Online across Ontario · Evening & weekend appointments
KIM MICHAEL, RP, MACP, CHT, CTP · ONLINE ACROSS ONTARIO
CLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPY · BRAMPTON & ONLINE ACROSS ONTARIO
Hypnosis isn’t magic, and it isn’t mind control. It’s a focused, deeply relaxed state that can make change feel more within reach. As a Registered Psychotherapist and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, I use it as one careful tool inside therapy, online for clients across Ontario.
Secure video, anywhere in Ontario · Evenings & weekends · $175 individual / $200 couples · Receipts for extended health benefits
What hypnotherapy actually is
Hypnosis is a natural state of focused attention. You’ve likely drifted into something similar while absorbed in a good book, driving a familiar route home, or settling into the moment just before sleep. Your body relaxes, outside distractions fade, and your mind becomes more open to new ideas and images.
Hypnotherapy uses that state on purpose, for a therapeutic goal. Once you’re relaxed, I use gentle verbal guidance, imagery and suggestions we’ve agreed on in advance to help you explore thoughts, feelings, memories and habits at a deeper level than ordinary conversation sometimes allows.
The aim is not to bypass you. It’s to work with the parts of you that sit beneath conscious effort: the automatic fear response, the old belief that you’re not good enough, the habit your hand reaches for before you’ve decided anything. When those patterns become visible, they become easier to change.
A psychotherapist who uses hypnosis, not a hypnotist offering therapy
Hypnosis on its own isn’t a regulated profession in Ontario, and many hypnotherapy services around Brampton are offered by people who aren’t regulated health professionals. I’m a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #13293) and a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist with the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH #67475). Hypnosis is one tool within accountable, evidence-informed psychotherapy, guided by careful assessment, informed consent and the standards of my college.
Hypnosis myths, and what’s actually true
Movies and stage shows have left a lot of people nervous about hypnosis. Here’s what clinical hypnotherapy really involves:
Myth: someone else takes control of your mind
You stay in charge throughout and can’t be made to do anything against your will or values.
Myth: you’ll be unconscious and won’t remember
Most people stay aware and remember the session. It feels like deep, focused relaxation.
Myth: you could get stuck in hypnosis
You can open your eyes and return to normal awareness whenever you choose.
Myth: only gullible people can be hypnotized
Responding to hypnosis is a skill linked to focus and imagination, not weakness.
Myth: hypnosis is a quick fix
It works best as part of a thoughtful therapy plan, practised over time.
What clinical hypnotherapy can help with
I may suggest hypnosis, alongside other approaches, when you’re working on:
Anxiety and worry, including the physical tension that keeps your body on high alert.
Phobias and fears, such as flying, needles, driving on the highway or public speaking.
Stress and overwhelm, especially when your mind won’t switch off after work.
Sleep difficulties, like trouble winding down or a racing mind at bedtime.
Habits you’d like to change, such as nail biting, procrastination or reaching for your phone.
Confidence and self-esteem, including nerves before exams, interviews or presentations.
Pain management, as a complement to medical care, to change how pain is experienced.
Trauma, only after we’ve built stability and coping skills first, and always at your pace.
If you’re hoping to quit smoking or lose weight, hypnosis can support motivation and help with cravings and stress, but I won’t promise a result. Change in those areas depends on many factors, and I’ll be honest with you about what’s realistic.
How an online hypnotherapy session works
Many people are surprised that hypnotherapy works well by video. Being in your own familiar surroundings often makes it easier to relax than sitting in an unfamiliar office.
Each session starts with a conversation: how your week has been, what we’re focusing on, and the words and images you’d like included. Then I guide you into a relaxed state, we do the hypnosis work, and I bring you back gradually. We finish by talking through what you noticed.
Before we begin, we agree on a plan in case the connection drops, so you always know what to do. Most people simply open their eyes, take a few breaths, and wait for me to reconnect.
A quiet, private room where you won’t be interrupted. Headphones, so my voice is clear and household sounds fade. A comfortable chair that supports your head and neck. Notifications off and a glass of water nearby. Never from a car, and not while you’re responsible for young children.
From first call to lasting change
Hypnosis is never the first thing we do. We get to know you, assess whether it fits, and build a plan together.
01 · A free 15-minute consultation — Ask anything about hypnosis, share what you’d like help with, and see whether we’re a good fit. Plenty of people arrive curious and a little skeptical, and that’s completely fine.
02 · Assessment first — In our first session I learn about your history, health and goals. I want to understand you, and make sure it suits you, before we use hypnosis.
03 · Hypnosis inside therapy — We pair hypnotic work with approaches like CBT and mindfulness, so insight from the hypnotic state turns into skills you use day to day.
04 · Practice between sessions — I may teach you a short self-hypnosis or relaxation routine to practise at home, so the calm you find in session becomes easier to reach on your own.
When hypnotherapy may not be the right fit
Hypnosis isn’t recommended for everyone. If you’re experiencing active psychosis, certain dissociative conditions, or a crisis that needs stabilization first, other kinds of support should come before it. Hypnotherapy is also not a substitute for medical care, so please keep your doctor involved for pain, sleep or health concerns. I screen carefully, and if hypnosis isn’t right for you now, we’ll focus on approaches that are. If you’re in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 any time.
Online hypnotherapy for Brampton, Peel Region and across Ontario
Because hypnotherapy depends on relaxation, where you are matters. Rushing along Bovaird or Steeles to make an appointment, then sitting in a waiting room, isn’t the easiest way to arrive calm. Online sessions let you settle in at home in Heart Lake, Sandalwood or Downtown Brampton, and stay relaxed afterward instead of getting straight back into traffic.
Privacy matters too. In a busy, multigenerational home, finding a quiet hour can take some planning, which is why I offer evening and weekend appointments. A bedroom with the door closed and a note on the handle works perfectly well.
I also see clients from Mississauga, Caledon, Georgetown, Milton and anywhere else in Ontario.
Hypnotherapy: frequently asked questions
Will I lose control or say something I don’t want to?
No. Hypnosis is not mind control, and you can’t be made to do anything against your will. You stay aware, you can speak or open your eyes whenever you like, and we agree on the focus of each session together beforehand.
Does hypnotherapy actually work?
There’s good research support for hypnosis as a helpful addition to therapy for concerns like anxiety, stress and pain, especially when it’s combined with approaches like CBT. It isn’t a magic cure, and results vary from person to person.
What’s the difference between a hypnotist and a psychotherapist who uses hypnosis?
Anyone in Ontario can call themselves a hypnotist. As a Registered Psychotherapist, I’m accountable to the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, I assess your mental health before using hypnosis, and I can work with the emotional roots of a problem, not just the surface habit.
Can hypnotherapy help me quit smoking or lose weight?
Hypnosis can support motivation, stress management and coping with cravings, and some people find it a helpful part of their plan. I don’t promise specific results for smoking or weight, and I’ll always work alongside the advice you’re getting from your doctor.
Can hypnosis recover hidden memories?
No, and I don’t use it that way. Memory doesn’t work like a recording, and hypnosis can make people feel more certain about memories that may not be accurate. In trauma work, I use hypnosis for calm, safety and coping, not to dig for memories.
Is online hypnotherapy as effective as in person?
For most people, yes. You need a quiet room, headphones and a comfortable chair. Many clients find it easier to relax at home, and there’s no drive afterward.
How many hypnotherapy sessions will I need?
It depends on what we’re working on. A specific fear or habit might need a handful of sessions, while anxiety or trauma work usually takes longer and blends hypnosis with other therapy. We’ll review progress together regularly.
How much does hypnotherapy cost, and is it covered by insurance?
Individual sessions are $175, and I provide official receipts as a Registered Psychotherapist. Most extended health plans that cover RPs reimburse psychotherapy, but check your own plan. OHIP doesn’t cover private sessions.
There is a way through. You don’t have to find it alone.
Book a free 15-minute consultation. We’ll talk about what’s bringing you in, answer your questions, and see if we’re a good fit. No pressure, no commitment.
Thrive Through Therapy
Trauma-informed online therapy for individuals and couples. Kim Michael, Registered Psychotherapist, CRPO #13293.
Online across Ontario
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In crisis? Thrive Through Therapy isn’t an emergency service. In Canada, call or text 9-8-8, or call 9-1-1.
© 2026 Thrive Through Therapy · Kim Michael, RP, MACP, CHT, CTP
Psychotherapy services provided online to residents of Ontario.