Hypnotherapy is safe. However, you should always consult a registered hypnotherapist to be sure that they received a professional training and that they adhere to a code of ethics and Standards.

What You Can Talk About

It is common for clients to be worried about disclosing information, wondering if it is safe to do so. I offer you this list of some things (and there are many others) which clients may have experienced and which can be discussed subject to the requirements for disclosure which appear on the following page:

• Abuse: domestic, sexual, physical or emotional (past or present).         
• Self harm or suicidal thoughts/attempts.         
• Guilty secrets.         
• Problems with eating (e.g. bingeing or purging).          
• Criminal convictions (see below for current criminal activity).        
• Disturbing thoughts or wishes.       
• Sexual issues.        

Having given examples of things that you can discuss with me, it is important that you know that the law forbids our normal confidentiality if:

I become aware of information which I either know or believe might help prevent another person carrying out an act of terrorism or might help in bringing a terrorist to justice in the UK, or about specified activities related to money and property used to assist terrorist activities.

If I observe physical signs that an act of female genital mutilation may have been carried out on a girl under the age of 18 or I am informed by a girl under the age of 18 that she has undergone an act of female genital mutilation.

The police request information about the driver of a vehicle at the time of an offence it must be disclosed by me as failure to do so would constitute a criminal offence on my part.

I become aware of drug trafficking or money laundering that may be required to be reported under the Drug Trafficking Act 1994, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 or the Money Laundering Regulations 2007, if this happens, I may seek legal advice as to any statutory duty.

I must disclose information that I am ordered to by a court or by a statutory request for access to personal data made under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

I may break our normal confidentiality if I become aware (or have good reason to suspect) that you have knowledge of:

A past, present or future incident/situation that may be dangerous or harmful to you, another adult or a child and that is not known to the relevant authorities.

Future or past criminal activity that has not been resolved in law. This means any criminal activity, of which the relevant authorities are either unaware or a case they know about which they consider not to be closed (provided you do not present information in therapy which would reasonably re-open the case). This does not include parking or traffic offences unless there is intent, by you or anyone else, to cause danger to yourself or others, or that it is deemed to be a serious offence. In such circumstances, I will work with you to see if we can work together to make appropriate disclosures. 

For our purposes a serious offence is:‘Murder, manslaughter, rape, treason, kidnapping, child abuse or other cases where individuals have suffered serious harm or there is serious harm to the security of the state or to public order and crimes that involve substantial financial gain and loss.’

Other than as required by law, I may discuss your case with my clinical supervisor, my clinical supervisor will have access to your details if I am suddenly unavailable to contact you and offer you ongoing care. I may talk or write to your GP but I will not give any personal details beyond what we are working on.

The number of sessions will depend on you and the depth and complexity of your issues. It is unusual for therapy to last for less than six sessions. However, we will discuss that openly and reassess based on your progress.

Before we decide whether an online consultation is suitable for you, I usually have a preliminary phone call with my clients to evaluate and see if we can work together.

I use a professional zoom account.

I follow the Code of Ethics provided by the General Hypnotherapy Register and the National Society of Talking Therapies and the UKCP.

I would hope that you would first discuss with me what the issues are so that we could possibly clarify and resolve the situation.

If for any reasons, you wished to proceed further or not discuss at all the issue with me,  you can access the General Hypnotherapy Register and follow the link on their website to place a complaint or email them or call them.

Following our first session(s), I would draft a contract in which would summarise your goals, the number of sessions advised and when we would reassess progress.

The number of sessions will depend on you and the depth and complexity of your issues. It is unusual for therapy to last for less than six sessions. However, we will discuss that openly and reassess based on your progress.