Hypnotherapy with a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor
In person at 220 Brew Street, Port Moody, or online anywhere in BC.
Hypnotherapy can be a gentle way to work on stress, worry and patterns that feel hard to shift with talk alone. At Helps Counselling, hypnotherapy is offered by Carrie Urdiga, a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor and Ericksonian hypnotherapist. Carrie sees clients in person at our Port Moody office in Suter Brook Village and online by video anywhere in BC.
Hypnotherapy is booked like a regular counselling session, and Carrie can combine it with counselling or use counselling on its own. You decide what feels right.
What is hypnotherapy?
The American Psychological Association's Society of Psychological Hypnosis defines hypnosis as a state of focused attention and reduced awareness of what is around you, in which a person can respond more readily to suggestion. Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis to help with a psychological or health concern (Elkins and colleagues, 2015).
In everyday terms, it can feel like being absorbed in a good book or a piece of music. You stay aware, you can hear everything, and you can stop at any time.
Our approach: Ericksonian hypnotherapy
Carrie trained in Ericksonian hypnotherapy, an approach named after the American psychiatrist Milton H. Erickson. Instead of commands, it uses relaxed conversation, stories and metaphor. The aim is to help you settle into a calm, focused state where it can be easier to look at old patterns from a new angle and connect with your own strengths.
Because it is collaborative, there is no "going under" or handing over control. Carrie works at your pace and checks in with you throughout.
Who you will work with
Carrie Urdiga, RTC, Ericksonian hypnotherapist
- Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC), member of the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT)
- Counselling Hypnotherapy Diploma, Orca Institute (2022)
- Counselling Diploma (2023): one and a half years at Rhodes Wellness College and one year at Orca Institute
- Trained in Ericksonian hypnotherapy; also draws on person-centred, solution-focused and narrative counselling
- Ongoing clinical supervision, as ACCT requires
In Carrie's words
"I chose to bring hypnotherapy into my counselling practice because it is a gentle and relaxing therapeutic approach. Hypnosis has been used for over 200 years and has a long, well-documented history of therapeutic use.
For clients who are open to exploring hypnotherapy, we begin with a little education about what hypnosis is, how it works and what to expect in a session. I encourage you to ask as many questions as you like, so you feel comfortable and informed before we begin.
Many clients are pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable the experience is and how deeply relaxed they feel afterwards. There is nothing special you need to do or achieve. Simply allow yourself to relax in a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space."
Carrie Urdiga, RTC
What a session looks like
About one hour, in person in Port Moody or online by video.
- Talk first. You and Carrie talk about what brings you in and what you would like to be different. Many sessions start, and some stay, as counselling.
- Settle in. If you choose hypnotherapy, Carrie guides you into a relaxed, focused state using her voice, breathing and imagery.
- Work on your goal. Carrie uses language, stories and suggestions that you have agreed on together.
- Come back and reflect. You return to full alertness and talk about what you noticed.
Online sessions work the same way. You need a quiet, private space, a comfortable chair and a stable internet connection.
What people explore hypnotherapy for
People often explore hypnotherapy alongside counselling for:
- anxiety and stress
- phobias
- self-esteem
- trauma
- depression
- sleep difficulties
Everyone is different, and hypnotherapy is not a quick fix or a replacement for medical care. Carrie will talk with you honestly about whether it fits what you are hoping for.
What does the research say?
Research on hypnosis has grown a lot in the last 20 years:
- A 2019 meta-analysis of 15 studies found that people who received hypnosis for anxiety reported larger reductions in anxiety than people in comparison groups. The effect was stronger when hypnosis was combined with other psychological approaches (Valentine and colleagues, 2019).
- A 2024 review of 49 meta-analyses found that hypnosis has the potential to help with a range of mental and physical health concerns. The same review noted that the quality of many studies is low and that more research is needed (Rosendahl and colleagues, 2024).
This is why we offer hypnotherapy as part of counselling, not as a stand-alone treatment.
Is hypnotherapy right for me?
Hypnotherapy is not right for everyone. Please let Carrie know if you are under a doctor's care for a mental or physical health condition, so she can decide with you whether hypnotherapy, counselling, or a referral is the best next step.
If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, please call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline, available 24/7) or go to your nearest emergency department.
Questions about hypnotherapy
Will I lose control?
No. You stay aware during hypnosis, and no one can make you do anything you do not want to do. You can open your eyes and stop at any time.
Is it like stage hypnosis?
No. Stage shows are entertainment. Therapeutic hypnosis is a calm, private process that you and your counsellor agree on together.
Can I have hypnotherapy online?
Yes. Carrie offers hypnotherapy online by video and in person at our Port Moody office. It is booked like a regular counselling session.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies from person to person. Carrie will talk this through with you in your free 20-minute consultation.
What if I can't go into a trance?
This is the most common worry. Everyone is different, and sometimes it takes a little time. Trance is a natural state we all move in and out of many times a day: when you daydream, get lost in a good book or a movie. Carrie will go at your pace.
How long is a session?
About one hour, combining counselling and hypnosis. It is booked like a regular counselling session.
Is it covered by my extended health plan?
Many extended health plans cover sessions with a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor. Please check with your provider before booking.
Sources
Elkins, G. R., Barabasz, A. F., Council, J. R., & Spiegel, D. (2015). Advancing research and practice: The revised APA Division 30 definition of hypnosis. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 63(1), 1–9.
Valentine, K. E., Milling, L. S., Clark, L. J., & Moriarty, C. L. (2019). The efficacy of hypnosis as a treatment for anxiety: A meta-analysis. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 67(3), 336–363. doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2019.1613863
Rosendahl, J., Alldredge, C. T., & Haddenhorst, A. (2024). Meta-analytic evidence on the efficacy of hypnosis for mental and somatic health issues: A 20-year perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1330238. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1330238
Book a free 20-minute consultation
Not sure if hypnotherapy is for you? Ask Carrie anything, by video or phone.
Prefer to talk first? Call us at (604) 358-7580.
