Are IMDHA Schools and Certified Hypnotherapists authorize by the IMDHA to use the Professional Title of "Clinical" when referring to their level of professional skill?

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Email to all IMDHA Schools from Robert Otto, Chief Executive Officer, International Medical & Dental Hypnotherapy Association regarding IMDHA Schools promoting themselves as clinical level training schools.

Dear IMDHA School Owners,

It has been brought to our attention that some of our school owners are advertising their training under the title of 'Certified CLINICAL Hypnotist/Hypnotherapist', CCHt, and thereby granting this title to their students upon completion of their training.

Please take note that our new administration has never deviated from the previously designated post nominals granted to it's certified members. Currently we only offer TWO designated titles: Certified Hypnotist and/or Certified Hypnotherapist (HypnoCounselor in New Jersey). If anyone teaching classes under the IMDHA banner, is using anything other than these two titles, you are doing so without the consent of IMDHA. For the record, IMDHA will NOT grant any such title (CCHt) and ask that you remove any reference of such from your advertising material and course catalogs. While we realize that this message does not apply to the majority of our approved schools, we feel it necessary to call this to the attention of everyone.

I urge you to carefully consider the terminology used in all promotional material, literature, advertising campaigns and certificates. You do not want to raise any red flags! The services offered and terminology describing those services are extremely important. Unless you are licensed to do so, take heed to the terminology used in the description of you and the services you provide. Good, honest, hard-working practitioners and educators have been shut down and 'made an example' for using inappropriate terminology. Consequently, this can cause undue hardship in the form of stress and loss of income. Don't let this happen to you!

I encourage you to work within your scope of practice. Complaints surface and come about always through a complaint of a third party, and usually caused by harmful ADVERTISING....mainly in Business Cards, Newspapers and Internet. Additionally, when hypnotism services are offered for mental issues that are covered in the DSM IV such as Phobias, Addictions, ADD/ADHD, Sexual Dysfunction, etc., the hypnotist is sabotaging his or her own ability to practice without censure of some kind.

I trust that this email has sufficiently clarified some very important points. We are working very hard to ensure that YOU are able to continue to work within your chosen profession. Of course, as I've stated in the past, I am always available to you for consultation. Please feel free to call at any time with concerns, suggestions or ideas. We welcome your insight and participation.

Thank you for being part of our ever-growing team of educators. It is because of your hard work and committed dedication that Hypnosis has taken it's rightful place in Complementary Health Care. Please take appropriate action to ensure that we maintain our right to help others help themselves.

Sincerely,
Robert F. Otto
IMDHA Chief Executive Officer