Framework as their reference when they consider a complaint. For conduct from 3 November, that means the 2026 text.

A new shape

The 2018 Framework had three sections: a commitment to clients, ethics, and good practice, with numbered good practice points (2018 Framework, PDF). The 2026 Framework also has three sections, but different ones:

• A. Working ethically within relationships. How you make and explain ethical decisions.
• B. Ethical principles. The values behind those decisions.
• C. Core responsibilities. Four groups of practical standards, numbered 1.1 to 4.5.

If your contract, website or policies quote 2018 point numbers, those numbers will be out of date. Search your documents for “Ethical Framework” and “good practice point” and update any references.

Relationships, not just clients

BACP says the new Framework asks members to work ethically in all their professional relationships, not only with clients. Section A says members must uphold the profession’s good reputation “in all their actions and relationships”.

In practice, this brings your dealings with supervisors, colleagues, room providers, referrers and anyone else you work with clearly inside the Framework.

Be ready to explain your reasoning

This is the change BACP puts most weight on. The 2018 Framework already expected you to be “ready to explain why we decided” as you did (point 94). The 2026 Framework makes it central: you “must be able to give a rationale that explains our reasoning”.

Section A gives six questions a rationale should answer:

1. What are the ethical issues?
2. How did you engage the person affected, or why not?
3. What internal factors did you consider, such as the contract and the context of the work?
4. What external factors did you consider, such as the law, other services or other people involved?
5. What did you decide, what happened, and was it consistent with the Framework?
6. How did you review the process, and with whom?

It also describes a collaborative process: consider talking to the person affected, listen to their view, reflect (including in supervision), check your legal and contractual duties, then review and record what you learned. Where collaboration is not possible, for example because of a risk situation or a legal duty, the reasons should be documented.

What to do: when you face an ethical decision, write a short note against those six questions, within your confidentiality and data protection duties. Take it to supervision. BACP says a rationale can help in supervision and if you ever need to explain a decision to a court or conduct panel.

From six principles to twelve

The 2018 Framework named six principles: being trustworthy, autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and self-respect. The 2026 Framework names twelve: confidentiality, honesty, transparency, do no harm, best interest, respect, fairness, anti-oppression, trust, collaboration, compassion and integrity.

Many of the old ideas are still there in plainer words. Anti-oppression and collaboration are the clearest additions. Read section B in full; it is short.

Core responsibilities: what to check

Section C is where most practical changes sit. These are the points most likely to affect a private practice.

AI, digital tools and online platforms

This is new. The 2018 Framework did not mention AI. Section C 2.1 e) asks you to “assess the risk of any artificial intelligence tool (AI), digital tool or online platform” before using it. It also asks that you have the informed consent of the people you work with before putting their personal data in, and that you “have not deferred or outsourced our decision-making to AI tools”.

Section C 2.1 b) asks you to make sure “physical, digital and remote meeting spaces are private and free from intrusion”.

What to do: list every tool that touches client information, including note-takers, transcription, booking systems and AI features inside software you already use. For each, record your risk assessment and how you tell clients about it.

Confidentiality, privacy and records

Section C 3.1 asks you to follow the data protection law where you practise (in the UK, UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018), to keep a clear privacy notice, and to tell people about foreseeable limits to confidentiality. Those limits include any digital tools that may monitor or collect data.

Section C 3.2 asks that records “are factual, adequate and relevant for the type of service offered” and are stored securely. It also says your records include communications, notes and other information you hold about clients. Emails and texts count.

See GDPR for counsellors and keeping notes.

When something goes wrong

The 2018 Framework asked you to inform clients promptly of anything that put them at risk of harm (point 52). Section C 2.2 a) now spells out more: “explain fully and promptly what has happened”, including likely effects, “and apologise”. You should also act promptly to limit harm and meet any legal duties.

Money and tax

This is new. The 2018 Framework did not mention tax. Section C 3.4 asks you to meet your tax obligations, including reporting, in the country where you provide services, and to give clear information about fees: when and how payment is made, and when fees are reviewed.

What to do: check your contract states your fee, how and when to pay, and when you review fees. See what to charge and tax.

Working agreement

Section C 1.2 b) asks you to “provide people with a record of our working agreement”. A written contract that the client keeps a copy of meets this. See your counselling contract.

Competence, including clients abroad

Section C 4.1 asks you to have the qualifications, training and experience for the services you offer, to “keep our skills and knowledge up to date”, and to discuss in supervision your competence with particular client groups.

It also asks you to know and follow the legal obligations relevant to your services, both where you practise and where your client lives. If you see clients online who live outside the UK, this applies to you. See online practice.

Insurance

Section C 4.2 a) asks you to “have and maintain appropriate professional indemnity and liability insurance cover”. The 2018 Framework already required adequate insurance. See counsellor insurance.

Supervision

Section C 4.3 asks you to have regular supervision in line with BACP membership requirements, your experience, training and caseload. It asks you to check your supervisor’s competence against BACP’s supervision competence framework. It also says “supervision is independent of line and case management”, and that you agree with your supervisor who holds key responsibilities for clients. See supervision after qualifying.

Your health and wellbeing

Section C 2.3 asks you to “monitor and respond to our psychological and physical health needs”, and to seek suitable professional support when you need it. This continues the 2018 principle of self-respect.

Breaks, endings and if you cannot work

Section C 4.5 asks you to tell clients about any limit on the number of sessions, to give reasonable advance notice of planned breaks and endings where it is safe to do so, and to manage unplanned breaks to limit harm.

It also asks you to have arrangements, often called a clinical will, with a named person bound by confidentiality who can contact your clients if you cannot, including if you die. The 2018 Framework already expected you to have “appointed someone to communicate with clients” (point 42); the 2026 text makes it more explicit. See boundaries and endings.

Common questions

Do I need to do anything before 3 November? Until then, the 2018 Framework applies. BACP published the new one three months early so members can prepare. Using that time to check your paperwork is sensible.

Is the 2018 Framework still valid after 3 November? No. From midday on 3 November 2026, the 2026 Framework is the standard BACP members are held to.

Does the Framework ban AI? No. It asks you to assess the risk before using any AI or digital tool, to be open with clients about it, to get their consent before putting their data in, and not to hand your decisions to it.

Where can I get help? BACP’s preparation page links to FAQs, a glossary, an introductory video and its Ethics hub. The Framework team’s address is listed there. BACP’s Ethics essentials page has short videos, with transcripts, on each part of the Framework, including one on AI.

Where this leaves you

Much of the 2026 Framework carries over from 2018 in new words. The biggest shifts are the weight on explaining your reasoning, the move from clients to all professional relationships, and new standards on AI, tax and saying sorry when things go wrong. An hour with your contract, privacy notice and tool list before 3 November covers most of it.

This article summarises BACP’s Framework for convenience. It is general information, not legal advice. It is not BACP guidance and does not replace the Framework text. If you are unsure how a point applies to you, ask your supervisor or contact BACP.

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Sources (all opened 19 October 2026, re-opened 22 October 2026): BACP, Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2026 (PDF); BACP, Preparing for the 2026 Ethical Framework; BACP, Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2018 (PDF); BACP, Ethics essentials.

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