About Our Online Hypnotherapy School
1. How old is Orca Institute?
Established in 1986, Orca Institute is 37 years old, Canada's longest-running hypnotherapy school.
2. What accreditations does your school have?
3. Is there a difference between your Hypnotherapy school's Accreditations and others?
All schools in BC have to be registered. It is optional to be "designated". About half the private training Institutes in BC are designated. We are the only Hypnotherapy school in BC that to be designated.
Designation is a long involved process conducted by the Government of BC. This review covers every detail such as how a school functions, student response, financials, past history, independent course review and more. The school is reviewed extensively every 7 years and must provide student statistics and financials each year. Designated schools with EQA are legally allowed to accept International students on work Visas.
4. What are your instructor's qualifications?
Diane Auld, MTC, HT is a practicing Counselling Hypnotherapist, Master Therapeutic Counsellor (ACCT) Hypnotherapy and Counselling Teacher. She has been a Hypnotherapy Instructor since 2006. Her love affair with hypnotherapy started long before she decided to study Hypnotherapy at the Orca Institute. Sheldon Bilsker, RCC, HT is a practicing Counselling Hypnotherapist and Registered Clinical Counselor with 38 years of experience in private practice. He is President and Founder of the International Association of Counseling Hypnotherapists (IACH) and past President of The Canadian Hypnotherapy Association. He has also been a member of the Legislative Review Committee and one of the original members of the BC Association of Clinical Counselors.
Our Online Hypnosis Training Courses
1. Can I take your courses from anywhere?
Yes, You can take our training from anywhere. You just need an internet connection and a cell phone or computer. There is no travel requirement.
2. What is the difference between the Basic and Diploma Hypnosis Certification Courses?
The Basic course is equivalent to the first third of the Diploma course. It is 285 hrs. over 8 months (about 10 hrs. per week) compared to the Diploma course which is 640 hrs. over 8 months (about 20 hrs. per week). The Basic Course covers the beginning of using indirect phrasing and counselling skills where the Diploma course moves into more advanced areas of Ericksonian hypnosis and Counselling.
A total of 30 hrs of supervision is required for the basic course and 60Hrs is required for the Diploma course. Successfully completing the Basic course gives you a certificate as a Resident Hypnotherapist and the Diploma course gives you a Diploma as a Counselling Hypnotherapist (Cand.) The Cand. Disappears when you have completed our Ethics in Counselling course or have 600hrs. of working with clients.
According to IACH (International Association of Counselling Hypnotherapists), a Resident Hypnotherapist can practice with restrictions, those being any areas in which there has been a medical diagnosis, such as Clinical Depression, PTSD etc. Counselling Hypnotherapists can work in those areas, but it is recommended that they do so in conjunction with other health providers.
Please note: A Basic student can seamlessly switch into the Diploma Course at any time. Fees would be pro-rated and extra time as appropriate would be added.
Learn more about the Basic course.
Learn more about our Hypnotherapy Diploma Program.
Learn more about our Counselling Skills Program.
3. Are there Prerequisites to your Basic and Diploma hypnosis Courses?
The Basic and Diploma courses both start from the Basic level. Therefore there are no Academic pre-requisites for either. The minimum age is 19.
4. How are students evaluated at your school?
Students are evaluated using a combination of written, multiple-choice and practical exams. Our open book written exams encourage students to research beyond the course curriculum.
5. How many hours per week should be dedicated to the diploma course over the eight-month period?
Approximately 20Hrs. Per week for the Hypnotherapy Diploma course and 10 Hrs. Per week for our Basic Hypnotherapy Certificate course. A student can receive extensions for either course.
6. Do you offer other courses?
Yes. We have recently added Advanced Counselling Skills. Learn More
7. Can I get credit for my previous hypnosis or counselling training?
Yes. We have a challenge system that allows a student to receive credit for previous training if successful. Please call Sheldon at 604-808-3703.
8. What kind of support is available for students who eventually want to start a private practice and aren't sure where to begin?
Orca Institute had one of the first web site’s online and its instructors have extensive experience in setting up and promoting a private counselling Hypnotherapy practice cost-effectively. Sheldon has experience in SEO, advertising and Social networking He is happy to share that knowledge with his students. New! We now have an online course called SEO (search engine optimization) for Counsellors.
9. What is covered in the Weekend Online Classes?
Besides general course material, Diane covers many areas geared to who is in the group and what their particular interests are. This is done through lectures, demonstrations, practice, and discussion. Learn more about Diane.
10. How big are your hypnotherapy classes?
Classes are about 10-27 students. Our students receive a great deal of personal attention and support and there are many opportunities to have your specific interests addressed.
11. What is your refund policy?
12. Are your courses self-paced?
Our courses are self-paced with the exception of our online weekend classes which are pre-scheduled at one weekend per month.
Our Hypnotherapy Courses, Designations, Formats and Payment plans
1. What certifications do you receive after successfully completing your Hypnotherapy courses?
Counselling Hypnotherapy Diploma: Counselling Hypnotherapist (Cand.). “Cand.” is removed after successful completion of our Counselling Skills Program.
Basic Hypnotherapy Certification: Resident Hypnotherapist.
2. How are the Basic and Diploma certification courses structured?
Our courses are designed to be very user-friendly. The courses you have registered for will drop down when you enter the Student area on our website. Other than the 6 weekends of online classes, everything you will need to complete the courses is located there.
It is simply a matter of going to the 1st manual, and as the student reads from page to page in each manual, they move through the course. If there are assignments or exams, they appear in a distinctive box with detailed instructions on how to complete and/or submit any documents and upload them to their assigned online folder. All videos are built into our manuals. Support is always available.
3. How can I talk to other students during the training at your school?
We have a very active private Facebook group for all of our past and current students and teachers. We want to make sure that even though this is an online course, students never feel like they are doing this course alone. Support is always available.
4. What if a student doesn't finish the course on time? Can they get an extension?
Yes. We have 2 and 4 months extensions available at $100.00 and $200.00 respectively.
5. Do you have payment plans?
Yes, Learn More.
6. Are students eligible for Canada Student Loans for your course?
Government Financial assistance is available for eligible students who are Canadian citizens or landed immigrants, through the Canadian and provincial government student loan programs. Orca Institute may assist prospective students to apply for Provincial & Federal student loans. This applies only to our Counselling Hypnotherapy Diploma Program (HP-301)
7. Can a student get professional liability insurance upon graduating?
A Diploma Student can get Professional Liability Insurance once they graduate from our Counselling Skills training. This will enable them to meet ACCT academic requirements and, upon becoming a member, get low-cost liability Insurance. Liability Insurance can be found on a private basis.
8. How does the Supervision part of the Hypnotherapy course work?
A student downloads an Excel spreadsheet in which to record sessions done with supervision clients. Students insert short notes on each session and the spreadsheet records the number of sessions. (30hrs. Basic and 30 hrs. Diploma). "Clients" can be other students or Acquaintances, in person or online. Video recordings of 1 session for the Basic course and 2 sessions for the Diploma course are uploaded for evaluation.
General Questions
1. How do you become a Certified Hypnotherapist?
About half of the provinces in Canada currently have some legislation relating to counselling. That could change in the future. Please see our Blog page to learn more.
2. How much does a Hypnotherapist get paid?
The range can be anywhere from $60.00 per hr. to $250.00 per hr. Starting fees for new Hypnotherapists in rural areas are closer to $70.00, Urban, $70.00 to $80.00, more experience and certifications, closer to $100.00 to $120.00, Psychologists $150.00 to $250.00.
3. Do you need a license to be a hypnotist?
No. There is some legislation in various states and provinces as stated above but they do not require licensure. Please see our blog for more information on Counselling legislation in Canada.
4. What is Hypnosis?
Simply put, Hypnosis is a state of highly focused attention. Daydreaming is a light hypnotic state. The moment one decides to internalize they very naturally begin to shift their attention inwards and move into "Trance" or hypnosis. A high state of anxiety is also a state of trance (highly focused attention). The first example describes trance with awareness, the second, trance without awareness.
5. Can anyone be Hypnotized?
Yes. Anyone who is capable of daydreaming can be hypnotized. Most of us move in and out of trance throughout the day. When you are watching a really good movie and 2 hrs. seems like 1/2 Hr. you were in trance or hypnosis.
6. Can you control someone using hypnosis?
No. However, you can influence someone. That is why techniques, such as NLP and other multi-level communication skills should always be practiced ethically. In 1989 Sheldon testified as an expert witness for the BC Human Rights Tribunal on this subject. We have added a comprehensive Ethics in Counselling Course because we feel that this area is not given the importance it deserves.
7. Is it hard to learn hypnosis?
No. That's the easy part. Anyone can read a book and by following directions to hypnotize someone. The first person Sheldon ever hypnotized in 1968 was by doing exactly that. However, it does take time to become very proficient. The harder part is to learn how to be a therapist which is anything but following steps. That's also why this course is 8 months rather than a week-long like some others.
