I. General
1. Understanding of consulting
Consultation takes place in different fields of activity, consultation approaches, concerns and settings (psychosocial counselling, legal counselling – individual or mediative counselling).
On the basis of a professional counselling relationship, the counsellors promote the responsible action of individuals, couples in their respective contexts (family, partnership, society, world of work, etc.).
The consultants are guided by the protection of human dignity and professional ethical standards:
- Respectful treatment of people,
- Transparency,
- clarity of roles,
- Fairness
- Integrity
- Personal responsibility and freedom of choice of the clients
- as well as confidentiality.
The consultants are committed to always adhering to the ethical standards mentioned to clients, colleagues and the public.
2. Competence
Professional advice is developed and ensured by the personality of the consultant, a scientifically sound expert knowledge and consulting concept as well as high qualifications in the relevant areas. The consultants reflect on and optimize their work through continuous training, intervision and supervision processes, suitable evaluation measures and the like.
3. Confidentiality
The confidentiality of the information provided by those seeking advice is strictly respected. Information will only be passed on to third parties if the person seeking advice expressly agrees.
4. Conflicts
Conflicts between the interests of the counsellor and the person seeking advice must be avoided. Where a conflict of interest arises or could arise, it must be openly explained and decided in the interests of the person seeking advice.
II. Consultation format«Coaching»
5. Advisory Objectives
The aim of coaching is to find solutions and alternative courses of action in a dialogue with the person seeking advice that are useful and coherent for him or her and that he or she can implement on his or her own responsibility in his or her respective social context.
6. Methodology
Our consultants pay attention to a clearly formulated assignment, agree on verifiable goals and design the consulting process according to technical and methodological criteria. The counselling approach is particularly systemic, according to which primarily resources, self-help potentials and competences of those seeking advice and their social systems are strengthened (e.g. family in the context of separation/divorce).
7. Quality
The consultant assures the person seeking advice of professional quality standards, both with regard to the framework conditions of the coaching (structural quality), the procedure (process quality) or the result of the coaching (quality of results, in the sense of development-oriented and appreciative feedback).
III. Consultation formats "Mediative Counselling" and "Legal Counselling"
8. Neutrality
If people with different interests (e.g. parties in a separation or divorce context) are advised, the advisor is obliged to maintain strict neutrality.
9. Involvement of other experts
If, in the course of a mediative consultation, certain points require a more detailed professional clarification, the consultant can call in other external experts (lawyers, tax experts, etc.).
10. Legal representation
Representation in court is excluded. Those seeking advice are advised to hire another lawyer/lawyer or mediator if necessary.
The Association for Men's Issues is continuously developing this code. We are also happy to work together with other institutions and persons involved in their willingness to sign and comply with them.