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NCCEFT Code of Conduct

Principles:

NCCEFT is dedicated to the development of EFT clinicians and increasing access for clients to high quality EFT therapy.

We strive to treat people with dignity, decency, and respect, and to build a professional community which enables each of us to contribute to a safe and inclusive shared space.

Introduction:

The Northern California Community for Emotionally Focused Therapy (“NCCEFT”) is a nonprofit professional organization dedicated to building and expanding the Emotional Focused Therapy (“EFT”) community in Northern California. NCCEFT sponsored events and its listserv (collectively “Activities”) help facilitate communication, connection and resource-sharing among EFT clinicians. 

The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to ground NCCEFT’s Activities in a spirit of curiosity, open-mindedness and inclusion, in order to provide a collaborative, supportive and professional environment free of intimidation, hostility, or discrimination. Accordingly, all members, non-members, volunteers, trainers, speakers, vendors, or participants of any kind (“Participant”) at NCCEFT Activities must follow this Code of Conduct. 

Expected Behavior:  NCCEFT expects its Participants to:

• Treat others with respect and consideration, and to be civil, collegial, and collaborative. 

• Read and follow the listserv guidelines available on the NCCEFT website at: https://www.ncceft.com/membership-instructions/#listserv. 

• Protect client confidentiality at all times, for example, by disguising client identity when discussing clinical material, or taking appropriate precautions and actions if they recognize clients in vignettes or videos used in trainings (ie notifying the trainer and leaving the room).

• If alcohol is available at Activities, consume alcohol in a responsible and safe manner.

• Speak up and report violations of this Code of Conduct as soon as possible. 

• Follow the directions of NCCEFT and the rules at any facility where an Activity is being conducted, such as a hotel or conference center. 

Unacceptable Behavior:  Unacceptable behavior includes any conduct that undermines the purpose of this Code of Conduct, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Displaying or distributing written or graphic materials or making statements that ridicule, insult, show hostility, or disrespect others based on things, such as, race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, or physical appearance.

• Deliberately “outing” of any aspect of a person’s identity without their consent or using rejected names or pronouns.

• Failing to safeguard confidential or privately shared information.

• Engaging in unwelcome sexual attention, such as: innuendoes, suggestive comments, jokes of a sexual nature, lewd remarks and obscene gestures, requests for sexual favors (including repeated and unwelcome requests for dates), and unwelcome physical contact (e.g., tickling, petting, brushing up against, hugging, cornering, or assault).

• Engaging in aggressive argumentation, epithets or slurs, using obscene or discriminatory humor, or deliberating disrupting discussions. 

• Harassing, intimidating, stalking, bullying, threatening, discriminatory, or offensive conduct, whether conducted in-person or online. 

• Taking pictures, audio recordings, or video of any Participant or Activity, without first obtaining the express permission of the Participant or the person or organization leading the Activity.

• Intentionally touching Participants without consent, physically blocking Participants, or invading Participants physical space in an unwelcome or threatening manner. 

• Engaging in physical violence or threats of violence or other harm, such as reputational or professional harm, or inciting violence.

• Aggressive or unauthorized promotion of professional services, products, or personal causes. Consult with NCCEFT program staff regarding where and when promotional materials related to EFT services or products may be displayed at Activities.  Such materials may only be displayed with the consent of NCCEFT. 

• Taking up training time by asking trainers for extensive commentary or consultation on specific client cases.

• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.

• Retaliating against others for reporting or raising concerns about violations of this Code.

Please note, NCCEFT Activities may at times deal with sensitive subject matter, ranging from visually sensitive material (such as images related to domestic violence) or sexually explicit language or images.  This Code of Conduct is not intended to constrain professional presentation, discourse, or debate, as long as these discussions are conducted in a respectful manner that complies with the spirit and intent of this Code of Conduct. 

Consequences of Not Following the Code of Conduct:

Violations of this Code will not be tolerated.  The determination of whether conduct violates this Code, and the consequences imposed by NCCEFT, rest solely within NCCEFT’s discretion, and said determinations are final and not subject to appeal. 

Participants told to stop unacceptable behavior or comply with this Code, must do so immediately.  If this Code is violated, NCCEFT may take any action it deems necessary and appropriate, including immediately expelling a violator from any non-online Activity, such as an ongoing training, or denying the offender access to any online space.  The decision to immediately expel or deny access to a Participant from an Activity, may be made by the NCCEFT Board Chair, the NCCEFT Program Committee Chair, or if neither is immediately available, by the organizer/facilitator of the NCCEFT Activity at issue or any NCCEFT Program Committee member available.  Such a decision may be made without warning or refund. 

Additionally, NCCEFT may suspend or permanently bar violators from attending or participating in further NCCEFT Activities. And if the violator is a NCCEFT member, their membership in NCCEFT may be terminated or suspended by the Board of Directors in accordance with the NCCEFT bylaws. 

Reporting Concerns:

If a Participant witness or experience violation of this Code of Conduct, or simply has concerns, as soon as possible, they should: 

• For issues occurring at ongoing Activities, such as trainings, please immediately speak with the event organizer/facilitator or any NCCEFT Program Committee member present at the event.  Event staff and Program Committee members will assist those who experience unacceptable behavior to feel safe during the duration of the Activity. 

• For online spaces, please contact the Technology Coordinator at alextsaimft@gmail.com, 650.436.7321 or through direct message at the time of the event. 

• For all Activities, of any nature, Participants may always contact NCCEFT Board Members (ncceftinfo@gmail.com) or any trusted Board Member You can also file a complaint at: https://forms.gle/VN4LvdLgvidiviq46

• In the event of an immediate emergency or imminent physical danger, dial 911.

NCCEFT will make every effort to respond with sensitivity and respect, and Participants are encouraged to share the information in any way that makes them feel comfortable, including bringing someone along for support. This Code is effective as of 08/26/2025 and supersedes any other Codes. NCCEFT reserves the right to revise or modify this Code, without prior notice. 

By registering as a member of the NCCEFT community or Participant of an NCCEFT sponsored event, you acknowledge you have read, understood, and agree to follow all the expectations included in the preceding NCCEFT Code of Conduct and the listserv guidelines available at https://www.ncceft.com/membership-instructions/#listserv.

Code of Conduct – NCCEFT Community Listserv

NCCEFT is a professional association and educational community that encourages collaboration and support among its members. NCCEFT is organized to promote Emotionally Focused Therapy in Northern California rather than the individual practices of member therapists. NCCEFT is working to cultivate a safe space in our community around diversity, equity, and inclusion. We want all members to feel welcomed, heard, and valued in our interactions and communication. We ask all members to read and accept these guidelines as part of being a participating member of this community.

1. Professional Respect & Tone

• Use respectful, nonjudgmental, and professional language in all communications.

• Avoid sarcasm, inflammatory remarks, or personal attacks.
  

2. Confidentiality & Ethics

• Do not share identifiable client information under any circumstances.

• Adhere to your professional code of ethics (e.g., NASW, APA, CAMFT, etc.).
  

3. Relevance & Purpose

• Keep posts relevant to EFT therapy practice, clinical support, training, and professional development. Examples include: 

• • Notices of upcoming EFT-relevant groups or workshops

  • Referral requests

  • Organizing peer EFT consultation groups

  • Requests for EFT case advice (with attention to client confidentiality)

  • Notices of office openings or sublets

  • Sharing EFT articles, materials, or links

  • Non-EFT-related events of interest to psychotherapy professionals(limited to Mondays)

• Avoid off-topic or promotional content unless explicitly allowed. Mondays will be reserved for non-EFT related promotion. Examples of posts not allowed include: 

• • Political petitions

  • Solicitation for charitable donations unrelated to NCCEFT

  • Advertising of services not reasonably related to EFT

  • Personal announcements or unrelated event/product promotions unrelated to the NCCEFT community

4. Inclusive & Anti-Oppressive Practices

• Communicate in ways that are culturally respectful and inclusive of all identities (race, religion, gender, orientation, ability, etc.).

• Avoid language that is discriminatory or marginalizing.

• We strive to create a respectful and safe community for all members. Racist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic, Islamphobic or anti-LGBTQIA+ language goes against the values of this space. Please be mindful of the impact your words may have on colleagues, and communicate in ways that honor the diversity within NCCEFT. 

5. Constructive Engagement

• When offering feedback or clinical input, strive to be supportive and constructive.

• Respect differing perspectives and clinical approaches.
  

6. Boundaries & Volume

• Be mindful of the frequency of your posts.

• Avoid monopolizing the space or replying-all unnecessarily.

• Be mindful of posting etiquette. Please ensure your email signature  includes your full name,and contact information in each message to ensure transparency.

7. Reporting & Moderation

• As a community, we share responsibility for ensuring a safe and respectful environment. If a post appears to violate the code of conduct and may impact multiple community members, it can be reported to the NCCEFT Board utilizing the form, https://forms.gle/VN4LvdLgvidiviq46 and emailed to ncceftinfo@gmail.com. Please note that responses may vary depending on the nature of the concern.

• Emails that ignore/violate these rules will be addressed within our community. If members are found to violate our listserv code of conduct, Board members may issue warnings or place users on moderation for violations. Members from the listserv who commit repeated offenses or violations of the code of conduct may be removed from the listserv. 

8. Agreement to Participate

• Participation implies agreement with this Code of Conduct.

• Members are responsible for reviewing updates and adhering to the latest guidelines.

These guidelines are designed to support a respectful and constructive environment for all members. Should there be any violations of the listserv Code of Conduct, you will be contacted by a member of the board or DEIC for corrections and options for repair.