Code of Practice

This Code encompasses the practice of hypnotherapy and psychotherapy, or similar practices conducted under a different name.  All such practices are subsequently referred to generically under the heading of 'Therapy' and cognate terms such as 'Therapist' are employed in the same sense.

The Register for Evidence-Based Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy (REBHP) is subsequently referred to below as 'the Register.'

This Code governs the relationship between Therapist and their own or other Therapists' clients, other healthcare professionals, and any relevant professional bodies.

The Code employs masculine pronouns in a gender-neutral sense, to designate both males and females.

All members of the Register are required to abide by the Code, without exception.  The Governing Committee of the Register have the right to investigate and sanction members who fail to do so, including removing them from the Register.

1.  Core Aims & Values

The Therapist agrees to the following general principles, insofar as they are reasonable and practicable, within the scope of the Code stated above,

Evidence-Based Practice.  The Therapist accepts the value of evidence-based treatment and pledges to ground his own theory and practice upon credible, mainstream physiological and psychological research evidence, and clinical outcome studies, insofar as it is reasonable and practicable for him to do so, and consistent with his grade of Registration.  Students and non-accredited grades are expected to actively work toward the aim of basing their practice upon evidence-based principles.

Reflective Practice.  The Therapist accepts the value of reflective practice and the importance of continually evaluating his own competence and clinical experience, with the means at his disposal, including Clinical Supervision.

Competence.  The Therapist aims to work within his sphere of professional competence, and to employ the means at his disposal to progressively expand his knowledge and competence.

Respect.  The Therapist aims to treat others with courtesy and respect, without prejudice, and also to act with respect for society and the dignity and human rights of all individuals.

Integrity.  The Therapist aims to act with honesty and truthfulness toward others.

Alleviation of Suffering.  The Therapist aims to seek the good of others, i.e., to alleviate suffering, promote well-being, and avoid causing harm, including minimising the risk of causing harm in the course of his professional activities, and maximising the benefits of treatment for the client.

2. Registration Grades

Associate / Ordinary Member / Non-Practising Member (Non-Accredited)

Non-practising membership is open to anyone who signs and agrees to follow the Code, regardless of qualification or training.  This is a non-accredited grade of registration and does not confer any professional status.  It is intended for unqualified individuals who wish to support or benefit in a non-professional manner from the Register.

Permission is granted to use the designation 'Associate' of the Register.

Associate members are treated as non-practising, and therefore no Clinical Supervision or CPD requirements are imposed, although they may be registered as Therapists with other organisations.

Student / Trainee Member (Non-Accredited)

Trainee membership is available to all students upon commencing practitioner training with the UK College of Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy Ltd.

Permission is granted to use the designations below,

 "Student Member, the Register for Evidence-Based Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy" or "Student Member (REBHP)"

Student members are not required to carry professional insurance, unless they are engaged in clinical practice or would otherwise require insurance by law.

Student members are expected to refrain from practising Therapy for income, unless doing so falls within their sphere of competence as defined by another professional organisation of which they are a member.  For example, an accredited counsellor may continue to practise in a manner approved by a relevant professional body, and employ specific Therapy techniques as an adjunct to their core profession.  However, the Register does not formally accredit trainee members as being qualified to practise Therapy at a professional level, although practising techniques with other Therapists or students is permitted and encouraged, as part of professional development.

Trainee members are strongly encouraged to engage in Clinical Supervision as defined by the Register, though this is not mandatory at this grade of registration.

Affiliate Hypnotherapist (Non-Accredited)

This grade is available to students of the UK College who have completed Stage II of their training successfully.  Non-accredited registration as a practising hypnotherapist may also be available to certain Therapists at the discretion of the Register, providing they can supply evidence of suitable professional qualifications, and pledge to work toward the grade of Clinical Hypnotherapist. 

This grade is only available for a maximum period of five years, except at the special discretion of the Committee, or for Therapists based primarily outside the UK.  During which period, registrants are expected to undertake additional training as required to reach the grade of Clinical Hypnotherapist.  This grade is "transitional" in the sense that it provides students, or those seeking accreditation of prior learning, with a staging post on the way to higher levels of registration, for that reason this grade is time-limited and requires a written commitment to pursue further qualification and accreditation.  Affiliate grade Therapists who do not fulfil the requirements for a higher grade of registration within one year of registration will be automatically re-classified at Student grade.

Affiliate Hypnotherapist members are required to carry adequate professional insurance, if engaged in Clinical Practice.

Permission is granted to use the designations below,

 "Affiliate Member, the Register for Evidence-Based Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy" or "Affiliate (REBHP)"

Clinical Hypnotherapist (Licentiate)

Registration as a licentiate clinical hypnotherapist is available to all students who have satisfactorily completed an externally-verified training in hypnotherapy equivalent to Level 4 on the Government’s National Qualification Framework, or equivalent training, specifically approved by the Register.

Clinical Hypnotherapist members are required to carry adequate professional insurance.

Clinical Hypnotherapist members are required to engage in Clinical Supervision as defined by the Register. 

Clinical Hypnotherapist members are required to engage in CPD as defined by the Register.

Permission is granted to use the designations below,

 "Licentiate Clinical Hypnotherapist, the Register for Evidence-Based Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy" or "REBHP (Licentiate)"

Clinical Hypnotherapist (Accredited)

Registration as an accredited clinical hypnotherapist is available to all students who have satisfactorily met the requirements for licentiate grade, and can also supply evidence, in the form of a supervisor's report, for having completed at least 12 months of clinical hypno-psychotherapy practice supervised in accord with the Register's requirements.

Clinical Hypnotherapist members are required to carry adequate professional insurance.

Clinical Hypnotherapist members are required to engage in Clinical Supervision as defined by the Register. 

Clinical Hypnotherapist members are required to engage in CPD as defined by the Register.

Permission is granted to use the designations below,

"Accredited Clinical Hypnotherapist, the Register for Evidence-Based Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy" or "Accredited Clinical Hypnotherapist (REBHP)"

Hypno-Psychotherapist (Accredited)

Accreditation as a hypno-psychotherapist is available to all students who have met the requirements for accreditation as a clinical hypnotherapist plus an additional stage of training and further requirements specified by the Register.  Training must total at least 200 hours of classroom training, plus supported home study, totalling at least 450 hours (classroom plus home study) in total.

Therapists are only eligible for this grade after at least four years have elapsed since commencement of training.  Candidates for this grade must also provide evidence of at least 450 hours of clinical practice in hypno-psychotherapy and 18 months of formal hypno-psychotherapy supervision in accord with the Register's requirements. 

Evidence must also be provided of least twelve sessions of individual or group personal therapy with a more senior member of the Register, or  suitable UKCP registered psychotherapist.  The Register recommend that a range of experiences of personal therapy are obtained, e.g., from different therapists using different approaches to hypnosis and psychotherapy, which cumulatively totals at least twelve sessions.

Hypno-Psychotherapist members are required to carry adequate professional insurance.

Hypno-Psychotherapist members are required to engage in Clinical Supervision as defined by the Register. 

Hypno-Psychotherapist members are required to engage in CPD as defined by the Register.

Permission is granted to use the designations below,

 "Accredited Hypno-psychotherapist, the Register for Evidence-Based Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy" or "Accredited Hypno-psychotherapist (REBHP)"

Senior Clinical Hypnotherapist / Hypno-Psychotherapist (Accredited)

This grade is only available to registrants who fulfil the requirements for the corresponding grades of Clinical Hypnotherapist or Hypno-Psychotherapist, plus additional requirements set by the Committee.

Senior members must meet the requirements of the corresponding grade as specified above.

Additional Notes on Registration Grades

Registrants of any grade who fail to provide evidence of current insurance, or fail to meet other criteria of accreditation set by the Register, will be reclassified at Non-practising  (non-accredited) grade at the discretion of the Register.

3. Collective Trademark

Members of the Register are granted permission to display the collective trademark allocated for their use by the Register.  This may be prefixed by the designations specified in the clauses above, as appropriate to the member's grade of registration.  Permission to use this trademark is conditional upon compliance with the rest of the Code, continued membership of the Register, and the inclusion (wherever possible) of the trademark symbol '™' or '(tm)', e.g., 'The Register for Evidence-Based Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy™', or 'REBHP (tm).'

Initial Consultation & Assessment

1. Explaining hypnosis and client-therapist roles.

2. Assessing client problems and suitability for hypnotherapy.

3. Assessing contra-indications to specific interventions.

4. Designing a tailored hypnotherapy treatment plan.

Techniques

1. Hypnotic induction, deepening, testing, emerging, etc.

2. Direct and indirect verbal suggestion techniques, etc.

3. Mental imagery techniques, etc.

4. Self-hypnosis skills training.

Common Conditions Treated

The primary therapeutic application of hypnotherapy is in the field of anxiety management.

1. Stress & Anxiety. For example, panic attacks, social anxiety, phobias, sexual anxiety, work-related stress, low confidence, etc.

2. Habits. Including mild addictions and bad habits, e.g., smoking, nail-biting, over-eating, etc. Hypnotherapists should not prescribe significant changes to diet or exercise unless they are qualified to do so. Change in the use of certain drugs may require specialist advice on withdrawal, etc.

3. Depressed Mood. A controversy surrounds the use of hypnotherapy to treat clinical depression because of ambiguity in the diagnosis. Severe cases of depression, especially where the disorder is mainly organic (endogenous) or accompanied by self-harm, suicidal ideation, or psychotic symptoms may be considered contra-indicated for hypnotherapy. However, mild cases of (so-called) "neurotic" or "reactive" depression, or sub-clinical "depressed mood" (dysphoria), may be closely-related to anxiety disorders and treatable by hypnotherapy.

4. Personal Development. For example, public speaking, study skills, sports performance, or creative and spiritual applications, etc. Possible Adjunctive uses of Hypnotherapy

The following are core applications of hypnotherapy when used by qualified medical practitioners. They cannot be considered so in the hands of non-medical (so-called "lay") hypnotherapists. They may require prior medical diagnosis to determine the suitability of the client for hypnotherapy. They may also require more experience or advanced training on the part of the therapist.

5. Psycho-somatic Conditions. Conditions caused or exacerbated by psychogenic factors, especially stress-related conditions. For example, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), various skin conditions, warts,

6. Pain Management. For example, chronic pain, pain in dentistry, pain in surgery, tension headaches, back pain, etc.

Relationship problems or other inter-personal issues are often dealt with indirectly but not by directly working with couples or group dynamics, unless the therapist is suitably qualified.

7. Inter-personal Problems. For example, relationship problems, familial problems, or conflict at work. Hypnotherapy may help an individual deal better, e.g., through imaginal rehearsal of assertive attitudes and behaviour. However, hypnotherapists may not be competent to work directly with couples, families or group dynamics without additional training in these areas.