Complaints Process
This information is for people wishing to express a concern or to make a complaint about an NZAC member.
Counsellors who are Members or Provisional Members of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors are required to abide by the Association’s Code of Ethics.
You may have a concern about how a counsellor has behaved in terms of that Code. This might arise because you are:
- The client of the counsellor.
- The person with legal responsibility for the client of the counsellor, for example, a parent, guardian, or person with enduring power of attorney.
- In a support or professional role with the client of the counsellor. In this case you would need the permission of the client to act.
- A professional colleague, supervisor, or manager of the counsellor. In this case you are encouraged to consult your own supervisor or a fellow professional before acting.
- A supervisee of the counsellor. In this case you are encouraged to consult an experienced counsellor before acting.
- Affected by the actions of the counsellor in some other role you have.
The Association’s Criteria for receiving complaints:
The Ethics Committee receives written concerns or complaints from any person about a named Member or Members relating to:
- Behaviour potentially prejudicial to the interests of the Association;
- Professional misconduct; and
- Behaviour which is unbecoming a Member.