UK Registration of Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis Related Psychotherapies Draws Nearer

November 2001

Recent reports commissioned by the British government have now indicated that the processes for officially registering counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists will begin in 2003. This will also include those engaged in the practice of what is known as complementary medicines which will include the use of hypnosis as an adjunct of psychotherapy as hypno-psychotherapy or as an alternative classification of hypnotherapy. It seems to be generally believed, however, that hypnotherapy is more likely to be classified under the category of psychotherapy.

The government has called upon the professions involved to line themselves up for self-regulation and will hold them each responsible for monitoring standards within their particular professions.

Although Lord Alderdice's draft bill before parliament to regulate psychotherapy failed in February 2001, it seems the government's plan is to now regulate psychological and all support services to the National Health Service via an order of council.

For those hypno-psychotherapists now on the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy's register it is likely they may go forward automatically towards government registration as psychotherapists. Others organisations involved with hypnotherapy are also trying to join together to form a central hypnotherapy register to represent more than 80 per cent of the profession, which is the percentage that the government would take seriously as a central representing body for any profession.

©HypnosisAustralia, November 2001