Code Of Ethics

Code of Ethics and Standards for the Practice of Educators Affiliated with the
HypnoBirthing® Institute

The following Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for Practitioners affiliated with the HypnoBirthing® Institute has been developed in order to preserve the integrity of HypnoBirthing®. The Mongan Method and to assure its continuity. The intent is also to provide a guarantee to the public that any woman enrolled in a HypnoBirthing® class will be assured that her childbirth education meets the high standards of quality instruction set forth by the HypnoBirthing® Institute. It ensures that the presentation she receives is in accordance with the prescribed course outline as defined within the official Practitioner's Syllabus.

I. DEFINITION:
A Certified HypnoBirthing® Practitioner/Childbirth Educator (HBCE) is defined as any person who has been trained by an authorized faculty member of HypnoBirthing® Institute and who has otherwise met all requirements for initial certification and annual renewal of his/her affiliation with the HypnoBirthing® Institute and is currently in good standing.

II. QUALIFICATIONS:
A candidate for certification as a HypnoBirthing® Practitioner/Childbirth Educator must complete a 32-hour HypnoBirthing® Practitioner/Childbirth Educator training program, consisting of Introduction to Hypnosis for Birthing, Introduction to Birthing Basics, and HypnoBirthing Practitioner/Childbirth Educator training, taught by an authorized faculty member of the HypnoBirthing Institute.
A. Hypnotherapists, certified by a nationally recognized organization, or currently enrolled in a recognized hypnotherapy certification program may request a waiver for Introduction to Hypnosis for Birthing.
B. Birthing professionals (certified doulas, midwives, certified childbirth educators, labor and birthing nurses, etc.) may request a waiver for Introduction to Birthing Basics.
C. A home-study version of Introduction to Birthing Basics is available only for those who are required to take both Introduction to Birthing Basics and Introduction to Hypnosis for Birthing.

III. CERTIFICATION:
A candidate will be granted a certification document and number only after completion of the official 32-hour HypnoBirthing Practitioner/Childbirth Educator training program taught by an authorized faculty member of the HypnoBirthing® Institute and upon submitting a successfully completed set of Practitioner Reviews. In addition, there must be on file at the Institute a copy of the current Practitioner Agreement with signature, indicating he/she understands the philosophy of HypnoBirthing® and the terms of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and agrees to abide by them in the teaching of HypnoBirthing classes.

Attendance at a Practitioner Certification class does not equate to automatic certification. Requests for exception to any of these terms must be reviewed and determined by the Advisory Board of the HypnoBirthing Institute.

IV. PRACTICE:
Only practitioners currently certified and affiliated with the HypnoBirthing Institute may teach HypnoBirthing Childbirth Education. The HypnoBirthing course must be taught in its entirety, clearly identified as HypnoBirthing® The Mongan Method, and must be appropriately labeled as HypnoBirthing in course outlines, advertising brochures, websites and class literature.

HypnoBirthing is a discrete childbirth preparation method. Therefore, pieces of HypnoBirthing®--The Mongan Method--may not be incorporated into other childbirth education programs; i.e., Bradley, Lamaze, or other individually developed programs, etc., nor may pieces of other childbirth education programs that routinely include discussion of the mechanics of traditional birthing, such as complications, drugs, medical procedures, step-by-step expectations of the stages of labor, etc., be introduced into HypnoBirthing classes.

Practitioners may not delete, substitute or modify the prescribed format or materials without express permission from the HypnoBirthing Institute. Any materials or activities added to the curriculum must be free of words, procedures and techniques that suggest theory that is contrary to the HypnoBirthing philosophy. A request and a copy of all materials to be added to the HypnoBirthing curriculum are to be submitted to the Institute for review, and permission granted, prior to its introduction into the course.

Practitioners will keep on file a signed Enrollment Agreement for each mother taking the course.

Practitioners will complete an online Class Report and encourage their parents to complete an online Class/Instructor Evaluation and Parents Birth Report.

HypnoBirthing classes are taught in a series of 5 weekly sessions of 2 1/2 hours each or 4 weekly sessions of 3 hours each. The only exceptions to this format are if the client is close to the time of her birthing and the time frame precludes holding the class over a four- or five-week period or if the distance that the client or the practitioner needs to travel to meet precludes four or five weekly sessions. Even in those cases, the entire curriculum should be covered.

HypnoBirthing classes are not designed to be psychotherapeutic sessions, nor are they intended to become a routine addition to a hypnotherapist's counseling practice. If it becomes apparent that a HB client has deeper issues or special circumstances of a psychological nature that need to be addressed, a practitioner who is a certified hypnotherapist/hypnotist may suggest, but may not require, an individual session. If the practitioner does not have this certification, the client should be referred to a hypnotherapist/hypnotist or a mental health professional who is qualified to work with more serious issues.

HypnoBirthing classes are not meant to provide medical care or specific medical advice. A HypnoBirthing client requesting information about medical issues may be referred to an appropriate health care provider or complimentary therapy practitioner.

Parents may also be given information about possible alternatives and resources to research so that they may make their own decisions in cooperation with their care providers.

V. MATERIALS:
The name HypnoBirthing is a registered trademark, held by the HypnoBirthing Institute, and all HypnoBirthing materials are copyrighted. As such, they are protected under Federal and International Intellectual Property Laws. Only advertising materials, scripts and other specific materials designated for distribution to mothers enrolled in the course may be reproduced. HypnoBirthing handouts may not be distributed to persons not enrolled in classes. Those forms and handouts can be found in the Forms and Handouts CD or HBResource online group. No other HypnoBirthing materials may be reproduced or transmitted for any reason, or at any time, in any form, by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, voice recording, faxing, or any information storage or retrieval systems, except for brief quotations, without permission in writing from the President, Marie Mongan. Any person who does not take this section seriously and commits an infringement of trademark or copyright protection is subject to a finding by the Ethics Committee of the HypnoBirthing Institute and the Institute and possible legal prosecution. Only certified HypnoBirthing Practitioners whose membership is current are authorized to use the HypnoBirthing name and materials.

Practitioners must provide a current HypnoBirthing® textbook and Rainbow Relaxation/Affirmations CD set to every client, to be included in the price of tuition. Only official HypnoBirthing materials, obtained through the HypnoBirthing Institute, may be used in the presentation of a HypnoBirthing Childbirth Education class. Any substitutions, additions or deletions must be pre-approved.

VI. MARKETING:
Practitioners currently affiliated with the HypnoBirthing Institute are the only persons authorized to use the name HypnoBirthing®. Authorized persons may use the name and logo on promotional materials, business cards, advertising in print, radio, or television, or on appropriate class handouts and materials. Any practitioner who posts a website listing HypnoBirthing must prominently display the words, “Affiliated with the HypnoBirthing Institute”. Articles composed by a practitioner for print in magazines or newspapers must be submitted to the Institute prior to their being submitted to a publication if they specifically use the name HypnoBirthing® or refer to HypnoBirthing methods.

Practitioners are responsible for seeing that their promotional materials reflect current Institute guidelines, including the registered trademark symbol. Promotional materials and marketing literature are submitted to the Institute at the time of the yearly renewal.

HypnoBirthing®—The Mongan Method--and HypnoBirthing techniques MAY NOT BE USED OR MARKETED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UNDER ANY NAME OTHER THAN HYPNOBIRTHING®. Your HypnoBirthing classes may be advertised within the structure of your other services, but must be a discrete offering, so labeled. Other services may not be included under the umbrella of HypnoBirthing.

VII. RENEWAL:
Affiliation with the Institute is renewable on the anniversary month in which you took your certification training. Renewal is not based on the month in which you were certified. In order to maintain certification and remain a member in good standing, HypnoBirthing practitioners renew their affiliation with the HypnoBirthing Institute on an annual basis by submitting a renewal packet to the HypnoBirthing Institute. Renewal packets will be emailed from the Institute at least one month prior to your anniversary month.

Practitioners who choose to remain inactive for a year but wish to remain in affiliation with the HypnoBirthing Institute and receive notices and mailings during that year may request to remain in an inactive status and simply submit a specified reduced renewal fee. At such time that the practitioner wishes to return to active status, he/she may request to be added to the referral roster and submit the renewal of certification packet at the next renewal date. All newsletters, notices, and updates will be provided to a member who is in a paid inactive status.

Renewal requirements include:
A statement that the current textbook has been reread within a month of renewal
(Please include particular items that were reinforced by the reading.)
A review of highlights of one book on the prescribed book list
A total of 15 Continuing Professional Development/Education Units to be earned every two years. (Inquire about projects, in-service presentations, orientations, news articles, special services, etc.)
A copy of all marketing materials currently in use by the practitioner
Online Class Evaluations and Birth Data Reports should be completed by clients.
A signed copy of the current HypnoBirthing Practitioner's Agreement
Annual membership dues that will be included in your renewal packet.
A verification statement that you are using only current materials, consistent with the philosophy of HypnoBirthing

VIII. TEACHING:
Any practitioner currently affiliated with the HypnoBirthing Institute may teach the HypnoBirthing Childbirth Education Method to pregnant individuals or couples seeking prenatal education. Only members of the HypnoBirthing® Institute faculty may train, in full or in part, an individual wishing to use the method and the materials to teach consumers. All practitioners are permitted and encouraged to present brief orientation programs—no longer than 1 1/2 hours—to interested groups.

IX. EVALUATIONS:
Practitioners will encourage the parents in their class to complete an online Course and Instructor Evaluation and a Parents’ Birth Report.

X. EXCEPTIONS/WAIVERS:
Requests for exception or waiver of any of the articles in this agreement must be submitted in writing to the HypnoBirthing Institute. Requests will be considered on an individual basis.