13. Professional Recognition

The National Register of Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists

The NCHP is recognised by many professional bodies as providing the highest standards of hypno-psychotherapy training. The foremost of these professional bodies is the NRHP which draws its members from the NCHP and equivalent trainings.

The NRHP is a non-profit making body, independently administered by its own Board of Directors made up, largely, of independent therapists elected from the membership. Although independent of the NCHP, the NRHP is run from the same Nelson office and so can take advantage of the NCHP's excellent computing, printing and other office facilities. Equally, and unlike many similar institutions, a trained staff is available to deal with all enquiries, by 'phone, fax or internet, five days a week throughout the year.

Members of the NRHP are required to adhere to a Code of Ethics & Practice. For practising members, this includes a commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and a requirement to carry appropriate professional insurance, available through the NRHP's group scheme. CPD involves both ongoing supervision/peer supervision and other, verifiable, CPD activities, records of which are kept in therapists' CPD Portfolios. Student Members (details not available to the public) have reduced-rate insurance and undertake supervision on a pro-rata basis for their non-commercial work with family and friends. See Membership Services leaflet, enclosed, for further details.  All students of NCHP automatically receive details of NRHP events. 

United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

The UKCP, formerly the UK Standing Conference for Psychotherapy, was formed in 1989 with the aim of establishing the profession of psychotherapy with agreed common training standards and ethical requirements. Over 70 organisations involved in the field of psychotherapy, including the NCHP and NRHP, currently belong to the UKCP.

In May 1993, the UKCP launched its National Register of Psychotherapists (NRP), and also produced Training and Ethical Standards Requirements for member organisations. The NCHP's training programme has been confirmed as meeting UKCP requirements and the UKCP ethical guidelines are incorporated within our Code of Ethics and Practice.

Details of supplementary training for those wishing to fulfil the requirements for membership of the UKCP's NRP are given on p15. It should be noted that the UKCP's Register, like our own NRHP, is a voluntary body, and continued membership of a UKCP approved professional organisation, such as the NRHP, is a condition of membership of the UKCP's Register.

UKCP has been involved in various initiatives to legislate for, and regulate, psychotherapy, so confirming our professional status.

European Association for Hypno Psychotherapy

The European Assocation for Hypno Psychotherapy (EAHP) is a constituent member of the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP). The EAP represents some 200 psychotherapy organisations from 36 countries throughout Europe, including the UK. In terms of individuals, perhaps 100,000 psychotherapists. The EAP's award - The European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP) - is intended to set the standard for mutual recognition of psychotherapists in Europe.

Exclusive  to  the discipline in this country,  only suitably qualified members of the NRHP achieved grandparented ECP status before September 2002.

Both the NCHP and NRHP achieved Full membership of EAHP following assessment by two EAHP officials sent from the Netherlands for the purpose (see back inside cover for details).

At  the  time of writing,   NCHP  and  NRHP are the only externally  assessed  UK-based  member organisations  of EAHP.  The NCHP and  NRHP  are  members of  EAP in their own right.

Institute for Complementary Medicine

At our initiative, the ICM established a Register of Hypnotherapists, subsequently British Register of Complementary Practitioners (Hypnotherapy), incorporating our recommendations concerning its general membership, ".who fulfil approved norms of training, professionalism and ethics, though tied to no single training institution or philosophy. They must have substantial clinical experience, undertake regular in-service training, and accept the principle and practice of professional supervision and inspection of professional premises.". We have been, from the outset, an approved training faculty for the BRCP (H) and, as with the UKCP, continued membership of a professional body such as our NRHP, is a requirement for inclusion.

Credit Transfer and the Open University

The following OU-specific credits have been approved for NCHP training commencing September 1997, or later:

Stage One Foundation: 30 points at Level 2

Stage Two Certificate: 45 points at Level 2

Stage Three Diploma: 45 points at Post Graduate Level

Any and all queries or OU applications in this connection must be addressed to: Credit Transfer Centre, The Open University, Berrill Bld, Walton Hall, MILTON KEYNES

MK7 6AA    Tel: 01908 653077 Fax: 01908 654918

e-mail: cats-gen@open.ac.uk  www.open.ac.uk/credit-transfer

We are not aware of any similar organisations providing these levels of credit. At the time of writing we are the only UKCP Hypno-Psychotherapy organisation offering such credits.