All members of the NLPA will agree to abide by the following ethics:

1. All therapists/practitioners whatsoever their discipline will at their own expense maintain and ensure that their Professional Indemnity Liability Insurance is up to date.

2. When advertising or promoting their services, therapists will not exaggerate their skills nor offer treatment for problems for which they are not qualified to treat. No exaggerated claims shall be made.

3. Practitioners have a Duty of Care towards any person presenting themselves for treatment. Patients shall be treated with respect and caring concern. If this is not possible, therapy must be terminated without delay.

4. It is the therapist’s duty to discharge the patient from treatment at the earliest possible moment, consistent with the good care of the patient, and not to keep the patient in therapy longer than is necessary.

5. Therapists must be aware that there are limits to their own competence. Treatment shall not continue if the therapist has no hope of a successful outcome. At such times it is the duty of the therapist to refer the patient on to another therapist. This will be seen as a sign of professional maturity.

6. The patient / practitioner relationship must be kept on a professional basis. Therapists must not exploit patients financially, sexually or in any other way. It is the responsibility of the therapist to ensure that this rule is adhered to. No exceptions will be made.

7. All therapists shall maintain accurate records of all patients for a minimum period of six years after completion of treatment. All records must be stored in a secure place under lock and key. Note: this minimum period may be superseded by statutory requirements. It is the therapist’s responsibility to ensure compliance with relevant laws.

8. Practitioners shall not prescribe drugs or advise their termination unless medically qualified to do so.

9. All therapy shall be aimed at developing and promoting the personal development of the patient, by stimulating choices and outcomes open to him or her.

10. The confidentiality of your patients shall be respected at all times. If the practitioner is faced with a conflict of patient’s confidentiality or legal obligation, the issue shall be decided by the judgment and the conscience of the practitioner. The practitioner would be advised to conform to legal requirements.

11. Patients suffering from physical complaints shall be encouraged to seek medical advice.

12. It is illegal to record on tape/CD any therapy session either in full or in part without the expressed and preferably written permission of the patient.

13. Written permission of the patient would be required for a therapist to publish a case history, and only then if the names and details are altered to conceal the patient’s identity.

14. Therapists must dress in a professional manner that is becoming of our profession.

15. If a patient complains about a therapist, the therapist is obliged to assist the patient by advising them of the address of the NLPA.

16. Before starting any therapy, always discuss what it is the patient wants and their expectations of the eventual outcome of therapy. It is important that the patient and the therapist are both very clear about what they are going to achieve.

17. Never treat a person under the age of 16 without the written permission of a parent or legal guardian. You must also have the permission of the child before you commence any treatment. When treating an under aged patient, you must always have a parent or guardian present.