Our Code of Ethics
By becoming an Official USABP Member, you or your organization agree to adhere to our Code of Ethics.
INTRODUCTION
The United States Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP) is an association of educators, clinics, centers, and individuals.
We bring together a dynamic community of somatic educators, psychologists, psychotherapists, physicians, registered nurses, educators, alternative health care providers, social workers, scholars, researchers, policymakers, consultants, coaches, lightworkers, yogis, massage therapists, energy workers, as well as dance, movement, and expressive arts practitioners—individuals driven by a passion for the transformative power of somatics and embodiment practices.
Somatic therapists and practitioners acknowledge the intrinsic unity of the human being. Therefore, somatic practitioners work in ways that promote the integration of bodily sensation, thought, feeling, and movement to support more holistic human functioning in resolving somatic issues. Somatic methods, including language, gesture, and touch, when used responsibly, ethically, and competently, play a vital role in the psychotherapeutic process by incorporating the missing and often alienated aspects of our being rooted in the bodily experience.
These ethical guidelines set forth the principles and standards that guide the practice of this profession. These principles and standards reflect accumulated wisdom in the field of somatics. They are not meant to be all-inclusive. The principles in this code are intended to be aspirational, while the standards are directive. Members of the USABP seek consultation with healthcare and other professionals, and consider cultural and contextual factors, other certification and licensure regulations for their professions, state and federal laws, and the dictates of their own consciences when determining ethical conduct.
Somatic therapists and practitioners recognize their ethical responsibility to uphold standards of conduct, care, and ongoing personal and professional growth. Therefore, they are committed to regularly examining their actions, motives, and attitudes within their professional relationships to ensure client safety and welfare, while fostering the effective practice of their profession. Additionally, somatic therapists and practitioners expect, encourage, and support ethical behavior and self-reflection among their students, supervisees, employees, and colleagues.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Principle A – Competence
Somatic therapists and practitioners strive to uphold high standards of competence in their work and to recognize the boundaries of their competence and the limits of their expertise. They acknowledge the importance of ongoing education and stay informed by using scientific, professional, technical, and administrative resources to improve their work with clients.
Principle B – Integrity
Somatic therapists and practitioners aim to promote integrity in the science, art, teaching, and practice of somatics. In these activities, they strive to be honest, fair, and respectful of others, while also being aware of their own belief systems, values, needs, and limitations, and understanding how these impact their work.
Principle C – Responsibility in Professional and Scientific Conduct
Somatic therapists and practitioners are committed to maintaining professional standards of conduct, clarifying their roles and responsibilities, accepting appropriate accountability for their actions, and tailoring their methods to meet the needs of different clients. When conducting research, they aim to promote human welfare and the science and art of somatics. They seek to prevent the misuse of their work. They understand the importance of consulting with, referring to, and cooperating with other professionals and institutions as needed to serve the best interests of their patients, clients, or other recipients of their services.
Principle D – Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity
Somatic therapists and practitioners aim to respect the fundamental rights, dignity, and worth of all individuals. They understand cultural, individual, and role differences, and they strive to avoid discrimination based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and socio-economic status. They honor individuals' rights to privacy, confidentiality, self-determination, and autonomy.
Principle E – Concern for Others’ Welfare
Somatic therapists and practitioners aim to contribute to the well-being of those they serve professionally. In their work, they consider the welfare and rights of their patients or clients, students, supervisees, human research participants, and others affected, including animal research subjects. They are mindful of real and perceived power differences among individuals and work to avoid exploiting or misleading people before, during, or after their professional interactions.
Principle F – Social Responsibility
Somatic therapists and practitioners recognize their professional and scientific responsibilities to the community and the society where they work and live. They share their knowledge openly to promote human welfare. They are committed to addressing and reducing the causes and effects of human suffering. They support the development of laws and social policies that benefit their patients, clients, and the public. They acknowledge social injustice and work to positively influence these issues both as professionals and as individuals.
Principle G – Compliance with Professional Standards and Applicable Laws at Local, State, and Federal Levels
Members of USABP follow the principles and guidelines outlined in this code. They also comply with local, state, and federal laws and regulations regarding professional practice, as well as the codes of ethics of their professional associations, organizations, and accrediting boards. When there are differences in codes or guidelines, licensed practitioners, who are bound by other ethical codes, strive to balance the requirements of the various codes in a way that best reflects ethical behavior and responsibly resolves conflicts. If the conflict is unresolvable, the somatic therapist or practitioner adheres to the requirements of the law, regulations, or other governing legal authority.
ETHICAL STANDARDS
I. COMPETENCE
Practitioners aim to meet their responsibilities with the highest level of competence. In areas where professional standards are still developing, they seek proper training and consult with experts to ensure the well-being of those they serve. They refer clients to appropriate professionals within their own field or other specialties as needed.
1. Somatic therapists and practitioners do not diagnose, treat, or give advice on issues outside their accepted scope of competence. Acknowledging the limits of their expertise, they only provide services and techniques for which they are qualified through education, training, and experience.
2. Somatic therapists and practitioners provide services, teach, or conduct research in new areas or using new techniques only after completing appropriate study, training, supervision, and/or consultation from individuals who are skilled in those areas or techniques. If they are developing new paradigms, they do so cautiously, seek appropriate advice and support as needed, and obtain proper informed consent.
3. Somatic therapists and practitioners aim to stay reasonably current about new developments in somatic knowledge and practice through educational activities, supervision, and/or consultation. They regularly seek professional or peer supervision/consultation as part of their standard of practice.
4. Somatic therapists and practitioners seek appropriate professional help for personal problems or conflicts that may impair work performance or clinical judgment.
5. As teachers, supervisors, and researchers committed to high standards of scholarship and the presentation of accurate information, somatic therapists and practitioners strive to provide precise and clear information to students, supervisees, colleagues, and the public. They aim to prevent the distortion or misuse of their clinical and research findings. They base their teaching on scientifically and professionally derived knowledge. Additionally, they accurately and professionally represent themselves and the field to the public.
6. When presenting information that falls outside the boundaries of the generally accepted professional and/or scientific knowledge base, somatic therapists and practitioners should identify it, specify the database supporting it, and provide access to that database if it is not publicly available.
II. INTEGRITY
Somatic therapists and practitioners aim to uphold integrity in the science, art, teaching, and practice of somatics. In these activities, they strive to be honest, fair, and respectful of others, while also being aware of their own beliefs, values, needs, and limitations, as well as how these influence their work.
1. Somatic therapists and practitioners aim to communicate honestly and accurately in all their public statements about their work and related activities. This includes research, practice, or other work associated with them or their affiliated persons or organizations. Public statements encompass, but are not limited to, paid or unpaid advertising, product endorsements, grant and credentialing applications, personal resumes or curriculum vitae, or comments for media such as print or electronic forms, legal statements, lectures, public presentations, and published materials. Somatic therapists and practitioners do not deliberately make false, misleading, or fraudulent public statements.
2. Somatic therapists and practitioners communicate honestly and truthfully about their training, experience, and competence. Likewise, they make accurate statements regarding their credentials, academic degrees, institutional or association affiliations, services, the scientific or clinical basis for, or outcomes or levels of success of, their services, their fees, or their publications or research findings.
3. Somatic practitioners, in their reports to payors, accurately detail the nature of the services provided or research conducted, the fees, charges, or payments, their academic degrees, and, when applicable, the provider's identity, the findings, and the diagnosis.
III. INFORMED CONSENT
Somatic therapists and practitioners provide services to clients solely within a professional relationship based on valid, ongoing informed consent. Initial informed consent to use somatics is expected and should be updated and documented as appropriate during the relationship. Informed consent requires that the individual has the capacity to consent, has been informed of and understands the necessary information regarding their treatment, and that this consent has been given freely without undue influence.
1. Somatic therapists and practitioners communicate clearly and understandably to inform clients about the purpose of treatment, associated risks, reasonable alternatives, limits of care, and the right to seek a second opinion. Additional recommended topics for consent and discussion include, but are not limited to: confidentiality and its limits, the client’s right to refuse or withdraw consent, nature of the business agreement, healthcare benefits, fees, record keeping, termination, supervision, use of touch, complaint or disagreement procedures, and contact details. Ample opportunity is given for clients to ask questions.
2. If a client is legally incapable of giving informed consent, somatic therapists and practitioners obtain informed permission from a legally authorized person, if applicable laws permit such substitute consent. When proceeding with substitute consent, they inform those who are legally unable to give informed consent about the proposed interventions in a way that matches the person’s mental and cognitive abilities, seek their agreement, and consider their preferences and best interests.
IV. AVOIDING HARM
Somatic therapists and practitioners avoid engaging in any activities that are harmful or exploitative, or that could reasonably be expected to cause harm or exploitation. They are attentive to potential harm, encourage discussion of such situations as appropriate—even when they are not directly raised by the client—and take suitable actions to prevent and reduce possible harm.
1. Somatic therapists and practitioners are professional in attitude and conduct, reliable with agreements and appointments. They are transparent about their cancellation policies and work in good faith within that framework with their clients.
2. Sexual relationships between somatic therapists and practitioners and their clients are prohibited during the professional relationship and for a minimum of 2 years following the termination of the professional relationship. A somatic therapist or practitioner who considers engaging in sexual intimacy with a former client after this period must demonstrate that there has been no exploitation, considering all relevant factors that could affect the client’s ability to freely enter such a relationship.
3. Somatic therapists and practitioners do not engage in sexual relationships with individuals they know to be the parents, guardians, spouses, partners, children, or siblings of current clients. Additionally, they do not end therapy sessions to bypass this rule.
4. Somatic therapists and practitioners do not take as clients individuals with whom they have engaged in sexual intimacy.
5. Somatic therapists and practitioners avoid engaging in any behavior that could reasonably be interpreted as harassment, whether sexual or non-sexual. They monitor their therapeutic relationships to determine if clients perceive any harassment and address that concern promptly.
6. Somatic therapists and practitioners make reasonable efforts to ensure continuity of treatment. When services must be terminated for a legitimate reason, the therapist makes every reasonable effort to ensure that appropriate referrals are made for the ongoing needs of the client prior to termination and makes reasonable efforts to terminate the relationship satisfactorily.
7. If a client wishes to end the therapeutic relationship, somatic therapists and practitioners offer professional guidance about the benefits and potential consequences of this decision without pressuring the client to stay against their wishes. They consistently clarify the client’s right to terminate at any time.
8. Somatic therapists and practitioners seek appropriate consultation and/or supervision whenever the ethics of their conduct are questioned.
V. MULTIPLE RELATIONSHIPS
Somatic therapists and practitioners refrain from engaging in exploitative multiple relationships. A multiple relationship occurs when a somatic therapist or practitioner is in a psychotherapeutic relationship with a person and, at the same time or sequentially, is involved in another relationship with the same individual. Somatic therapists and practitioners distinguish between normal community interactions and multiple relationships. They do not accept as clients anyone with whom they have had a sexual, close personal, financial, or family relationship, or whose family or relatives are involved. Clearly defined boundaries of the therapeutic relationship are essential, as unclear boundaries can impair judgment, cause harm, and undermine the therapy’s purpose.
1. Considerations about potential exploitation include the nature and intensity of the professional relationship and secondary relationship, the stage of therapy, the amount of transference, the degree of role conflict, the level of communication skills, and the existence of an evaluative role.
2. Somatic therapists and practitioners recognize the power differences that can exist in their relationships with clients, students, and supervisees. They will be aware of both real and ascribed power disparities, take responsibility for bringing potential issues to light, and be available for reasonable processing with those involved.
3. In some situations, such as in small geographic or modality communities, a multiple relationship that is not exploitive may be established. In these cases, the somatic therapist or practitioner takes precautions to protect the client from exploitation and harm. These precautions may include, but are not limited to, recognizing the multiple relationship and its inherent risks to the client, maintaining ongoing dialogue, obtaining informed consent, documenting all relevant information, and engaging in case consultation and/or supervision.
4. If a somatic therapist or practitioner is providing services to multiple people with a relationship, such as partners, parents and children, siblings, or families, they should clarify the nature of their relationship with each individual at the start of therapy. If at any point it becomes clear that the therapist is involved in multiple roles that could harm the treatment or threaten their objectivity or judgment, they should clarify, adjust, or withdraw from conflicting roles.
5. Barter involves the exchange of goods or services from clients in return for psychological services. Somatic therapists and practitioners do not engage in barter (including work exchanges) unless such arrangements are suitable within the context of the therapeutic relationship, driven by the client's needs, and serve the client's best interests. When bartering occurs, the therapist and client create written agreements regarding the exchange of goods or services to clarify the scope and limitations of the arrangement. Somatic therapists and practitioners seek supervision or consultation to ensure that the bartering is not harmful to the client, that the client receives fair value, and that no exploitation or harm to the client takes place.
6. As teachers, somatic therapists, and practitioners recognize that their relationships with students and/or supervisees often involve factors that make avoiding multiple relationships challenging. They monitor their teaching and supervision relationships to ensure they do not become exploitative or harmful. Somatic therapists and practitioners do not engage in sexual relations with students or supervisees and do not subject them to sexual harassment.
VI. COLLEGIAL RELATIONSHIPS
Somatic therapists and practitioners show respect for their colleagues. They avoid exploiting professional relationships for personal gain, whether it's financial, personal, professional, or research-related.
1. Somatic therapists and practitioners try to avoid entering into a therapeutic relationship with someone who is currently seeing another therapist without that therapist's knowledge. However, they acknowledge that it is the clients’ right to seek treatment that best meets their needs. Somatic therapists and practitioners inform the client of potential problems with abrupt terminations and urge them to complete the termination process with their former therapist if it will not harm the client.
2. If it appears that a client has been abused in a previous or ongoing professional relationship, somatic therapists and practitioners inform the client how to seek proper recourse.
3. The Ethical Guidelines of the USABP make no attempt to limit the free speech of its members. In exercising their right to free speech, somatic therapists and practitioners ensure that their statements are professional, non-combative in tone, balanced, and factually accurate.
4. If a somatic therapist or practitioner believes that a colleague has committed an ethical violation, they may address it directly with the individual and seek resolution, as long as doing so does not breach any confidentiality rights. Colleagues should also seek counsel, guidance, supervision, and consultations as needed regarding the process or issues involved.
5. If serious disputes arise between somatic therapists and practitioners regarding professional matters, they seek outside consultation if they cannot resolve the issue themselves.
6. When involved in professional writing for publicity, training programs, or publication in journals and books, somatic therapists and practitioners do not claim credit for the intellectual work of others but properly credit their sources and influences.
VII. PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Somatic therapists and practitioners have a primary obligation and responsibility to take precautions to respect the confidentiality of those they work or consult with.
1. Confidential information includes all data obtained during the professional relationship. They uphold the confidentiality of clients and former clients. Somatic therapists and practitioners take appropriate steps to protect their confidential information and restrict access by others to it.
2. Somatic therapists and practitioners disclose confidential information without the client's consent only when required or permitted by law. Such situations include, but are not limited to, providing essential professional services to the client, obtaining appropriate professional consultation, or protecting the client or others from harm.
3. Unless it is unfeasible or contraindicated, the discussion of confidentiality and its limits should take place at the start of the professional relationship and then as circumstances require. When appropriate, somatic therapists and practitioners clarify at the beginning of treatment issues related to the involvement of third parties.
4. Somatic therapists and practitioners may disclose confidential information with the appropriate consent of the patient, individual, or organizational client (or of another legally authorized person on behalf of the patient or client), unless prohibited by law.
5. When agreeing to provide services to multiple individuals who are related (such as partners or parents and children), somatic therapists and practitioners aim to clarify at the beginning 1) which of the individuals are clients and 2) the nature of the relationship somatics will have with each person. This clarification includes the roles of the somatic therapist or practitioner and the likely uses of the services provided or the information obtained.
6. If and when it becomes clear that a somatic therapist or practitioner might be asked to perform roles that could conflict, such as serving as a marital counselor to the husband and wife and then acting as a witness for one party in a divorce case, somatic therapists and practitioners strive to clarify, adjust, or withdraw from these roles as appropriate.
7. When more than one person is involved in treatment with the same therapist, such as in groups, families, or couples, the therapist first obtains an initial agreement with all involved parties about how confidential information will be managed both within treatment and regarding third parties.
8. Somatic therapists and practitioners keep and maintain appropriate records as needed to provide competent care and as required by law or regulation.
9. Somatic therapists and practitioners recognize the potential negative effects of technological changes on the confidential sharing of patient information and exercise reasonable care to ensure secure and confidential transmission of such data.
10. Somatic therapists and practitioners take measures to protect the confidentiality of client records during storage, transfer, and disposal. They comply with applicable state laws regarding the duration of storage and procedures for disposal.
11. Somatic therapists and practitioners take necessary steps to ensure, as much as possible, that employees, supervisees, assistants, and volunteers keep client confidentiality. They also take appropriate measures to protect the client’s identity or to get prior, written permission for the use of any identifying clinical materials in teaching, writing, and public presentations.
12. When working with groups, somatic therapists and practitioners explain to participants the importance of maintaining confidentiality and obtain agreement from group participants to respect each other's privacy, but they also inform them that privacy and confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.
13. Somatic therapists and practitioners obtain written consent from clients or students before recording or filming any session. This consent should specify the intended use of the material and the boundaries of confidentiality.
VIII. ETHICS OF TOUCH
The use of touch plays a vital and valuable role as a body-oriented intervention when applied skillfully, with clear boundaries, sensitivity, and sound clinical judgment. Because touch can make clients especially vulnerable, somatic therapists pay particular attention to the potential for dependent, infantile, or erotic transference and aim for healthy containment. Genital or other sexual touch by a therapist or client is always inappropriate and never acceptable.
1. Somatic therapists and practitioners assess whether touch is appropriate for each client. They consider factors such as the client’s ability to give genuine informed consent; the client’s developmental stage and diagnosis; the transferential potential based on the client’s personal history related to touch, the client’s capacity to meaningfully process touch experiences, and how the practitioner’s specific style of touch interacts with the client. They document their evaluations and consultations in the client’s record.
2. Somatic therapists and practitioners obtain informed consent before using touch-related techniques in therapy. They strive to ensure that consent for touch is genuine and that the client fully understands the nature and purposes of its use. As with all informed consent, written documentation of the consent is highly recommended.
3. Somatic therapists and practitioners recognize that the client’s conscious verbal and even written consent for touch, while apparently genuine, may not accurately reflect objections or problems with touch of which the client is currently unaware. Knowing this, Somatic therapists and practitioners strive to be sensitive to the client’s spoken and unspoken cues regarding touch, taking into account the particular client’s capacity for authentic and full consent.
4. Somatic therapists and practitioners continue to monitor for ongoing informed consent to ensure the continued appropriateness of touch-based interventions. They maintain periodic written records of ongoing consent and consultation regarding any questions they or a client may have.
5. Somatic therapists and practitioners acknowledge and respect the client's right to refuse or end any touch by the therapist at any time, and they inform the client of this right.
6. Somatic therapists and practitioners understand that, like all aspects of therapy, touch should only be used when it is reasonably predicted or determined to benefit the client. Touch should never be used to satisfy the personal needs of the therapist or because it is considered necessary by the therapist’s theoretical perspective if it disregards the client’s needs or wishes.
7. The application of touch techniques requires a high level of internal clarity and integration from the therapist. Somatic therapists and practitioners prepare for therapeutic touch through comprehensive training and supervision in the use of touch, participating in therapy that includes touch, and seeking appropriate supervision or consultation if any issues arise during treatment.
8. Somatic therapists and practitioners do not participate in genital or other sexual touching, nor do they knowingly use touch to sexually stimulate a client. Therapists are responsible for maintaining clear sexual boundaries through their own behavior and for setting limits on the client’s behavior towards them, which prohibit any sexual touching. Information about the therapeutic value of clear sexual boundaries in the use of touch is communicated to the client before and during the use of touch in a manner that is not shaming or derogatory.
IX. EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Somatic therapists and practitioners responsible for education and training programs aim to ensure their programs are well-designed and offer suitable experiences and training to meet the stated goals. They understand the influence they have over students and supervisees and therefore strive to act in ways that are personally supportive and respectful toward them.
1. Somatic therapists and practitioners strive to ensure that any education and training programs they oversee provide clear descriptions of the program content, training goals, objectives, and requirements necessary for admission and successful completion. This information is easily accessible to all interested parties.
2. When engaged in teaching or training, educators present relevant information accurately and objectively, providing respectful critiques when appropriate. The educational content in their programs is based on information supported by valid, publicly available evidence and/or investigation. Educational programs offer exposure to diverse theoretical perspectives as well as scientifically and professionally derived knowledge.
3. Somatic therapists and practitioners establish suitable processes for giving feedback to students and supervisees. They assess students and supervisees based on their actual performance against relevant and established program requirements. Additionally, they seek, encourage, and use feedback from students and supervisees. This feedback can be written, verbal, formal, or informal.
4. When acting as teachers or trainers, somatic therapists and practitioners uphold a level of confidentiality suitable for the educational setting. Teachers and trainers discuss trainees and supervisees only in accordance with publicly stated policy or mutual agreement and to enhance the educational experience of the individual.
5. Somatic therapists and practitioners inform trainees and supervisees of the legal and ethical prohibition against presenting themselves as capable of providing professional services beyond their training, experience, or competence.
6. Educators must be able to provide proper credentials that prove their teaching falls within their scope of knowledge and expertise.
X. RESEARCH
Somatic therapists and practitioners design, conduct, and report research according to established standards of scientific competence and ethics, reducing the risk of misleading results. When an ethical issue is unclear, they address it through consultation with institutional review boards, peer discussions, or other appropriate mechanisms. They take reasonable steps to ensure the protection of the rights and welfare of human participants, others affected by the research, and animal subjects.
1. Somatic therapists and practitioners conduct research competently while respecting the dignity and welfare of participants.
2. Somatic therapists and practitioners are responsible for the ethical conduct of research they conduct or oversee.
3. Researchers and assistants are only allowed to perform tasks for which they are properly trained and prepared.
4. As part of developing and implementing research projects, somatic therapists and practitioners consult experts about any special populations involved or likely to be affected.
5. Somatic therapists and practitioners plan and conduct research in a manner consistent with federal and state law and regulations.
6. Before conducting any research (excluding anonymous surveys, naturalistic observations, or similar studies), somatic therapists and practitioners establish an agreement with participants that explains the nature of the research and the responsibilities of each party. They take special care to protect prospective participants from negative consequences if they choose to decline or withdraw from participation. Whether participation is part of an academic course requirement or a voluntary activity, the prospective participant is informed of alternative activities that are fair and equitable.
7. Somatic therapists and practitioners use clear language that research participants can understand when obtaining their informed consent. This informed consent is properly documented.
8. For individuals who are legally certified as incapable of providing informed consent, somatic therapists and practitioners offer a clear explanation, obtain the person's assent, and secure the appropriate permission from a legally authorized individual if such substitute consent is allowed by law.
9. When offering professional services as an incentive to research participants, somatic therapists and practitioners clearly explain the nature of the services, along with the risks, obligations, and limitations. They avoid offering excessive or inappropriate financial or other incentives to secure research participants, especially when such incentives could coerce participation or distort the results.
10. Somatic therapists and practitioners never deceive research participants about aspects that could influence their willingness to participate, such as physical risks, discomfort, or unpleasant emotional experiences. Any other deception that is a fundamental and necessary part of the experiment's design and conduct must be disclosed to participants as early as possible, ideally at the end of their participation, but no later than at the conclusion of the research.
11. Somatic therapists and practitioners inform research participants about the expected sharing or future use of personally identifiable research data and the possibility of unforeseen future uses.
12. Somatic therapists and practitioners provide a prompt, clear opportunity for participants to obtain appropriate information about the nature, results, and conclusions of the research and make a good faith effort to correct any misconceptions that participants may have. If scientific or humane values justify delaying or withholding this information, they take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of harm.
13. When conducting research involving animals, somatic therapists and practitioners treat them humanely. They ensure that all individuals supervising animal use have received instruction in research methods and in the care, maintenance, and handling of the species involved, appropriate to their role.
14. Somatic therapists and practitioners do not fabricate data or falsify results in publications. If they find significant errors in their published data, they take appropriate steps to correct those errors whenever they have a material effect.
15. Somatic therapists and practitioners do not present significant portions or elements of someone else's work or data as their own. When they do reference aspects of another’s work, they provide clear and explicit attribution.
16. Somatic therapists and practitioners take responsibility and credit, including authorship credit, only for work they have actually performed or contributed to. A student is usually listed as the principal author on any multi-authored article that is substantially based on the student’s dissertation or thesis.
17. When reviewing material submitted for publication, grant proposals, or research proposals, somatic therapists and practitioners respect the confidentiality and proprietary rights of the authors.
ADDENDUM
Parts of this code have been adapted from existing professional codes, including: American Psychological Association, Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct; American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Code of Ethics; The National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics; The International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis Code of Ethics; The Hakomi Institute Code of Ethics.
When codes have differed in content, the ethics committee has opted to follow the code of the American Psychological Association.