The standards every member is held to.

This Code of Professional Conduct (“the Code”) sets out the binding ethical and professional obligations of every member of the Humanitas Independent Counselling Society. It is the enforceable operational expression of the Practitioner’s Oath set out in Appendix B to this Code. Where the Oath states the spirit of ethical practice, this Code states the concrete duties a member must meet, and against which a member may be held accountable.

The Code binds all members of the Humanitas Independent Counselling Society across all membership designations - Accredited Counsellor (HAC), Accredited Senior Counsellor (HASC), and Accredited Supervisor (HAS). Membership of HICS constitutes acceptance of, and agreement to be bound by, this Code. A member signs a Code of Conduct declaration on admission and at each annual membership renewal.

This Code is a self-standing document. It must be read together with the other governing documents of the Humanitas Independent Counselling Society - in particular the Scope of Practice (which defines the areas of competence, the absolute limitations, and the conditions of practice) and the Membership Rules (which define the membership categories, entry criteria, supervision obligations, CPD, and renewal conditions). Where this Code refers to areas of competence, limitations, supervision, or CPD, those terms carry the meaning given in those documents. This Code states the binding standards of conduct; where a genuine conflict arises between this Code and another governing document on a matter of conduct, this Code prevails.

The Code is not statutory. It does not create, replace, or imply any registration, licence, or authority to practise under South African law. It sits alongside the statutory framework - it does not override the law, and nothing in it authorises a member to act beyond what the law permits.

Throughout this Code, “must” and “is required to” denote a binding obligation; “may not” denotes an absolute prohibition; and “may” denotes a permitted action subject to the member’s designation, training, and competence. A breach of any binding obligation may give rise to disciplinary consequences under section 14.

In this Code, “client” means any individual, couple, family, or group with whom a member works in a helping, counselling, supervisory, or psychoeducational capacity; “member” means any person holding current Humanitas Independent Counselling Society membership at any designation; and “HICS” means the Humanitas Independent Counselling Society NPC.

Respect for dignity and autonomy. Members must treat every person with kindness, empathy, and respect, regardless of race, ethnicity, background, faith, culture, gender, sexual orientation, identity, disability, language, socio-economic status, or worldview. Members must respect each client as the expert in their own life, uphold the client’s right to make their own informed decisions, and may not impose their own values, beliefs, or preferences on a client.

Beneficence and non-maleficence. Members must act in the best interests of the client and must take all reasonable steps to avoid causing harm. Where a member’s own competence, wellbeing, or objectivity could place a client at risk, the member must take responsible steps - including consultation, supervision, or referral - to protect the client.

Integrity and honesty. Members must be truthful and transparent in all professional dealings - with clients, colleagues, the public, and HICS. Members may not deceive, mislead, or misrepresent their qualifications, designation, competence, or status.

Justice and non-discrimination. Members must practise fairly and may not unfairly discriminate against any person. Members must remain aware of the social, cultural, economic, and systemic contexts that shape a client’s experience and access to support, in line with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 and the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000.

Professional responsibility and accountability. Members must take responsibility for their own actions and decisions, acknowledge and seek to repair any harm caused, remain open to feedback, and hold themselves answerable to this Code, to their supervisor, and to HICS.

Competence and lifelong learning. Members must practise only within the limits of their training and competence and must commit to ongoing learning, reflection, supervision, and continuing professional development throughout their careers.

Members must obtain the client’s informed consent before commencing any counselling, supportive, or helping engagement. Informed consent is an ongoing conversation, not a once-off signature. Members must revisit consent whenever the nature, focus, format, or risks of the work change materially.

At the outset of the relationship, and in language the client can understand, members must explain: the nature and purpose of the work; what counselling at the member’s designation can and cannot offer; the member’s membership designation and its limits (including the mandatory disclaimer in section 9); the limits of confidentiality (section 4) and the circumstances in which the member is obliged, by law or as a condition of membership, to disclose or report (section 8); the fee structure where applicable (section 12); the use of any records, recordings, or digital tools (sections 4 and 13); and the client’s right to ask questions, decline any intervention, or end the relationship at any time.

Members must satisfy themselves that the client has the capacity to give consent. Where a client’s capacity to consent is in doubt - for example by reason of acute distress, intoxication, cognitive impairment, or a mental health condition - the member must take reasonable steps to protect the client’s interests and must not proceed in a way that exploits or disregards the client’s impaired capacity. Members may not conduct formal capacity assessments under the Mental Health Care Act 17 of 2002 (see section 6.3).

Members must obtain the informed consent of a parent or legal guardian before any counselling with a child (under 12) or adolescent (12-17), consistent with the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 and the enhanced child-work requirements in the Scope of Practice. Members must also seek the assent of the minor in a developmentally appropriate way and must explain confidentiality and its limits to both the minor and the parent or guardian. Members must remain alert to the older child’s evolving rights under the Children’s Act and must manage the resulting confidentiality and consent tensions under supervision.

Members must record that informed consent was obtained and keep that record in accordance with section 4. Where consent is given verbally (for example in a crisis or telephone contact), the member must document the fact, date, and substance of the consent as soon as practicable.

Members must keep confidential all information shared with them in the course of a professional relationship. Confidentiality is a promise of trust and a condition of safe practice. Members may not disclose client information except as permitted or required under this section, section 8, or the law.

Members are responsible for personal information in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA). In particular, members must: collect only the personal information reasonably necessary for the work; process it lawfully and only for the purpose for which it was obtained; keep it accurate and up to date; apply appropriate, reasonable technical and organisational security safeguards against loss, damage, and unauthorised access; and treat client health and counselling information as special personal information requiring heightened protection.

Members must store client records securely. Electronic records must be password-protected and, where reasonably practicable, encrypted; paper records must be kept in a locked, access-controlled location. Members may not store identifiable client information on unsecured devices, personal messaging applications, or unvetted cloud services.

Members must retain client records for the period set in the HICS Data Retention and Destruction Schedule - currently five years - and must dispose of them securely once that period has lapsed. Where a member ceases practice, becomes incapacitated, or dies, arrangements must be in place for the secure storage, transfer, or disposal of client records and for clients to be informed where appropriate.

Members must explain the limits of confidentiality to the client at the outset (section 3.2). Confidentiality is not absolute. Members must disclose information where: the client gives informed consent to the disclosure; there is a serious and imminent risk of harm to the client or another person; a court of law or other lawful authority orders disclosure; or the law otherwise requires it, including the mandatory reporting obligations in section 8.

When disclosing information lawfully, members must disclose only the minimum necessary to achieve the purpose, must, where safe and practicable, inform the client of the disclosure, and must document what was disclosed, to whom, when, and why.

Members may share client information with their supervisor for the purpose of supervision (section 7). Members must inform clients that supervision takes place and that the member’s supervisor is bound by the same duty of confidentiality. Any use of client material for training, presentation, or research purposes requires the client’s informed consent and effective de-identification (section 13).

A client is entitled to request access to their own personal information held by a member, subject to POPIA and to the member’s lawful grounds for withholding access. Members must respond to such requests responsibly and may seek guidance from HICS where uncertain.

Members must establish and maintain clear, professional boundaries with clients. Members must remain mindful of the inherent power imbalance in the helping relationship and may not use that power, or the trust and influence it confers, to the disadvantage of a client.

Members may not enter into any sexual or romantic relationship with a current client. Members may not engage in any sexual contact, sexualised conduct, or sexual communication with a client. This prohibition is absolute and applies regardless of who initiates it.

Members may not enter into any sexual, romantic, or intimate relationship with a former client for a minimum period of 24 months after the formal termination of the professional relationship. After 24 months, such a relationship may only be entered into where the member can demonstrate through documented supervisory consultation that: (a) the initiative was not taken by the member; (b) no exploitation of the former therapeutic relationship is involved; (c) the former client is not in a position of ongoing vulnerability arising from the work; and (d) the therapeutic relationship has been genuinely and cleanly terminated and its dynamics resolved. The burden of demonstrating all four conditions rests entirely on the member. At the HASC and HAS designations, the Ethics Committee may impose a longer or absolute prohibition having regard to the nature and intensity of the work and the vulnerability of the client group. A member may not terminate a therapeutic relationship for the purpose of circumventing this prohibition.

Members may not exploit a client financially, emotionally, sexually, or in any other way. Members may not borrow from, lend to, or enter into business ventures with a client, and may not solicit or accept significant gifts, favours, or benefits that could compromise professional judgement (see also section 12).

Members must avoid dual or multiple relationships that could impair objectivity, create a conflict of interest, or risk harm to a client - for example counselling a close friend, relative, employee, or person with whom the member has a significant pre-existing relationship. Where such an overlap is genuinely unavoidable (for instance in a small or rural community), the member must disclose it, manage it actively in supervision, and document the steps taken to protect the client.

Members must manage the ending of a professional relationship responsibly and may not abruptly abandon a client. Where a member can no longer continue the work, the member must give reasonable notice, explain the reason, and assist the client to access alternative support or a referral (section 6.6).

Members must maintain professional boundaries in all digital and social-media spaces. Members may not pursue or accept personal social-media connections with current clients in a way that blurs the professional relationship, may not discuss identifiable client matters online, and must conduct themselves online in a manner that upholds the integrity of the counselling field and HICS, consistent with section 9 and section 13.

Members must practise only within the areas of competence defined for their membership designation in the Scope of Practice and only within the areas in which they have actually been trained and are competent. Counselling practice begins at the Accredited Counsellor (HAC) designation.

Within the high-risk competence domains, a member’s actual competence is governed by the training they have actually completed. Where a member has had no relevant training in a domain, that domain falls outside their competence and the member must refer. Where a member’s training included a foundational module, the member may work at a foundational level only and must undertake further training or refer when the work needs to go deeper. Members may use a reserved title (for example “Trauma Counsellor”) only where they hold advanced practice in the corresponding field; members working at the foundational level may use descriptors such as “trauma-informed” but may not represent themselves as holding advanced practice. No member may hold themselves out as a “specialist”, or describe their standing, work or title as a “speciality”, even where they hold advanced practice; both are reserved terms under the Health Professions Act, and HICS confers neither.

Members may not:

• diagnose any mental health condition (diagnosis is reserved for registered psychologists, psychiatrists, and medical practitioners);
• prescribe, recommend, or advise on medication of any kind, including psychiatric medication, supplements, or herbal remedies for mental health conditions;
• administer, score, or interpret any standardised psychological or psychometric assessment instrument (reserved for HPCSA-registered psychologists and psychometrists);
• provide psychotherapy as defined and regulated under the Health Professions Act 56 of 1974;
• use the title “Psychologist” or “Registered Counsellor”, or any other HPCSA-regulated professional title, regardless of academic qualifications held;
• compile forensic reports, provide expert psychological evidence in legal proceedings, or conduct assessments for statutory or legal purposes;
• conduct formal capacity assessments under the Mental Health Care Act 17 of 2002;
• supervise or manage medical detoxification from any substance; or
• practise independently in inpatient psychiatric facilities or acute care settings, which require direct HPCSA-registered professional oversight.

Members must actively maintain the line between counselling and psychotherapy and between supportive intervention and clinical treatment. Where a client’s presentation crosses that line - for example Complex PTSD, dissociative presentations, severe trauma responses, acute psychopathology, or complicated grief requiring specialist treatment - the member must refer to an appropriately qualified HPCSA-registered practitioner.

Members have an affirmative duty to refer any client whose needs exceed the member’s designation, training, competence, or the limitations of these standards. Referral is a professional responsibility, not a failure. Members must make referrals promptly, document them, and, where risk is imminent, take all reasonable steps to ensure the client’s safety, including contacting emergency services, before, during, and after the referral.

Members must maintain an up-to-date knowledge of appropriate referral pathways, including HPCSA-registered professionals and emergency and specialist services, and must make referrals in the client’s best interests and not for the member’s own gain (see section 12).

Supervision is a non-negotiable condition of membership for all members who engage in client-facing practice. No member may engage in client-facing practice without active supervision. Lapse of supervision is grounds for suspension of membership.

Members must meet the minimum supervision obligations for their membership designation as set out in the Membership Rules, namely: Accredited Counsellor (HAC) - a minimum of 3 hours per quarter (12 hours a year), plus ad hoc supervision as needed for difficult or high-risk cases; Accredited Senior Counsellor (HASC) - a minimum of 3 hours per quarter (12 hours a year), plus ad hoc supervision as needed, with peer supervision acceptable at this designation; and Accredited Supervisor (HAS) - a minimum of 3 hours per quarter (12 hours a year), plus ad hoc, on their own counselling practice, and a separate minimum of one session per quarter, plus ad hoc, with a Supervisor-Supervisor on their supervisory practice.

When working with minors, an enhanced supervision requirement applies, at a higher level than the designation minimum, consistent with the child-work requirements in the Scope of Practice.

Members must be honest and open with their supervisors. Members must bring difficult cases, mistakes, uncertainties, risk situations, and any matter affecting their fitness to practise to supervision, and may not conceal or misrepresent their practice to a supervisor. Members must act on reasonable supervisory guidance and must document supervision for sign-off at annual renewal.

Members must meet the continuing professional development (CPD) requirements for their membership designation as set out in the Membership Rules, including the prescribed non-substitutable core and ethics component, and must document and declare CPD at annual renewal. The annual requirement is 22 points for every member (HAC, HASC and HAS); CPD points are calculated as one hour equals one point. Members may not make a false declaration of CPD or supervision; doing so is a breach of section 9 (honest representation).

Accredited Supervisors (HAS) must supervise only within the specific fields for which they hold supervisory authorisation, and may not provide supervision in fields outside their authorised portfolio. Supervisors must hold the boundary, competence, confidentiality, and risk-management standards of this Code in the supervisory relationship, must accurately sign off only supervision and supervised hours that genuinely took place, and must escalate risk identified through supervision. Misconduct in the supervisory capacity may result in revocation of supervisory authorisation separately from or in addition to other membership consequences (section 14).

Child protection. Members who, in the course of their work, conclude on reasonable grounds that a child has been abused in a manner causing physical injury, sexually abused, or deliberately neglected, must report that conclusion to a designated child protection organisation, the provincial department of social development, or a police official. Section 110 of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 imposes this as a mandatory legal duty on certain listed professionals and permits any other person to make such a report; HICS requires every member, as a condition of membership, to make the report whether or not the statutory mandatory duty applies to the member personally. Members must act in the best interests of the child and must seek supervision without delaying any report.

Sexual offences. Members who have knowledge that a sexual offence has been committed against a child, or who know, reasonably believe or suspect that a sexual offence has been committed against a person who is vulnerable, must report that knowledge, belief or suspicion to a police official as required by section 54 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007. Section 54 was substituted, with effect from 31 July 2022, by section 26 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act Amendment Act 13 of 2021, which replaced the former category of a “person who is mentally disabled” with the broader category of a “person who is vulnerable”. This duty arises directly from the statute and applies to any person who has the requisite knowledge, belief or suspicion; it does not depend on membership of HICS.

Domestic violence. Members must take the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998 seriously where a client is affected by domestic violence. Members must, at a minimum, inform the client of their rights and available remedies (including the right to apply for a protection order and to lay a criminal charge), assist the client to access protection and support services, comply with any reporting duty that may apply to the member under the Act and its amendments, and document the steps taken. Presentations involving domestic or intimate-partner violence require referral to appropriate specialist services (section 8 of the Scope of Practice).

Imminent risk to life or safety. Where a member identifies a serious and imminent risk of harm to the client or to another person - including suicide risk identified through screening - the member must take immediate steps to protect life and safety. This includes safety planning within the member’s competence, immediate facilitation of referral to emergency or specialist services, and, where necessary, lawful disclosure to those able to prevent the harm. The member must document the risk identified and every step taken.

Mental Health Care Act. Where a client appears to require involuntary or assisted care under the Mental Health Care Act 17 of 2002, the member must facilitate referral to an appropriate mental health practitioner or facility and may not attempt to manage the situation beyond the member’s competence. Members do not conduct capacity assessments under that Act (section 6.3).

Members must be able to recognise the warning signs of crisis, risk, abuse, and harm, and must immediately escalate to a qualified practitioner or emergency service.

Members must not allow an employer instruction, organisational pressure, or fear of losing a client to prevent them from meeting any obligation in this section. These duties are not discretionary.

Members must represent their membership designation, qualifications, training, and areas of competence honestly and accurately at all times - to clients, employers, colleagues, the public, and HICS.

Members must include the mandatory disclaimer “Humanitas Independent Counselling Society membership designation. Not a statutory registration.” whenever a Humanitas Independent Counselling Society designation is used in a professional context, including on professional materials, email signatures, websites, social-media profiles, business cards, and directory listings.

Members may not state or imply that Humanitas Independent Counselling Society membership is a statutory registration, a professional licence, a SAQA-recognised qualification, or equivalent to or derived from HPCSA registration or the authority of any statutory council. Members may not claim or imply HPCSA registration they do not hold.

Members may not use the title “Psychologist” or “Registered Counsellor”, or any other HPCSA-regulated professional title, regardless of academic qualifications held, and may not use any reserved title (such as “Trauma Counsellor”) unless they hold HICS-recognised advanced practice in the corresponding field (section 6.2).

Members must use only the correct designation for their current membership category (HAC, HASC or HAS) and must cease using a designation immediately on lapse, suspension, downgrade, or revocation of the relevant membership or authorisation. A field of practice or advanced practice is recorded alongside the designation and may be stated only while it is current.

All advertising, marketing, and public communication by a member must be truthful and may not be misleading, may not make unsubstantiated claims of outcome or cure, and may not exploit clients’ fears or vulnerability. Members may not guarantee results that counselling cannot ethically promise.

Members must treat colleagues, supervisors, supervisees, other professionals, and HICS staff and volunteers with respect, courtesy, and professionalism, and must collaborate constructively in the interests of clients and the field.

Members may not turn a blind eye to unethical conduct. A member who becomes aware of conduct by another member that breaches this Code, the Scope of Practice or the Membership Rules, or the law - in particular conduct that places a client at risk - must report it to HICS through the complaints process. Where there is an immediate risk to a person, the member must also take any protective steps required under section 8.

Members must report a reasonable concern in good faith. HICS will not tolerate the victimisation of a member who reports in good faith. Members may not make a report that they know to be false or malicious; doing so is itself a breach of this Code.

Members must cooperate fully and honestly with HICS in any enquiry, complaint, audit, or disciplinary process. Members must respond to reasonable requests for information within the time required, must not obstruct or mislead an investigation, and must not destroy or alter relevant records. Members must comply with the lawful decisions and sanctions of HICS’s disciplinary structures.

Members must not bring the Humanitas Independent Counselling Society or the counselling field into disrepute, whether through their professional conduct, their public statements, or their conduct in digital spaces.

Members are professionally obligated to monitor and maintain their own wellbeing. Vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout are recognised occupational risks in this field. Active self-care - including rest, balance, supervision, and honest self-reflection - is part of safe and ethical practice, not an optional extra.

Members must not practise while their fitness to practise is materially impaired - whether by ill health, mental health difficulty, substance use, exhaustion, grief, or personal crisis - to a degree that places clients at risk. A member who recognises such impairment must take responsible steps, which may include reducing their caseload, intensifying supervision, seeking their own professional counselling, or temporarily withdrawing from client-facing practice.

Members must disclose to their supervisor, and where appropriate to HICS, any condition or circumstance that materially impairs, or is reasonably likely to impair, their ability to practise safely and ethically. HICS’s response to a good-faith impairment disclosure is supportive in the first instance, but unmanaged impairment that places clients at risk is a matter of conduct under section 14.

Members are encouraged to make use of the member assistance panel and supervision structures for support with difficult cases and their own wellbeing.

Members must identify, disclose, and responsibly manage any actual, potential, or perceived conflict between their own interests and the interests of a client, HICS, or the public. Where a conflict cannot be managed without risk to the client, the member must withdraw or refer.

Where a member charges for services, fees must be fair, transparent, and agreed with the client in advance as part of informed consent (section 3.2). Members must not misrepresent fees or charge for services not rendered. Accredited Supervisors (HAS) may charge members for supervision services.

Members must make referrals solely in the client’s best interests. Members may not pay for, accept, or solicit any fee, commission, or inducement in exchange for referring or receiving a client, and must disclose any financial interest in a service to which a client is referred.

Members may not solicit gifts and must exercise careful judgement before accepting any gift. Members may not accept gifts, favours, or benefits of a value or nature that could reasonably be seen to influence professional judgement or exploit the client relationship (see also section 5.3). Regardless of value, members may not accept gifts of cash or financial instruments. Members must disclose their policy on gifts to clients at the outset of the relationship (section 3.2), and any gift that could raise a question of influence must be documented and brought to supervision at the next available opportunity. Members working in communities where gift-giving carries particular cultural significance must seek supervisory guidance on managing the relationship in a way that is both ethically sound and culturally respectful.

Members must keep accurate and honest financial records relating to their practice and must comply with the financial, tax, and consumer-protection laws applicable to their practice setting.

Counselling delivered through online platforms is subject to the same standards and ethical requirements as in-person practice, consistent with the approved practice settings in the Scope of Practice. Members must ensure online work meets the same standards of consent, confidentiality, competence, boundaries, and safety as face-to-face work.

Before delivering counselling online or by telephone, members must assess whether the medium is appropriate and safe for the particular client and presentation, must establish how risk and emergencies will be managed at a distance (including the client’s location and local emergency contacts), and must use platforms that provide reasonable security and privacy for personal information in line with POPIA (section 4).

Members must protect client privacy in all digital communication. Members may not conduct identifiable client work over unsecured channels and must obtain the client’s informed consent before recording any session, storing notes electronically, or using any client material beyond the counselling relationship.

Where members use artificial intelligence or other digital tools to assist their practice (for example for note-taking, drafting, or psychoeducational content), they must do so transparently and responsibly. Members may not enter identifiable client information into any tool that does not provide adequate confidentiality and data protection, may not delegate professional judgement, risk assessment, or referral decisions to an automated tool, and remain personally accountable for all work produced with such assistance. Members may not represent automated output as professional advice beyond their areas of competence (section 6).

Members who conduct or participate in research must obtain informed consent, protect participant confidentiality, de-identify data, avoid harm, and act with honesty and integrity in the design, conduct, and reporting of the research. Client material may be used for research, teaching, or publication only with the client’s informed consent and effective de-identification (section 4.7).

A breach of this Code is a matter of professional conduct and may result in disciplinary action by HICS. The seriousness of the response will reflect the nature and gravity of the breach, the risk or harm caused, the member’s designation and responsibilities, and any pattern of conduct.

Complaints against a member are dealt with under HICS’s separate Complaints and Disciplinary Procedure. That procedure governs how complaints are received, investigated, and decided, the rights of the member complained against, and the right of appeal. This Code defines the standards; the Procedure defines the process.

Where a breach is established, the consequences may include, depending on severity:

• a formal warning or reprimand;
• required remedial action, additional supervision, additional training, or mentoring;
• conditions or restrictions placed on the member’s practice or membership;
• suspension of membership;
• revocation of supervisory authorisation (for HAS members), separately from or in addition to other consequences;
• downgrading or revocation of the membership designation; and
• a block on annual membership renewal until the matter is resolved, and termination of membership.

Annual membership renewal is conditional on the member having no outstanding disciplinary matters. Renewal is blocked until any such matter is resolved, in line with the renewal conditions in the Membership Rules.

On suspension, downgrade, revocation, lapse, or termination of membership, the member must immediately cease using the affected Humanitas Independent Counselling Society designation and any related representation (section 9.5), and must take reasonable steps to protect the interests and continuity of care of any current clients.

Certain conduct is regarded as a serious breach, including: sexual misconduct with a client; exploitation or abuse of a client; breach of an absolute limitation in section 6.3; failure to act on a mandatory reporting or duty-to-protect obligation under section 8; dishonesty about designation, qualifications, supervision, or CPD; and obstruction of a disciplinary process. Serious breaches may result in suspension or termination of membership even for a first offence.

This Code is owned and maintained by the Humanitas Independent Counselling Society Ethics Committee on behalf of the Board of HICS. The Ethics Committee is responsible for interpreting, applying, and proposing amendments to the Code.

The Code will be reviewed at least every two years, and sooner where required by changes in the law, in the Scope of Practice or the Membership Rules, or in HICS’s structures. Amendments take effect on the date of issue of the revised version and are binding on all members from that date.

Each version of the Code carries a version number and date of issue. Members are bound by the current published version. HICS will notify members of material amendments.