Why safeguarding matters
When regulation, ethics, and real-world practice don’t align, children are left vulnerable. This is where we step in.
What’s Missing in Current Guidance
There’s no single safeguarding framework for therapists in private practice. Instead, we’re expected to navigate a patchwork of legislation, ethical codes, and professional guidance, often written for organisational settings rather than individuals.
To make things more complex, guidance varies between jurisdictions, which can lead to confusion and inconsistency.
At Best Start Therapy, we believe therapists deserve a clearer, more unified approach, one that makes sense in the therapy room, not just in theory.
The Reality of Private Practice
In schools and large organisations, safeguarding sits within a wider system. But in private practice, we don’t have that safety net. We hold the responsibility ourselves - often as the only adult present when a concern arises.
That means we’re the safeguarding lead in the moment, and we’re expected to act with clarity and confidence, even without a designated team, DSL, or internal structure to rely on.
It’s a big responsibility and therapists deserve support in holding it.
Turning Policy Into Practice
Legislation, codes of ethics, and professional standards are essential but they often stop short of telling us how to respond when something actually happens in the room.
Add jurisdictional differences, and the picture becomes even more unclear.
That’s why Best Start Therapy exists to bridge the gap, helping therapists turn policy into confident, effective practice through clear, grounded training and support.
Safe, healthy and free from harm.
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding is about protecting children’s right to grow up safe, healthy, and free from harm.
In therapy, it means making sure children are not only emotionally supported, but also physically and psychologically safe - both inside and outside the therapy room.
It’s a preventative approach. We don’t wait until something has gone wrong - we stay aware, create safe conditions, and act early when there are signs a child might be at risk.
