- An Analytical Review of the Evidence Base for the Benefits of Hypnotherapy
Dear Members;
We’re writing to update you on our Hypnotherapy Helps- Fair Say for Hypnotherapists campaign.The Society is today publishing a substantial research paper which is a preliminary analysis of the evidence for the benefits of hypnotherapy, drawn from a wide number of sources.
The paper is entitled “An analytical review of the evidence base for the benefits of hypnotherapy.”
We have drawn on a range of evidence from peer-reviewed journals to case studies and from double blind trials to anecdotal evidence.The landscape for hypnotherapy research looks promising, and what is emerging is a picture where:
- There is good evidence that hypnotherapy helps in areas beyond those currently explicitly recognised by the Advertising Standards Authority
- There are some interesting gaps in high level clinical research which the Society will be working to fill – for example, phobias.
Our Action Plan is as follows:
- We’ll submit this document and other evidence to the Professional Standards Authority as part of our fulfilment of Standard 1b – proving the benefits of hypnotherapy and helping to secure the profession’s long term future
- We will be writing to the relevant authorities to pursue a revision of their guidance where relevant
- We will be issuing new guidance to members on advertising
- We’ll look to establish clinical trials in areas that need more data
- We’ll add more relevant research on hypnotherapy to our database and inform our members as and when we find it
- We’ll launch a PR campaign promoting the benefits of hypnotherapy to stakeholders and the public.
Click below to read the full document:
An Analytical Review of the Evidence Base for the Benefits of Hypnotherapy
- Our Accredited Register status (September 2021)
The National Hypnotherapy Society has been successfully re-accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
However, the Authority has sought to impose 3 linked conditions on the National Hypnotherapy Society relating to member advertising. Simply put these conditions require the National Hypnotherapy Society to:
- Publish an interim statement about how hypnotherapists can advertise their services on our website. This has been actioned and the link can be seen here:
- Publish a policy for our registrants regarding our position on how they should advertise their services.
- Provide in 12 months’ time evidence of how we monitor and police member advertising, for example member compliance rates to our audit processes regarding advertising.
We reviewed these conditions in depth and for the first time, the National Hypnotherapy Society has decided to lodge an appeal against the conditions. The Authority has accepted the Appeal and we hope to hear an outcome within 2 months.
Our reasons for lodging the appeal are based upon several issues. The Society did not think the Authority had taken into account the large amount of work and resources already spent on the issue of member advertising including auditing, and we believe that we now comply fully with ASA guidelines. We believe that the first conditions should be amalgamated and seen as fulfilled, and the third condition downgraded to a learning point. We were particularly concerned with the length of time conditions can be in place and wished to discharge any accepted conditions sooner.
We have confidence in the Authority’s appeals process and will respond to that in due course.
- Coronavirus COVID-19 - Guidance for Members
Updated Guidelines (updated September 2021)
Across the UK there have been updates to restrictions, which include guidance around working so please do take the time to look at the updates that are applicable to you.
You may make individual decisions to work in the room with a client if you do it is important to ensure the necessary precautions and risk mitigation measures are implemented.
Please read the section on 'Face to Face Hypnotherapy - Updated Guidance' section further down the page if you would like further support and guidance on offering in-the-room therapy.
Northern Ireland - many coronavirus restrictions have eased but regulations and guidance remain in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
- Working face to face is possible under the guidelines where it is necessary for work and precautions are implemented.
- people are advised to continue working from home where possible
- face coverings remain mandatory within indoor public settings, hospitality and on public transport
- workplaces not required to close can continue to operate but must follow social distancing and workplace safety guidance
- The government is no longer instructing people to work from home if they can.
- The requirement to wear face coverings in law has been lifted. However, the government expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas such as public transport.
- You do not need to stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with. There are also no limits on the number of people you can meet. However, you should limit the close contact you have with those you do not usually live with, and increase close contact gradually. This includes minimising the number, proximity and duration of social contacts. You should meet outdoors where possible and let fresh air into homes or other enclosed spaces.
- people will continue to be advised to work from home 'where possible'
- face coverings are compulsory on public transport and inside places like shops
- travel restrictions will continue
- providing face to face services remains possible, though businesses and individuals should continue to implement any necessary precautions.
- remove legal restrictions on the number of people who can meet indoors, including in private homes, public places or at events.
- all businesses and premises can open.
- people should still work from home wherever possible.
- face coverings will remain a legal requirement indoors, with the exception of hospitality premises. This will be kept under review.
You can find further information here:
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/ar...
England has moved to step 4 this means that most legal restrictions have been lifted.
You can find further information here:
Coronavirus: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Scotland has moved out of the COVID-19 levels system, and is now beyond Level 0. Advice is that everyone should continue to act carefully and remain cautious.
You can find further information here:
https://www.gov.scot/coronavir...
Wales is now at alert level 0.
You can find further information here:
We have previously shared The Department of Health and Social Care's (DHSC) guidance in relation to the Covid-19 guidance and regulations for England. They updated the guide on 16 August. Personal care services provided for medical and health treatment may continue. The guidance on safer working in Close Contact Services should be followed:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wo...
National Lockdown/Tier 4
The UK Government advises that we work from home where possible. This remains the case when in a Tiered system, as well as during a National Lockdown.
The Society's advice to members is to continue to offer services remotely where it is possible to do so.
Members may make individual decisions to work in the room with a client if it is not possible to work remotely due to a risk to the client.
Point 47 on page 32 of the Health Protection Regulations 2020, under businesses permitted to remain open, lists services relating to mental health.
This is reiterated by the Government's advice that support that is essential to deliver in person, where formally organised to provide therapy, can be allowed to continue. This includes support to victims of crime, people in drug and alcohol recovery, new parents and guardians, people with long-term illnesses, people facing issues relating to their sexuality or gender, and those who have suffered bereavement.
Please read the section on Face to Face Hypnotherapy - Updated Guidance if you decide to offer in-the-room therapy.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has provided some guidance in relation to the new Covid-19 guidance and regulations for England which was published on the 4th of January:
- Personal care services provided for medical and health treatment may continue. The guidance on safer working in Close Contact Services should be followed:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/close-contact-services
- Where applicable, practitioners should also take into account any guidance issued by the healthcare regulators or a relevant professional body.
- The Government cannot provide comments on individual cases of whether or not a business is permitted to open. It is for each business to assess whether they are a business required to close having considered the Regulations and guidance on business closures:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home
Face to Face Hypnotherapy - Updated Guidance
Members may make individual decisions to work face to face if they consider that it is not possible to work remotely with a client. Decisions should take into account:
- The heath risk factors for yourself and your client, especially those connected with age, pre-existing health conditions, and so on.
- Your ability to create and maintain an appropriately socially distanced and hygienic space for face to face client work.
- The risks to yourself and your client in travelling to and from your clinic space.
- Your ability to understand whether you and your client should instead self-isolate, for example, if either of you or anyone living with you has developed potential symptoms of COVID-19.
- That you continue to be aware of Government guidelines and are up to date with them.
- That alternative ways of conducting your client sessions, or postponing their sessions, are not possible or detrimental to your client's wellbeing and welfare.
Taking into account the above, it is your responsibility to make an informed decision regarding face to face practice at this time. The Society recommends raising concerns with your supervisor as well as engaging with your clients as much as possible regarding this issue.
Best Practice for Face to Face Hypnotherapy
If you do need to return to working face to face, we recommend following the guidelines below, and taking all possible steps to limit the risk of exposure for both you and your client.
- When seeing clients face to face, ensure that both you and your client practice appropriate hygiene procedures before and after meeting, including hand sanitisation.
- Maintain a good distance of at least two metres from your client.
- Refrain from shaking hands and ensure you have explained to your client why this protocol is being followed.
- Refrain from other physical contact, for example, hugging a client.
- If possible, where providing tissues do not use one central box of tissues. Pre-divide tissues into portions so that different clients do not touch the same tissue boxes. Alternatively, advise clients to bring their own tissues.
- Remember to clean surfaces: phones, laptops, door handles etc, regularly.
Other things to keep in mind:- Be prepared in case of evolving Government advice to cancel face to face counselling again for a temporary period. It is best to communicate with all clients and inform them that their sessions could be liable to postponement or disruption on a temporary basis. Where possible, offer to clients the option of continuing sessions by phone or video conferencing.
- Be aware of your clients' increased levels of stress and anxiety, and take extra self-care during the current public health crisis. If you feel overwhelmed, seek supervisor and peer support.
- Communicate with the Society when you need to and we will try to help as much as we can.
- Inform clients that future sessions will be postponed if they are advised medically to self-isolate, or if they have any symptoms of a cold, cough, respiratory issues or a raised temperature.
- Inform clients that if you are diagnosed with coronavirus the NHS will require that you divulge a list of people you have come in contact with. In such circumstances you will inform the NHS of your contact with your client.
- Make sure you are prepared to communicate with clients in the event that you must self-isolate or fall ill. Rearrange appointments if you have any relevant medical symptoms.
This advice is superseded at all times by Government advice and the law and is subject to change at short notice.
For further Government advice please click here.
For further NHS advice please click here.Updated During Current Lockdown Period.
Localised Restrictions & Tiers
When Localised Restrictions and a Tiered approach are in force, the following are examples of ethical practice; however, in all cases our advice is superseded by the Government at all times.
Covid Alert Levels
Tier 1: Medium - It is ok to practice in-the-room provided that you adhere to the social distancing rules, and ensure that the room and surrounding areas (if relevant) are Covid-secure including hand sanitiser, wipes/spray etc. Nonetheless, we recommend continuing to work online where possible.
Tier 2: High - This tier involves a ban on the mixing of households indoors, so we would advise using online in every case, working face-to-face only when entirely unavoidable, and maintaining the social distancing rules and a Covid-secure environment.
Tier 3: Very High - Local Government will decide whether close contact services are allowed to remain open, however this tier asks people to avoid non-essential travel. We recommend ensuring all work is online only, and we would ask you to take advice from local authority if you feel a client is at risk from discontinuation of in-the-room work.For Tier 4 please see the National Lockdown/Tier 4 section above.
Close Contact Services & Face Masks
The Government has updated its guidance for those providing close contact services including wellness businesses, as well as well-being and holistic locations. It is likely that counselling services are included under these headings, however we are seeking further clarification around this.
You can find the guidance for England here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/close-contact-services
The guidance for Wales is here: https://gov.wales/keep-wales-safe-work#section-47135
The guidance for Scotland is here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-retail-sector-guidance/pages/close-contact-services/
The guidance for Northern Ireland is here: https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/node/23151It includes steps that will usually be needed to ensure a safe workspace, and ideas for consideration.
Working online
For guidance on working online, please read Appendix A of the Code of Ethics.
Insurance Cover - Working Face-to-Face
We asked Howden and Balens if they are covering face to face client work for therapists at this time. Here were their answers:
Howden: Yes, provided that it is essential to work face to face and that you follow government guidelines you will be covered.
Balens: We can confirm your policies with Balens are in place to cover against any work you perform. This is subject to you adhering to government guidelines about practicing safely, and any advice you receive from your governing body/associations.
Training
Your training school will be your primary source of information during the Coronavirus.
Trainers should make individual decisions based upon the way in which they wish to proceed during the current public health crisis. Particular care should be given that guidance given by trainers to students complies with up to date Government health guidelines. Trainers should inform the Society if they wish to modify the way in which they are offering practical training to their students.In the event that practice hours and case studies are postponed, but other elements of the course are completed, the Society will process incomplete registration applications so that graduates are ready to have their registration activated as soon as they have completed their practical work. This will ensure there are no extra processing delays once practical work is finished.
Remember this will be a temporary issue and that training normality, if disrupted, will resume and there are lots of contingency plans for this.
For further Government advice please click here.
For further NHS advice please click here.
- 11th December 2020 - Consultation with the PSA
Dear Members;
You will be aware that the Society holds an Accredited Register with the Professional Standards Authority and has done since 2012.
In our survey of 2018 an overwhelming number of our members supported the Accredited Registers programme and the Society continues to consider the programme to be the best way of delivering public assurance, as well as providing well deserved recognition for our members.
We and the other Registers have recently been meeting with the Professional Standards Authority and discussing the future of the programme as it enters its second decade.
The Authority has just launched a major public consultation on the future of the programme. Full details can be found here:
The key points in the consultation centre around how the programme could possibly be strengthened, giving more status to Accredited Registers and delivering more integration between Accredited Registers and our national health and social care programmes.
The main focus of the consultation is:
- How should we determine which occupations should be included in the scope of the programme?
- Should we consider the effectiveness of occupations in decisions about accreditation?
- Should there be greater consistency of standards of competence across Accredited Registers, in particular for individual occupations?
- Should we take into account proportionality and risk?
The Authority wishes to ensure the programme can:
- Support the delivery of NHS healthcare and social care workforce plans in England, NI, Scotland and Wales. This includes a greater contribution to personalised care for patients and to the Covid-19 recovery in health and social care. The pandemic has highlighted the need for greater integration of health and social care, and of the value of mental health care delivered by unregulated roles.
- Become a requirement for employers using healthcare practitioners in unregulated roles in the UK, and social care in unregulated roles in England
- Support innovation and be able to respond quickly to change. This is an advantage that voluntary assurance has above statutory regulation.
These are big questions. Of particular interest to members will be the question around consistency of standards for individual occupations. How might consistent standards be delivered in hypnotherapy, for example, while still assuring the diversity and complexity of the profession?
Another big question is over considering the “effectiveness of occupations.” To set some context here, members may be aware that a wide variety of complementary therapies (homeopathy, for example) are engaged with the AR programme. There are opposing views as to whether this is appropriate. On the one hand, the argument in favour states that offering an AR programme for complementary therapies ensures that practitioners are held to account and that complaints can be made. On the other hand, the argument against states that, where there is no evidence for a therapy, it is harmful to give what members of the public may consider to be a “seal of approval” from the AR programme.
Why this is a big question for hypnotherapy is how is “effectiveness” to be assessed? Is it the same as evidence based or evidence informed practice? For hypnotherapy these are loaded questions and we trust that the Authority will, of course, continue to view hypnotherapy as a whole with many modalities and approaches, many of which are not appropriately assessed in a narrow empirical manner.. We have no reason at present to believe otherwise.
Also of great interest will be that the Authority wishes being on an Accredited Register to be a requirement for employers using healthcare practitioners and practitioners in social care roles. This will have less impact on hypnotherapy as there are few, if any employment roles for hypnotherapy.
In the consultation document, the Authority references the concept of setting up a licensing body in order to ensure that unsafe practitioners could no longer practice. This, if applied hypnotherapy would see a fundamental shift from a voluntary scheme to one in which you held a licensing requirement to practice and your license could be revoked; for example in the event of a complaint. This, it is mooted, would be less of an imposition on practice than full statutory regulation while offering greater public assurance.
The Society will shortly launch its own consultation with our members on the Authority’s proposals, so that we can submit to the Authority our members’ democratic views and be guided by your voices as things move forward.
We would like to end this bulletin with a note of reassurance to our members. We have been dealing with the Authority since 2010 and throughout that time, as a regulator they have been flexible, fair, professional and supportive. We have every confidence that the Authority will engage with Accredited Registers, and indeed Registrants, fairly and openly, that they will listen to concerns, and we trust that the AR programme will emerge in a strengthened form beneficial to our members in the long run.