Our Instructors
Get to Know our Instructors
Sheldon Bilsker
Hypnotherapy Instructor, Founder, Orca Institute
Sheldon Bilsker, RCC, HT was a practising Counselling Hypnotherapist and Registered Clinical Counselor with 38 years of experience in private practice. He is Past President and Founder of the International Association of Counselling Hypnotherapists (IACH, est. 2004) and past President of The Canadian Hypnotherapy Association.
He has also been a member of the Legislative Review Committee of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors which submitted the first proposal to the Health Professions Council of BC to set up a College of Counsellors in BC and therefore create a protected title of “Counselling Therapist”.
Although unsuccessful at the time it formed the groundwork which contributed to the development of FACT BC, the current lobbying body representing 14 major counselling groups in BC. Sheldon is one of the original members of the BC Association of Clinical Counselors (memb. #0017).
In 1986, Sheldon began training students in hypnotherapy and other therapeutic approaches. It was at this time that he founded Orca Hypnosis Seminars, now Orca Institute.
These training programs are well known throughout British Columbia, Canada and now worldwide for their practical application, broad perspective and high standards. Orca Institute is the longest-running Hypnotherapy school in Canada. It is also the only PTIB and BC EQA designated Hypnotherapy school in BC.
As both instructor and caring mentor, Sheldon has been instrumental in the present success of many hypnotherapists, counsellors and workshop facilitators. In 1989, he was called by the BC Human Rights Tribunal to testify as an expert witness on hypnosis. His testimony set a legal precedent in British Columbia defining hypnosis.
Sheldon has written three training manuals in hypnotherapy, as well as numerous articles on hypnosis and related fields. His style of instruction is specifically designed to teach students how to offer "tools" which empower clients and each other to find their own answers.
For the past 38 years, Sheldon has been practising an eastern body/mind approach partially based on his experience with Vipassana Meditation. This ancient method is now referred to in therapeutic circles as mindfulness. By working through the body to affect the mind, he includes an important physical integration and expression of the mental, emotional and spiritual.
Sheldon is also known as a keen advocate of complementary health care in British Columbia. This is reflected in his training as he explains and incorporates a wide variety of alternative concepts, giving his students a broad base of understanding on which to build a career.To contact Sheldon call 604-900-1245.
Diane Auld, MTC, HT, is a practicing Counselling Hypnotherapist, Master Therapeutic Counsellor and Hypnotherapy Teacher. She has been an Instructor since 2006. Her love affair with hypnotherapy started long before she decided to study Hypnotherapy at Orca Institute. Many years of her own work and finding ways to understand the unlimited powers of my unconscious mind led her to Ericksonian Hypnotherapy, and that love affair just keeps growing.
For the past 17 years, she has had the honour of accompanying clients in her private practice, in the exploration of self through counselling, hypnotherapy, The Way of the Heart™ Field Integrations and a variety of creative therapies. In 2019 Diane created our Counselling Skills Program. This course is now part of our Counselling Skills program.
As a teacher, she brings a deep respect for Ericksonian Hypnotherapy, for each student’s individual learning style and a passionate desire to help the students realize their unlimited potential as a learner and Counselling Hypnotherapists. She feels that learning is best done experientially in a safe environment where they each have an opportunity to experiment, play, make corrections and experience.
Each person comes to hypnotherapy for a different reason, and will use the learnings in their own unique way; her job is to create curiosity, answer questions, challenge your limited view of yourself, support your search for your way, and fire a passion for hypnosis. For students who currently have a practice, one of Diane’s skills is to support and assist students to integrate counselling hypnotherapy into their future private practice.
She brings her own passion and has been told it is her passionate style of teaching that helps students engage in the learning.
Diane describes her approach;
"Our classes are rich, fun, and filled with teachings that each student can use in the time between classes to play with, practice, and hone the skills needed for incorporating hypnotherapy into their current practice or eventually becoming a practicing Counselling Hypnotherapist".
Our weekend classes include some structured learning, different modules include 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, making direct indirect, abreactions, self-care for the therapist, ethics and requests for learning from the students. 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."
Each month prior to our class Diane posts to our private Facebook Group of students asking for input on the upcoming class. During the class, it is very important to her that each student is getting their needs met. She regularly checks in with each student.
She looks forward to working with you in class to develop and grow in this new and exciting way of helping our clients and ourselves truly live our unlimited potential, facilitate change and understand self in deeper ways.
Diane is a Registered Clinical Supervisor with ACCT (Association of Co-operative Counselling Therapists), supporting new and experienced counsellors in developing and expanding their passion in the counselling field.
Diane Auld
Hypnotherapy And Counselling Skills Head Instructor
Diane Auld
Hypnotherapy And Counselling Skills Head Instructor
Diane Auld, MTC, HT, is a practicing Counselling Hypnotherapist, Master Therapeutic Counsellor and Hypnotherapy Teacher. She has been an Instructor since 2006. Her love affair with hypnotherapy started long before she decided to study Hypnotherapy at Orca Institute. Many years of her own work and finding ways to understand the unlimited powers of my unconscious mind led her to Ericksonian Hypnotherapy, and that love affair just keeps growing.
For the past 17 years, she has had the honour of accompanying clients in her private practice, in the exploration of self through counselling, hypnotherapy, The Way of the Heart™ Field Integrations and a variety of creative therapies. In 2019 Diane created our Counselling Skills Program. This course is now part of our Counselling Skills program.
As a teacher, she brings a deep respect for Ericksonian Hypnotherapy, for each student’s individual learning style and a passionate desire to help the students realize their unlimited potential as a learner and Counselling Hypnotherapists. She feels that learning is best done experientially in a safe environment where they each have an opportunity to experiment, play, make corrections and experience.
Each person comes to hypnotherapy for a different reason, and will use the learnings in their own unique way; her job is to create curiosity, answer questions, challenge your limited view of yourself, support your search for your way, and fire a passion for hypnosis. For students who currently have a practice, one of Diane’s skills is to support and assist students to integrate counselling hypnotherapy into their future private practice.
She brings her own passion and has been told it is her passionate style of teaching that helps students engage in the learning.
Diane describes her approach;
"Our classes are rich, fun, and filled with teachings that each student can use in the time between classes to play with, practice, and hone the skills needed for incorporating hypnotherapy into their current practice or eventually becoming a practicing Counselling Hypnotherapist".
Our weekend classes include some structured learning, different modules include 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, making direct indirect, abreactions, self-care for the therapist, ethics and requests for learning from the students. 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."
Each month prior to our class Diane posts to our private Facebook Group of students asking for input on the upcoming class. During the class, it is very important to her that each student is getting their needs met. She regularly checks in with each student.
She looks forward to working with you in class to develop and grow in this new and exciting way of helping our clients and ourselves truly live our unlimited potential, facilitate change and understand self in deeper ways.
Diane is a Registered Clinical Supervisor with ACCT (Association of Co-operative Counselling Therapists), supporting new and experienced counsellors in developing and expanding their passion in the counselling field.
Cheryl Otterbein
Assistant Instructor
Cheryl Otterbein has over 20 years of experience in the medical field, and now as a mental health counsellor and is a counselling master hypnotherapist with the International Association of Counsellors and Therapists.
Recognized hypnotherapy instructor with The International Association of Counselling Hypnotherapists ( I.A.C.H.). She has also trained in various other therapeutic modalities, including EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), and Counselling.
Through her work at the Edmonton School of Hypnotherapy, Cheryl Otterbein aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to help clients achieve their goals and improve their lives. The school offers a supportive and nurturing learning environment, with small class sizes and personalized attention from instructors.
Graduates of the program are prepared to work as professional hypnotherapists and may also pursue additional certifications or advanced training in related fields.
Cheryl Otterbein is a counselling hypnotherapist and the owner of the Edmonton School of Hypnotherapy and the Meristem Therapy Academy in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
She has been practicing hypnotherapy for over 20 years and has trained hundreds of students in hypnotherapy, NLP, and other related modalities.
Cheryl is a member of several professional hypnotherapy associations, including the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association (IMDHA), the International Association of Counselors and Therapists (IACT), and the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH).
Cheryl is a member of several professional hypnotherapy associations, including the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association (IMDHA), the International Association of Counselors and Therapists (IACT), and the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH).
In addition to her work as a hypnotherapist and trainer, Cheryl also has a private practice.
Overall, Cheryl Otterbein is a respected and experienced counselling hypnotherapist and trainer, known for her dedication to helping clients and students achieve their goals and improve their lives.
Aaron Wong is a compassionate and skilled counsellor who is committed to helping individuals overcome personal challenges and achieve their full potential. Along with being a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor with ACCT, Aaron is a dedicated Naturopathic Physician whose clinical focus is helping his clients and patients through an exploration of the interconnectedness of the somatic, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of themselves.
He earned his degree in Naturopathic Medicine from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Boucher Campus and has been practicing for over a decade. In addition to his naturopathic education, he has also completed a 3-year counselling training program.
Aaron was so inspired by the changes he witnessed in group therapy that he assisted and shadow facilitated multiple group therapy workshops/retreats over and above the standard requirements. He now conducts his own workshops, group therapy workshops and retreats.
Aaron was so inspired by the changes he witnessed in group therapy that he assisted and shadow facilitated multiple group therapy workshops/retreats over and above the standard requirements. He now conducts his own workshops, group therapy workshops and retreats.
Aaron is an experienced clinical instructor of many years, having supervised hundreds of 3rd and 4th year clinical interns. In 2017, he completed a Teacher Certificate through UBC and Vancouver Fraser Medical Program (VFMP) Faculty Development.
As well as being a Lead Clinical Instructor, Aaron has also taught numerous academic classes including Counselling, Health Psychology, Diversity-Equity-Inclusion, Anti-Racism, Mind-Body-Sprit Medicine, and Planetary Health
Aaron is the director of his own clinical practice, Butterfly Naturopathic in North Vancouver. He also practices as a counsellor at Empathic Heart Counselling. He has presented on various health topics at community events, schools, and workplaces, and is committed to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
Aaron is also the co-creator of The Conscious Clinician Movement, which is an organization committed to transforming healthcare through the personal growth of the clinician in order to foster caring and compassionate healing relationships with clients and patients.
Aaron Wong
Assistant Instructor, Naturopathic Physician
Aaron Wong
Assistant Instructor, Naturopathic Physician
Aaron Wong is a compassionate and skilled counsellor who is committed to helping individuals overcome personal challenges and achieve their full potential. Along with being a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor with ACCT, Aaron is a dedicated Naturopathic Physician whose clinical focus is helping his clients and patients through an exploration of the interconnectedness of the somatic, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of themselves.
He earned his degree in Naturopathic Medicine from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Boucher Campus and has been practicing for over a decade. In addition to his naturopathic education, he has also completed a 3-year counselling training program.
Aaron was so inspired by the changes he witnessed in group therapy that he assisted and shadow facilitated multiple group therapy workshops/retreats over and above the standard requirements. He now conducts his own workshops, group therapy workshops and retreats.
Aaron is an experienced clinical instructor of many years, having supervised hundreds of 3rd and 4th year clinical interns. In 2017, he completed a Teacher Certificate through UBC and Vancouver Fraser Medical Program (VFMP) Faculty Development.
As well as being a Lead Clinical Instructor, Aaron has also taught numerous academic classes including Counselling, Health Psychology, Diversity-Equity-Inclusion, Anti-Racism, Mind-Body-Sprit Medicine, and Planetary Health
Aaron is the director of his own clinical practice, Butterfly Naturopathic in North Vancouver. He also practices as a counsellor at Empathic Heart Counselling. He has presented on various health topics at community events, schools, and workplaces, and is committed to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
Aaron is also the co-creator of The Conscious Clinician Movement, which is an organization committed to transforming healthcare through the personal growth of the clinician in order to foster caring and compassionate healing relationships with clients and patients.
