Breathwork facilitator ethics is a crucial topic that demands attention in the wellness industry. The field of breathwork has experienced significant growth in recent years, and with this growth, there is an increasing demand for facilitators. While it is essential to ensure that trainees receive adequate training and proper guidance, it is equally important to maintain high ethical standards. Facilitators must adhere to principles that govern their behaviour and actions to promote ethical practice in facilitating breathwork sessions.
First and foremost, it is essential to establish boundaries and fully disclose any potential risks to clients. In breathwork facilitation, the client's well-being takes precedence, and the facilitator should take reasonable precautions to ensure that the client's physical and mental health is not compromised. Further, the facilitator should clearly communicate the limits of their role and refer clients to other professionals where necessary.
Informed consent is another critical aspect of ethical breathwork facilitation. Facilitators must explain the nature of the therapy and the potential benefits and risks involved. Clients should be given the opportunity to ask questions, and their consent should be obtained before the session. The facilitator should respect the client's right to make informed decisions, and clients must be allowed to withdraw their consent freely at any time during the session.
Confidentiality is a critical ethical principle fundamental to building trust between the facilitator and the client. Breathwork facilitators must maintain confidentiality with regard to their client's personal information and therapy sessions. The facilitator should obtain written consent from the client before any information is disclosed, and this information should be limited to other healthcare providers where necessary. Breaches of confidentiality can lead to a loss of trust and can be detrimental to the client's progress.
In addition, a facilitator must maintain a high degree of integrity and professionalism. This includes avoiding dual relationships with clients, ensuring they do not enter into sexual relationships, and refraining from exploiting clients financially. The facilitator should also respect and be sensitive to cultural diversity and uphold the client's dignity and autonomy.
The facilitator must ensure they have the appropriate knowledge and skills to facilitate breathwork sessions safely. This includes maintaining professional boundaries, managing personal emotional reactions, and developing effective strategies to deal with challenging situations. The facilitator should seek appropriate supervision and consultation in situations requiring additional expertise.
Setting and maintaining clear boundaries is another crucial aspect of ethical breathwork facilitation. The facilitator should establish clear and firm boundaries at the outset and maintain them throughout the session. This includes refraining from touching clients except in a limited therapeutic context, not exchanging personal information or engaging in social activities with clients, and avoiding dual relationships.
Continuing professional development is also essential in ethical breathwork facilitation. Facilitators must commit to ongoing education and training to stay current with current research, best practices, and emerging trends. Professional development helps build knowledge and skills, improves ethical decision-making, and enhances the quality of service delivery.
Finally, ensuring that the client can access appropriate aftercare support is essential. This means providing adequate debriefing and support services after the session and establishing appropriate referrals where necessary. The facilitator should also ensure the client can access accurate information on potential side effects and self-care strategies.
In conclusion, ethical breathwork facilitation places the client's well-being at the forefront, promotes trust and professional standards, and ensures that the client can access appropriate aftercare support. Ethical practice demands breathwork facilitators maintain confidentiality, obtain informed consent, establish boundaries, maintain professional integrity, and participate in ongoing professional development. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to ethical breathwork facilitation, the above principles provide a foundation for effective and ethical service delivery. As the breathwork industry grows, upholding ethical principles is crucial in building trust and promoting safe, responsible, and effective therapy.
The International Breathwork Training Alliance (www.breathworkalliance.com) has been very active since its inception in 1994 in promoting and lobbying for better breathwork facilitator training standards and ethical standards.
You can find a copy of The IBTA Ethical standards here: https://www.ce-credit.com/articles/101980/IBTA-Code-of-Ethics.pdf or here https://breathworkalliance.com/ethical-standards/
You can find the IBTA Breathwork Facilitator Training standards here: https://breathworkalliance.com/training-standards/