The Importance of Ethics in Clinical Practice Part 1
I have written these next ten posts because of the questions clients and students have asked me over the years regarding professional ethics.
Purpose
The purpose of adhering to a strict code of ethics and professional practice based on integrity, impartiality and respect is so that the client’s (and the therapist’s) safety are maintained at all times.
Duty
Therapists engaged in the practice of Hypnotherapy and allied disciplines shall at all times conduct their professional lives with the propriety and dignity becoming a servant of the public, and pledge that they will not, under any circumstances, infringe the code of morality becoming their profession and will not commit any breach of conduct that will adversely reflect upon themselves, the National Society of Hypnosis, Psychotherapy and Mindfulness (NSHP&M), or upon their fellow practitioners
 Therapists have a duty predominantly to the client, but also to themselves, their colleagues, the organisation, the profession in general and to the wider community. They should take great care to conduct themselves with propriety and dignity as becomes any professional helper. Any legal conviction, notifiable criminal offence in a court of law or successful civil action by a client should immediately be notified to the Board of Directors of the NSHP&M.
Accommodation
All accommodation used should be appropriate for the use of therapy, such that the client’s privacy and comfort are catered for.
Client Safety
The therapist must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the client is neither psychologically nor physically harmed as a result of the therapy.
Boundaries
Therapists are required to maintain appropriate boundaries with their clients and to take care not to exploit their clients, current or past, in any way, financially, sexually or emotionally.
The therapist is responsible for setting and maintaining boundaries which do not exploit the client financially, emotionally, sexually, or in any other way. This also applies to past clients when the therapeutic relationship is finished.
