1. Scope and purpose. This Code sets the professional standards expected of members in their practice and in their dealings with clients, the public and WhatHolistic. It exists to protect the public and the credibility of every member. It does not replace any obligation a member has under law, under their professional body's ethical framework, or under any other body's rules; where a member's professional body sets a stricter standard, that standard applies.
2. Honesty about qualifications. Members must describe their training, qualifications, professional body memberships and experience accurately at all times, on this site and everywhere else. Members must not claim qualifications, memberships, approaches or specialisms they do not hold, must never use a legally protected title (such as "physiotherapist", "osteopath", "chiropractor", "nurse" or "psychologist") or call themselves a doctor without the statutory registration it requires, must describe themselves by a CNHC therapy or a professional body's grade only while they hold it, and must keep their profile factually current.
3. Insurance. Members must hold current professional insurance appropriate to their practice at all times while listed, and must supply an updated insurance document when the one on file expires. Practising without insurance while listed is treated as a serious breach.
4. Working within competence. Members must practise only within the scope of their training and experience. Where a client's needs fall outside that scope, the member must say so and, where appropriate, refer the client towards their GP or another suitably qualified practitioner. A medical condition, or a condition that needs medical supervision, is for the client's GP and medical team, not for a therapist working alone.
5. Client safety and risk. Members must respond appropriately when a client may be at risk of harm to themselves or others, in line with their training and any professional body guidance, including signposting urgent support (NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency; the Samaritans on 116 123) and following safeguarding obligations where they apply. Members must never advise a client to stop, delay or decline medical treatment, medication or appointments, must ask before each session about health conditions, pregnancy and medicines that affect whether or how they work, and must follow their professional body's hygiene and safe-practice standards, including single-use sterile needles for acupuncture.
6. Supervision and peer support. Members are encouraged to keep regular professional supervision or peer support appropriate to their practice, in line with their register's or professional body's guidance, and to answer honestly if a client asks about it.
7. Truthful advertising. Members' advertising, including their profile here, website and social media, must comply with the UK advertising codes (the CAP Code, including its rules on health claims). Members must not make efficacy claims they cannot substantiate, claim that a therapy treats, relieves or prevents a disease or medical condition, or advertise services outside their competence and insured scope (CAP AdviceOnline "Health: Therapies (General)" and its pages for acupuncture, reflexology and Reiki explain these rules). Client testimonials must comply with every professional-body code that applies to the member. Publication here requires a separate review of those rules.
8. Accurate use of credentials. Members may describe themselves as a "Listed member of WhatHolistic" and use the member badge in accordance with the Badge Terms of Use. Members must not describe WhatHolistic as a regulator or an official register, or their listing as an endorsement of their skill, and must stop using all membership credentials if their membership lapses or is removed.
9. The session agreement. Members must be clear with clients, before work begins, about what the work involves: fees, session length, any follow-up support, cancellation terms, confidentiality and its limits, and how the work can be ended. Members must respect a client's right to pause or end the work at any time.
10. Confidentiality and data protection. Members must keep client information confidential, share it only with the client's consent or where the law or safeguarding obligations require, and comply with UK data protection law in how they collect, store and use client records. Members must never confirm publicly that any individual is or was a client.
11. Professional boundaries. Members must maintain appropriate professional boundaries with clients at all times, must not exploit the client relationship financially, emotionally or sexually, and must treat every client with dignity and respect regardless of background or characteristics.
12. A safe, confidential setting. Members must provide a setting appropriate to confidential work, whether in a practice room or online, including reasonable steps to keep online sessions private and secure.
13. Records. Members should keep appropriate, accurate and secure records, sufficient to support safe ongoing work and consistent with their professional body's guidance.
14. Fees and clarity. Members must be clear with clients about fees, cancellation terms and what a session includes, before any charge is made, and are encouraged to keep the fee shown on their profile current.
15. Keeping skills current. Members are expected to maintain their continuing professional development in line with their training and any professional body requirements.
16. Notifiable events. Members must inform us promptly if: their insurance lapses or is refused; they are convicted of a relevant criminal offence; they are subject to a disciplinary finding by a professional body; their register entry or professional body membership ends or changes while shown on their profile; or anything else occurs that materially affects their fitness to be listed.
17. Cooperation with complaints. Members must engage constructively and honestly with the Complaints Procedure, respond to enquiries within stated timescales, and comply with its outcomes.
18. Conduct towards others. Members must not harass, discriminate against or denigrate clients, colleagues or other practitioners. Fair competition and professional courtesy are expected.
19. Bringing the directory into disrepute. Conduct that seriously undermines public confidence in the member or in WhatHolistic, whether or not covered by a specific clause above, may be treated as a breach of this Code.