Find Hypnotherapy Code of Ethics and Public Standards

1. Purpose of this Code

Find Hypnotherapy is an online directory designed to help members of the public find qualified and insured practitioners who offer hypnotherapy, clinical hypnotherapy, and human-led transformation techniques.

This Code explains:

• what the public can reasonably expect from listed practitioners;
• what practitioners must agree to when joining the directory;
• where responsibility lies if a client has a negative experience;
• how complaints may be raised and reviewed;
• the difference between hypnotherapy and clinical hypnotherapy;
• the role and limits of Find Hypnotherapy as a directory.

Find Hypnotherapy supports ethical, transparent and responsible practice.

However, Find Hypnotherapy does not provide therapy, medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, supervision of individual client sessions, or emergency support.

The directory does have access for professionals to access continuing professional development as part of its commitment to excellence, however this is not mandated as part of access to the directory.

2. The role of Find Hypnotherapy

Find Hypnotherapy acts as a directory, facilitator and information platform.

Our role is to gather and display practitioner information so that members of the public can make informed choices about who they may wish to contact.

Find Hypnotherapy may collect basic enquiry information from a member of the public for the purpose of helping connect them with a suitable listed practitioner. Any personal data will be collected and handled in line with UK data protection principles, including using personal data only where there is a lawful basis and limiting collection to what is necessary for the stated purpose.

Find Hypnotherapy is not responsible for the therapeutic relationship between the client and practitioner. Once a client chooses to contact, book with, or work with a practitioner, the professional service is provided by that practitioner, not by Find Hypnotherapy.

3. Where responsibility lies

3.1 Find Hypnotherapy is responsible for:

• setting reasonable listing standards;
• asking practitioners to confirm their qualifications, insurance and professional information;
• providing this Code of Ethics to practitioners and the public;
• reviewing serious complaints where there is evidence of gross misconduct or a serious breach of this Code;
• removing or suspending listings where Find Hypnotherapy considers this necessary to protect the public, the integrity of the directory, or the reputation of the project.

3.2 Practitioners are responsible for:

• the services they offer;
• the accuracy of their profile and marketing information;
• working within their training, competence and scope of practice;
• complying with the laws, licensing rules and professional expectations that apply where they practise and where their client is located;
• holding suitable professional indemnity and public liability insurance;
• obtaining informed consent from clients;
• providing their own terms, privacy notice, cancellation policy, complaints policy and safeguarding procedures where appropriate;
• keeping suitable records;
• referring clients to medical, psychological, safeguarding or emergency services where needed.

Professional standards in this sector commonly require practitioners to work within their knowledge, skills, training and experience.

3.3 Clients are responsible for:

• choosing the practitioner they feel is suitable for them;
• asking questions before booking;
• checking qualifications, insurance, membership and experience where this matters to them;
• giving accurate and relevant information to the practitioner;
• telling the practitioner about medical, mental health, medication, trauma, safeguarding or other relevant concerns;
• deciding whether to continue, pause or stop working with a practitioner;
• seeking medical, psychological, legal or emergency help where appropriate.

4. Important public statement

Hypnotherapy and transformation techniques are not a substitute for medical care, mental health crisis support, psychiatric care, legal advice, financial advice or emergency services.

Practitioners must not claim to diagnose, cure, treat or guarantee recovery from medical or psychological conditions unless they are legally qualified, professionally authorised and appropriately insured to do so.

Marketing claims for hypnotherapy must be responsible, evidence-based and not misleading. ASA/CAP guidance for hypnotherapy states that marketers should not make efficacy claims without suitable evidence and should not discourage essential treatment for conditions requiring medical supervision.

Any claims made by practitioners are made in good faith and the directory is not responsible for any claims that are false or misleading, however where a concern is raised and upheld in line with the ASA CAP Code of Conduct, listings will be removed and if appropriate the practitioner suspended from advertising on the directory.

5. Hypnotherapy and clinical hypnotherapy

5.1 Hypnotherapy

For the purposes of Find Hypnotherapy, hypnotherapy means the use of hypnosis, suggestion, relaxation, focused attention, guided imagery, behavioural techniques, coaching-style approaches or related methods to support personal change.

Hypnotherapy may be used for general wellbeing, confidence, relaxation, habit change, personal development, performance, stress management and similar non-diagnostic aims, provided the practitioner is trained, insured and working within scope.

A practitioner offering hypnotherapy must not present themselves as treating medical or mental health conditions unless they are appropriately trained, insured and legally able to do so.

5.2 Clinical hypnotherapy

For the purposes of Find Hypnotherapy, clinical hypnotherapy means hypnotherapy used in a more health-related, therapeutic or clinically informed context.

Clinical hypnotherapy may involve clients who present with more complex issues, including anxiety, trauma history, pain, diagnosed conditions, medical treatment, medication use, eating concerns, phobias, or other psychological or physical health factors.

Any practitioner working with the types of conditions above must have an appropriate qualification or experience in that field. Using the title or description clinical hypnotherapist must be able to show suitable training, competence, insurance and scope awareness for the work they offer.

Clinical hypnotherapy does not automatically mean the practitioner is a doctor, psychologist, psychotherapist, counsellor, nurse or regulated healthcare professional. Practitioners must not use titles, wording or marketing that could mislead the public about their legal status, qualifications or professional authority.

6. Practitioner Code of Conduct

All practitioners listed on Find Hypnotherapy agree to the following standards.

6.1 Work within scope

Practitioners must only offer services they are trained, competent and insured to provide.

They must not work with issues beyond their competence. Where a client's needs fall outside their scope, the practitioner must signpost or refer the client to a suitably qualified professional or emergency service.

Practitioners must take particular care with:

• trauma;
• eating disorders;
• self-harm or suicidal thoughts;
• psychosis, dissociation or severe mental illness;
• addiction;
• abuse, coercion or safeguarding concerns;
• children and vulnerable adults;
• serious medical conditions;
• pain or unexplained physical symptoms;
• pregnancy-related issues;
• medication changes.

Practitioners must not advise clients to stop, start or change prescribed medication unless they are legally qualified to do so.

6.2 Comply with local law

Practitioners must comply with all laws, licensing rules and professional requirements that apply where they live, where they practise, and where their clients are based.

Some countries, states or regions may restrict the use of hypnosis, therapy titles, mental health services, coaching, counselling, telehealth or work with children and vulnerable adults. It is the practitioner's responsibility to understand and follow those requirements.

Find Hypnotherapy is governed by UK law as a directory, but a practitioner outside the UK must also comply with their own local rules.

6.3 Be honest about qualifications and experience

Practitioners must give accurate information about their:

• qualifications;
• training;
• professional memberships;
• insurance;
• experience;
• areas of practice;
• client groups;
• limitations;
• professional status.

They must not exaggerate credentials, imply statutory regulation where none exists, or use protected professional titles unless legally entitled to do so.

6.4 Use clear and fair contracts

Before work begins, practitioners should explain clearly:

• what service is being offered;
• fees and payment terms;
• cancellation terms;
• session length and format;
• limits of confidentiality;
• record keeping;
• complaints process;
• expected client participation;
• any relevant risks or limitations;
• whether the work is coaching, hypnotherapy, clinical hypnotherapy, supervision, mentoring, training or another service.

Terms must be fair, transparent and not designed to pressure, confuse or exploit clients.

All practitioners should give their terms and conditions as part of the client onboarding process and have a clear entry and exit process, covered by a formal contract, which lays out clearly their working agreement.

6.5 Gain informed consent

Practitioners must obtain informed consent before starting work.

Clients should understand what the practitioner is offering, what the process may involve, what the limits are, and that outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Where guarantees are made these should be clearly defined within the working agreement.

Consent should be ongoing. Clients have the right to ask questions, pause, decline an exercise, or end the session.

6.6 Maintain professional boundaries

Practitioners must maintain clear, respectful and appropriate boundaries.

They must not exploit clients emotionally, financially, sexually, spiritually, socially or professionally.

Practitioners must not create dependency, use fear-based pressure, make unrealistic promises, or suggest that only they can help the client.

6.7 Protect confidentiality

Practitioners must respect client confidentiality, subject to legal and safeguarding limits.

They should explain when confidentiality may need to be broken, such as where there is a serious risk of harm to the client or another person, a safeguarding concern, a court order, terrorism concern, or another legal obligation.

6.8 Keep suitable records

Practitioners should keep appropriate, accurate and secure records of their client work.

Records should be proportionate to the service offered and handled in line with applicable data protection law.

6.9 Market services responsibly

Practitioners must ensure their profile, website, social media and advertising are honest, responsible and not misleading.

Practitioners must not:

• guarantee results, unless the terms of the guarantee are given;
• claim to cure conditions;
• use fake testimonials;
• make unsupported health claims;
• imply medical status they do not hold;
• pressure vulnerable people into booking;
• discourage medical treatment;
• claim success rates they cannot evidence;
• use fear, shame or urgency to sell services.

6.10 Safeguarding

Practitioners must take reasonable steps to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Practitioners working with children, young people or vulnerable adults must have suitable training, consent procedures, safeguarding awareness and any checks required by law or good practice.

Where a practitioner believes someone is at risk of serious harm, they should act appropriately and promptly.

6.11 Equality, diversity and respect

Practitioners must treat clients with dignity and respect.

They must not unlawfully discriminate or act unfairly because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, class, neurodivergence or other personal characteristics.

6.12 Supervision, support and professional development

Find Hypnotherapy is supported by an Accredited Clinical Hypnotherapy Supervisor.

Listed practitioners have access to supervisor support and a practitioner support community for guidance, reflection and general professional support.

However, each practitioner remains personally responsible for their own professional development, competence, supervision arrangements, insurance, ethical decisions and client work.

Access to support through Find Hypnotherapy does not make Find Hypnotherapy responsible for the practitioner's individual client outcomes or professional decisions.

7. Client responsibilities and useful questions to ask

Choosing a practitioner is a personal decision. Find Hypnotherapy encourages members of the public to ask questions before booking.

Useful questions include:

• What qualifications do you hold in hypnotherapy or clinical hypnotherapy?
• Are you insured for the work you offer?
• Are you a member of any professional body or voluntary register?
• Do you have experience with my issue?
• Is my issue within your scope of practice?
• What happens if you feel I need medical, psychological or specialist support?
• What are your fees, cancellation terms and refund policy?
• How many sessions might be involved, and are outcomes guaranteed?
• How do you protect confidentiality?
• What records do you keep and how long do you keep them?
• What is your complaints process?
• Do you work online, in person, or both?
• Are there any reasons hypnotherapy may not be suitable for me?
• Do you work with trauma, medical conditions, children or vulnerable adults?
• What should I do if I feel uncomfortable during a session?

Clients should not feel pressured to book immediately. A responsible practitioner should welcome reasonable questions.

8. Complaints process

Find Hypnotherapy is a directory and not the provider of the therapy service.

Because of this, most complaints must first be raised directly with the practitioner.

8.1 Step one: raise the concern with the practitioner

If a client has a concern about a session, payment, communication, cancellation, outcome, professional conduct or service quality, they should first raise the matter with the practitioner using the practitioner's own complaints process.

The practitioner is responsible for responding to complaints about their own service.

All communications should be written down to ensure transparency by both parties.

8.2 Step two: use the practitioner's professional body or insurer where appropriate

Where the practitioner belongs to a professional body, voluntary register or accrediting organisation, the client may also be able to complain to that organisation.

Examples may include CNHC, GHR, APHP, NCH, the National Hypnotherapy Society or another relevant body, depending on the practitioner's memberships.

Many professional registers require members to agree to a code of conduct or complaints procedure. CNHC, for example, states that registrants must agree to be bound by its Code of Conduct, Ethics and Performance before joining the register.

8.3 Step three: when Find Hypnotherapy may review a complaint

Find Hypnotherapy may review a complaint where there is evidence suggesting:

• gross misconduct;
• serious breach of this Code;
• false or misleading profile information;
• practising without declared insurance;
• unsafe practice;
• serious boundary breach;
• safeguarding concern;
• unlawful discrimination;
• harassment, abuse or exploitation;
• serious breach of confidentiality;
• repeated unresolved complaints;
• evidence that the practitioner is working outside scope;
• evidence of misleading claims or guaranteed outcomes;
• evidence that the practitioner has breached their own contract or published terms in a serious way.

Find Hypnotherapy will usually expect the client to show that they have first raised the matter with the practitioner, unless there is a serious safety, safeguarding or legal reason not to do so.

8.4 Evidence needed

Find Hypnotherapy can only review complaints based on available evidence.

Evidence may include:

• written communications;
• booking terms;
• receipts or invoices;
• screenshots;
• the practitioner's published profile or website claims;
• the practitioner's response to the complaint;
• relevant professional body findings;
• relevant legal, safeguarding or regulatory information.

Find Hypnotherapy cannot decide clinical disputes, diagnose harm, award compensation, provide legal findings, or act as a court, regulator, insurer or ombudsman.

8.5 Possible outcomes

After reviewing a serious complaint, Find Hypnotherapy may decide to:

• take no further action;
• ask the practitioner to update their profile;
• ask the practitioner to correct misleading information;
• require evidence of insurance, qualification or membership;
• issue a warning;
• temporarily suspend the listing;
• permanently remove the listing;
• refer the complainant to another organisation;
• report or encourage reporting to a relevant authority where there is a serious safeguarding or legal concern.

Find Hypnotherapy may remove a practitioner from the directory at its discretion where it believes this is necessary to protect the public, maintain trust, or uphold the standards of the directory.

8.6 What Find Hypnotherapy does not handle

Find Hypnotherapy does not usually handle:

• dissatisfaction with results where no ethical breach is evidenced;
• personality clashes;
• refund disputes;
• minor communication issues;
• complaints that have not first been raised with the practitioner;
• claims that require legal, medical or psychological investigation;
• disputes about whether therapy “worked”;
• compensation claims;
• complaints about practitioners who are not listed on the directory.

9. Removal from the directory

Find Hypnotherapy may remove or suspend a practitioner where:

• they no longer meet listing standards;
• they fail to provide requested evidence;
• they provide false or misleading information;
• they act outside the spirit of this Code;
• their conduct may bring the directory into disrepute;
• there is a serious concern about public safety;
• they fail to maintain suitable insurance;
• they fail to comply with applicable law or professional standards;
• they refuse to cooperate with a reasonable review.

Removal from Find Hypnotherapy does not necessarily mean a legal finding has been made. It means the practitioner no longer meets the directory's standards for listing.

Find Hypnotherapy reserves the right to remove any practitioner from the register without notice. Where subscriptions have been made, Find Hypnotherapy reserves the right to withhold one full month of subscriptions to cover administrative costs.

10. Limits of hypnotherapy and transformation work

Practitioners must make clear that hypnotherapy and human-led transformation techniques are collaborative processes.

Clients should understand that:

• no outcome is guaranteed;
• results vary from person to person;
• the client remains responsible for their own choices and actions;
• hypnotherapy is not mind control;
• a practitioner should not make decisions for the client;
• a practitioner should not replace medical, psychological or emergency support where that is needed.

11. Public safety and emergency support

Find Hypnotherapy is not an emergency service.

Anyone in immediate danger, at risk of harming themselves or someone else, or experiencing a mental health crisis should contact emergency services or an appropriate crisis support service in their country.

Practitioners must not attempt to manage emergencies beyond their competence.

12. Summary of expectations

Find Hypnotherapy expects practitioners to be:

• qualified;
• insured;
• honest;
• transparent;
• respectful;
• trauma-aware;
• scope-aware;
• legally compliant;
• responsible with claims;
• clear about fees and terms;
• careful with confidentiality;
• committed to client welfare;
• willing to refer where needed;
• accountable for their own work.

Find Hypnotherapy expects clients to:

• ask questions before booking;
• choose carefully;
• share relevant information honestly;
• understand that outcomes are not guaranteed;
• raise concerns directly with the practitioner first where appropriate;
• seek medical, legal, psychological or emergency support where needed.

13. General Statement

Find Hypnotherapy exists to help the public find qualified and insured hypnotherapy and transformation practitioners.

We are a directory, not a therapy provider. This means we help connect you with practitioners, but your therapy, coaching or transformation work is provided by the individual practitioner you choose.

All listed practitioners are expected to work within their training, competence, insurance and local legal requirements. They must be honest about their qualifications, clear about their fees and terms, respectful of confidentiality, and responsible in the claims they make.

Find Hypnotherapy is supported by an Accredited Clinical Hypnotherapy Supervisor, and practitioners have access to professional support and a practitioner community. However, each practitioner remains responsible for their own client work, professional development and ethical decisions.

If you have a concern, you should usually raise it with the practitioner first using their complaints process. Find Hypnotherapy will only review serious complaints where there is evidence of gross misconduct, unsafe practice, misleading information, or a serious breach of our Code of Ethics.

14. Our practitioner declaration

By joining Find Hypnotherapy, all practitioners confirm that:

• The information provided for their profile is true, accurate and not misleading.
• They hold appropriate training and qualifications for the services they offer.
• They hold suitable professional insurance.
• They work within scope of practice, competence and local legal requirements.
• They will not make guaranteed, exaggerated, misleading or unsupported claims.
• They will not diagnose, treat or advise on medical or mental health conditions unless legally and professionally qualified to do so.
• They will use clear terms, informed consent and appropriate confidentiality procedures.
• They will maintain professional boundaries and act in the best interests of client welfare.
• They will refer or signpost clients where needs fall outside of scope.
• They will cooperate with Find Hypnotherapy if a serious complaint or listing concern is raised.
• They understand that Find Hypnotherapy may suspend or remove their listing if they breach this Code or no longer meet the directory's standards.

Find Hypnotherapy Code of Conduct and Ethics — V1.0 Last Updated May 2026