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Code of Conduct for SfDBT Members

The Society for DBT aims to ensure that those providing DBT agree to comply with the following code of conduct.

  1. Accredited DBT therapists will provide adherent DBT to the best of their ability and continue to develop their DBT skills.
  2. Accredited DBT therapists and SfDBT Members will adhere to the DBT consultation assumptions, and work with their colleagues to follow the DBT consultation assumptions.
  3. Accredited DBT therapists and SfDBT Members will continue to undertake personal mindfulness practice on a regular basis.
  4. Accredited DBT therapists and SfDBT Members will review and consider the emerging evidence for developments and adaptations in DBT on a regular basis to ensure they are providing their clients, colleagues and supervisees evidence based therapy.
  5. Accredited DBT therapists and SfDBT Members will adhere to the codes of conduct as set out by their core professional / regulatory bodies.*
  6. Accredited DBT therapists and SfDBT Members will engage with clients in an ethical, confidential, and non-judgemental manner.
  7. Accredited DBT therapists and SfDBT Members will not engage in actions which could bring the Society for DBT or DBT therapy into disrepute.
  8. If an Accredited DBT therapist or SfDBT Member notifies the Society of their wish to resign their membership after an allegation of misconduct has been lodged, the Society shall proceed with the formal process of investigation.

If an accredited DBT therapist or SfDBT Member is reported to the Society for being in breach of the Code of Conduct, on completion of the investigation process by the individual’s Regulatory body, the Society will undertake a separate  investigation. This will be conducted by two members of the Board of Accreditation, two additional members of the Council of the Society for DBT, and an independent external person from the professional body for that individual. If there is evidence to uphold the complaint the accredited DBT therapist will be removed from the register and will no longer be entitled to use the term ‘Accred SfDBT’.