Code of Ethics
Western Pa Hypnotherapy LLC
Code of Ethics and Conduct
1. Maintain strict confidentiality about the clients and their treatment, unless written permission is received from the client, or required by court order to divulge information of a confidential nature, or under legal requirement as when suspecting abuse, neglect or violence toward a child or an elderly adult.
2. Practice within the recognized knowledge and competence of the profession and within the practitioner’s own training.
3. 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.
4. Maintain or improve their level of skills and professional competence by undertaking formal continuing training and maintain awareness of research and developments in the field.
5. Ensure that wherever a client is seeking assistance for the relief of physical and mental health symptoms, unless having already done so, that the client be advised to contact a medical or mental health practitioner.
6. Co-operate with other practitioners where it is deemed in the best interest of the client, provided their consent is given.
7. 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 medical or mental health practitioner.
8. Ensure that client notes and records be kept secure and confidential.
9. Obtain written permission from the client (or if appropriate, the client’s parent/s or legal guardian/s) before either recording client sessions or discussing undisguised cases with any person whatsoever.
10. Wherever possible, obtain the consent of an appropriate adult (i.e. parent or legal guardian) before conducting treatment with clients who are either under the age of majority or are classified as Special Needs.
11. Take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the client and any person who may be accompanying them.
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.
13. Refrain from using their position of trust and confidence to:
a) 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) develop between either practitioner and client or members of their respective immediate families, the practitioner must immediately cease to accept fees, terminate treatment and refer the client to another suitable practitioner at the very earliest opportunity.
b) Touch the client in any way that may be open to misinterpretation. (e.g. Before employing tactile induction or deepening techniques, both an explanation should be given and permission received).
14. Terminate treatment at the earliest moment consistent with the good care of the client.
15. Disclose full details of all relevant memberships, training, experience, qualifications and appropriate avenues of complaint to clients, upon request.
16. Make no claim that they hold specific qualifications unless such claim can be fully substantiated. No practitioner shall use the title ‘Doctor’ in a manner that may mislead any member of the public to believe they are medically qualified, if they are not so qualified.
17. Explain fully to clients, preferably in writing, 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.
18. 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.
19. Never discriminate against any client for any reason such as race, color, creed, disability, sexual orientation, political beliefs etc.
20. Always maintain standards of the highest professional conduct.