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Code of Ethics
Upholding Integrity. Embodying Compassion. Practising with Purpose.
This Code of Ethical Conduct outlines the professional standards of ethics, clinical integrity, and therapeutic practice expected of all members of the International Association of Clinical Hypnotherapists and Integrative Psychotherapists (IACHIP).
As an international professional body, IACHIP is committed to advancing safe, ethical, and inclusive mental health care. This Code serves as both a guiding framework and a foundational commitment to the public, the profession, and the clients we serve.
These standards apply to all forms of professional practice—whether delivered in person, remotely, or within individual, group, supervisory, or educational contexts. They are grounded in our shared values of respect, accountability, cultural sensitivity, and the transformative potential of ethical therapeutic relationships.
1. Client Welfare Practitioners must place the client’s welfare, dignity, and autonomy at the centre of all therapeutic work. Clients must be listened to with compassion, treated with respect, and invited into a collaborative process. The practitioner’s role is to create a safe and supportive environment where the client’s voice is heard and valued.
2. Respect and Non-Exploitation At no time shall a practitioner exploit the therapeutic relationship for personal, emotional, sexual, or financial gain. Practitioners must always act in ways that honour the trust placed in them, upholding professionalism and ethical integrity in every interaction.
3. Boundaries and Dual Relationships Clear boundaries are essential. Practitioners must avoid dual relationships that could impair objectivity or influence professional judgment. Where dual roles are unavoidable (e.g., in small communities), they must be handled with care, transparency, and supervision.
4. Working with Members of the Same Family Offering therapy to more than one family member can create ethical challenges and should only be done with thoughtful consideration. In rare and appropriate cases (e.g., shared trauma, cultural preference, limited specialist access), practitioners must ensure impartiality and consult with a supervisor or the IACHIP Ethics Committee if concerns arise. All safeguarding risks must be managed according to the IACHIP Safeguarding Policy.
5. Working with Children (Under 16) Practitioners must assess a child’s Gillick competence—their capacity to understand and consent to therapy. Decisions about parental presence should consider the child’s age, maturity, vulnerability, and preferences. Where a competent child proceeds without a parent present, this must be clearly documented, including the rationale. This protects both the child and the practitioner.
6. Working with Vulnerable Adults When working with clients who are considered vulnerable or at risk, it may be ethically and clinically appropriate to include a support person in sessions. The practitioner must always act in the best interests of the client while maintaining the boundaries of therapeutic care.
7. Use of Chaperones Practitioners must assess when a chaperone or third party may be necessary during assessment or care. Clients may request a chaperone, and practitioners have the right to recommend or require one if deemed appropriate to protect the safety and dignity of both client and therapist.
8. Sexual Relationships Sexual contact or relationships with current clients are strictly prohibited. Practitioners must also exercise ethical judgment and maintain at least a three-year boundary following the end of therapy before considering any such relationship with a former client — and only if no exploitation or residual power imbalance exists.
9. Professional Relationships with Former Clients Any social, business, supervisory, or training relationships with former clients must be approached with thoughtful reflection. These should only be considered once sufficient time has passed and only where the original therapeutic relationship is fully resolved and no risk of harm exists.
10. Gifts and Favours Practitioners must avoid accepting significant gifts, favours, or hospitality that could create a sense of obligation or compromise professional boundaries. As a general guideline, no gift should exceed the value of one standard session fee. Practitioners must be mindful of the meaning behind gifts and the potential for unintended exploitation.
11. Confidentiality
Client confidentiality is sacred and must be upheld both during and beyond the client’s lifetime. Disclosure is only permitted under legal obligation or where necessary to prevent serious harm. Confidentiality must be clearly explained to clients at the start of therapy, along with its limits.
12. Transparency and Terms of Engagement
At the outset, clients must be given clear information — ideally in writing — about session structure, duration, fees, cancellation policies, and confidentiality. This sets the foundation for mutual respect and informed consent.
13. Ending Therapy
Termination of therapy should be handled with sensitivity and care. Practitioners must plan for the end of therapy responsibly and, where possible, ensure appropriate referrals or transitional support are in place to protect the client’s well-being.
At IACHIP, we believe that every practitioner–client relationship is a sacred trust. It is in this space — held with professionalism, empathy, and clarity — that real transformation begins.1. Clinical Competence and Supervision Practitioners must work within the scope of their training, experience, and qualifications. Maintaining professional competence is an ongoing journey that includes regular clinical supervision, peer consultation, and continuing professional development (CPD). These elements are not optional — they are essential pillars of ethical and effective practice.
2. Knowing Your Limits Self-awareness is a mark of professionalism. Practitioners must acknowledge the limits of their expertise and act in the best interests of their clients by seeking guidance, pausing work if needed, or referring to a more suitable practitioner when appropriate. Seeking help is not a weakness — it is a strength rooted in care.
3. Fitness to Practise Practitioners must not engage in client work if under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any substance that could impair their judgment. Likewise, they must be mindful of their own physical or emotional well-being. When health issues arise that could compromise the quality or safety of care, practitioners are expected to pause, seek support, and return to practice only when they are fit to do so.1. Transparency of Qualifications Practitioners must represent their qualifications accurately and without embellishment. Only credentials that have been legitimately earned may be used, and practitioners should be prepared to provide verification if requested.
If using the title “Dr,” it must reflect a bona fide medical or academic qualification, and the distinction must be clearly stated — especially when the title does not denote medical licensure. Clear, honest representation protects both the public and the profession.
2. Advertising and Public Representation All promotional material, websites, and public statements must reflect the truth of the practitioner’s training, services, and scope of competence. Practitioners must avoid exaggerated claims and ensure that public communications align with the values of IACHIP and the standards of their jurisdiction. Ethical advertising is a professional responsibility — and an act of respect to those we seek to serve.
3. No Promises of Cure Practitioners must refrain from making guarantees or promises of specific outcomes or cures. Every therapeutic journey is unique, and honesty about the nature of the process honours the complexity of healing and protects the client from false hope or unrealistic expectations.1. Navigating Ethical Dilemmas When faced with an ethical uncertainty or complex decision, practitioners must seek consultation — either with a clinical supervisor or, where necessary, with the IACHIP Ethics Committee. Ethical practice is not about knowing all the answers — it’s about being willing to ask the right questions and seek wise counsel.
2. Respecting Professional Collaboration Practitioners must show respect toward fellow professionals across all disciplines. Collaborative relationships when appropriate and in the client’s best interests must be conducted with professionalism and care. We recognise that ethical therapy often works best when integrated with a broader circle of support.
3. Confidential Communication with Other Professionals When coordinating with a client’s doctor, psychiatrist, or other professionals, the practitioner must seek informed consent and act with transparency. Any disclosure of personal information must be handled with strict confidentiality, and those receiving information should be made aware of their responsibility to safeguard it. Practitioners must be mindful of their scope of practice when offering opinions or making referrals and ensure that all decisions are made with the client’s well-being as the central priority.
4. Clients Under Medical Treatment Practitioners must never advise clients to reduce or stop prescribed medical treatment. Instead, clients should be encouraged to discuss such matters directly with their Registered Medical Practitioner. Respect for medical guidance is essential to safe, ethical, and integrated care.
5. Legal and Regulatory Compliance Practitioners are expected to comply with all relevant laws and regulations, including safeguarding policies, data protection, and duty of care. Where external requests for client information are made, practitioners must seek legal or professional guidance and always act with transparency and the client’s best interests in mind.
6. Indemnity and Insurance All members must hold appropriate professional indemnity insurance to cover their therapeutic activities. This reflects a commitment to responsibility — both to the client and to the profession.-
Use of Client Information in Research and Case Work When using client information for research, teaching, or case presentations, practitioners must first obtain clear informed consent. All identifying details must be removed or anonymised, and practitioners must adhere to all relevant data protection and research ethics standards. Participation must always be voluntary, and the client’s dignity and confidentiality must be preserved at all times.
2. Record-Keeping Standards Practitioners are required to maintain accurate, respectful, and secure records of therapy sessions. Records should be legible, objective, and timely, and stored in accordance with current data protection regulations. Notes should reflect the professional responsibility to track progress, safeguard client welfare, and protect practitioner accountability — never as surveillance, but as stewardship.
3. Disclosure to External Authorities In circumstances where disclosure of client information is legally mandated — such as safeguarding concerns or court orders — practitioners must seek professional or legal guidance before taking action. Wherever possible, clients should be informed of the need to disclose and given the opportunity to consent. Even in required disclosures, the practitioner’s role is to honour the principle of minimum necessary disclosure, always prioritising safety, ethics, and trust.
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1.Commitment to Equal Respect Practitioners must not allow personal bias — conscious or unconscious — to influence the quality of care they provide. This includes, but is not limited to, bias related to age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, culture, religion, political belief, ability, or socio-economic status. IACHIP members are expected to create environments that reflect inclusivity, cultural humility, and emotional safetyfor all clients — especially those from historically marginalised or underserved communities.
2. Preventing Harassment and Safeguarding Clients Practitioners must avoid any behaviour that could be perceived as harassing, discriminatory, coercive, or exploitative. This includes both verbal and non-verbal conduct in therapy and in all professional spaces. Special care must be taken when working with children, vulnerable adults, and those at risk, in full compliance with IACHIP’s Safeguarding Policy and any applicable local laws. The practitioner’s role is one of protection, not power — and the client’s welfare must always come first.1. Participation in Complaints and Disciplinary Procedures Practitioners must fully cooperate with any IACHIP complaint or disciplinary investigation, including the honest disclosure of past or current legal, regulatory, or ethical concerns. Integrity includes a willingness to be accountable, even under scrutiny.
2. Transparency Around Complaints and Restrictions Practitioners are required to disclose any complaint, disciplinary action, suspension, or practice restriction issued by another professional body, employer, or regulatory organisation. This applies equally to practitioners holding joint memberships with other associations. Any upheld complaints or sanctions must be reported to IACHIP promptly and transparently — including when joining as a new member if such matters are ongoing or unresolved.
3. Responsibility to Report Risk to Clients or the Profession If a practitioner becomes aware of a colleague’s behaviour that could place clients, the public, or the profession at risk, they are ethically obliged to act. This includes raising the matter in accordance with IACHIP’s Complaints Procedure, or seeking support from a supervisor or the Ethics Committee. Protecting the public and preserving the integrity of our profession is a shared responsibility.
4. Disclosure of Criminal Convictions Practitioners must inform IACHIP of any criminal conviction, police caution, or conditional discharge. Full transparency is required to ensure client safety, legal compliance, and professional credibility.
5. Ethical Affiliations IACHIP members are expected to maintain ethical affiliations. Practitioners must not align themselves with organisations or practices known to engage in harmful, misleading, or fraudulent activities, as such associations may compromise public trust and professional standing.
6. Upholding Professional Conduct Practitioners are expected to represent IACHIP and the wider therapeutic profession with integrity, dignity, and care — both in professional spaces and in public life. We believe that how we conduct ourselves beyond the therapy room also shapes the reputation of our work.
7. Protecting Public Confidence Therapy must never be portrayed as entertainment or performance. IACHIP members must refrain from engaging in activities — such as stage hypnosis or sensationalised public displays — that trivialise or misrepresent the seriousness and depth of clinical work. Such conduct undermines the profession and may lead to disciplinary review.
8. Agreement to Ethical Standards All members are required to sign and uphold this Code of Ethical Conduct. It represents the shared values and professional standards that bind us together — and sets the tone for the therapeutic community we are proud to build.Practitioner refers to any individual affiliated with IACHIP, including those in clinical roles, private practice, education, supervision, training, or any capacity connected to the work of the Association.
Client refers to any individual, couple, family, or group engaging with a practitioner for therapeutic, educational, consultative, or facilitated services.
Where concerns arise regarding the conduct of a member, this Code will guide the implementation of IACHIP’s Complaints and Review Procedure—a process designed to be transparent, fair, and respectful to all parties.
In cases of substantiated breaches, IACHIP reserves the right to take appropriate action under our Disciplinary and Disqualification Procedures, which may include the suspension or permanent removal of membership.