The Universe.. Synchronicity..

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 (*as recognised and required by their specific professional body)

2 not permit considerations of religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, politics or social standing to adversely influence client treatment

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 industry best practice as this is less likely to give grounds for misunderstanding should any dispute between client and therapist subsequently develop

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 successful resolution of the problem/s presented should not be offered

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

8 ensure that wherever a client is seeking assistance for the relief of physical symptoms, that unless having already 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 regard to a client’s prescribed medication, they should, always with their client’s permission, contact the medical advisor personally

10 avoid expressing a personal opinion or making any remark which may be implicitly or explicitly interpreted in retrospect as the implantation of a non-factual event attributed to a third party

11 accept that any client referred to them by a registered medical practitioner (or other relevant agency) remains the clinical responsibility of the medical practitioner (or agency) and therefore to agree to keep that medical practitioner (or agency) suitably informed of the client’s progress. (“Suitably” in this context means that, unless the client has given permission for the release of such information, feedback should take the form of general comments as to progress rather than the provision of specific details). Practitioners should also be prepared to share information necessary for the continuing treatment of clients by other healthcare professionals, where there is an overlap or hand-on of care

12 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

13 take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the client and any person who may be accompanying them

14 refrain from using their position of trust and 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 or financial relationship (i.e. 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

15 not accept any inappropriate gifts, gratuities or favours from a client

16 never protract treatment unnecessarily and to terminate treatment at the earliest moment consistent with the good care of the client

17 maintain strict confidentiality within the client/therapist relationship, always provided that such confidentiality is neither inconsistent with the therapist’s own safety or the safety 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). See also Clause 11 above

18 ensure that client notes and records be kept secure and confidential and that the use of computer records remains within the terms of the Data Protection Act. N.B. Manual records should be locked away when not in use and those held on computer should be password coded

19 recognise that the maintenance of case notes should include personal details, history, diagnosis, programme of sessions (as agreed between therapist and client), session progress notes and a copy of any contract

21 advise the client that disguised cases 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 a preference that it should not be used for these purposes

23 never publicly criticise, malign or professionally obstruct another member of the profession, either with or without perceived justification

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

25 notify their professional body, in writing, of any change in practise name, contact address, telephone number or e-mail address, at the earliest convenient moment

26 inform their professional body, in writing, of any alteration in circumstance which would affect 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

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:

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

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.

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.

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.

This should not be used

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 further advisable that the therapist should hold a current Full Disclosure CRB certificate if they wish to work with minors

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

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

1 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)

2 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 intervals

3 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

4 maintain complete openness and honesty with regard to both the purpose and nature of the research being conducted

6 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.

8 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

Stage Hypnosis performed for entertainment purposes provokes strong feelings, both for and against, among therapists and consequently, whilst it remains a legal pursuit, is outside the remit of this Code. It is therefore up to individual Professional Bodies to determine their respective rulings in the matter of whether or not they will permit their individual registered practitioners to involve themselves in this activity

This Code takes account of the fact that individual Professional Bodies may have issues that are specific to themselves and their registered practitioners and consequently allows for the inclusion of clauses where necessary, always provided that such inclusions do not conflict with or substantively alter or amend any of the Code’s existing clauses and remain fully consistent with the good care and well-being of the client