A Personal Letter from the OHC's Director

"Hypnosis changed my life!"

I know this may seem like a grand claim, but I can assure you from personal experience that for me, and for the countless OHC clients and students who have uttered this phrase, it’s not a claim at all: it’s the truth!

My story with hypnosis began while I was studying physical sciences at university. That’s right, I said physical sciences. As in hard proof. As in empirical evidence. As in as far away from abstract metaphysical concepts as you could get!

Now, given my rock-solid foundation in the physical sciences, I’m at a loss to explain why, in 2002, I volunteered to be a case study for an OHC student. Perhaps on some level, I was curious to see how I could de-bunk this strange and weird thing called hypnosis. After all, back then, I knew nothing about hypnosis except for what I saw on TV, the movies, or the comic strip Mandrake the Magician.

So, if you were to say that I was a sceptical volunteer you’d actually be wrong. It was more than mere scepticism. I was flat-out cynical and dubious about what was certainly some kind of occult practice, designed to take over people’s minds, and get them to do things against their will. After all, isn’t that what hypnosis was all about?

BOY WAS I WRONG!

After my first experience with hypnosis, I discovered – to my utter astonishment – that it was a powerfully simple and simply powerful technique that allowed me to move beyond the “noise” of my conscious mind (a.k.a. the beehive of thoughts in my head!), and work directly with my subconscious – which governed the vast majority of my habits, behaviours, attitudes and even my feelings.

From that place, I could, with the help of my hypnotist, make positive changes that would help me achieve my personal and professional potential – and exceed; my expectations for how I could feel, what I could accomplish, and for how I could be of meaningful service to others.  

Now, before you get the wrong idea, let me clarify that my new, improved and ACCURATE view of hypnosis by no means emerged overnight. Yes, I was impressed; even amazed. But I was not then, nor am I now, the kind of person who accepts things without rigorous scrutiny. Further inquiry was needed, and I was up to the challenge. In fact, I welcomed it!

So the next semester, I changed my studies to psychology, sociology and religion, and began to explore hypnosis – which I found fascinating and, even more impressively, deeply rooted in science.

I came to understand that a hypnotist cannot take possession of someone’s mind and control them. That’s just for the movies and comic strips! In reality, a hypnotist simply helps people identify and then overcome the obstacles that prevent them from living to their full potential. In other words, the first and last job of a hypnotist is to empower people to change their negative thoughts, behaviours and patterns, and begin to create the life they desire. It really is as simple as that.

And what’s more, by this time in my inquiry, I was totally hooked. This was what I was put here to do. I had found my calling. And all that I needed…was a job!

My career in the field of hypnosis “officially” began when I was hired by my future mentor, OHC founder Georgina Cannon, as a part-time receptionist in the OHC clinic. In this role, I had ample opportunity to hear countless success stories from clients who, I will admit, were as sceptical as me when I first encountered hypnosis. But that scepticism almost always transformed, quite quickly I might add, into amazement, gratitude and joy. Activating one’s latent power to achieve personal and professional potential will do that!

Working at the OHC also gave me the priceless opportunity to learn from the team of OHC practitioners, all of whom were (as they are now) renowned specialists and leading lights in the hypnosis and personal development field.  

Inspired by their ability to help their clients achieve real, lasting, changes, I made the time (don’t ask me how!) to take OHC courses alongside my university courses, and eventually, began to see clients in the OHC clinic. A few years later, I started assisting Georgina in teaching our Basic Hypnosis Certification course.  

And today, still journeying on a career path that would have seemed utterly unimaginable just a few years ago, I’m honoured to serve as the Managing Director of the OHC.   

Throughout Ontario and Canada, the OHC is a leading advocate for advancing the art and science of hypnosis. Everyone who has ever come to the OHC, as a client or a student (or sometimes both!), can attest to our passion, ethics and commitment to sharing this remarkably transformative tool to as many people as possible. We don’t fix anyone or anything. We empower clients with the tools and understanding they need to get to the next level in their personal and professional lives.  

So, now you can understand that when I say, “hypnosis changed my life,” you can see that my words aren’t an exaggeration or a grand claim. I’m living proof of this truth, as are the thousands of people who have been helped in our clinic, or educated in our school.  

I don’t know where your unique journey of hypnosis will lead. But, should I and the rest of my team have the privilege of serving you in any way, then allow me to warmly say:  welcome, we’re glad that you’re here, and we look forward to helping you be the person you were born to be!

Personally yours,

Tariq Sattaur MH, CI

Director