Ethics
Introduction
Counseling Hypnotherapists form a relatively new and unique group of professional helpers within the broader spectrum of human service professionals. Counseling Hypnotherapy, like acupuncture, massage therapy and homeopathy, is gaining recognition as a valid form of complimentary therapy.
Counseling Hypnotherapists fall within the definition of a professional group due to their education, specialized knowledge and skill sets that allow them to provide a unique service.
It is expected that as members of a professional group that they perform their services as outlined by their professional association and are responsible for self-regulating, assessing and improving their profession. In addition Counseling Hypnotherapists, like other professionals, use a Code of Ethics to guide them through ethical issues and dilemmas.
Background
In May 1999, the Canadian Counseling Association approved a new Code of Ethics having six major sections:
• professional responsibility
• counseling relationships
• consulting and private practice
• evaluation and assessment – Not included
• research and publication – Under construction
• counselor education, training and supervision
In order to work more effectively with other professional associations and to foster interdisciplinary understanding IACH uses similar section headings although the actual content differs with more direct emphasis on Hypnotherapy.
IACH is an international Association and therefore standard ethical practices from around the world were considered in the production of this document.
IACH members are expected to know and to follow the IACH Code of Ethics . The IACH Ethics Committee is responsible for addressing ethics violations and providing guidance and clarification to members.
Ethics Committee – Role and Responsibilities
The Committee's role is to protect the dignity, rights, safety and well being of those individuals who procure the professional services of an IACH member. To do this the Committee is responsible for educating the IACH membership in all matters related to ethical conduct, periodically reviewing the IACH Code of Ethics , receiving and processing questions pertaining to the IACH Code of Ethics and providing resolution on ethical breaches by IACH members.
Ethics Committee – Structure
The IACH Ethics Committee shall consist of a minimum of three members in good standing, one of which will be the IACH President. The director of the Ethics Committee shall be duly elected and will be responsible for all Committee activities. The third Committee member shall also be duly elected and will take the place of the director should he/she be unable to fulfill a term. In this event a member of IACH will be designated, by the President, to fill the third seat on the Committee.
All decisions made by the Ethics Committee will be made by a full, three person, committee. Further, all decisions made thusly will be reported to the membership via the director's report in the IACH newsletter. The report will be submitted by the Committee director and will contain all activities for the period from the last report to the current. Confidentiality shall be maintained in these reports.
The Ethics Committee shall meet monthly via web forum and/or phone and shall convene between monthly meetings as needed and at the discretion of the director or the President.
Procedures for Submitting Complaints
All IACH Ethics Committee correspondence, records and activities are considered confidential. The Committee will not take any action on anonymous complaints.
