Confidentiality Policy

Practice: Two Chairs Therapy
Hypnotherapist: Hannah
Professional Body: National Hypnotherapy Society
Effective from: 2/10/26
Review date: 2/10/27

1. Purpose

I am committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining the confidentiality of information you share during hypnotherapy.

My practice follows the ethical principles and professional standards of the National Hypnotherapy Society (HS), including its requirements concerning confidentiality, record keeping, safeguarding and professional supervision.

2. Confidentiality

Information you share with me during your hypnotherapy sessions will normally remain confidential.

This includes information disclosed verbally, written information, correspondence, assessment information and notes made during or following sessions.

I will explain confidentiality and its limitations at the beginning of our therapeutic relationship so that you can make an informed decision about proceeding with hypnotherapy.

3. Limits to Confidentiality

Confidentiality is not absolute. There may be circumstances in which I have a professional or legal responsibility to disclose information.

This may include situations where:

• I believe there is a serious risk to your safety or wellbeing.

• I believe another person, including a child or vulnerable person, may be at serious risk of harm.

• Disclosure is required for safeguarding purposes.

• I am required to disclose information by law or by a valid court order.

• Disclosure is necessary in connection with an applicable legal process.

• Information needs to be discussed as part of professional supervision.

Where it is appropriate and legally permissible, I will aim to discuss a proposed disclosure with you before information is shared.

Any disclosure will normally be limited to information that is relevant and necessary for the purpose concerned.

4. Professional Supervision

Professional supervision is an important part of safe and ethical hypnotherapy practice.

I may discuss aspects of my client work with an appropriately qualified supervisor. Wherever reasonably possible, information used in supervision will be anonymised so that clients cannot be identified.

Anonymised case material may also be used for professional or academic purposes where appropriate. You may tell me if you do not wish your anonymised information to be used in this way.

5. Client Records

I maintain appropriate records of my work with clients. These may include:

• Your contact and personal details.

• Relevant background or history.

• Dates and frequency of sessions.

• Session and progress notes.

• Copies of agreements or consent documentation.

• Relevant correspondence.

• Details of referrals, safeguarding concerns, disclosures or other significant events where applicable.

Records will be kept securely and confidentially.

Paper records, where used, will be stored securely when not in use. Electronic records will be protected using appropriate security measures, such as passwords and secure systems.

Personal information will be handled in accordance with applicable UK data-protection requirements.

6. Recording Sessions

Hypnotherapy sessions will not be audio-recorded or video-recorded without your knowledge and appropriate written consent.

Where a recording is agreed as part of therapy, I will explain why it is being made, how it will be used and how it will be stored.

7. Online Hypnotherapy

When sessions are provided remotely, reasonable steps will be taken to protect confidentiality and use technology that is appropriate for therapeutic work.

You are also encouraged to attend online sessions from a private location where you are unlikely to be overheard or interrupted.

For remote sessions, I may ask for your current location, telephone number and an appropriate emergency contact so that agreed procedures can be followed if an emergency or serious welfare concern arises.

We will also agree what to do if the internet or other technology fails during a session.

8. Sharing Information with Other Professionals

I will not ordinarily share identifiable information with your GP, another healthcare professional or another third party without your consent.

There may be exceptions where disclosure is required by law or justified by a serious safeguarding or safety concern.

Where you consent to a referral or information being shared with another professional, I will normally only disclose information relevant to that purpose.

9. Children and Young People

When providing hypnotherapy to children or young people, appropriate consent arrangements and safeguarding requirements will apply.

The limits of confidentiality will be explained appropriately to the young person and, where applicable, their parent or person with parental responsibility before therapy begins.

10. Your Rights and Questions

You are encouraged to ask questions about confidentiality at any stage of therapy.

At the beginning of therapy, I will aim to make clear:

• What information I collect.

• Why it is collected.

• How records are stored.

• Who may have access to them.

• How long information is retained.

• The circumstances in which information may be disclosed.

• How confidentiality applies to supervision and safeguarding.

Further information about how I collect, use, retain and dispose of personal information is contained in my Privacy Notice/Data Protection Policy.

11. Professional Standards

This policy has been prepared with reference to the ethical and safeguarding guidance published by the National Hypnotherapy Society. It should be read alongside my client agreement, privacy notice, safeguarding procedures and other relevant practice policies.

Hypnotherapist: Hannah

Practice: Two Chairs Therapy

Contact: two_chairs_therapy@outlook.com

National Hypnotherapy Society membership number: HYP22-01075

Policy last reviewed: 2/10/26