• Hypnotherapists help people use their own  resources to improve the quality of their lives. Hypnotherapists are committed  to the service of life, which includes health and well-being and the  actualization of human potential. Hypnotherapists, therefore, take on the role of practitioner of hypnotherapy, life skills and achievement coach and educator.
  

 

• The International Board of Hypnotherapy requires all of its members to conduct their profession according to the following ethical principles.
  

                                                                                   The Member’s Ethical Responsibility To Clients:

1. The member’s main responsibility is the client’s safety and welfare. They are to respect the client’s mental and physical well-being at all times.
2. The members are not to practice any form of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnic culture, age, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, religion, national origin, political belief, physical handicap, or any other characteristic or personal condition.
3. The members are to uphold a professional relationship with clients, and not engage in physical abuse, hugging or touching in an erotic way or any other sexual activities.
4. The members are to seek advice of colleagues, mentors and supervisors whenever the consultation is in the best interest of clients.
5. In compliance with HIPAA regulations, the members are to respect the privacy of clients and hold in confidence information acquired during the course of professional service. Also, members are to inform clients fully about the limits of confidentiality. The limits on confidentiality are provided to the client in writing prior to entering into a client-therapist relationship. On the client intake form, the client is to give written permission for use of voice mail, email or emailing MP3 files of customized self-hypnosis. Hypnotherapist is to clarify with client what type of communication may occur via email.
6. The members are to obtain consent of clients before audio or video recording or permitting others to be present during their sessions or activities.
7. The members are to practice hypnotherapy services in accordance with the level of their training, competency and respecting the laws of their state.
8. Members are to inform clients of what to expect during sessions, so that they can make an informed decision as to whether they consent to participate.
9. Members are to work with only those clients that fall within their scope of practice.
10. Members are not to have any intimate social contact with a client for at least two years after their last session with the client.
11. Continuing education keeps practitioners informed of the latest developments in the field of hypnotherapy and reduces unethical behavior. Fifteen hours of continuing education is required annually.
12. Members fully disclose their educational qualifications and professional credentials and certifications to their clients in writing on their client intake forms.
13. Members agree not to use wording in the title of their business or any other promotional materials that could mislead the public.
14. Members agree to be accurate in their description of their services, business name, and work place, so not to imply in their advertising and marketing communications that hypnotherapy is in any way the practice of medicine or psychotherapy.
15. Members agree to be truthful in advertising and marketing communications.
16. Members agree that they will not in any way state or imply in their advertising and marketing communications that they provide medical or psychotherapy services if they are not licensed by their state board of regulation to do so.
17. Members agree that as a hypnotherapist they will not use the following words in any of their promotional materials or marketing communications, like website, print brochures, newsletters, business cards, etc. If already licensed by a board of regulation, for example as a psychologist, clinical social worker, physician, health care provider, etc., who also provides hypnotherapy services, elements of the following may not pertain. Words not to use: “psychologist,” “psychotherapist,” “psychotherapy,” “psychological,” “counseling,” “treatment,” “addiction,” “treatment of… diagnosed mental disorder or medical ailment,” “depression,” “cure,” “clinic,” “patient,” “medical hypnosis,” or “licensed hypnotherapist.”
18. Members understand that their hypnotherapy school training prepared them for certification by the International Board of Hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy is a “non-licensed” profession. Licensing of a professional group can only be authorized by a law passed by a state legislature and then implemented by a state agency.