Self-care and the Canadian Code of Ethics: Implications for training in professional psychology.


Self-care as an ethical imperative for psychologists necessitates a continuous, proactive engagement in behaviours that promote psychological, emotional, and physical wellness. Graduate training programs have an ethical obligation to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to practice ethically and competently; there is, however, a considerable lack of emphasis on self-care in graduate programs as well as in the profession as a whole. This article reviews principles relating to self-care from the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists, particularly the principles of Responsible Caring and Integrity in Relationships. The professional psychology training context is described as it relates to self-care, with a review of the training literature and accreditation standards. Given the lack of systematic training in self-care currently provided by professional psychology training programs, it is suggested that programs conceptualise self-care beyond impairment, view self-care as a competency to be taught and practiced, and integrate training opportunities across the spectrums of training and professional practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)