Hypnotherapy operates as an unregulated field within integrated healthcare, with no legislated licensing in Canada to oversee Hypnotherapists. However, there are professional societies that establish rules, codes of ethics, and regulatory mechanisms to self-govern their members. The specific methods and processes vary depending on the society’s goals. Membership criteria for these societies typically include educational qualifications, training hours, adherence to ethical codes, and more. What sets these societies apart are their complaints and disciplinary procedures, which maintain the standards of their member practitioners. Many of these societies impose industry-leading educational requirements and grant full membership to a limited pool of applicants who have completed their respective organization’s training programs. Another path to membership involves taking affiliated programs, such as advanced-level workshops or courses, to qualify.
In Alberta, the Alberta Clinical Hypnosis Society (ACHS) is one such organization that regulates licensed health professionals trained in hypnotherapy. To qualify for full membership, regardless of prior training credentials, individuals must complete an introductory workshop approved by the society.
The Canadian Association for Clinical Hypnotherapists and Educators (CACHE), a non-profit organization, also regulates Hypnotherapy Professionals. CACHE is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of practice and education, ensuring ethical counselling hypnotherapy for the safe enhancement of societal quality of life. CACHE provides training and qualifies candidates for membership. It also allows non-CACHE-trained professionals to challenge their program to meet membership standards by providing evidence of training and passing the appropriate credential examination.
The American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE) is another organization that trains and regulates Hypnotherapy Professionals, both those who graduated from ACHE-certified schools and trained applicants from non-ACHE-certified schools. Trained applicants from non-ACHE-certified schools can apply for membership by submitting training documents and proof of three consecutive years of full-time hypnotherapy practice or by taking a qualifying examination.
The International Association of Counselors and Therapists (IACT) defines a scope of practice for its members. This organization recognizes the use of hypnotherapy in various allied fields, including medical practitioners, clinical social workers, licensed massage therapists, nutritionists, special educators, and mental health practitioners. However, it recommends that if a member solely facilitates hypnosis, they should not engage in any activities that require a license under state or provincial laws and regulations. The organization also advises its members to adhere to the rules and regulations of their respective professions as required by their state or province. IACT offers various levels of training and memberships to applicants from approved or non-approved IACT instructors.
The Association of Registered Clinical Hypnotherapists (ARCH) is a nationwide accredited registry for qualified Hypnotherapists and Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapists in Canada. ARCH is a non-profit professional association with the primary goal of promoting professional practice. It offers training and memberships to practitioners from ARCH schools and even provides international memberships. However, international members are held accountable to the accrediting organization in their respective country of practice. ARCH also offers associate memberships to non-certified members of the association, although these members are not recognized or certified to practice Hypnotherapy by ARCH Canada. In conclusion, Non-ARCH Accredited Trained Hypnotherapists are required to successfully complete the ARCH Registered Clinical Hypnotherapy (RCH) Upgrade Course as a mandated minimum requirement to obtain membership.