As a practising member of the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR), I abide to undertake the following code of ethics with each client:

DELIVERY OF SERVICE

All practitioners shall undertake to:

1. Provide service to clients solely in those areas in which they are competent to do so and for which they carry relevant professional indemnity insurance. Competency means adequate training, skills and experience but need not exclude treating a client for a condition which the practitioner has not treated before, provided that due diligence and professionalism is observed.
2. Act in a non-biased, non-prejudicial manner towards all clients, providing those clients with an identical quality of service and treatment irrespective of the many differences which are to be found between clients, including but not restricted to: race, gender, sexual orientation, disability etc.
3. Disclose full details of all relevant memberships, training, experience, qualifications and appropriate avenues of complaint to clients upon request and only use those qualifications and memberships to which they have proof of entitlement.
4. Explain fully to clients in advance of any treatment: the fee levels, precise terms of payment and any charges which might be imposed for non-attendance or cancelled appointments, and wherever relevant, confidentiality issues. In advance of any treatment means that not only should terms and conditions be set out in advance, but that they should be further clarified by the therapist at the initial consultation when additional information about the client's needs is obtained. If for therapeutic reasons, the therapist wishes to modify treatment (e.g. to extend the treatment plan) then any effect this has on terms, conditions and pricing must be clearly explained to the client.
5. Present all services and products in an unambiguous manner (to include any limitations and realistic outcomes of treatment) and ensure that the client retains complete control over the decision to purchase such services or products. N.B. Guarantees of either a cure or a successful resolution of the problem/s presented shall not be offered.

CLIENT WELFARE

All practitioners shall undertake to:

1. Work in ways that will promote client autonomy and well-being and that maintain respect and dignity for the client.
2. Remain aware of their own limitations and wherever appropriate, be prepared to refer a client to another practitioner (regardless of discipline) who might be expected to offer suitable treatment. N.B. Practitioners should give full consideration to the efficacy of treatment, including the manner in which their rapport with the client may affect such efficacy. The practitioner has the right to refuse or terminate any treatment if it is a reasonable belief that it will not be, or continue to be, efficacious. In refusing or terminating treatment due care must be given to fully explaining the rationale for refusal or termination to the client.
3. Ensure that wherever a client is seeking assistance for the relief of physical symptoms, that unless already having done so, the client be advised to contact a registered medical practitioner. N.B. Practitioners should not attempt to diagnose physical symptoms unless they have undergone relevant medical training in diagnostics.
4. Confirm that they will never knowingly offer advice to a client which either conflicts with or is contrary to that given by the client's registered medical advisor/s. N.B. If the therapist has doubts or concerns with regard to a client's prescribed medication, they should, always with their client's permission, contact the medical advisor personally.
5. Use due care and diligence to avoid the implantation of false memories in the client and, ensure that the client is aware that experiences while in a suggestible state are not necessarily correlated with, or to be taken as, real and valid memories of the client's past. 
6. Ensure that their workplace and all facilities offered to both clients and their companions will be in every respect suitable and appropriate for the service provided. These shall include any consulting room used for the purpose of consultation and/or conducting therapy with any client, along with any reception or waiting areas associated with such rooms. 
7. Take all reasonable care to ensure the safety of the client and any person who may be accompanying them 
8. Refrain from using their position of trust or confidence to: a) cross the commonly understood professional boundaries appropriate to the therapist/client relationship or exploit the client emotionally, sexually, financially, or in any other way whatsoever. Should either a sexual relationship, or a financial relationship other than for the payment of relevant products or services, or other inappropriate relationship develop between either therapist and client or members of their respective immediate families, the therapist must immediately cease to accept fees, terminate treatment consistent with Clause 15 below and refer the client to another suitable therapist at the very earliest opportunity. N.B. Clarification on dilemmas experienced by therapists in respect of the foregoing should be sought from their respective professional body. b) touch the client in any way that may be open to misinterpretation. N.B. Before employing tactile induction or deepening techniques, both an explanation should be given and permission received.
9. Not accept any inappropriate gifts, gratuities or favours from a client. 
10. Never protract treatment unnecessarily and to terminate treatment at the earliest moment consistent with the good care of the client.
11. Maintain strict confidentiality within the client/therapist relationship, always provided that such confidentiality is neither inconsistent with the therapist's own safety or that of the client, the client's family members or other members of the public nor in contravention of any legal action (i.e. criminal, coroner or civil court cases where a court order is made demanding disclosure) or legal requirement (e.g. Children's Acts). N.B. Where the practitioner is working as part of a larger team, for example within an institution or through a multidisciplinary or similar clinical approach, or where the client has been referred by a medical advisor or agency with conditions placed on the referral as to shared disclosure by the practitioner to the advisor or agency, then provided that it is clear that the client consents, confidential information may be shared by the practitioner with the team or referring advisor or agency.
12. Ensure that client notes and records be kept secure and confidential and that the use of both manual and computer records remains within the terms of the Data Protection Act. N.B. Manual records should always be locked away when not in use and those held on computer should be password coded. The therapist should provide, in advance, arrangements for the secure disposal of all client records in case of their permanent incapacity or death. Recognise that the maintenance of case note should include personal details, history, diagnosis and/or identification of problem areas; programme of sessions as agreed between therapist and client (if any), session progress notes and a copy of any contract.
13. Obtain written permission from the client (or if appropriate the client's parent/s or legal guardian/s) before either recording client sessions, discussing undisguised cases with any person whatsoever, or publishing cases (whether disguised or not) via any medium. Recording in this context means any method other than the usual taking of written case notes. Undisguised in this context means cases in which material has not been sufficiently altered in order to offer reasonable anonymity to all relevant parties. With particular reference to the use of CCTV equipment, all clients must be fully informed when such equipment is in operation and as above, written permission must be obtained prior to the commencement of any client session. Advise the client that disguised case studies may sometimes be utilised for the purposes of either their own supervision or the supervision and/or training of other therapists and refrain from using such material should the respective client indicate that it should not be used for these purposes.