The Importance of Ethics in Clinical Practice Part 9
Contact with other Professional Bodies
Therapists need to consider the client’s best interests when making appropriate contact with the client’s General Practitioner, relevant psychiatric services or other relevant professional with the client’s knowledge and consent.  In seeking advice, as appropriate, and perhaps declining to treat and/or referring, therapists show an awareness of their own limitations while acting in the best interests of those seeking their help.
The client’s permission should always be requested. Failure to grant permission may result in the therapist needing to ask themselves if they should decline to treat and/or refer the client on. Therapists need to be aware of their own limitations.
Insurance
Therapists are required to ensure that their professional work is adequately covered by appropriate indemnity insurance. All members of the NSHP&M are required, as a condition of membership, to have adequate insurance cover.  Whilst this might seem a simple formality to some, the reality is that both client and therapist need to feel safe within the therapeutic relationship. Unfortunately it is a sign of the times, that litigation is a reality and that it is best for all concerned that the safety net of insurance is in play for therapists. It should be noted that lawsuits against psychotherapists in general and hypno-psychotherapists specifically are very rare indeed.
