Hypnotherapist Diploma (Complete)

Counselling Hypnotherapy Diploma (Online) HP301

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Our Counselling Hypnotherapy Diploma program is intended for students looking for professional Counselling Hypnotherapy certification training. If you are currently in a health care practice and want to expand your skillset or are looking for a new career as a Counselling Hypnotherapist this program meets those needs. 

This course can be taken from anywhere in the world with an internet connection and you can start at any time (courses are ongoing). Students are required to attend a minimum of six live online class weekends (about one per month) although you can miss a weekend and make it up at a later date. All weekend classes are recorded and saved for review.

 There is no requirement to travel. All of our training is online.
Students taking our Basic Certificate program can seamlessly switch into this Diploma Program at any time. 

Government Financial assistance is available for eligible students who are Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents, through the Canadian and provincial government student loan programs.  

Did you serve in the Canadian Armed Forces and plan to attend Orca Institute? If you have at least six years of service, you could be eligible for funding from Veterans Affairs Canada to cover your tuition and other expenses.   Learn more
This program has been approved by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.

Course fee: CAD $5900.00 plus CAD $500.00 (approx.) for books  (see PTIB)
Check out our Interest-Free Tax-deductible Payment Plans! 

Please note: It is recommended for students to be a member of the IACH (International Association of Counselling Hypnotherapists) upon registering for our courses. The cost of registration is CAD 80.00, apply here

It is possible to receive credit for prior learning. Please inquire. Call Sheldon at 604-900-1245 or e-mail for further information.

Course Code

HP301 – Counselling Hypnotherapy Diploma (Includes our Basic Certificate course – HP-202)

Course Overview

This comprehensive 8-month training program prepares the student to be proficient in hypnotherapy, counselling and various complementary approaches. After completing all of the required assignments successfully of the Basic hypnotherapy course the student receives a Resident Hypnotherapist Certificate.

The second part of the program focuses on advanced hypnotherapy and counselling skills with a strong focus on Ericksonian Hypnotherapy. The student acquires a more sophisticated skill set which enables them to work with a broader range of therapeutic modalities. Upon the successful completion of the advanced course requirements and exam, the student receives a Counselling Hypnotherapist (Cand.) Diploma.

The Counselling Hypnotherapy Diploma program consists of:

  • Hypnotherapy Skills I
  • Basic Counselling Skills I
  • Hypnotherapy Skills II
  • Hypnotherapy Skills III
  • Basic Supervision
  • Resident Hypnotherapist Certificate
  • Basic Counselling Skills II
  • Clinical Supervision
  • 6-weekend classes (approximately 1 weekend per month)
  • Counselling Hypnotherapist (Cand.) Diploma

Pre-requisite: 19yrs. or older. 

About our Counselling Hypnotherapy program

Required Materials

To be purchased by the student:
  • Therapeutic Trances: The Cooperation Principle in Ericksonian Hypnotherapy by Stephen G. Gilligan
  • Skilled Helper A Problem-Management Approach to Helping by Gerard Egan
  • Exercises in Helping Skills The Skilled Helper by Gerard Egan
  • Choices: Interviewing and Counselling Skills for Canadians by Bob Shebib

Included in this course:

  • Course manuals (online)
  • Course videos (95 hours) (built into the course manuals)
  • Student Manual (online)
  • 6 Live Weekend Classes (Zoom)
  • Private Facebook Group
  • Excellent Support

Support

Support is provided throughout the program by phone, Zoom, Facebook and e-mail. We have an active private Facebook group for our past and current hypnotherapy students and teachers. Support is provided in how to set up and promote a Hypnotherapy Practice cost-effectively. We will very soon be adding a new short course called SEO for Counsellors.

Course Details

The complete Counselling Hypnotherapy course with the exception of our weekend classes is found in the student area of our website. It is very user-friendly our students appreciate that all of the course material is easily accessible and in one place.

Hypnotherapy Skills I

This section intends to give the student a basic grounding in traditional hypnosis skills using “direct” methods. In addition to basic hypnosis skills, the student will also learn how other complementary approaches such as Yoga, Breathing, Meditation, Chi Kung, Acupuncture Theory, Chakras, Huna and Kinesiology integrate with and complement hypnotherapy.

As is common throughout the complete program, the focus is on experiential learning. Three manuals written by the instructor, Sheldon Bilsker, HT, RCC are included in this course

Hypnosis and Related Topics Covered:

  • History of Hypnosis, Defining Hypnosis
  • Synonymous terminology, Conscious, Sub-conscious, Super-conscious
  • Self Hypnosis techniques and other methods
  • Subjective and objective experiences in trance
  • Physiological response to stress, Suggestibility tests
  • Comparing direct and indirect approaches, Developing effectiveness
  • Techniques of hypnosis (progressive relaxation, count, fascination, fractionation, arm levitation, confusion, rapid induction and guided imagery)
  • Deepening the trance (deepening techniques, levels of consciousness), Depth testing, Abreactions, Affirmations, Ideo-motor response
  • Wording of hypnotic suggestions, Representational systems, Anchoring, Vipassana Meditation

Basic Counselling Skills

The Basic Counseling skills course is based on the textbook and workbook by Gerard Egan. Aimed at helpers, the text emphasizes the collaborative nature of the therapist-client relationship and using a practical, three-stage model that drives client problem-managing and opportunity-developing action, leads readers step-by-step through the counselling process, while giving them a feeling for the complexity inherent in any helping relationship.

As readers master the various steps of the helping model, they should be able to improve their competence and confidence measurably. Students practice communication skills and each of the steps of the model in private before practising them in actual helping interactions with others

Hypnotherapy Skills II

The main focus of this course is on Ericksonian Hypnosis, based on the work of Dr. Milton Erickson. The concept is that once students have begun to master direct methods of hypnosis, they can begin the process of learning the more versatile and subtle form which is Ericksonian Hypnotherapy.

The broad base of multi-level communication skills that students learn serves to enhance their ability to be “absorbed” in the therapeutic moment and really, hear, see and feel what the client needs. The experiential aspect of this course includes demonstrations of various methods as well as students practising with each other. The students will get feedback from one another as well as from the Instructor. During supervision, students work with clients which could be other students or people they know.

Ericksonian Psychotherapy and Philosophy, Client-centred Approaches and Philosophy, Jungian Approaches are just some of the areas students will begin to be familiar with. Students will begin to acquaint themselves with various counselling approaches that include: empathy, unconditional positive regard.

Using stories and metaphors with counselling and hypnotherapy enhances the student’s opportunity to move fluidly in a session from intake to deciding on the best hypnotherapeutic approach, including suggestions and finally bringing the client out of trance (hypnosis).

Topics

  • Ericksonian definitions of hypnosis and hypnotherapy
  • Principles of Ericksonian hypnotherapy
  • Induction approaches
  • Major steps in hypnotic inductions

Key Modalities of Ericksonian Hypnotherapy

  • Metaphor and stories
  • Confusion
  • Dissociation
  • Embedded suggestions
  • Generalities

Induction Approaches

  • Directing the client’s attention inwards
  • Non-verbal pacing and leading
  • Accessing a previous trance state
  • Informal hypnotic induction

Hypnotherapy Process

  • Client intake
  • Body of the trance
  • Hypnotic suggestions
  • Bringing a client out of trance — post-hypnotic suggestions

Hypnotherapy Skills III

This course intends to encourage the student to incorporate current skills and continue to develop and refine new approaches. This is accomplished by having students work with each other on real issues under supervision in class as well as working with “clients” outside of class. We feel that the opportunity to be in the client role as well as the therapists can be a valuable learning experience and provide a different and important perspective.

This format allows the student therapist to be guided throughout the course in a safe and supportive environment. Also touched on are areas not covered previously such as addictions, bulimia, abuse and hypoglycemia. recognizing the symptoms and knowing “when to refer” as well as creating a business plan and how to promote. The evaluation consists of observation of the student through our Virtual Classroom and verbal feedback.

Basic Supervision

Basic supervision is taught through indirect supervision of student-conducted practice sessions. Students will conduct sessions with actual clients over Zoom (Total of 30 sessions) and video-record one session. The instructor will evaluate the session. The student’s hypnotherapy and counselling skills will be critiqued for further refinement and accuracy.Students will also be required to observe a variety of role-playing and actual sessions on video conducted by the instructor. 

Resident Hypnotherapist Certificate

Upon successful completion of the Basic section of the Diploma course, the student will receive a Resident Hypnotherapist Certificate.

Advanced Hypnotherapy Skills

In this section of the course, the instructor will focus on the more subtle aspects of multiple level communication and how it applies to Ericksonian hypnosis as well as counselling methods. There will be an opportunity for the student to observe the instructor working with students online as well as, lecture and discussion on topics relating to advanced and specialty areas of hypnotherapy

Basic Counselling Skills II

The textbook used in this section is “Choices” by Bob Shebib. The assignments in this textbook will cover the following:

  • Relationship building, exploring/probing, empowering and challenging.
  • Basic concepts of ethics, values, and self-awareness.
  • Examining the helping relationship and considering the core conditions necessary for counselling to be effective.
  • Active listening skills.
  • Active phase skills.
  • Working with various populations.
  • Cultural differences

Clinical Supervision

Supervision is taught through student conducted practice sessions. Students will conduct an additional 30 sessions with actual clients and video record two more sessions for evaluation. The instructor will supervise progress as it proceeds by communicating with the student through telephone, Skype, Zoom or e-mail.

The student’s hypnotherapy and counselling skills will be critiqued for further refinement and accuracy. Students will also be required to observe a variety of sessions on video conducted by the instructor and others. 

Weekend Classes

Our weekend classes include some structured learning combined with a focus on specific areas from student interests.
This can include:

  • Hypnotic Inductions
  • Counselling and Hypnotherapy
  • Taking what the client brings and creating a hypnotherapy session
  • The beginning, middle and end of a session
  • Tone and Pacing
  • Metaphors and Stories
  • Abreactions
  • Self-care for the therapist
  • Ethics

These are just some of the modules offered in the classes. Each of us is a teacher and a learner. We each bring life experience, wisdom from other teachings and our uniqueness; our class time is made richer by what we all bring.”

Counselling Hypnotherapist (Cand.) Diploma

The following is a list of program requirements:

  1. Successful completion of all course assignments
  2. Reading all required texts and manuals (95 hrs. of video included in manual)
  3. Completion of a total of 60 client sessions (3 sessions video recorded and submitted)
  4. Two essay exams
  5. Attending 6 – online weekend classes

 Upon successful completion of program assignments, the student will receive a Diploma as a Counselling Hypnotherapist  (Cand.).

 Also, the student will be eligible to become a Counselling Hypnotherapist (Cand.) with the International Association of Counseling Hypnotherapists (IACH).

 According to IACH standards, a practitioner at the Counselling Hypnotherapist (Cand.) level can work in areas such as smoking, weight, stress, sports, self-esteem and phobias and  any   other behavioural areas. Areas of practice such as obesity, abuse, PTSD and other similar areas are restricted unless the practitioner can show further Counselling training.Please see   IACH Standards for more detail. 

More Questions: See our FAQ’s page or feel free to call Sheldon at 604-900-1245.

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