Code of Practice

SCOPE OF THIS CODE

The scope of this Code is to govern the relationship between: Hypnotherapist and client/s; Hypnotherapist and other healthcare professionals; Hypnotherapist and their respective professional body/ies. Issues relating to: training schools and training standards; the conduct of professional bodies or their officers or representatives are specifically excluded from this Code

DELIVERY OF SERVICE

All practitioners undertake to:

1. Provide service to clients solely in those areas in which they are competent to do so and for which they carry relevant professional indemnity insurance.

“Competency” means adequate training, skills and experience but need not exclude treating a client for a condition which the practitioner has not treated before, provided that due diligence and professionalism is observed.

2. Act in a non-biased, non-prejudicial manner towards all clients, providing those clients with an identical quality of service and treatment irrespective of the many differences which are to be found between clients, including but not restricted to: race, gender, sexual orientation, disability etc.

3. Disclose full details of all relevant memberships, training, experience, qualifications and appropriate avenues of complaint to clients, upon request and only use those qualifications and memberships to which they have proof of entitlement.

4. Explain fully to clients in advance of any treatment: the fee levels, precise terms of payment and any charges which might be imposed for non-attendance or cancelled appointments, and wherever relevant, confidentiality issues (see clauses 11, 17, 18 & 20 below) N.B. written material, in the form of a contract, is considered best practice as this is less likely to give grounds for misunderstanding should any dispute between client and therapist subsequently develop.

“In advance of any treatment” means that not only should terms and conditions be set out in advance, but that they should be further clarified by the therapist at the initial consultation when additional information about the client’s needs is obtained. If for therapeutic reasons, the therapist wishes to modify treatment (e.g. to extend the treatment plan) then any effect this has on terms, conditions and pricing must be clearly explained to the client.

5. Present all services and products in an unambiguous manner (to include any limitations and realistic outcomes of treatment) and ensure that the client retains complete control over the decision to purchase such services or products. N.B. guarantees of either a cure or a successful resolution of the problem/s presented shall not be offered.

CLIENT WELFARE

All practitioners shall undertake to:

6. Work in ways that will promote client autonomy and well being and that maintain respect and dignity for the client.

7. Remain aware of their own limitations and wherever appropriate, be prepared to refer a client to another practitioner (regardless of discipline) who might be expected to offer suitable treatment.

N.B. The practitioner should give full consideration to the efficacy of treatment, including the manner in which their rapport with the client may affect such efficacy. The practitioner has the right to refuse or terminate any treatment if it is a reasonable belief that it will not be, or continue to be, efficacious. In refusing or terminating treatment due care must be given to fully explaining the rationale for refusal or termination to the client.

8. Ensure that wherever a client is seeking assistance for the relief of physical symptoms, that unless already having done so, the client be advised to contact a registered medical practitioner. N.B. Practitioners should not attempt to diagnose physical symptoms unless they have undergone relevant medical training in diagnostics.

9. Confirm that they will never knowingly offer advice to a client which either conflicts with or is contrary to that given by the client’s registered medical advisor/s. N.B. If the therapist has doubts or concerns with regards to a client’s prescribed medication, they should, always with their client’s permission, contact the medical advisor personally.

10. Use due care and diligence to avoid the implantation of false memories in the client and, ensure that the client is aware that experiences while in a suggestible state are not necessarily correlated with, or to be taken as, real and valid memories of the client’s past.

11. Ensure that their workplace and all facilities offered to both clients and their companions will be in every respect suitable and appropriate for the service provided. These shall include any consulting room used for the purpose of consultation and/or conducting therapy with any client, along with any reception or waiting areas associated with such rooms.

12. Take all reasonable care to ensure the safety of the client and any person who may be accompanying them

13. Refrain from using their position of trust or confidence to:

a) Cross the commonly understood professional boundaries appropriate to the therapist/client relationship or exploit the client emotionally, sexually, financially, or in any other way whatsoever. Should either a sexual relationship, or a financial relationship other than for the payment of relevant products or services, or other inappropriate relationship develop between either therapist and client or members of their respective immediate families, the therapist must immediately cease to accept fees, terminate treatment consistent with Clause 16 below and refer the client to another suitable therapist at the very earliest opportunity. N.B. Clarification on dilemmas experienced by therapists in respect of the foregoing should be sought from their respective professional body

b) Touch the client in any way that may be open to misinterpretation. N.B. Before employing tactile induction or deepening techniques, both an explanation should be given and permission received.

14. Not accept any inappropriate gifts, gratuities or favours from a client.

15. Never protract treatment unnecessarily and to terminate treatment at the earliest moment consistent with the good care of the client.

16. Maintain strict confidentiality within the client/therapist relationship, always provided that such confidentiality is neither inconsistent with the therapist’s own safety or that of the client, the client’s family members or other members of the public nor in contravention of any legal action (i.e. criminal, coroner or civil court cases where a court order is made demanding disclosure) or legal requirement (e.g. Children’s Acts).

17. Where the practitioner is working as part of a larger team, for example within an institution or through a multidisciplinary or similar clinical approach, or where the client has been referred by a medical advisor or agency with conditions placed on the referral as to shared disclosure by the practitioner to the advisor or agency, then provided that it is clear that the client consents, confidential information may be shared by the practitioner with the team or referring advisor or agency.

18. Ensure that client notes and records be kept secure and confidential and that the use of computer records remains with the terms of the Data Protection Act. N.B. Manual records should always be locked away when not in use and those held on computer should be password coded. The therapist should provide, in advance, arrangements for the secure disposal of all client records in case of their permanent incapacity or death.

19. Recognise that the maintenance of case note should include personal details, history, diagnosis and/or identification of problem areas; programme of sessions as agreed between therapist and client (if any), session progress notes and a copy of any contract.

20. Obtain written permission from the client (or if appropriate the client’s parent/s or legal guardian/s) before, either, recording client sessions, discussing undisguised cases with any person whatsoever or publishing cases (whether disguised or not) via any medium. N.B. “Recording” in this context means any method other than the usual taking of written case notes. “Undisguised” in this context means cases in which material has not been sufficiently altered in order to offer reasonable anonymity to all relevant parties. With particular reference to the use of CCTV equipment, all clients must be fully informed when such equipment is in operation and as above; written permission must be obtained prior to the commencement of any client session.

21. Advise the client that disguised case studies may sometimes be utilised for the purposes of either their own supervision or the supervision and/or training of other therapists and refrain from using such material should the respective client indicate that it should not be used for these purposes.

GENERAL CONDUCT

All practitioners undertake to:

22. Conduct themselves at all times in accord with their professional status and in such a way as neither undermines public confidence in the process or profession of hypnotherapy nor brings their professional body into disrepute.

23. Practitioners have the duty to protect the public and the profession from unethical, unsafe or bad practice or behaviour. When offering criticisms or complaints about colleagues, practitioners should utilise appropriate channels such as the complaints procedures of professional bodies, or, where appropriate, Trading Standards or other relevant bodies. Practitioners offering criticisms outside of these channels have the duty to demonstrate that it is reasonable to do so. Practitioners must use due care and diligence when offering criticisms and complaints to ensure that they are justified and can be substantiated.

24. Respect the status of all other medical/healthcare professionals and the boundaries of their professional remit

RELATIONSHIP WITH PROFESSIONAL BODY

All practitioners undertake to:

25. Notify their professional body, in writing, of any change in practice name, contact address, telephone number or email address, at the earliest convenient moment.

26. Inform their professional body, in writing, of any alteration in circumstance which would effect either their position or ability as practitioners.

27. Inform their professional body, in writing, of

a) Any complaint (of which they are aware) made against them

b) Any disciplinary action taken against them by any professional body

c) Any criminal offence of which they have been convicted

28. Make available all relevant information requested as a result of investigation by any appointed Complaints and Disciplinary Officer, without hindrance (whether implied or actual) or unreasonable delay and comply fully with all requirements inherent within any Complaints and Disciplinary Procedure to which they subscribe.

ADVERTISING, DISPLAY OF CREDENTIALS

and USE OF SPECIFIC TITLES

All Practitioners undertake to:

29. Ensure that all advertising, no matter in what form or medium it is placed, represents a truthful, honest and accurate picture of themselves, their skill-base, qualifications and facilities and that any claims for the successful outcome of treatments (in whatever format) shall be based upon verifiable, fully documented evidence.

30. Ensure that all advertising shall comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice, accord with the British Advertising Standards Authority and to make available all such literature to their professional body on request.

31. Display only valid qualifications and certificates issued in respect of relevant training courses and events or certificates of registration, validation or accreditation as issued or awarded by relevant professional bodies.

32. Make no claim that they hold specific qualifications unless such claim can be fully substantiated.

Notes for Guidance:

Title: “Dr”

Practitioners should avoid the possibility of misdirecting their clients in using the title “Dr”. Misdirecting a client falls into three categories:

a) Medical Misdirection – where the client is led to believe, by commission or omission, intended or inadvertent, that the therapist is a licensed medical practitioner when this is not the case.

b) Misdirection by Relevance – where the client is led to believe, by commission or omission, intended or inadvertent, that the therapist’s title is directly relevant to the practice of their therapy, when it is not (e.g. the doctorate is in an unrelated subject)

c) Misdirection by Quality – where the client is led to believe, by commission or omission, intended or inadvertent, that the therapist’s title fulfils the requirements of widely recognized common UK standards for doctorates in Chartered Universities or Government licensed awarding bodies (e.g. a “life experience” doctorate or foreign award whose accreditation standards are questionable.)

Practitioners should, therefore, only use the title “Dr” if they are medically licensed in the UK or their title is both UK issued and accredited and in a subject relevant to hypnotherapy (e.g. counselling or psychology). All practitioners using this title should explain in their advertising literature and to their clients, the nature and subject of the title and the awarding body, and non-medical “Drs” should declare that they are not medical practitioners in their advertising literature and to their clients.

Title: “Professor”

This should be used in the UK only when the therapist holds a UK based Professorial Chair, and the use of the title should be fully explained to the client.

Title: “Reverend”

This should be used in the UK only when the therapist is offering therapy in a religious context, and the use of this title should be fully explained to the client.

Title: “Consultant Hypnotherapist”

This should not be used

TREATMENT of MINORS

and those classified as PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

All Practitioners undertake to:

33. Obtain the written consent of an appropriate adult (i.e. parent, legal guardian or registered medical practitioner) before conducting treatment with clients who are either under the age of majority or are classified as persons with special needs. N.B. Wherever possible and provided it is judged to be in the child’s best interests, it is advisable that an appropriate adult should be present during such sessions. It is compulsory that the therapist should hold a current Full Disclosure CRB certificate if they wish to work with minors.

SUPERVISION and CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Practitioners are expected to maintain or improve their level of skills and professional competence in accordance with the requirements laid down by their respective professional body. This could include: -

a) Meetings with a colleague (or colleagues) to discuss, in confidence (see Clause 20 above), ongoing cases and issues arising from them and to work through any personal matters that might affect their own position or ability as practising therapists. Such arrangements can take a variety of forms, the most usual of which are either personal One to One Supervision or participation within a Peer Support Group

b) Undertaking continuing training, either formally, by attendance at relevant courses, workshops and seminars or informally, by relevant reading and Internet research.

c) The utilisation of appropriate audit tools, e.g. client feedback forms, care forms etc.

d) Maintaining an awareness of research and developments within both hypnotherapy and other related fields.

RESEARCH ETHICS

For all practical purposes, a “research subject” should be considered synonymous with a “client” and consequently, all relevant Clauses within the general Code of Ethics remain applicable

Of extra importance is the need on the part of the researcher to: -

34. Accept that all participation by research subjects must be on a completely voluntary basis and that no “pressure” of any type should be exerted in order to secure participation. (Payments must not be such an inducement that they would encourage the taking of risk beyond that taken in the normal course of the participant’s everyday life)

35. Ensure that proper consent has been obtained prior to the commencement of any research project. This is especially so in the case of minors or persons with special needs. N.B. This does not apply where general research of a purely statistical nature is carried out. N.B.2 In longitudinal research, consent may need to be obtained at repeated interval

36. Understand that initial consent does not negate a participant’s right to withdraw at any stage of the research and further, that this must be made clear to the participant at the outset

37. Maintain complete openness and honesty with regard to both the purpose and nature of the research being conducted

38. Consider any potential adverse consequences to the research subject as a result of any intended research project

39. Accept that if, during research, a participant exhibits or presents with a condition they seem unaware of, then the researcher has a duty to inform the subject that they believe their continued participation may jeopardise their future well-being.

40. Provide, where relevant, for the ongoing care of participants with regard to any adverse effects that might arise as a consequence of and within a reasonable time period after, their involvement within any research project

41. Understand and act upon the principle that the privacy and psychological well-being of the individual subject is always more important than the research itself

Adopted from the “National Hypnotherapy Code of Ethics” (March 2008) by “The Working Group for Hypnotherapy Regulation (WGHR)