Code of Ethics

DO NO HARM. Working towards the good of clients.

Being trustworthy and responsible. Act in the highest and best interest of the client and treat each client with respect and dignity. Practitioners endeavor to establish trust with their clients and the community in which they work. Therefore, practitioners not only honor the trust placed in them by their clients and the community, but also act in a respectful, professional, and ethical manner when representing their profession. Discuss with a client the experience and expectations the client is seeking. It is expected that all members facilitate sessions within realistic expectations, intentions and goals of a client, and within the scope of their capabilities.

Clients have the right to self-determination and to be shown dignity and respect for making their own lawful decisions. Display and facilitate sessions with professional etiquette, providing a safe and caring environment. Sessions are expected to be facilitated not only with skill, but with understanding, sensitivity, and patience.

Assess and provide a professional environment for a client in advance of a session. A client is entitled to a clean and dedicated therapy room, which includes facilities.

Maintain all client-therapist communications in a confidential manner, obtain the consent of the client to record live sessions, and preserve session records and session notes in a secure environment to ensure privacy. Obtain the consent of the client to share or publish session material and to discuss confidential session details.

Assess the readiness of clients to participate Hypnotherapy through Client History or during Intake. Clients are expected to be open and honest in providing relevant information, members cannot be responsible for anything deliberately withheld by a client.

Ensure the client is aware of the range of physiological and emotional experiences that could occur during a hypnosis session.

Advise clients seeking to avail themselves of additional services offered by the facilitators, that such services are beyond the explicit endorsement of IHART. Delivery of any non-hypnosis related services with the client are to be conducted separate from a hypnosis session.

Acknowledge when therapist/client rapport is compromised. This includes acknowledging the possibility of a disruption in rapport being triggered during the pre-talk or the actual session, and the willingness of the facilitators to address the issue even if it means putting the session on pause or recognizing the need to reschedule or even cancel the session unless rapport can be re-established.

Ensure that we are ourselves are in a fit state to conduct a hypnosis sessions – that is, that we are not ill, exhausted, under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Practitioners work to be as honest, truthful and accurate as possible. They are also responsible for looking after their own needs and health. So, a practitioner will only commit to a practice that they can offer being aware of own expertise, training, health and wellbeing and let the client know if anything changes

Practitioners are aware of their own judgements based on their own experiences and need to take precautions (supervision) to provide a service that is not restricted by their own prejudice and limitations of experience. This also means showing respect for diversity of persons, without prejudice to colour, race, belief, gender, sexuality, social context, and mental and physical abilities. Treat each other respectfully. Avoid disrespectful comments regarding other facilitators and refrain from soliciting another facilitator’s clients.

Hold IHART standards and interests ahead of self-interest. Ensure that all advertising and promotional activities are truthful, and that all statements made regarding what you have to offer are realistic. No false claims should be made by any practitioner.

13. Declare financial policies, including session cost and cancellation policies in advance of sessions and agree to payment arrangements before beginning the session. Manage client expectations prior to the session regarding what is and is not refundable.

1. Ensure that all advertised professional affiliations, certifications and credentials are truthful and up to date. Ensure that all advertised relevant credentials for services are backed by proven documentation.