The aim of Society is the promotion of Philosophical Practice (Counselling) in all its forms including, for example, Socratic dialogue, philosophy with children, philosophical Practice (counselling) with groups and Organisations.

PREAMBLE

The Philosophical Praxis, Counselling and Spiritual Healing Society (PPCSHS ) has developed and established this Code of Practice as the result of the wish and the need to give the profession " Philosophical Practitioner ( Counsellor) a clear identity. The code represents a step towards further social recognition and the establishment of a profession. The PPCSHS will develop further quality and training criteria shortly. This Code is necessary because a " Philosophical Practitioner " offers a service that creates professional obligations towards clients.

The main terms used in this document are defined as follows:

Philosophical Practitioner – ( hereinafter also known as " Practitioner ") is someone who qualifies as philosophical Practitioner or in related fields as recognised by the PPCSHS, has received additional training, who is continuing his / her professional development, and who holds a practice within which he/she receives people who typically pay for his / her expertise and who thereby become the Philosophical Practitioner's "clients".

Consultation:

1. Dialogue between the philosopher and the client during an appointment and for which the client typically pays a fee.
2. Any situation where the philosopher's advice is sought, typically in exchange for a fee. The Code covers practitioners whether or not they are charging a fee.
3. PPCSHS is very soon going to publish The National Register of Philosophical Practitioners of India ( hereinafter known as "NRPPI" ) It will list all the Philosophical Practitioners who are signatories to the Code and who are practicing members.

By signing this Code, as part of the application procedure to be on the NRPP, the Philosophical Practitioner has agreed to adhere to the Code.

No member should claim ( either implicitly or explicitly) to be a practitioner member without having satisfied all training and degree requirements of the PPCSHS.

Aim

The Code gives clients, potential clients and those who refer them to a Philosophical Practitioner, access to the rules the philosopher will adhere to. If necessary, the client and those referring him/her can use the Code to remind the Philosophical Practitioner of those rules. The Code is intended to achieve a greater degree of consistent professional behaviour.

Complaints

If clients, or those referring them, believe that the consultant is not adhering to the code, they can report this to the PPCSHS' executive committee, which will deal with the complaint under Article 8 of this Code given below.

ARTICLES

1.Assumptions

The client can be an individual, a group, or the representative of an organization or professional body. The code deals with relationships where the client typically pays a fee for the provision of a service that is in effect a consultation.

2. Aims

The Philosophical Practitioner can maintain a broad spectrum of aims but must respect the wishes of the client and use these as the basis for a consultation. The wishes of the Practitioner will be either put aside or must be clearly explained to the client and explicitly agreed upon.

3. Methods

A. The Practitioner can employ a broad spectrum of methods. The Practitioner must realise that every method represents a means of dealing with the client and also contributes towards defining the relationship. Therefore, the Practitioner must ensure that the methods used and the resultant definition of relationship, are not in breach of other articles of the Code, expresses respect for the client, contributes to the dialogical form of the relationship, and avoid any abuse of power or authority.

B. The Practitioner will regularly evaluate the progress made during his/her work together with its philosophical character and will reflect on this with colleagues, either orally or in writing.

The Practitioner will obtain business and promote his/her practice only in an ethical manner, dignified in presentation, accurate, and not misleading in content.

4. Confidentiality

• The Practitioner should respect the client's right to privacy, except where disclosure is required by law or is justified to prevent imminent, substantial harm to the client or others.
• The Practitioner may contact other relevant parties such as specialists who referred the client or members of the client's family or household but only with the client's express permission. Thereby the client's stated wishes are always respected and subject to clause a.
• The Practitioner should ensure the client's anonymity when discussing the client's case with colleagues.
• The practitioner should inform the client of the pertinent limit to confidentiality upon initiating service.

5. Expertise

The Practitioner will regularly re-assess his/her expertise and supplement and update it through further study and training as recognised as relevant by SPPCSH.

Philosophical Practitioners should not employ techniques for which they are not qualified.

6. Fees

Philosophical Practitioners should inform the client of her/his fees ( if any ) before the commencement of services.

7. Care

• The Practitioner will enter a consultancy relationship only if the client has explicitly expressed a wish to do so and if the consultant is satisfied that the client is reasonably well informed about the content and form of such a relationship.
• The Practitioner will not practice on any occasion when his/her judgment might be impaired through any cause.
• The Practitioner will be sensitive to the client's ethical and religious views, alternative "world views" and philosophical perspectives including those based upon cultural or gender distinctions among diverse client populations.
• The Practitioner will make it clear where his/her limits of expertise lie and at what point referral to another relevant consultant would be considered for example, in the teaching, mental health, social work, medical or psychology professions. The Practitioner is careful not to overstep these limits ( see also article 5 ) Consultant philosophers should avoid sexual intimacy with current clients or any other form of dual role relation which might compromise the integrity of the professional relationship.

8. Complaints procedures

If the client feels that the Practitioner has breached any terms of the Code, he/she may complain to the PPCSHS's executive committee. The committee will, within 30 days of the complaint, convene the Professional Conduct Committee to hear both parties ( client and Practitioner ). Within 30 days of convening, the PCC will decide on whether or not the complaint is justified. If Practitioner has been found in breach of the Code, the Practitioner should resign. If he/she does not resign, the PPCSHS's full executive committee shall decide at its next meeting on one or more of the following actions:

• Accepting the member's resignation from PPCSHS
• A warning Suspension from the NRPP.
• Suspension pending satisfactory completion of further training and/or supervision.
• Expulsion from the PPCSHS, if necessary with immediate effect and subject to confirmation at the next Annual General Meeting ( AGM ) At the NEC ( national executive committee meeting, the consultant can present his/her case in person or writing or appoint another person to do so. The decision will be published in the PPCSHS's Newsletter. The consultant can appeal to the PPCSHS's Annual general meeting ( AGM), both the management committee and the Practitioner can appoint a member to prepare the case for the AGM. No action is taken pending the outcome of the appeal

7. Liability

The SPPCSH is not liable for any damages claimed by clients as the result of a Practitioner with a PPCSHS member. The Practitioner alone is responsible for his/her work and carries full liability for any action for damages