evaluating performance and conducting individual case

reviews. The overall aim - to assist each member of the group

to offer their services competently in ways which meet their

clients' needs. This can also mean the group considering

Improving professional standards is clearly now the wish and

whether a therapist is working within the limits of his or her

goal of the vast majority of practising hypnotherapists. There is

professional training and experience.

a widespread recognition that standards must continue to rise if

the profession is to gain increased acceptance and credibility. It

As most readers will realize, there will be times when a

is part of the long, difficult path towards proper regulation.

hypnotherapist is confronted by difficult ethical or even moral

dilemmas, when there are competing obligations. Though there

Like so much else, however, it is easier to state the ambition

may be a reluctance to bring these cases to a peer group

than describe the solution. One, standardized examination for

review, those who have the courage to do so are likely to find

all UK hypnotherapists is probably part of the answer, and so

the analysis brought to a difficult situation by colleagues is

would a single register for the entire profession. Neither of

especially valuable. There should be a spirit of mutual respect

those is within sight at the moment, however, and requires a

within the group so as to maintain good working relationships

unity of purpose which has evaded hypnotherapy for decades.

and systems of communication that enhance services to clients

However, there are steps which individual therapists and

at all times. Obviously, though, each member of the group must

associations such as the BSCH can start taking right away.

be prepared to accept critical assessments as well as offering

reasoned assessments on others within the group.

One such issue is the question of professional supervision. Too

often, once a student has completed his or her training, passed

So how often, and for how long, should a peer group meet? And

the exams, nailed the diploma to the wall and started practising,

what happens if one member constantly fails to turn up?

the supervision experienced during tuition comes to an end. Of

course, many professional hypnotherapists do undergo

Ideally groups should arrange to meet once a month. In

supervision of one form or another, recognizing it as an

practice however this may well be more honoured in the breach

important element in their professional life. Unfortunately,

than in the observance. Each meeting should last for a

however, many others do not. Though happily signing-up for

minimum of one hour. The benefits are likely to last throughout

master classes and weekend courses, they continue their day-

one's career.

to-day therapy without the oversight or help of a professional

colleague. It is a situation others, in related fields such as

counselling, find unprofessional and unacceptable. Within

counselling and most areas of psychotherapy there is a general

obligation to receive supervision as an ongoing part of

professional development. Classically, formal supervision

means planned regular meetings between the supervisor and

the supervisee discussing the supervisee's work and learning

progress. This usually involves a written contract between the

supervisor and the supervisee describing such issues as costs,

ethics and the regularity of meetings.

There is, though, an alternative, informal model which

hypnotherapists might consider as a first step - peer

The James Braid Society - a discussion group and social club

supervision. So, if you are not currently receiving supervision,

for hypnotherapists - has now arranged its dates for 2004.

this could be the option for you. It does not mean simply sitting

down with a friend or two for a cosy chat about case notes

With an "open door" policy towards anyone involved in the

every so often. Instead peer or group supervision should be

ethical use of hypnosis the society always welcomes visitors to

formalized  sufficiently  to  offer  an  opportunity  for

its meetings. Meetings are held at the Park Crescent

hypnotherapists to work in a small group at which each member

Conference Centre, International Students' House, 229 Great

brings details of his or her work for discussion and examination

Portland Street, LONDON W1W 5PN.

by colleagues. The group should choose a chair or moderator

to oversee the sessions.

This is very accessible by Tube, being immediately in front of

Great Portland Street tube station (on the Circle, Metropolitan

Ideally members of the group should be of comparable

and Hammersmith & City lines). Also only a few minutes walk

experience and training. Inevitably though this will not always

from both Warren Street station (on the Jubilee and Northern

be possible. Even when there is clear disparity within a group,

lines) and Regents Park station (Bakerloo line).

it will still provide a number of important benefits for the

individual therapist, not least a support system, which can help

Meetings start at about 7.15pm and usually continue until about

ensure he or she keeps within their area of competence. As

9.00pm. There is a charge of £5 a head to cover

important it provides an added safeguard for clients that they

accommodation costs. Please note in your diary that our dates

will receive ethical treatment. How large - or small - these

for the coming year are:

groups should be will depend on local factors, particularly the

availability and willingness of local colleagues to get together.

Some might object to therapists who are friends as well as

colleagues or who may work together in some form of

partnership being in the same group, however the author can

see no compelling reason why that should be a bar.

Details of talks and discussions will be posted on our website:

In fact, in some parts of the country, to insist on group members

not having social or business links would rule out the exercise.

Whatever the size of the group, the role should include