Comments on the Ethical guidelines

of the Psychodrama Association for Europe e.V.

The Commission of ethics of the Psychodrama Association for Europe e.V. has consulted national and international documents of prestigious associations regarding ethical principles in order to put up these guidelines.

In discussing these principles the commission has agreed on three principles which have found consideration in the presentation of their guidelines:

1. “Ethical guidelines” are primarily a means of resolving conflicts, not avoiding them. They apply in the case of a conflict. Therefore the “Ethical guidelines” are supposed to name those constellations that are certain to be regarded as conflicts from the point of view of the Psychodrama Association for Europe e.V. The procedure to work on occurring conflicts is being regulated by the “Rules of the commission of ethics” on which the board of the Psychodrama Association for Europe e.V. has agreed.
2. The commission of ethics refrains from naming constellations in the guidelines whose regulation falls within the decision making of other commissions inside the Psychodrama Association for Europe e.V. Among others those are contracts concerning honorarium, staff members and continuing education, but also statements of obligation concerning continuing education seminars, participation at conferences and more (see “Rules of the commission of Ethics”).
3. In the commission‘s opinion the “ethical guidelines” should not be misunderstood as a morally ruling or controlling instance.

Since April 1999