Who are the SHTC?

The Society for Holistic Therapists and Coaches (SHTC) exists to provide the General Public and Health Professionals with a body of regulated professionals, all qualified to accredited levels, and who all obey the appropriate NOS National Occupational Standards.

All of our members have appropriate professional qualifications that are either directly accredited in their own right (e.g. NVQ's and Degrees), or are from QCA / SQA approved Awarding bodies.

We do not accept members who only have independently accredited awards.

All our members are contracted by their membership terms and conditions to adhere to the appropriate National Occupational Standards (NOS) for therapies offered. The NOS are the officially set professional standards in the UK.

Our members all have to submit yearly evidence of professional insurance to an appropriate level, and adhere to a code of professional conduct and ethics.

The SHTC is run independently from any College or Awarding Body, and therefore will accept all appropriately qualified therapists equally and fairly. We exist to maintain standards, and not engage in industry politics.

Membership applications are assessed by a qualified assessor, and compared to recognised standards of level, appropriateness and accreditation. The assessor will either hold NVQ Assessor unit qualifications, or be a trained and recognised assessor for an approved awarding body.

The Society is actively supported and promoted by a leading accredited training college, but is run externally to ensure fairness to all applicants.

All decision makers are appropriately qualified in assessment and or verification.

The overall decision making and running of the Society is overseen by the Director, a professional therapist with over 12 years professional experience, a UK University Honours BSc in a subject relevant to Change Management and Human Resource Management, a number of ASET accredited awards (levels 3 and 4), an NVQ Level 4 in Training and Development, including the appropriate NVQ Assessor, Training and Coaching units (including C21, C25, D32, D33, D36), and a range of "independent" qualifications. He also has a Professorship from the UK Division (UK Chair) of an international Seminary (church training college) relating to pastoral issues.

Further staff members include a disabilities officer who liases with any members who need additional advice or support in regard to disability or other special needs, and financial and administration officers.

Please note that although the Society has an administrative base at a leading accredited college, decisions regarding assessment, standards and membership are made by the Director and are independent to the views of any training body.