The UK Confederation of

    Hypnotherapy Organisations

  CODE OF

CONDUCT, ETHICS

&

PRACTICE

                                    The UK Confederation of Hypnotherapy Organisations

Codes of Conduct, Ethics and Practice

This Code of Conduct, Ethics and Practice is to be taken as the basic minimum standard for Members, Associate Members and Friends of the UK Confederation of Hypnotherapy Organisations (UKCHO):

CONDUCT AND ETHICS

      1.   Client Welfare

The welfare of the client is the primary concern of the hypnotherapist. It should only take second place if not to do so would seriously jeopardise other members of the public, or the hypnotherapist's welfare.

2.      Confidentiality

Confidentiality is to be maintained in all but the most exceptional circumstances. These can only include: legal action in criminal or civil court cases, including coroners’ courts, where a court order is made demanding disclosure, and where there is good cause to believe that not to disclose would cause danger or serious harm to others. Most standards of confidentiality applied in professional contexts are based on the Common Law concept of confidentiality, where the duly to keep confidence is measured against the concept of the greater good. A stronger form, as advocated, may be provided by the use of a written contract containing a confidentiality clause. The sharing of anonymous case histories with supervisors and peer-support groups is not a breach of professional confidentiality, nor is the sharing of open case histories with supervisors and any referring NHS medical practitioner.

3.      Service

Hypnotherapists will only offer services in areas in which they have demonstrated their competence, to the agreed UKCHO standards. Hypnotherapists have a responsibility to provide the client with the best possible service available, even to the extent of onwards referral to another hypnotherapist who may offer such a service.

4.       Development of Skill Base

Hypnotherapists are required to maintain or improve their level of skills and professional competence by:

a) undertaking formal continuing training, by attending workshops, courses and seminars, of an UKCHO approved standard; and

b) by sharing of experiences and exploring such with supervisors and/or peer support

    groups.

Hypnotherapists should also maintain an awareness of research and developments in the field of hypnotherapy and other related fields.

5.       Exploitation (All exploitation is abuse)

Hypnotherapists shall not behave in any manner that might give rise to the exploitation of a client. They shall not enter into any other relationship, outside the professional/therapeutic relationship, while treating a client. They shall make their charges known to the client before therapy is commenced. They shall terminate therapy at the earliest time, commensurate with the good care and continuing welfare of the client. They shall not accept any inappropriate gifts, gratuities or favours from a client. Should at any time a relationship, other than as described above, develop between a client and hypnotherapist, then the client shall be referred on to another competent hypnotherapist at the earliest time commensurate with the welfare of the client and, in any case, no further fees shall be taken.

6.       Advertising

Advertising, no matter in what form or medium it is placed, shall represent a true picture of the hypnotherapist, their skill-base, qualifications, facilities and any benefits which may be expected from hypnosis, and shall conform to current Advertising Law.

7.       General Conduct

Hypnotherapists shall not behave in any manner, within or outside the context of hypnotherapy, which would undermine the public's confidence in the profession, or bring the profession into disrepute. This includes inaction when they become aware of another hypnotherapist's unethical activity, improper use of hypnosis, criminal conviction, misbehavior towards other health or social care professionals, discrimination on the basis of ethnic or sexual factors, or anything which is the subject of any civil judgement regarding neglect of duty of care. Hypnotherapists are obliged to advise clients of appropriate avenues of complaint.

PRACTICE

8.       Professional Indemnity Insurance

Professional indemnity insurance is accepted throughout the profession as a prerequisite for a Hypnotherapist to practice. It is recommended that it should provide adequate cover of at least £2,000,000, preferably £5,000,000.

9.       Relationship with Professional and Governing Body.

Hypnotherapists shall keep their professional and governing body informed of:

a)                  changes to personal details, including name, address, telephone number and practice name;

b)                  changes to qualifications, including lapses of time limited certification, and ongoing continuing professional development;

c)                  any criminal or civil judgements;

d)                  business associations with any other health-care workers or professional body, including other hypnotherapy associations which are outside the direct provision of patient/client care.

Hypnotherapists should also respect the status of all other medical/heath-care professionals and the boundaries of their professional remit.

10.    Supervision and Peer Support

Hypnotherapists shall at all times:

a)                  be supervised by a practitioner of a higher grade or a minimum of two years greater experience; and/or

b)                  be an active member of a peer support group.

Hypnotherapists should also be prepared to share information necessary for the continuing treatment of clients by other health-care professionals, where there is an overlap or hand on of care. This should not be a reason to dilute the standards of confidentiality.

11.   Provision of a Contract

All therapy is undertaken as a result of a contract between the client and the hypnotherapist. It is preferable that this should not be a verbal contract which is loose and open to abuse and misinterpretation or dispute. It should preferably be a written contract. Such a contract should include a statement of cost per session or whole course of hypnotherapy, confidentiality, the client's rights of access to the complaints procedure of the hypnotherapist’s governing body, and the fact there can be no guarantee of a cure. The inclusion of a clause which defines the scope of confidentiality within hypnotherapy raises it from a common law duty to a contractual limitation and duty to deliver. Thus it becomes easier for all parties to understand their rights and duties within the therapeutic relationship and lowers any risk of abuse or misunderstanding.

   12.   Maintenance of Records and Recording of Sessions

It is recommended that case notes must be maintained to include personal details, history, diagnosis, programme of sessions, as agreed between the hypnotherapist and client, and a copy of any contract, as well as session progress notes. These should be maintained as hard copy and any use of computer records should be with the client's agreement and within the terms of the Data Protection Act. Audio and video recording, with time coded tracking of sessions, are a safeguard to all parties in respect of abuse and false allegations, as well as being an aid to recording the process of therapy. As such, it would be preferable that they become a routine procedure and be disclosed to clients.

   13.   Workplace and Consulting Rooms

Facilities should be provided within agreed guidelines for such standards, when operating from permanent premises. These shall include any consulting room, used for the purposes of consulting with or conducting therapy with any client, along with any reception or waiting areas associated to such rooms.

     14.   Display of Credentials

Only valid qualifications and certificates issued in respect of relevant courses or training events, or certificates of registration/accreditation as issued by professional governing bodies, may be displayed by the hypnotherapist. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE TESTIMONIALS OF ANY FORM.

15.   Complaints and Discipline

All Hypnotherapists shall be subject to, and amenable to, the complaints and disciplinary procedures of the professional and governing body with which they are registered. Hypnotherapists shall also make clients aware of their rights of access to such procedures.

            SPECIAL ISSUES

     16.            Misuse of the title 'Doctor'

Hypnotherapists shall not use the title `Doctor' in a manner which may mislead any member of the public to believe that they are medically qualified, if they are not so qualified. Any use of the title must be clearly defined by a qualifying statement, i.e. the form of the doctorate.

     17.  Age of Consent         

Hypnotherapists shall only deal with clients under the age of majority, or with special needs, after obtaining the consent of an appropriate adult, a parent or legal guardian. All sessions shall be conducted in the presence of an appropriate adult, or recorded on time indexed video format.

            RESEARCH ETHICS

1.      General Guidelines for Research

In all circumstances researchers and their supervisors must consider all ethical implications and potential consequences for the psychological well being of all participants, both research workers and experimental subjects This must include all cross-cultural implications, i.e. ethnic and socio-economic factors.

2.      Consent

Whenever possible all participants should be fully informed of the objectives of the investigation. This should especially apply to factors that may influence willingness to participant in the proposed procedure. Any delay in giving or disclosing such information, prior to obtaining `informed consent', must be off-set by additional safeguards to protect the welfare and dignity of participants. Children and persons with special needs may not give consent for their own participation. Their willingness to participate can only be sanctioned by a disinterested appropriate adult third party. This includes persons whose liberty is restricted either by the Courts or under the provisions of the Mental Health Acts. The implications of `authority', in the case of employees, students or children may render consent invalid. Care must be taken to prevent such pressure. Payments must not be such an inducement that they would encourage the taking of risk beyond that taken in the normal course of the participants every day life. In longitudinal research consent may need to be obtained at repeated intervals.

3.  Deception

The withholding of information from, or direct deception of, participants in any particular that may otherwise have led to the withholding of consent, or may have led to objections, complaints or even unease on debriefing, is not acceptable. Intentional deception in respect of the purpose and general nature of the research should be avoided in all cases, unless there is extremely strong scientific, medical or welfare justification. Even then, disinterested independent supervisors should be consulted.

4.      Debriefing

Debriefing cannot give justification for unethical research or any part thereof. For studies in which the participant is aware that they have taken            part the researcher should provide the participant with any information they need to enable the completion of their understanding of the nature of the research being conducted. Any effects produced by the investigation, that are not relieved by verbal descriptions of the research, must be dealt with by any active intervention necessary and, wherever practicable, before the participant leaves the research setting.

5.      Withdrawal from the Investigation

Initial consent does not negate a participant's right to withdraw at any stage of the investigation, and this must be made plain from the outset.

6.  Confidentiality

Confidentiality should be at least of the same standard afforded to any client or patient.

7.      Protection of Participants

As with clients or patients, participant's welfare is paramount. Provision should also be made for the ongoing care of the participants in respect of any effects that arise, within a reasonable period of time after their involvement.

8.      Observational Studies

The privacy and the psychological well-being of the individual participant is always more important than the research itself.

9.      Giving advice

If, during research, a participant exhibits or presents with a condition they seem unaware of, then the investigator has a responsibility to inform the subject that they believe their continued participation may jeopardise their future wellbeing. If the presentation is voluntary and done knowingly then the investigator has a responsibility to guide the subject to the appropriate source of professional assistance.

10.  Colleagues

All researchers are responsible for the ethical treatment of participants and colleagues alike. If they become aware of any unethical conduct or welfare issues, regarding any other researcher, then they should place them duty to the participants first and take any lawful course of action necessary to prevent harm and reduce the unethical practice.