SHAI Professional Code of Practice

A Code of Practice is a set of guidelines which governs the professional conduct of any member of an  Association. It is set down by the professional association for their members.

SHAI Code of Ethics and Practice

This code of Ethics and Practice is designed to encourage integrity and responsibility. All members must abide by and uphold this Code of Ethics and Practice.

Membership Eligibility:

• Your practitioner training qualification may be completed anywhere in the world, but the training must be 100% instructor-led with at least 50% of hours in person. 
• Online self-paced practitioner training is not recognised as a practitioner qualification for membership of SHAI.
• The competency assessment for your practitioner qualification, must include minimum of 20 case study treatments

Eligibility for the Job Title of Sound Therapist:

If you are trained in the Peter Hess or other recognised method of sound massage, and are using therapy grade singing bowls in your clinical practice, and/or are trained in biofield tuning and using therapy grade tuning forks in your clinical practice, you may register with SHAI as a Sound Therapist & Therapeutic Sound Professional.

Otherwise, you may register with SHAI as a Therapeutic Sound Professional.

SHAI Professional Members Must Always

• Be respectful and courteous to each other at all times.
• Keep confidential all that is experienced and shared in their therapy sessions.
• Take responsibility for the relationship they have with their client and fellow practitioners and professionals and ensure that the trust placed in them is upheld.
• Recognize their own limitations and seek help from those with greater skills and experience where required.
• Maintain suitable working conditions and ensure that the environment is safe and meets regulations where required.
• Ascertain, whenever necessary, that clients have sought medical advice where appropriate and advising, where appropriate, that they do so.
• Hold professional indemnity/therapy insurance
• Store their Client records in locked storage not accessible to anyone else.
• Know and adhere to all requirements of data privacy laws in Ireland.

Members Must Never

•  Mislead the public – either as a student and/or as a professional Practitioner. 
• Give or offer any other form of treatment or therapy than that which is stated or agreed with the client in advance.
• Falsify documents or client notes.
• Abuse or exploit any client in any way whatsoever.
• Discriminate on the grounds of gender, race, religion, politic persuasion, medical condiction, age or disability
• Before giving treatments, students and Practitioners must always explain to a client on their first visit how they will give the treatment, how it is generally experienced and what the client may expect.
• Never guarantee, promise, claim, imply a cure or diagnose.

While Giving Treatments Members Must Always

• Behave with decorum, propriety and common decency.
• Respect the client’s wishes at all times.
• Respect the views and beliefs of the client.
• Have an additional adult present when giving a treatment to a child under 16 years of age.
• Never give a medical diagnosis to a client as a student or as a professional Practitioner.
• Never advise or recommend that a client undergo a particular form of treatment (e.g. an operation or course of drugs) or interfere with the medical advice or treatment which the patient is receiving.
• Always follow instructions in a referral letter from a doctor or medical professional.
• Never have a third party present without the client’s specific consent.

CONTINOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)

The best complementary therapy practitioners will always be growing and learning.   As a member of SHAI you undertake to make a commitment to your own continued professional development.

This learning and growth may be gained through further experience and education in the field of Sound Healing or any holistic/medical/scientific/musical training of your choice which supports your skills as a practitioner.

We trust in your dedication and commitment to yourself and the clients you work with, so we don’t ask for evidence of your CPD.

Suggestions for your CPD

• Staying up to date: It is vital to keep up to date with current developments. Training is one way of doing this, as is regular practice.
• Planning: It is important for the Practitioner to plan their own professional development – this can be done formally through training and informally through activities they arrange themselves.
• Keeping A Professional Portfolio: Keeping a record of all professional/personal development activities. It is a record/journal of what you do that contributes to remaining up to date with developments in your field, and includes both formal and informal learning.
• Client Care & Professionalism: It will lead to the Practitioner being more educated and skilled and thus allows them to provide an improved service.
• Professional Conduct: Professionalism means providing a service that clients’ are willing to put their trust in.