Seeking Safely
As a practitioner, I have signed the SEEK Safely Promise in support of promoting ethical and safe personal growth.
I first came across SEEK Safely via their excellent podcast, which is hosted by Jean Brown and Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle. In it, they discuss the ethics of the unregulated self-help industry, in which people spend billions of dollars annually seeking journeys of self-improvement and discovery.
As an empathetic and curious human, I myself am a seeker - someone who seeks experiences to grow, connect, and learn. I think that we all are consumers of self-help in some way, shape or form. From the podcasts we listen to, the books we read, the courses we take or the communities we contribute to. It is an innate human response to seek a deeper meaning and purpose in life.
I have signed the SEEK Safely promise in addition to the responsibilities and requirements that I abide by as a professional member of ANZACATA (the peak professional body for creative arts therapists in the Asia/Pacific region).
What is SEEK Safely?
SEEK Safely is a non-profit organisation that advocates for ethics and accountability in the self-help industry, and empowers seekers to have safe and effective self-improvement journeys.
It has three goals;
Educate the public about the self-help industry.
Empower consumers of personal and professional development.
Promote professional standards in the $11 billion/year unregulated self-help industry.
What is the SEEK Safely Promise?
A person’s journey to self-empowerment and personal improvement is deeply personal, emotional and often times spiritual. I acknowledge and support every individual’s right to a safe and constructive journey so that each person might find the personal growth and change they seek.
As a practitioner, I am committed to providing an environment and experiences that are:
Truthful
Consumers will receive accurate information about the authors, leader’s or speaker’s professional degrees, credentials and experience.
Accurate
It will be clearly delineated what is personal opinion, belief or speculation as opposed to information that is supported by third party scientific research.
Respectful
Participants will be able to freely express opinions, without fear of public humiliation, ridicule, shame or physical abuse.
Protective
The leader will protect the emotional safety of participants by keeping confidentiality and implementing appropriate boundaries.
Integrity
The leader will provide personal witness by living the program being taught.
Safe
The leader will have a comprehensive risk management plan to minimize any risk taken by participants and clearly explain any potential risks.
Why have I signed the promise?
As a professional arts therapist, I do not consider my work to align with the self-help industry directly, as my scope of practice is defined within the allied health field and regulated by my professional membership requirements.
However, I recognise that personal improvement and self-empowerment are an expansive inherent component of being. I work alongside people who have been part of the self-help industry as a consumer or provider.
I am a curious human. It was my curiosity, my seeking that led me to becoming a Creative Art Therapist. I am passionate about the act of seeking, and have taken this promise as I support ethical and safe personal growth.
I encourage you to learn more about SEEK Safely via their website and their excellent podcast.