Is Hypnotherapy Worthy of being called a Profession

For many years this has been a question posed by various people. The majority that question this catagorisation either fear the shift in the balance of the caring professions that it would bring, or want to stimulate the profession by pushing it to raise its standards even further.

The sad truth is that the former group is probably the larger by far and even sadder is the fact that they should be more willing to work with the Profession.

But luckily the latter group is supportive and more fortunately appears to have sufficient clout to help facillitate our recognition.

You will no doubt have realised from my language exactly where I stand. Indeed throughout my career I have supported all real efforts at developing the standards of the profession.

When the "Lord's Report" categorised Hypnotherapy as in with the minor therapies and techniques there was almost a sigh of relief from several quite disparate areas. Many were of the opinion that the last thing we wanted was Statutory Regulation. Far too costly - was the cry that went up. Too much scope for political interference - was another moan. On reflection I can see that there would be as many benefits as losses, not the least being 'protection of title'. This in itself would provide an enormous boost to the Profession's credibility, by strengthening its ability to control its members.

The route we have been guided towards, since the "Lord's Report", is the Federal model of Voluntary Self Regulation. With the setting up of the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council we have a clear route into VSR. There are again pros and cons with this route. While it is less expensive it will also be a softer, less effective structure. There will be no protection of title - which means that anyone will still be able to set up in practice as a Hypnotherapist, regardless of training or safeguards.

When in 1998 the UK Confederation of Hypnotherapy Organisations (UKCHO) was formed I happily volunteered to take on the role of Secretary. I recognised that the inspirational move of Dr Shaun Brookhouse, to bring together the Registering and Training bodies in Hypnotherapy, was far more likely to succeed than any attempt to bring together individual Hypnotherapists. Shaun realised that far less money would be involved (reducing the possibility of "corruption") and that the Registering Bodies would feel less 'politically challenged'. Despite the ebb abd flow of political will within the Member Bodies of UKCHO, now a principle player in the current negotiations to move into the CNHC, it is a complete vindication of the efforts that Shaun and the members of his team put in, during those formative years.

As these latest moves, with the WGHR joining in, through the Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health develop towards inclusion in the CNHC I am certain that everyone will come to agree: 'Hypnotherapy is worthy of being described as 'a Healing Profession' and can and will be accepted into the mainstream of Medicine.

But what if there was still a chance that we could be invited to join the Health Professions Council and partake of the Statutory Route? That would mean REAL acceptance as a Healing Profession. But how many current'Hypnotherapists' would be allowed to join and realise the potential benefit of really being Professional?

Posted on April 12, 2009

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