IBOH Professional
Code of Ethics
All practitioners holding the Holistic Healer Certified (HHC) designation are bound by the following ethical principles and professional standards.
The International Board of Healing (IBOH) is committed to establishing and maintaining high ethical standards for holistic, integrative, and intuitive practitioners. This Code of Ethics provides the foundational principles that govern the professional conduct of every HHC-designated practitioner.
This code is designed to protect clients, uphold the integrity of holistic practice, and provide practitioners with a clear framework for ethical decision-making. Adherence to this code is a condition of receiving and maintaining the HHC designation.
Principle 1: Client Welfare and Safety
1.1 The practitioner's primary obligation is the safety, wellbeing, and dignity of the client.
1.2 Practitioners shall not engage in any practice that poses a foreseeable risk of physical, emotional, or psychological harm to the client.
1.3 Practitioners shall create and maintain a safe, clean, and professional environment for all client interactions, whether in person or virtual.
1.4 Practitioners shall never claim to diagnose, treat, or cure medical or psychological conditions unless separately licensed to do so. Holistic practice is complementary and integrative — it does not replace conventional medical care.
1.5 Practitioners shall encourage clients to seek appropriate medical or psychological care when the client's needs fall outside the practitioner's scope of practice.
Principle 2: Scope of Practice
2.1 Practitioners shall operate within the boundaries of their training, experience, and competence.
2.2 Practitioners shall not misrepresent their qualifications, training, or the nature of their services to clients or the public.
2.3 Practitioners shall clearly communicate to clients what their services do and do not include, and the limitations of their modality.
2.4 Practitioners shall refer clients to other qualified professionals when the client's needs exceed the practitioner's scope.
Principle 3: Informed Consent
3.1 Practitioners shall obtain informed consent from every client prior to beginning any session or service.
3.2 Informed consent shall include a clear explanation of the nature of the service, what the client can expect, any potential risks or discomforts, the client's right to decline or discontinue at any time, and the practitioner's fees and cancellation policies.
3.3 Practitioners shall ensure that consent is freely given, without pressure, manipulation, or coercion.
Principle 4: Confidentiality
4.1 Practitioners shall protect the confidentiality of all client information, including personal details, session content, and health-related disclosures.
4.2 Client information shall not be disclosed to any third party without the client's explicit written consent, except where required by law (e.g., mandatory reporting of abuse or imminent harm).
4.3 Practitioners shall store client records securely and dispose of them responsibly.
Principle 5: Professional Boundaries
5.1 Practitioners shall maintain clear and appropriate boundaries with all clients at all times.
5.2 Practitioners shall not engage in sexual, romantic, or financially exploitative relationships with current clients.
5.3 Practitioners shall not use the practitioner-client relationship to further personal, religious, political, or financial interests beyond the agreed-upon scope of services.
5.4 Practitioners shall be mindful of power dynamics inherent in the helping relationship and shall not exploit the trust, dependency, or vulnerability of clients.
Principle 6: Non-Discrimination
6.1 Practitioners shall provide services without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, socioeconomic status, or any other characteristic.
6.2 Practitioners shall respect the cultural, spiritual, and personal beliefs of every client and shall not impose their own beliefs or practices on others.
Principle 7: Honesty and Integrity
7.1 Practitioners shall be truthful and transparent in all professional communications, including marketing, advertising, and client-facing materials.
7.2 Practitioners shall not make exaggerated, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims about the outcomes or effectiveness of their services.
7.3 Practitioners shall not use fear, urgency, or emotional manipulation in marketing or client interactions.
7.4 Practitioners shall accurately represent their credentials, including the HHC designation, and shall not imply that it constitutes a government-issued license or medical qualification.
Principle 8: Continuing Development
8.1 Practitioners shall commit to ongoing professional development, staying informed about best practices, emerging research, and evolving ethical standards within their modality and the broader holistic field.
8.2 Practitioners shall seek supervision, peer consultation, or mentorship when facing ethical dilemmas or situations beyond their experience.
Principle 9: Professional Representation
9.1 Practitioners shall represent the HHC designation and the IBOH with integrity, recognizing that their conduct reflects on the broader community of credentialed practitioners.
9.2 Practitioners shall not use the IBOH name, seal, or credentials in a manner that is misleading, unauthorized, or harmful to the organization's reputation.
9.3 Practitioners whose HHC designation is suspended, revoked, or lapsed shall immediately cease using the HHC post-nominal letters and Board-Certified seal.
Principle 10: Accountability
10.1 Practitioners shall cooperate fully with any IBOH inquiry or review related to ethical conduct.
10.2 Practitioners who become aware of a colleague's conduct that may violate this code are encouraged to address the concern directly or report it to the IBOH.
10.3 Violations of this Code of Ethics may result in review, suspension, or revocation of the HHC designation.
Reporting a Concern
Clients, practitioners, or members of the public who wish to report a potential ethical violation by an HHC-designated practitioner may contact the IBOH Ethics Review Committee at: hello@iboh.org
All reports are reviewed confidentially and in accordance with the IBOH Ethics Review Process.
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