Our Code of Ethical Practice

This Code sets out the ethical standards that govern every service offered by centred: massage therapy, psychotherapy, counselling, and coaching. It describes what our clients can expect from us, and the standards to which we hold ourselves and any practitioner who works under the centred name.

Our practitioners work in different disciplines, governed by different professional bodies. Those bodies set their own codes, and each practitioner is bound by the code of their own profession. This document does not replace those codes. It brings their shared spirit together into one statement of how centred practises, so that whichever service a client comes to us for, they can expect the same standard of care, integrity, and respect.

Our Professional Governance

Each centred practitioner is registered with, and accountable to, the professional body for their discipline. These bodies set the codes of conduct we follow, require us to maintain our skills and insurance, and provide an independent route for raising concerns.

Massage Therapy

We practice in accordance with the codes of the Sports Massage Association (SMA) and the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT). The SMA has adopted the General Council for Massage Therapy (GCMT) Code of Practice, Ethics and Proficiency, which is aligned with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) standards.

Psychotherapy, Counselling, and Coaching

We practice in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Professional Practice of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). The UKCP register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care.

Where the requirements of these codes and the law interact, we hold ourselves to the higher standard. Where this Code and a practitioner’s professional body code ever appear to differ, the practitioner’s own professional body code takes precedence for that practitioner.

Our Shared Ethical Principles

All of the disciplines practised at centred rest on the same ethical foundations. These principles, drawn from the common ground between our professional bodies, sit at the heart of everything we do.

Beneficence

We act in the genuine interest of our clients, working to support their well-being and provide care that is genuinely beneficial.

Non-Maleficence

We take care to avoid harm. We do not provide care beyond our competence, and we stop or refer when continuing would not be in a client’s best interest.

Autonomy

We respect each client’s right to make their own decisions about their care, and we support informed choice rather than direct it.

Respect and Dignity

We treat every client with respect, regardless of who they are or what brings them to us.

Integrity

We are honest in how we describe ourselves, what we offer, and what our services can achieve. We do not overclaim.

Trust

We understand that clients place significant trust in us, and we work to be worthy of it in every interaction.

1. Acting in the Best Interests of Clients

Across every service, we commit to:

Place the well-being and interests of our clients at the centre of our work.

Treat every client with respect, care, and without judgment.

Respect each client’s autonomy and right to make decisions about their own care.

Never exploit or abuse the professional relationship, whether current or past, for emotional, sexual, financial, or any other gain.

Never enter into a sexual relationship with a client.

Decline any gift, favour, or hospitality that could be seen as exploitative or that might compromise the professional relationship.

Provide care only where there is a reasonable expectation that it will benefit the client.

2. Professional Boundaries

Clear boundaries protect clients and practitioners alike. We commit to:

Remain aware of the inherent power imbalance in the professional relationship, and take responsibility for managing it.

Avoid dual or multiple relationships that risk confusing or compromising the professional relationship. Where such a relationship is unavoidable, for example, in a small community, we take responsibility for clarifying boundaries and protecting confidentiality.

Recognise the particular importance of boundaries, given that the centre offers more than one service. A client receiving one service will never be pressured toward another, and where a client chooses to access more than one service, each practitioner manages the boundary between them with care.

Exercise careful judgment, and have regard to the time elapsed, before entering into any personal or business relationship with a former client.

Recognise that our conduct outside of work may affect the trust clients place in us, and take responsibility for that.

3. Communication, Consent, and Honest Promotion

Clients are entitled to clear information and genuine choice. We commit to:

Describe our qualifications, registrations, and services accurately, honestly, and without exaggeration, in all our advertising and communication.

Make no claim we cannot support, and never use client testimonials in a way that breaches our professional obligations or misrepresents what our services can achieve.

Explain our fees, terms, and conditions clearly before care begins, and make information readily available about what a client can expect, including methods used, likely duration, and how to raise a concern.

Agree a clear contract or working agreement with each client at the outset, so that both parties understand what is and is not being offered.

Obtain informed consent before care begins, ensuring clients understand the nature of the service, what to expect, and any relevant alternatives. For massage therapy, this includes obtaining voluntary informed consent before treatment, and being sensitive to a client’s modesty, comfort, and privacy at all times, including appropriate draping.

Never intentionally mislead a client about the nature of the service being provided.

4. Confidentiality and Records

Confidentiality is fundamental to the trust our clients place in us. We commit to:

Respect, protect, and preserve client confidentiality, and safeguard sensitive and personally identifiable information obtained in the course of our work.

Keep records that are accurate, appropriate to the service, legible, and kept securely, in line with our privacy policy and data protection law.

Make clients aware, where appropriate, of the legal and ethical limits to confidentiality and the circumstances in which information might be disclosed.

Limit any disclosure to the minimum necessary, and, wherever it is safe and appropriate, discuss it with the client first. The specific circumstances in which confidentiality may be limited are set out in our privacy policy and our client agreements.

Protect the welfare and anonymity of clients in any case where clinical or treatment material might be published or discussed, obtaining explicit consent where a client could recognise themselves.

Seek appropriate advice before providing information for legal or administrative proceedings, even where consent has been given.

5. Competence, Supervision, and Fitness to Practise

Good care depends on practitioners who are skilled, supported, and well. We commit to:

Offer only those forms of care in which we have had adequate training and experience.

Understand the limits of our competence and stay within them, referring a client to another professional when that is in their best interest. This includes being aware of cautions and contraindications and refraining from treatment where appropriate.

Maintain and develop our skills through continuing professional development, as required by our professional bodies.

Engage in regular clinical or professional supervision appropriate to our discipline, recognising it as a cornerstone of safe and ethical practice.

Not work with clients when we are not fit to do so, whether for reasons of physical or mental health, or when impaired by alcohol, drugs, or medication.

Hold current and appropriate professional indemnity insurance for all the services we provide.

Where a client is already receiving treatment from another professional, take appropriate care, and for massage therapy, seek consent from the relevant practitioner where required, before proceeding.

6. Beginnings, Endings, and Continuity of Care

We commit to:

Make considered and timely arrangements to end a professional relationship, ensuring clients are informed and, where appropriate, supported in finding alternative care.

Have arrangements in place to inform and support clients if a practitioner becomes unable to continue, whether due to illness or otherwise.

Respect a client’s right to refuse or end care at any time, regardless of any prior consent given.

7. Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion

centred is a practice for every body and every mind. We commit to:

Actively consider issues of diversity and equality across all aspects of our work, and engage in ongoing self-enquiry and development.

Never allow prejudice about a client’s sex, gender, age, race, colour, disability, sexuality, relationship structure, lifestyle, religious, cultural or political beliefs, or social, economic, or immigration status to affect the way we work with them.

Practise affirmatively and inclusively, recognising that affirming care is not a specialism at centred but the baseline we offer to everyone.

Avoid any behaviour that could be perceived as abusive or detrimental to a client or colleague.

8. Safeguarding

Protecting those at risk is a responsibility we take seriously across every service. We commit to:

Safeguard children and vulnerable adults, recognising our legal and ethical responsibilities concerning their rights and welfare.

Take appropriate action, including disclosure where necessary, if we believe a person is at risk of harm.

Maintain familiarity with relevant safeguarding guidance from our professional bodies, and act in accordance with it.

9. Trust, Conduct, and Professional Responsibility

We commit to:

Conduct ourselves, in and outside of our professional lives, in a way that upholds the reputation of our professions and maintains public confidence.

Maintain awareness of, and comply with, the legal and professional obligations and policies that apply to our practice.

Ensure that our conduct on social media and in all public communication is consistent with this Code and with our professional obligations.

Challenge questionable practice, in ourselves and others, and report potential breaches to the relevant professional body, particularly where a client may be at risk of harm.

Co-operate fully with any lawful investigation or inquiry relating to our practice, and notify our professional body of any matter we are required to disclose, such as a criminal charge or a disciplinary finding.

Conduct all business and professional activity with honesty and integrity.

Raising a Concern

If you ever feel that the care you have received from centred has fallen short of the standards in this Code, we want to know. You can raise a concern directly with the practitioner concerned, and we will listen, take it seriously, and respond.

You also have the right to raise a concern with the relevant professional body, which operates an independent complaints process:

For massage therapy: the Sports Massage Association (thesma.org) or the Federation of Holistic Therapists (fht.org.uk).

For psychotherapy, counselling, and coaching: the UK Council for Psychotherapy (psychotherapy.org.uk).

Concerns about how we handle your personal information can be raised with us directly and, if needed, with the Information Commissioner’s Office, as set out in our Privacy Notice.

Review of This Code

This Code is reviewed regularly and updated to reflect changes in the codes of our professional bodies and in the law. It should always be read alongside the current codes of the SMA, FHT, and UKCP, which take precedence for their respective practitioners.

You can see when this code was last reviewed and/or updated at the top of this page.