The purpose of the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association® (IMDHA) Standards of Practice Act is to define the scope of practice for its members. The organization 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 members, IMDHA has established three categories titled Scope I, Scope II and Scope III. The descriptive categories are as follows.
Scope I refers to the IMDHA member whose sole practice is hypnosis. 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 in achieving wellness.
It is recommended that the client sign a "Consent To Receive Hypnosis' form. It is recommended that the member have a "Disclosure/Consent" form that includes the following:
These professionals are trained to work independently and also in a complementary manner with physicians, counselors and healthcare 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 this scope of practice will be referred to another professional.
Scope II refers to the IMDHA member who works with hypnosis as a blend with other disciplines.
In the event that the IMDHA member has achieved educational training and has met the requirements that qualify him/her to practice other modalities such as Therapeutic Touch, Reiki, Massage Therapy, etc. he/she must be very clear about which modality they intend to practice and when they are practicing it.
It is recommended that the member prepares a "Statement of Disclosure" form that provides the client with an explanation of the various techniques that he/she is qualified to practice.
Scope III refers to the IMDHA members who are licensed or certified by his/her state or province that include (but are not limited to) the practice medicine, nursing, psychotherapy or any other healthcare/human service professional.
It is recommended that these members follow the rules and regulations that are required for their profession(s) by their state or province.
The IMDHA encourages its members to be clear about their scope of practice, as it is important to present their services in an ethical and professional manner.
