INDIVIDUAL CODE OF CONDUCT: Members are expected to behave in accordance to general ethical codes and guidelines. However, as SET membership is varied, individual considerations of appropriate behavior may vary from person to person with a few exceptions. In addition to the specific guidelines in this general Code of Ethics of the Society of Experiential Trance, members are encouraged to keep all of their activities well within what are considered three very clear and general principles of practice: 1. Ensure that your activities are legal and stay in compliance to all laws that apply to your practice; 2. Keep your practice of any focused trance modality and associated activities Safe, Sane, and Consensual; and, keeping the previous principles in mind and all other points in this Code of Ethics; 3. Harming none, do what you will and respect the will of others; and, 4. in terms of the use of social influence principles and communication skills, members are strongly encouraged to embrace the Quintillian Paradigm of "the essence of communication is a Good Man Speaking Well" in that members are expected to master to the best of their abilities the skills and principles of communication, hypnosis, and trancework and to use them for the betterment of society and others rather than to manipulate for selfish ends alone.The Society of Experiential Trance does not police member or instructor behavior. There is no specific policy or procedure for removing members based upon ethical breaches (such decisions are left completely to the discretion of the Advisory Board and all such decisions are final). While we strongly encourage members to follow a general code of principles or ethics, we are very much aware that our members are adults and make their own decisions as to how to comport themselves. If a member of the public feels that a member of the Society has abused their position or broken the law, we strongly encourage them to first attempt a private resolution with the member and if failing that then proceed with professional mediation and upon failure of that reporting that person to the appropriate business or legal authorities for appropriate investigation and possible prosecution. In extreme cases, such as the conviction of a member for a felony related to illegal misbehavior with a client or trance partner, a member may be removed from the membership rolls. Note that the Society encourages members to practice within the legally allowed scope of practice for the jurisdiction within which they reside. Keep in mind that legal requirements vary from place to place as do moral expectations or the sense of common values. As such, the Society does not restrict membership based upon general codes or principles, although there are certain values members are encouraged to keep. Essentially, while the Society encourages members to behave as good people within society in general, the Society does not take on the role of big brother or watchman or overseer.SCOPE OF PRACTICE: Members are expected to know local laws, regulations, and rules regarding their legally allowed scope of practice for the jurisdiction within which they reside and to abide by local laws.
TRANCE PARTNER WELFARE: Members who perform any sort of hypnosis or other trancework with members of the public in private contexts will place the welfare and wellbeing of the trance partner above any other considerations. This includes, but is not limited to, emotional, psychological, mental, or physical issues of comfort, safety, and wellbeing.
TRANCE PARTNER RELATIONSHIP: As a general principle, it is considered inappropriate to date a therapeutic client or have an intimate relationship with a client. If one has a professional therapeutic relationship with a client, it is inappropriate to initiate a recreational erotic hypnosis relationship as well. The nature of the relationship should always be kept above-board and clear. Keep in mind that in many jurisdictions, it is illegal for a person in a therapeutic relationship to have an intimate relationship with their client. Please know your local laws and abide by them.
HYPNOTIC SEALS: The use of Hypnotic Seals is considered ethically suspect by the Society of Experiential Trance. Members may not use suggestions to create seals that prevent others or particular classes of individuals from performing hypnosis with clients or trance partners. Boosting suggestions that reinforce a person's ability to choose how, when, and with whom to enter into hypnosis are less problematic. However blanket seals intended to block a person's ability to enter hypnosis either in general or sealing that person's ability to a particular person or class of person are considered very inappropriate and violations of the Society's sense of good ethical conduct.
REFERRALS: Members should follow local laws in regard to the use of hypnosis or other trance forms for issues related to physical or mental health. Members are strongly encouraged to ask for a referral from a licensed medical or mental healthcare practitioners in cases related to medical or mental health issues. In such cases, trancework should best be presented as a supplement to competent licensed care and not as an alternative. The only exceptions to this practice would typically be when local laws provide alternative healthcare options in which full disclosure is included.
REASONABLE PRACTICE: Members are expected to exercise due diligence and good judgment and may withhold services from individuals whose behavior gives them cause to believe working with them may be problematic. In some cases, members may wish to require a would be client to be evaluated by a competent licensed mental health practitioner and only work with that person after such an evaluation has taken place.
CONFIDENTIALITY: Barring any other legal constraints, responsibilities, or obligation regarding one's practice, members who do private hypnosis or trancework consultations should typically keep client-tranceworker confidentiality and not disclose the nature of sessions to outside parties. The only typical exception to this might be when one is legally compelled to do so in and only if one's practice is not legally covered under client confidentiality privilege.
TRUTH IN ADVERTISING: Members should not make unsubstantiated, exaggerated, or bogus claims in advertising.
TRUTH IN PRACTICE: Members should understand both the benefits and limits of hypnosis and should only promote practice of techniques with reliable effectiveness. Experimental processes should be understood as such and should not be held out to the public as anything other than experimental work. Full disclosure should be standard practice.
BUSINESS PRACTICE: Members should respect the integrity of colleagues and clients and should not solicit them into marketing schemes or similar programs that may have grey reputation including but not limited to pyramid schemes, multi-level marketing programs, ponzi operations, or other schemes of questionable merit. Ethical straightforward business practice with a win-win orientation rather than a win-lose attitude is encouraged.
LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY: Members of SET are expected to stay within legal requirements for the practice of hypnosis, guided imagery, or other forms of focused trance and any restrictions upon the appropriate scope of practice which may apply to them. Those who are legally practicing as alternative healthcare professionals must fully disclose their legal credentials and whether or not they are licensed healthcare or mental health practitioners. For all members, such full disclosure is considered good practice regardless or any legal requirements to do so. It is the responsibility of individual members to know and conform to legal requirements that apply to them. SET is not a legal outreach organization and is not responsible for the legal compliance of individual members, although members are strongly encouraged to be in legal compliance as they maintain active membership in good standing.
UNACCREDITED OR BOGUS ACADEMIC DEGREES: The SET frowns upon diploma mill operations. Members who have unaccredited academic credentials, must disclose the unaccredited nature of their degrees if and when used in advertising or promotional material. The SET does not recognize or allow the use of unaccredited or bogus doctoral or other degrees by members - including those in hypnosis, hypnotherapy, psychology, or related fields. Bogus, faux, or generally unrecognized accreditation agencies or schemes are not acceptable. Members are responsible for making certain their academic degrees credentials are in order. Academic degrees or other credentials are not considered a professional requirement for any of the forms of trancework covered by SET membership so the use of fraudulent degrees is not only unethical but unnecessary. Members who use professional or other initials after their name should be forthright in the nature and meaning of such designations.
AND HURT NONE,
DO WHAT YOU WILLSAFE, SANE, and CONSENSUAL
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