The purpose of the Association of Registered Clinical Hypnotherapists ARCH Standards of Practice is to define the scope of practice for its Members. The association realizes that a certain percentage of its members work with hypnosis as their primary vocation and others work with hypnosis as an adjunctive modality or "blend" with other professions such as: Therapeutic Touch, Reiki, Massage Therapy, Psychotherapy, Medical Professions, Dentistry and Holistic Healing, etc. In order to clarify the standards of practice for our ARCH members, we have embraced three categories titled Scope I (A&B), Scope II and Scope III, which are described below.
SCOPE I (A)
Scope I (A) refers to the ARCH member whose sole practice is Hypnotherapy. Members are not licensed or certified in any other profession and are trained to work independently in the field of hypnosis. These individuals are facilitators of hypnosis and their primary function is to assist clients.It is recommended that the client sign a "Consent to Receive Hypnotherapy" form. It is recommended that the Hypnotherapist have a "Disclosure/Consent" form that includes the following:
1. The Hypnotherapist does not diagnose any condition or illness.
2. The Hypnotherapist is a facilitator of hypnosis and Hypnotherapy and is not practising any other profession that requires a license, registration or certification under the laws and regulations of the Province in which they practice.
3. Hypnotherapy is not a replacement for medical treatment, psychological services or psychiatry. Should the Hypnotherapist suspect that a client undergoing Hypnotherapy is suffering from an undiagnosed illness or condition, they immediately refer the client to their primary care physician.
These Hypnotherapists are trained to work independently and also in a complementary manner with physicians, counsellors and health care professionals. When working with other professionals, the client is to sign and date a "Records Release" form that gives the hypnotist and complementary care professional(s) permission to discuss the client's case. Anything beyond the Hypnotherapist's scope of practice will be referred to another professional.
SCOPE I (B)
Scope I (B) refers to the ARCH member whose practice is Advanced Counselling-Hypnotherapy. Members are not licensed or certified in any other profession and are trained to work independently in the field of Counselling-Hypnosis and encompass Scope I (A). These individuals are facilitators of the client's journey and their primary function is to assist clients to accomplish their goals.ARCH members who are Registered Clinical Counselling-Hypnotherapists by the Association have advanced training in the areas of Clinical Assessment, Crisis Intervention, Suicide Assessment and Prevention, Skilled Helper Counselling Process, Grief and Loss Support, Working Knowledge of the DSM-TR-IV, Hypnoanalysis, Parts Mediation Therapy, Inner Child Work and Regression.These Counselling-Hypnotherapists are trained to work independently and also in a complementary manner with physicians and mental health care professionals. When working with other professionals, the client is to sign and date a "Records Release" form that gives the Counselling-Hypnotherapist and complementary care professional(s) permission to discuss the client's case. Anything beyond the Counselling-Hypnotherapist's scope of practice will be referred to another professional. Also, Testimonials of advanced treatment "client success"(Hypnoanalysis, PMT, Inner Child Work, Regression etc.) must not be used in advertising or as part of the marketing and promotion of an ARCH member's private practice.
SCOPE II
Scope II refers to the ARCH member who works with hypnosis as a blend with other disciplines.In the event that the ARCH member has achieved educational training and has met the professional requirements that qualify him/her to practice other alternative or complementary modalities that do not require licensing, or to be registered or certified in his/her province. The Practitioner must be very clear about which modality he/she is practising and when he/she is practising it and that their blending of modalities must be in accordance with the professional guidelines of each modality they use in the treatment protocol of their Clients.It is recommended that the Practitioner have a "Statement of Disclosure" form that presents to Clients an explanation of the various techniques that he/she is qualified to practice and the restrictions (if any) that may apply to the blending of modalities agreed to between the Client and Practitioner. All non-Hypnosis treatment protocols must be limited to less than 49% of the total treatment of any Client.
SCOPE III
Scope III refers to the ARCH member who is licensed, registered or certified in his/her province to practice medicine or psychotherapy or other health care service as a professional including alternative and/or complementary modalities.These ARCH members are to follow the rules and regulations that are required for their profession(s) by their province and/or governing organization.The Association of Registered Clinical Hypnotherapists encourages its members to be clear about their scope of practice, as it is important to present Hypnotherapy in an ethical and professional manner
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