1.1 The purpose of this Code of Professional Conduct is to compile a limited number of provisions which are binding on all Members of the Hong Kong Psychological Society.

1.2 The Code is also intended to serve as a basis for the development of guidelines for conduct in specialty areas or otherwise further explicating the general principles involved, which may be declared to be binding on all or some of the Members.

1.3 Furthermore the Code is intended to be of assistance in the adjudication of complaints against Members and in forming judgments whether the Members in question have disregarded the provisions of the Code, willfully or otherwise.

1.4 Responsibility for the promotion of ethical action among the Members rests foremost with individual Members.

1.5 Members elected into the Society shall sign an undertaking to be bound by the provisions of the Code and other regulations of the Society which may be in force at any given time.

1.6 When nominating an applicant for membership, Members shall draw the attention of the applicant to the existence and content of the Code.

1.7 When being informed of their election, members-elect will be sent a copy of the Code and a form of undertaking stating that they have read the Code and agree to be bound by the Code and by any duly promulgated amendment. They shall sign the form of undertaking and return it with their first subscription. No election will be deemed to be effective until this signed form has been received by the General Secretary.

1.8 Acceptance to membership in the Hong Kong Psychological Society commits members:

a. To adhere to the Code of Professional Conduct adopted by the Society;

b. To bring concerns about perceived unethical actions preferably directly to the psychologist colleague(s) concerned involved, or, when inappropriate or impractical to the Council. In such cases, the Council will first consider whether the preferred action by the complainant was appropriate.

c. To cooperate with duly constituted committees of the Society which are concerned with ethics and ethical conduct; and

d. To bring to the attention of the Society ethical issues which require clarification or the development of new guidelines or standards.

1.9 The rules for ethical behaviour which follow this introduction expand and provide examples of the general principles for professional behaviour, which may be formulated as follows:

a. In all their work Members shall value integrity, impartiality and respect for persons and evidence and shall seek to establish the highest ethical standards, whether in research, teaching, publishing or treatment of individuals and groups.

b. Members endeavour to maintain high standards of competence in their work. They provide services to clients only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience and practice.

c. Because of their concern for valid evidence, Members shall ensure that research is carried out in keeping with the highest standards of scientific integrity and shall endeavour to conduct their research, teaching, publishing and treatment of clients in the light of current work in the field.

d. Taking account of their obligations under the law, Members shall hold the interest and welfare of those in receipt of their services to be paramount at all times and shall ensure that the interests of participants in research, whether animal or human, are safeguarded to the best of their ability.

e. Members shall endeavour to promote the expansion of psychological knowledge, particularly with regard to the local conditions, and to make such knowledge as widely available as possible.

1.10 This Code of Professional Conduct is not to be taken to be exhaustive but shall be read in conjunction with the Guidelines, By-laws and Rules as published by the Society, and with principles of ethical conduct generally accepted in the community.

1.11 This Code is only intended to guide and regulate the professional activities of the Members. There is no intention to guide or regulate activities outside of this context. Personal behaviour becomes a concern of the Society only if it is of such a nature that it undermines public trust in its Members and in their professional work.

RIGHTS OF CLIENTS

2.0 This section falls into two parts: (a) The Rights of Clients who are themselves responsible for arranging the services; and (b) The Rights of Clients who make arrangements for services on behalf of others.

2.1 THE RIGHTS OF CLIENTS WHO ARE THEMSELVES RESPONSIBLE FOR ARRANGING THE SERVICES

2.1.1 The Clients retain all their rights under the law.

2.1.2 The Clients have the right to confidentiality, both with regard to arrangements for the service and to the outcome of the service.

2.1.3 The Clients have the right to as complete information as possible about the aims and purposes of the procedures and about their results and outcomes - information which must be conveyed to the Clients in a language and manner which are appropriate to their background and abilities.

2.1.4 In order to safeguard the rights of the individual Client, the aims and purposes of the services provided must be mutually agreed and limited beforehand between the Member and the Client.

2.1.5 The rights of clients to self-determination and autonomy should be respected, as should their right to hold diverse opinions and values which differ from the Member's own.

2.2 THE RIGHTS OF CLIENTS WHO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SERVICES ON BEHALF OF OTHERS

2.2.1 Where the role of Client is filled by individuals who have the legal authority to order the provision of services for another person, the Clients have the right to obtain those results which are strictly related to the purpose of the procedures and services provided for the welfare of that person. Such information must be conveyed to the Clients in a language and manner which are appropriate to their background and abilities.

2.2.2 In arranging session(s) with Clients on behalf of other persons and hence limiting the rights of these persons, great care should be taken in impressing upon the Clients the need for continued confidentiality in relation to all third parties, including the persons being examined.

2.2.3 In order to safeguard the rights of the person being provided with services, the aims and purposes of such services must be mutually agreed and limited beforehand between the Member and the Clients making the arrangements on behalf of the person. The mere act of payment for the services does not convey unlimited rights to information regarding the results or outcomes of the services; such information remains within the area of the discretion of the Member.

2.2.4 In making arrangements with the Clients for the services to be provided for the person in question arrangements which of necessity limit the rights of the person for whom the services are being provided, great care should be taken not to infringe any other rights under the law of such person.

2.2.5 The person for whom the services are being provided has the right to confidentiality, both with regard to arrangements for the provision and to the outcome of the services.

2.2.6 The person being provided with services has the right to full information about the aims and purposes of the procedures and their results and outcomes - information which must be conveyed to such person in a language and manner which are appropriate to his/her background and abilities.

CONFIDENTIALITY

2.3 Members shall take all reasonable steps to preserve the confidentiality of information acquired through their professional practice and to protect the privacy and rights of individuals or organizations about whom information is collected or held. In general, and subject to the requirements of law, they shall take care to prevent the identity of individuals, organizations or participants in research being revealed, deliberately or inadvertently, without their expressed permission.

2.3.1 Members shall inform a person being provided with services of any known possible limitations in the setting for maintenance of confidentiality with regard to psychological information.

2.3.2 Members shall inform a Client, who has ordered the provision of services for another person, of any known possible limitations in the setting for the maintenance of confidentiality with regard to psychological information.

2.4 In exceptional circumstances, where there is sufficient evidence to raise serious concern about the safety or interests of clients, or about others who may be threatened by the client's behaviour, Members shall take such steps as are judged necessary to inform appropriate third parties even without the prior consent of the clients. Wherever possible, Members shall consult an experienced and independent colleague beforehand.

2.5 Members shall take all reasonable steps to inform colleagues, staff and trainees with whom they work of the need for confidentiality regarding any information obtained as a result of the provision of psychological services.

OBTAINING CONSENT

2.6 Members shall normally carry out investigations or interventions only with the valid consent of the subjects or clients, having taken all reasonable steps to ensure that they have adequately understood the nature of the process of the investigation or intervention.

2.7 Where it is necessary not to give full information in advance to those participating in an investigation, Members shall provide retrospectively as full information about the aims, rationale and outcomes of the procedure as is consistent with a concern for the welfare of the participants.

2.8 Members shall recognize and uphold the rights of persons whose capacity to give valid consent to interventions may be diminished, including persons in the care of an institution or detained under the provisions of the law.

2.9 Members shall recognize and uphold the rights of subjects and clients to withdraw previously given consent to investigations or interventions or other professional procedures after the commencement of such procedures.

2.10 All monitoring and all video or photographic recordings of professional procedures involving other persons should be made with the explicit agreement of the participants or legal guardian, both with regard to the making of the recording and to the subsequent conditions of access to and use of it.

MAINTENANCE AND ACCESS TO RECORDS

2.11 Members shall only record information which is necessary for the provision of continuous and coordinated services by all parties concerned.

2.12 Members shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that records over which they have control remain personally identifiable only as long as is necessary in the interests of those to whom they refer, and to render anonymous or to destroy any records under their control that no longer need to be personally identifiable for these purposes.

2.13 Members working in an agency shall attempt to ensure that a policy be established with regard to the retention and disposal of records and that such policy is in line with the policy of the organization and with the principles acceptable within this Code for the proper protection of confidentiality.

2.14 Members shall take all reasonable steps to safeguard the security of any records they have obtained, including records held on computers, and where they have limited control over access to such records, they shall exercise discretion with regard to the information entered in the record.

REMUNERATION FOR SERVICES

2.15 Members shall charge and accept fees that are fair and reasonable, warranted by the circumstances, and proportional to the services provided.

2.16 Before the commencement of investigations or other professional services. Members shall provide their prospective Clients with an estimate of the possible cost of their professional services and the terms of payment. Members shall also provide the Clients with all the explanations necessary to the understanding of their statements of fees.

INTRODUCTION

3.1 Members shall act with integrity and with due regard for the needs, special competencies, and obligations of colleagues in psychology and in other professions.

3.2 Members shall respect the prerogatives and obligations of the institutions or organizations with which these colleagues are associated.

3.3 Members shall not abuse a colleague's good faith or be guilty of breach of trust or disloyal practices. They shall not, in particular, take credit for work done by another.

3.4 Members do not normally offer professional services to an individual already receiving psychological assistance from another professional except by agreement amongst all parties concerned.

OTHER DISCIPLINES

3.5 Members shall ensure that they are aware of the knowledge and skills of professionals of related disciplines (e.g. law and medicine) and that, when appropriate, clients are referred for advice.

3.6 Members shall respect the professional standards of other disciplines, and great care shall be taken to develop and strengthen harmonious inter-disciplinary relations.

JOINT-PRACTICE

3.7 Members called upon to collaborate with other professionals should recognize that at times there may be a need to state, in a manner suited to the situation, their qualifications and areas of competence.

3.8 Where Members collaborate with other professionals they shall seek to retain their professional autonomy and shall not perform any task contrary to their professional conscience or the principles of their profession.

3.9 The welfare of clients and colleagues requires that Members in joint practice or corporate activities make an orderly and explicit arrangement regarding the conditions of their association and its possible termination.

3.10 Members practising jointly with other professionals shall ensure that this practice is in no way detrimental to the client.

MAKING A REFERRAL

3.11 Where Members consider referral to another professional to be in the best interest of a client, they should make a prompt referral, and attempt to ensure that the client continues under care until the responsibility is assumed by the other professional.

3.12 Members shall not give or receive any fee or commission for arranging a consultation with another professional on behalf of a client.

3.13 Where Members have formed the opinion that a client is not capable of exercising proper judgment they may, at their own discretion, communicate full confidential data upon this matter when referring the client to another professional, if and when such communication is deemed to increase the understanding of the case and to be in the best interest of the client.

RECEIVING A REFERRAL

3.14 Where a client is referred to a Member by another professional, it is most desirable that the Member discusses with the client the arrangements in the matter of payment, if any, for the services provided.

3.15 Where a client is referred to a Member for an opinion by another professional, the Member shall make a report to the referring agent and shall make this fact known to the client.

3.16 Members shall not convey to a client confidential communications from other professionals without explicit permission from the authors of such communications.

DISPUTES

3.17 Should Members have cause to disagree with colleagues on professional issues, they must nevertheless refrain from criticizing the colleagues in public or in a manner which casts doubt on their professional competence. This does not apply to critical evaluation of published work.

3.18 Members shall act to stop or to offset the consequences of activities being carried out by other professionals, but deemed to be clearly harmful, even when these activities take place within a confidential client relationship with the professional involved.

3.19 Where Members suspect misconduct by a professional colleague which cannot be resolved or remedied after discussion with the colleague concerned or which is inappropriate or impractical for informal resolution, they should take steps to bring the alleged misconduct to the attention of those charged with the responsibility to investigate, doing so without malice and with no breach of confidentiality beyond that which is necessary to the proper investigatory process.

3.20 Inter-disciplinary disputes involving possible breaches of this Code which cannot be settled informally must be reported in writing to the Council.

4.1 Members respect the rights and reputation of the institutions or organizations by which they are employed.

4.2 Materials prepared by Members as a part of their regular work under the specific direction of the institution or organization normally become the property of the employing institution or organization. Such materials are released for use or publication by Members in accordance with the policies of authorization, assignment of credit and related matters which have been established by the institution or organization.

4.3 Other material prepared by Members which results incidentally from employment in an organization or institution, and for which Members rightly assume individual responsibility, shall be published with appropriate credits or a disclaimer with regard to the institution or organization.

4.4 When Members employed by an institution or organization have contributed materially to a research study or other project which is submitted for publication by the institution or organization, they should seek due acknowledgment or consideration for joint authorship.

4.5 When Members employed by an institution or an organization cannot ensure that information recorded by them will not be communicated to others, they shall exercise considerable discretion in regard to the form and content of the record, and consider whether they should advise the clients of this matter.

5.1 Members who teach or supervise students have a responsibility to promote awareness of professional ethics and the existence of this Code.

5.2 Members shall not establish fee-charging consultative relationships with students they teach and/or are likely to examine.

5.3 When there is reason to suppose that a student is likely to suffer distress from the experience, Members shall not require or otherwise coerce that student to participate as a subject in classroom or other training demonstration.

5.4 Members must instruct students witnessing case demonstrations that they are required to preserve the anonymity of the subject and in every way to safeguard the subject's privacy.

5.5 Members must make every effort to ensure that published information concerning any educational programme in which they have a teaching or organizing role is accurate and not misleading, especially with respect to expectations of and possible benefits to participants.

5.6 Members who are providing supervision or training should not require or coerce supervises or trainees to disclose personal information either directly or in the context of any training procedure. They should respect the right of a trainee to retain reasonable personal privacy and to develop his or her individual orientation within the confines of the training programme.

5.7 Members shall not engage their supervisees in psychotherapy or any similar procedure except with the voluntary informed consent of the supervisee and when such consent is given for the specific purpose of training in that procedure.

5.8 Members shall assume responsibility for the adequate supervision of their trainees. Such a level of supervision calls for the supervising Member to be accessible when the trainee might reasonably require assistance, and to maintain sufficient knowledge, familiarity and control of the trainee's work to guard against deficiencies in the service to the client.

5.9 Members who in supervising a trainee observe in the trainee personal qualities which are likely to become a serious liability in later professional work, shall actively encourage the trainee to take positive steps to rectify the matter or guide the trainee to a more appropriate career. Generally, advice to leave the profession should be given only where additional senior members of the profession have agreed that it is appropriate in their view and on the basis of an informed judgment of the trainee.

6.1 In planning a psychological experiment or other investigation, Members shall undertake a careful evaluation of the ethical issues involved. Whatever guidance is sought from others, the responsibility for ensuring ethical practice in research remains with the principal investigators and cannot be shared. They are also responsible for the ethical treatment of research participants by collaborators, assistants, students and employees, all of whom incur similar obligations.

6.2 Research, being an integral part of a Member's scientific activity, must be carried out with proper regard for accepted scientific standards of competency, accuracy and mode of publication. Research must be conducted so that bias is not deliberately introduced into the planning, execution or reporting of a study.

6.3 Investigators must preserve and protect the dignity of all participants. If the research design requires the use of concealment or deception, the investigator has a special responsibility before conducting such a study:

a. To determine whether the use of such techniques is justified by the study's prospective scientific, educational or applied value;

b. To determine that alternative procedures are not available which do not use concealment or deception, and

c. If deception is deemed necessary and unavoidable, to ensure that the participants are provided with sufficient explanation at an appropriate stage of the investigation, which cannot be considered to have been completed before such information has been given.

6.4 A Member engaged in research in which there is a possibility of harmful effects to subjects must take steps to protect the subjects. Where the effects are uncertain the Member must first inform the subjects that risks may be involved, before obtaining their consent to proceed. If a research procedure involves participants in significant levels of stress it is incumbent on the investigator to ensure the alleviation of such stress or to terminate the investigation.

6.5 Where a research study suggests, in the opinion of a qualified person, a degree of maladjustment in a subject, the Member shall, with due caution, advise the subject to find appropriate guidance, if possible.

6.6 Test results or other confidential data obtained in a research study must never be disclosed in situations or circumstances which might lead to identification of the subjects, unless their permission has been obtained. Wherever possible, the procedures for establishing and maintaining confidentiality must be explained to participants at the outset of the research.

6.7 A Member must not use a position of authority to exert undue pressure on potential subjects for the purpose of securing their participation in a particular research project. A Member engaged in research shall allow a reasonable opportunity for subjects to withdraw their participation after becoming acquainted with the roles and tasks expected of them.

6.8 Research designs using animal subjects should be developed with as much consideration as possible for the welfare of the animals and in accordance with existing ordinances.

6.9 Members shall only undertake research involving the administration of drugs to animal or human subjects where full and competent medical cover is available.

6.10 Members who supervise students in research shall ensure that their supervisees conduct research in accordance with professional and ethical requirements. In particular, supervisees should not be allowed to use tests or procedures which require specialized training they have not received.

7.1 Members when purchasing psychological tests and materials shall observe the restrictions on distribution and use laid down in this Code.

7.2 Members shall not act as agents in procuring a test for an unqualified person or a person who does not conform to the standards laid down in this Code.

7.3 Members shall make every effort to preserve test materials as confidential documents. They shall endeavour to ensure that psychological test materials do not fall into the hands of unqualified persons.

7.4 Members wishing to demonstrate the use of psychological tests publicly shall use fictitious items resembling the originals, but not genuine items from the test.

7.5 Members who demonstrate psychological material to students shall warn the students against using them except under supervision for training purposes, and shall recover material which might be so used.

7.6 Members shall not divulge to any prospective test subject the creditable or optional responses on any psychological test.

7.7 Members shall ensure that the highest standards are maintained in the publication of tests for use by members of the profession.

7.8 The publication of a test for professional use and distribution must be accompanied by:

a. A description of the rationale of the test and of its construction;

b. Data on reliability and validity, or some other proof that it performs its function;

c. The limits of the applicability of the test; and

d. Adequate nonnative material.

7.9 The publication of a test normally implies or invites its use; hence a test which is either not intended or ready for general use shall be accompanied by an explanatory statement specifying such restrictions.

8.1 Members who, in preparing a report, draw substantially upon the work of other professionals shall seek their consent to include such material and shall acknowledge its source in the report.

8.2 Test scores, like test materials, are released only to persons who are qualified to interpret and use them properly. Usually, an interpretation of test results rather than test scores themselves, is communicated.

8.3 The reporting of data obtained from test materials which are designed for self-appraisal purposes in schools, social agencies, or industry shall be closely supervised by Members, and provisions should be made for referring and counselling individuals when needed.

8.4 All psychological reports, whether oral or written, shall be directly concerned with the problems at issue and shall be expressed as simply and unequivocally as possible, with due regard for the understanding and qualifications of the recipient.

8.5 If an organization employing a Member wishes to obtain psychological data about a client from another professional or another organization, Members shall endeavour to establish the principle that they are the proper person to obtain such information and to relay it to other workers within the organization.

8.6 Confidential materials about clients or subjects, which might lead to their identification, shall not be released without their permission.

9.1 Members shall not publish as their own work which is not essentially theirs, or to which they have not made a significant contribution.

9.2 Members shall not try to prevent the publication of a critical review of their work.

9.3 Members shall not for personal or financial gain endorse favourably a work which they know to be an inadequate treatment.

9.4 Confidential material about clients or subjects, which might lead to their identification, shall not be published without their permission.

9.5 Credit shall be assigned to all those who have contributed to a publication, in proportion to their contribution; the nature of the contribution (e.g. research design, collection of data, writing) shall be made clear.

9.6 Members shall encourage the publication of material which advances their science or is of an educational value and discourage the publication of material which fails to meet these criteria.

10.1 Members who work in connection with legal proceedings shall inform all clients of the level of confidentiality that applies and shall specify the circumstances that would constitute an exception to confidentiality in advance of the service, with due regard to restrictions which may exist in regard to confidential communication.

10.2 Members who work in connection with legal proceedings, as elsewhere, have an obligation to educate themselves in the concepts and operations of the system within which they work.

10.3 If it is not within the professional competence of Members to offer conclusions on matters of law, Members shall refrain from doing so.

10.4 Members shall be exceedingly cautious in offering predictions of criminal behaviour for use in the imprisonment or release of individual offenders. If Members decide that it is appropriate in a given case to provide a prediction of criminal behaviour, they shall clearly specify (a) the acts being predicted, (b) the estimated period and (c) the factors on which the predictive judgment is based.

10.5 When Members are asked by another professional, e.g. psychiatrist or social worker, for material to include in a court report, the Members may also furnish an independent report to the court, as far as circumstances allow.

10.6 Whatever arrangements may have been made with the employing authority, Members shall remain personally responsible for the contents of any court report provided.

10.7 Members appearing as an expert witness in court shall be alert to the possibility of distortion of interpretations of data and shall make every effort to convey their professional judgment to the court.

10.8 When conflicts arise between the Members' professional standards and the requirements of legal authorities, the Members shall make the legal authorities aware of the source of the conflicts and take reasonable steps to resolve such conflicts. Such steps include, but are not limited to, obtaining the advice of fellow Members and/or of independent counsel, and conferring directly with the legal representatives involved.

11.1 Public statements, announcements of services, advertising, and promotional activities of Members serve the purpose of helping the public make informed judgments and choices. Members shall represent accurately and objectively their professional qualifications, affiliations, and functions, as well as those of their institutions or organizations.

11.2 Public statements include, but are not limited to communication by means of periodical, book, circular, brochure, list, directory, business card, television, radio or motion picture. Public statements made by Members in announcing or advertising the availability of psychological products, publications or services, shall not contain:

a. Any statement which is false, fraudulent, unfair, misleading, deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive;

b. Any statement claiming or implying superiority for the Member over any or all other Members;

c. Any statement intended or likely to create false or unjustified expectations of favourable results;

d. Any statement intended or likely to appeal to a client's fears, anxieties or emotions concerning the possible results of failure to obtain the offered services;

e. Any unwarranted claim stating or implying that the Member uses exclusive or superior apparatus, methods or materials; and

f. Any statement which is vulgar, sensational or otherwise such as would bring, or tend to bring, the Member or the profession of psychology into disrepute.

g. Any statement which denigrates the profession or discipline of psychology generally.

11.3 When announcing or advertising professional services, Members may list the following to describe the provider and services provided: name, address, telephone, telex and fax numbers, consultation hours, languages spoken, appropriate information concerning fees, relevant degrees and credentials, membership in professional societies, registration status, and a brief statement of the type of psychological services offered, e.g. child therapy, personnel selection, industrial psychology.

11.4 Members shall not claim either directly or by implication professional qualifications that differ from their actual qualifications, nor shall they misrepresent their affiliation with any institution, organization, or individual, nor lead others to assume they have affiliations that they do not have. Members shall be responsible for correcting others who misrepresent their professional qualifications or affiliations.

11.5 Members shall provide individual diagnostic and therapeutic services in the context of professional psychological relationships only, and not by means of public lectures or demonstrations, newspaper or magazine articles, radio or television programmes, or other means of publicity directed at unknown individuals.

12.1 From time to time, circumstances may arise when complaints are made of the professional activities of Members of the Society,

12.2 Provisions are made in the Appendix to the By-laws of the Society for dealing with complaints against Members in a way which, whilst seeking to preserve the professional standards of Members, at the same time offers protection and support against complaints which are unjustified.

These Guidelines are written in accordance with the principles outlined in sections 1.2 and 1.10 of the Code of Professional Conduct. As such, they should be viewed as part of the Code of Professional Conduct and they are, therefore, binding on all members. They are based on the premise that psychologists must be aware, in their professional conduct with clients, of their responsibility to uphold, and to be seen to uphold, the highest standards of personal integrity, respect for the rights and dignity of clients and concern for their welfare. Although these Guidelines refer specifically to psychologists' relationships with clients, the general principles expressed herein apply equally to psychologists involved with others who come under their care or supervision (e.g. students, supervisees.)

1. Psychologists do not discriminate against, harass or demean their clients.

2. Psychologists should refrain from undertaking professional activities with clients when the psychologists know that their personal problems and conflicts are likely to lead to inadequate service or harm to clients.

3. Psychologists do not undertake psychological work with clients with whom they in another context already have a close relationship (e.g. relatives, close friends) which might compromise their objectivity.

4. Psychologists are sensitive to real and ascribed differences in power between themselves and clients and they avoid exploiting or misleading clients during or after their relationship with them. Psychologists do not exploit the relationship of trust with the client for personal, emotional, sexual or improper financial gain.

5. Psychologists should exercise reasonable restraint in self-disclosures to clients, which should be made only if they contribute to the client's understanding of an issue, as an appropriate mean of establishing rapport or trust, or as part of a therapeutic technique.

6. Sexual relationships with clients are always unethical. Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies (e.g. inappropriate bodily contact, sexual verbal advances or sexual intercourse) with current clients, nor with recent former clients. Psychologists do not accept as clients persons with whom they have been sexually intimate.

7. Psychologists do not engage in sexual harassment of clients, that is, repeated, unwelcome sexual advances or other physical conduct of a sexual nature.

8. Any physical contact (e.g. hug or pat) made by the psychologist should be made as a gesture of support and only if the clients indicates that they feel comfortable with such contact. It should be withdrawn if the client indicates any degree of discomfort with it.

9. If physical contact goes beyond that described in (8) then:

(a) it must be an agreed, integral part of therapy and
(b) a third party must be present or in the immediate vicinity. Clients and psychologists must reach agreement on the identity of the third party.

10. Procedures involving nudity of the client ordinarily go beyond the bounds of established therapeutic practice.

11. If a psychologist engaged in a therapeutic role identifies personal feelings suggesting physical attraction of such magnitude as to threaten loss of control which could lead to physical intimacies, the psychologist should terminate therapy and take steps to refer the client elsewhere immediately.