Society Membership
Full Details Page
NB: This page contains full details of the benefits of membership, as well as the current Society criteria for each membership grade. To speed your application, however, it is easier to go through our online pre-approval process.
Membership and Grades
Non-Professional Membership
The Society defines non-professional members as those who are interested in hypnotherapy and hypnosis but are not intending to become hypnotherapists themselves, or those who have done some hypnotherapy training but not enough for professional practice.
Non-Professional Members have access to our Member’s Section of the website and to Society newsletters, but cannot use their membership in advertising of any kind.
Non-Professional Members are given help, guidance and encouragement to progress to Professional Membership if they so choose.
Affiliate
For the person with an interest in hypnotherapy, non-professional, who wishes to support the Society and receive information and literature. Affiliates of the Society are generally those individuals who have no interest in becoming professional hypnotherapists in the future. In certain circumstances, Affiliates may be working towards higher grades of membership.
Current Affiliate Dues are £20 per year by Standing Order only
Patron
Patrons of the Society can be any individual, including professional members, who donates £100 a year for the Society Fund for Low Income Clients. The Fund is used exclusively to provide monies to treat clients on benefits. Monies are distributed in an open and transparent procedure according to a standard set of criteria.
Student Member
Student Membership is offered to all hypnotherapists while they are still in training. Student Members can gain insurance through the Society and access to the member’s section on the website.
Student Membership is FREE to students on ACCREDITED or APPROVED Training Courses. It costs £20 per year to all other students.
Associate Member
Other non-students who have an interest in hypnotherapy, including individuals who have completed some hypnotherapy training but this is deemed by the Society to be below the standards required for professional practice. Associate membership confers no membership rights, voting rights, ability to advertise on the website or use any of the HS title or logo in advertising.
Professional Membership
The Society defines Professional Membership as that suitable for a professional, practising hypnotherapist. Professional Members need to demonstrate a combination of adequate training, experience, and competence, depending upon the level of their membership.
Only Professional Members of the Society are listed as therapist on the national register and website, and have access to the full range of membership privileges which the Society offers. Only Professional Members are entitled to use designation letters after their names.
Professional Membership is £80 per year by Standing Order only
Supervision And Profesional Membership
Supervision is vital for the award and maintenance of professional membership. From 2003, the Society holds a register of Society Accredited Supervisors (SHS Acc) and can help all members find an appropriate supervisor.
Supervision for lower professional grades should be:
Formal: i.e. a timetabled number of meetings per year, not an "as and when" arrangement, with a supervision agreement, and in which your supervisor writes a report on your progress. It can be in small groups, individually or by telephone, but email doesn’t count.
Differential: i.e. the supervisor is more experienced and/or qualified than yourself
Adequate: i.e. ten sessions per year for full time practice; 5 for part time practice.
Supervision for Accredited Members does not need to be Differential (i.e. peer supervision is allowed); but must be Formal and Adequate: for Fellows, it does not need to be either Formal or Differential, but should be Adequate.
A separate, detailed document about society requirements is available.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) & Professional Membership
Continuing Professional Development ensures that the hypnotherapist does not stand still in their practice, but continues to grow and develop as a practitioner. Requirements are 25 hours per year for professional members.
The Society defines a Licentiate Member (LHS) as one who has demonstrated that they are adequately trained and competent to practice, but has not demonstrated to the Society further experience of professional practice. (They may, however, have such experience.)
A Licentiate Member must either
a) have completed an accredited training course OR
b) Demonstrate a practical training knowledge of hypnotherapy with a formal qualification of at least Level IV in the National Qualifications Framework.
Applicants for all professional grades must:
Provide two references, one of whom may be a course tutor
Agree to Continuing Professional Development
Demonstrate adherence to HS Supervision Requirements
Undertake appropriate professional insurance
Adhere to the HS Code of Ethics & Complaints Procedure
Licentiates may not vote on Society matters.Registered Member (MHS)
The Society defines a Registered Member (MHS) as one who has demonstrated to the Society, not only those criteria relevant to Licentiate Membership, but also at least two years’ experience of professional practice under supervision.
There are two routes:
a) Have been a Licentiate Member in practice for two years, have completed a minimum of 150 supervised client hours with a full supervisor's report and submit two case studies of at least 2000 words and submit a personal statement of professional development of 1-3000 words. OR
b) Be able to demonstrate a practical hypnotherapy training of at least equivalent to Level IV by formal qualification within the National Qualifications Framework and been in practice for two years and have completed a minimum of 150 supervised client hours with a full supervisor's report and submit two case studies of at least 2000 words and submit a personal statement of professional development of 1-3000 words.
Registered Members and above may vote on Society matters.
Accredited Member (MHS Acc.)
The Society defines an Accredited Member (MHS Acc.) as one who has demonstrated to the Society, not only those criteria relevant to Registered Membership, but also the further criteria defined below.
There are 2 routes:
a) having been a Registered Member and been in practice for 5 years with a minimum of 750 client hours under formal supervision with full supervision reports and provide a comprehensive CPD report documenting no fewer than 25 CPD hours per year and submit two case studies of at least 2000 words and a personal development statement of at least 2000 words and provide two professional referees.
b) having obtained a formal hypnotherapy qualification of at least Level V on the National Qualifications Framework and been in practice for 5 years with a minimum of 750 client hours under formal supervision with full supervision reports and provide a comprehensive CPD report documenting no fewer than 25 CPD hours per year and submit two case studies of at least 2000 words and a personal development statement of at least 2000 words and provide two professional referees.
Fellow
The Society defines a Fellow as a practitioner of outstanding experience of professional practice. Fellowship is awarded by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. Both existing and new members may apply for this grade.
There are three routes to Fellowship:
Route A: An existing Accredited Member who has passed their first Accreditation Review and who indicates at the time that they would wish to be considered for Fellowship. Their Accreditation Review Case Studies must achieve an "A" grade and their Supervisor’s Report indicate their merit. Additional Evidence Of Excellence can be submitted at the discretion of the candidate.
Route B: A new member of at least ten years’ experience, who in the unanimous opinion of the Executive Committee, especially deserves this honour.
Route C: A member who performs an outstanding service to the Society. (In instances where the member’s professional development does not meet standard Fellowship requirements, this will be clearly indicated on the certificate.)
Emeritus Fellow (EmFHS)
Emeritus Fellowships cannot be applied for and are awarded by unanimous vote of the Executive Committee to those individuals who have made exceptional and noteworthy contributions to the profession of hypnotherapy. No more than 2 Emeritus Fellowships will be awarded in any one calendar year.
Other Issues Pertaining To Membership Applications
Professional Referee
This would normally be a suitably qualified person, neither related to the applicant nor connected by business, who has had reasonable knowledge of the applicant’s practice throughout the time period relevant to the grade being applied for. Examples of acceptable referees would include: supervisors; clinic directors or practice managers; medical practitioners and other "caring" professionals. The Society’s request for a referee is at its discretion.
Evidence
The Society will request evidence specific to all applications, e.g. Diplomas, Case Studies, & Statements from Supervisors. Pre-Approved applicants will become members only on submission of said evidence.
Students of Accredited Training Schools are automatically entitled to Licentiate Membership on completion of their courses.
Students of Approved Training Schools are automatically entitled to Associate Membership.
Professional Bodies
At its discretion, the Society recognises the following professional bodies as having pre-approved rights to certain membership grades:
General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR)
United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
Unsuccessful Membership Applications
The Pre-Approval process, which all applicants should complete, is designed to avoid unsuccessful membership applications.
In the event that an application for membership should be unsuccessful, all monies remitted at that time shall be returned in full to the applicant. Whilst re-applications are encouraged, they will not be considered until a minimum of 6 months has elapsed since the date of any previous notice of non-acceptance.
Membership Certificates
Each professional member is entitled to a Certificate of Society Membership, at their respective grade. Certificates will be issued to new members, free of charge, on acceptance. Upgraded Certificates will be issued, also free of charge, whenever appropriate. All membership Certificates remain the property of the Society and must be returned on request.
Upgrades
Members are entitled to apply for appropriate upgrades in status along with the prevailing criteria. Applications must be made on a Membership Upgrade Form, which may be obtained on request from the Society Headquarters.
There is no fee levied for applications for an upgrade in status.
Termination of Membership
Termination for professional issues is in accordance with the current Society Code of Ethics and Complaints Procedure; however, membership is at the discretion of the Society and may be declined or terminated at any time.
Members terminating membership are responsible for cancelling their own payments as continued payment shall be deemed to constitute continued membership. Members terminating membership must return their membership certificates.
Payment for membership shall be automatic by standing order for one year in advance, and is non-refundable. Members terminating membership shall not be entitled to a pro-rata refund of dues.
Membership, and all Membership privileges, will automatically lapse where subscriptions are not paid within one calendar month of falling due.
Members' Obligations and Rights
Members of the Society incur no obligations or rights beyond those indicated.
Client Referrals
Enquiries from the public for therapy will be encouraged. Members’ contact details will be forwarded to such enquirers on a regional basis and at no cost to the member.
Members should inform the Society, in writing, if they wish to have their contact details withheld from publication.
Society Journals
Members are entitled to receive all Hypnotherapy Society newsletters, etc, free of charge. Our main journal, Empathy, is an online journal available to our Members via their section of the website. Hard Copies are also available.
Yellow Pages Block Advertising Scheme
The Hypnotherapy Society, in conjunction with Yellow Pages Corporate Division (U.K.), has negotiated a Block Advertising Scheme under the "Hypnotherapy Section" within Yellow Pages Directories, on a fully national basis. Members will be contacted directly by Yellow Pages Corporate Sales. Although members are encouraged to participate within the scheme, there is no obligation whatsoever to do so. The Society receives no monetary gain from this service.
Professional Insurance
It is a condition of Society membership that practising members must be fully insured for both Professional Indemnity and Public Liability. The Society has negotiated a Block Scheme at preferential rates with the well known Brokers, Smithson Mason Ltd (from which no monetary gain is received by the Society) and applicants must either participate within the scheme or alternatively, submit evidence of acceptable insurance obtained elsewhere. (I.e. Excluding Southern Ireland and overseas members.)
Royal Society for the Promotion of Health
The Society has a cooperation agreement with this organisation which renders our members eligible to join at appropriate grades.
We welcome your application for membership by clicking on the link below:
