Code of ethics

Relational Ecotherapy Institute Code of Ethics

 

Premable

This text of the Code of Ethics of the Relational Ecotherapy Institute (hereinafter referred to as REI) was approved by the Management and the Ethics Committee of IER, consisting of 3 individuals from the mentoring and training staff, on January 15, 2024. This document serves as an interpretation of ethical principles governing the conduct of IER trainers and mentors, staff members who have declared adherence to it, individuals undergoing training in IER, and especially those who have completed IER’s certification courses. The term ‘IER Ecotherapist’ in this document refers to the aforementioned individuals, including those who have not completed training in ecotherapy—in this case, they are not strictly ecotherapists, and the appropriate title, such as ‘forest therapy guide’ or ‘mindfulness in nature trainer,’ should be used instead. This designation is also applied irrespective of the gender or sexual identification of these individuals; it does not have a masculine character but serves as a unified formulation. The term ‘client’ is used in the same manner.

§1 Assumptions

1. Ecotherapy is a broadly defined profession and field of knowledge based on evidence-based science, encompassing health-related activities aimed at the prevention, strengthening, or restoration of people’s health in relation to nature. It is a broad term, including various disciplines such as hortitherapy (garden therapy), forest therapy, forest bathing, nature-based mindfulness, therapeutic ornithology, aromatherapy, or selected therapies involving assistance animals ( kynotherapy, feline therapy, hippotherapy).

2. The ecotherapist aims to restore people’s health through contact with the natural environment, fully respecting human rights, the environment, and non-human species, working with them in partnership.

§2 General principles of ecotherapeutic work

1. Any proposed ecotherapeutic practices for clients must be conducted in an objectively safe manner, ensuring clients’ subjective sense of safety and also in a way that is safe for nature, not disrupting natural ecosystem processes (e.g., bird nesting, wildlife foraging, etc.).
2. Health in ecotherapeutic work is understood as a complex, multidimensional structure, encompassing areas such as physical, mental, intellectual, spiritual, social, and ecological health. Work on each of these levels is done with respect for clients’ views, autonomy, and subjectivity, as well as their privacy and intimacy.
3. Presented and conducted ecotherapeutic activities are grounded in evidence-based science/evidence-based medicine. In the case of introducing humanistic elements, such as metaphor, working with fairy tales, or ethnographic elements, they must be grounded in analogous fields of humanities and carried out professionally, in accordance with the best intentions and knowledge.
4. It is unacceptable to apply and present practices based on folk beliefs or intuitive understanding (e.g., esoterica) as scientifically grounded if there is a lack of such research or if the quantity and quality of research deviate from generally accepted scientific standards. Transparently naming areas of activity is an essential ethical requirement.
5. REI Ecotherapists should possess current and as comprehensive as possible scientific knowledge regarding the activities they conduct and be able to justify their positions in relation to them.
6. It is unethical to use, without due caution, transparency, and care for the interests and dignity of the client, any kind of techniques or actions that may have unconventional, unconfirmed-by-research, or sensational characteristics. Conducting manipulative activities is impermissible.
7. REI Ecotherapists remain neutral and impartial on worldview, political, or religious matters, refrain from making moral judgments, do not impose their worldview on clients, extinguish conflicting or imposing discussions of such nature during group sessions, and can step back from the ecotherapeutic process if they cannot maintain impartiality or in the case of significant differences in values between the person in ecotherapy and the ecotherapist if it affects the ecotherapeutic process.
8. REI Ecotherapists work in accordance with the laws applicable in the country where they practice, including data storage and utilization of clients’ personal data and other individuals, GDPR, the right to use and process images, and other legal aspects.
9. REI Ecotherapists precede the therapeutic process with an interview taking into account the client’s health conditions and disorders that may affect their participation in proposed activities, biofobia, potential traumatic experiences in the past, to avoid exposing the client to risk during work.
10. ERI Ecotherapists do not propose religious practices, do not impose or suggest a worldview, ideology, belief system, or doctrinal system, and do not use ritualistic elements associated with any spiritual movement in their practice. Individual spirituality of clients is treated with mindfulness, sensitivity, and respect, supporting individual spiritual health without proposing/imposing specific spiritual paths and religious practices. IER Ecotherapists understand that crossing these boundaries may cause discomfort for some clients and, as a result, bring about an effect contrary to supportive.
11. REI Ecotherapists are not diagnosticians. If clients’ health conditions raise doubts or may affect the ongoing safety of the ecotherapeutic process, they are obliged to suggest specialized consultation with a doctor, physiotherapist, psychologist, etc.
12. REI Ecotherapists work within their competencies and resources. After identifying the client’s needs and conducting an interview, they should refer the client to another professional if the scope of work exceeds the facilitator’s competencies.
13. REI Ecotherapists perform their work carefully, diligently, and honestly. They ensure the quality of services, participate in training to enhance competencies, continuously develop professional skills, and update knowledge.
14. In the case of cyclical work (multi-day workshops, a series of meetings, a therapeutic program), REI Ecotherapists should establish an ecotherapeutic contract with the client, specifying the conditions, goals, methods of work, and principles of financing. A condensed version of the contract is also welcomed for single sessions.
15. Ecotherapeutic work should take place under supervision from individuals professionally engaged in supervising helping professions working in partnership with nature, possessing appropriate competencies and credentials. REI Ecotherapists are aware of the possibility of making mistakes and becoming entangled in their own emotional difficulties, making every effort to reduce this risk.
16. REI Ecotherapists should be open to the possibility of interdisciplinary work in partnership. Partnership also applies to working with the landscape, other species, the ecosystem, the local community, always with respect, acknowledging distinctiveness, rights, autonomy, and boundaries of the partner.
17. In the work of an REI therapist, transparent communication is important, setting clear standards, boundaries, and adhering to them. Narrative without judgment, simple language, contact imbued with openness and mindfulness.
18. REI Ecotherapists work on their ecological awareness in both professional and private life.
19. REI Ecotherapists are guided by client needs when selecting types of activities, without making them dependent on the client’s financial capabilities.
20. It is unethical to use the title of ecotherapist/REI Ecotherapist without completing the qualifying training. In the case of completing other IER-proposed training, nomenclature is considered separately each time, depending on the acquired competencies (forest therapy guide, mindfulness trainer in nature, etc.).

§3 Contact with the Customer

1. REI Ecotherapists do not exploit the client relationship for emotional, material (beyond the previously agreed financial compensation), professional, or other benefits, especially those that violate the dignity and right to client confidentiality.
2. It is unethical for an REI Ecotherapist to engage in any form of sexual contact with individuals undergoing the ecotherapeutic process.
3. In the case of conflicts of interest between the therapist’s or institution’s interests and the client’s well-being, the client’s well-being should take precedence. If it is impossible to reconcile interests, the ecotherapist should suspend the contract with the client or institution.
4. Inviting individuals known to the REI Ecotherapist from non-therapeutic areas to ecotherapy requires special care and consideration due to the high risk of role confusion. This particularly applies to family members, colleagues, and close acquaintances.
5. Every ecotherapeutic process should be preceded by the client’s informed, written consent.
6. REI Ecotherapists encourage clients to have lively, active, sensory contacts with nature instead of replacing them with virtual experiences. They understand that working in the landscape, live, in a specific group or environment provides important stimuli, creates specific emotions, and builds authentic relationships, which may not be achievable, for example, through VR or online activities. Modern technologies are only implemented in medically or socially justified situations (isolated clients, immobilized, without access to natural areas, etc.). They prioritize a live relationship in real-time and direct contact over electronic substitutes, whenever the situation and safety permit.
7. REI Ecotherapists focus on building supportive relationships within the conducted groups or individual processes and also between participants and the natural environment. By caring about the quality of their own relationships, they create a space that encourages participants to do the same.

§4 Responsibility

1. The REI Ecotherapist acknowledges that their actions may affect the client’s well-being, their environment, the natural environment, and the perception of the ecotherapy profession by society. They strive to think futuristically about the consequences of their actions and take responsibility for them. The Ecotherapist is aware of the high social expectations regarding individuals involved in mental well-being, including ecotherapy.
2. The REI Ecotherapist decides not to take actions where there is a risk to the client’s health or potential harm to the client, ecosystem, landscape, or living beings.
3. When conducting scientific research, the REI Ecotherapist adheres to widely accepted research standards, avoids studies that harm the well-being of living beings, does not manipulate results, formulates hypotheses objectively, considers all available research in discussions, regardless of whether the results support or challenge the hypothesis, and provides honest information about the results of their own research.
4. The REI Ecotherapist ensures transparent communication, does not hide breaches of ethical standards, can admit mistakes, is not indifferent to violations of ethical standards by others working with people and nature, but expresses criticism without devaluation.
5. The REI Ecotherapist honestly presents their profile, competencies, and limitations, education, and professional experience. They do not sustain unrealistic expectations from clients regarding their role and activities. They do not undertake actions beyond their capabilities or competencies and accept constructive criticism.
6. The REI Ecotherapist takes responsibility for their health and well-being, maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle, managing relationships with people and nature. Through their lifestyle, they set an integrated example of respecting their own resources and the planet. As much as possible, they engage in activities for the benefit of society and the environment.
7. The REI Ecotherapist is not susceptible to client group expectations if they conflict with their own values. It is unethical to neglect environmental well-being for the sake of higher remuneration or expected benefits.
8. Upon observing any signs of deterioration in the client’s health, the REI Ecotherapist is obligated to inform the client and recommend consultation with a health care specialist. In the event of a sudden and serious deterioration in the client’s health, they are obligated to call/inform the relevant services (such as emergency medical services, hospital staff, etc.).
9. If the REI Ecotherapist observes client behaviors that threaten the safety of the process, the client, the ecotherapist, or the environment, they are obligated to terminate the ecotherapeutic actions.
10. It is highly unethical to persuade clients to forego therapy recommended by health care specialists (pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, etc.) in favor of relying solely on ecotherapeutic techniques. The REI Ecotherapist is obligated to inform clients about the partnership with academic medicine and recognize its primacy in the case of diagnosed diseases and disorders.
11. The REI Ecotherapist takes responsibility for the landscape in which they work, always leaving it in no worse condition than they found it, cares for the workplace, and engages in activities such as cleaning natural areas, taking responsibility for their clients’ actions during the process in relation to nature and other living beings.

§5 Professional secrecy

§6 Rights of the REI Ecotherapist

he REI Ecotherapist has the right to refuse to undertake/continue ecotherapeutic activities if they believe that these activities contradict their values, recognize their own limitations, or identify other circumstances that significantly hinder or prevent the conscientious performance of work, or jeopardize the process and/or the safety of people, other beings, landscapes, or if there are ethical doubts regarding the justification of the process (e.g., mindfulness of greenwashing).

§7 Innclusivity and Respect

1. The REI Ecotherapist does not discriminate against anyone, refrains from actions and statements that may stem from prejudices based on origin, gender, skin color, age, appearance, identity, sexual orientation, religious or political views.
2. The REI Ecotherapist expresses respect for diversity and cultural heritage, both on an international and local scale. They work with respect for the local landscape and its inhabitants, especially those of indigenous origin. They always emphasize the role of indigenous hosts in the region.
3. The REI Ecotherapist does not engage in cultural appropriation. They may learn from cultures other than their own, but applying this knowledge is done with acknowledgment of its origin, justification for its use, respect, and without impersonating a particular culture. To the extent possible, they delve into their own ecological, ethnographic, and landscape heritage and work locally. They are aware that ecology encompasses not only indigenous species of plants and animals but also relationships arising from the coexistence of humans and nature in a given area, as well as the customs and traditions that have developed from it. They respect these traditions, viewing them as living, essential elements. If necessary and feasible, they purchase local products needed for ecotherapeutic practice, thereby supporting the community.

§8 Attitude Towards Nature

1. The REI Ecotherapist treats nature, ecosystems, landscapes, and all living beings subjectively, within an ecocentric paradigm. They care for their well-being, treating them with respect, not exploiting them, but ensuring the exchange of benefits.

2. The REI Ecotherapist always conducts sessions following the laws applicable to the area in which they work. They are knowledgeable about locally and nationally applicable regulations, adhere to land privacy principles, regulations concerning nature conservation, know which trails cannot be deviated from, understand the rules of conduct in various types of protected areas, such as national parks, reserves, or Natura 2000 areas.

3. If the client’s safety does not require a different approach, in situations of conflicting interests, the well-being of nature is prioritized over the clients’ desires; for example, the desire to pick protected plants cannot be respected.

4. During plant or mushroom collection, the REI Ecotherapist  ensures not to destroy ecosystem elements, forest floor, only collects a small portion of material from a given individual not to deplete its resources, and only in designated places and manners.

5. The REI Ecotherapist knows the ecology of the place where they work, the basic principles governing the ecosystem, toxic and dangerous plant, mushroom, or animal species, approximate locations of their habitats, animal behavior in critical moments, can plan activities safely, and respond appropriately in emergency situations. They know the basics of administering first aid.

6. The REI Ecotherapist ensures that not only clients benefit from the ecotherapeutic process but also inspires others to take action for nature.

7. When working with assistance animals, the REI Ecotherapist always ensures their comfort and well-being. Neglect of animals for the sake of clients is unacceptable.

8. In everyday life and during self-organized activities, the REI Ecotherapist knows, understands, and tries to implement principles of sustainable development and ecology. Whenever possible: they apply the zero waste principle, leave no trace, avoid single-use packaging, especially plastic, refrain from creating unnecessary promotional gadgets from environmentally unfriendly materials, promote a healthy diet friendly to the planet, and utilize local resources whenever possible.

Approved by:

Katarzyna Simonienko

Marzena Żachowska

Adam Markuszewski

Katarzyna Grabka

15.01.2024.