Edmonton, AB
Friday, January 21, 2011
1:23PM
It was a cold windy night this past December and I just said goodbye to my last client of the evening. As I was waiting for my car to warm up and procrastinating about going outside again, I started looking over the session notes for each of the four people who I had seen...a single mother of three who came to see me for depression and weight loss, a 40 something trucker looking for a way to get past the emotional blocks and arguments in his marriage, a young girl in college who was terrified of taking tests and an electrician who who would literally make himself sick with with extreme anxiety every morning on his way to work.
When I was working with each client, I had a feeling that I adopted a similar approach, but it was only when I was going over the notes I made for each client, I realized...the notes were all the same!
That's what the '3 Pillars of Personal Transformation' is all about. It's the 3 things that I cover with 90% of my clients that gives them freedom to create the health, relationships, financial security and personal life they really want.
Seems like a big promise doesn't it? Can understanding and applying these 3 Pillars of Personal Transformation really give you more choice and freedom? The short answer is YES, absolutely. My conviction is based upon my own experience as a hypnotherapist and wellness coach and experiences of all my clients over the past 6 years.
6 years ago I was in college for psychology. Although I had been interested in psychology and personal development since I was 13 years old, reading books by folks like Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer while other kids were outside playing street hockey, I had no idea what direction I wanted to take my life and nothing really seemed right. I was a mild-mannered student by day, and worked full time as a short order cook by night. Far from being the Superman I wanted to be, I was in a sad state of physical health and constantly felt like I was running on empty. I barely had the energy to wake up in the morning for class, and even less for writing papers and studying for tests.
I walked around my entire life as a hapless introvert; always with a dark cloud hanging over my head. I could barely talk to other students without feeling some kind of anxiety, so everywhere I went I had my MP3 player; dodging glances, headphones in my ears and volume cranked as if to tell everyone, 'Don't talk to me!' The truth is, I really did want to connect with the people around me...to be honest, I was just too afraid to have any real interactions.
Any kind of public speaking was a mighty challenge as well. I recall one day in anthropology class where I had to give a presentation to all the other students...I was absolutely terrified. My heart was racing, my hands were sweaty, I could barely even breathe. The moment I opened my mouth, my face turned bright red and I wanted to bolt. I stayed there and did my presentation; it was the most excruciating 10 minutes of my life.
I had a few good friends, but they all seemed to be doing much better than I was (...those bastards!) They were making more money, dating, pursuing their goals and generally just having a good time - as if they knew some great secret that I didn't. I could have fun with my friends, but it was usually only when I was drinking...which was too often for my own health. I earned a reputation for myself as the outrageous party animal of the group...something like John Belushi from the critically acclaimed film Animal House (...but without the super-human whiskey chugging ability). I drank my inhibitions away and, at least for a few hours, I felt like I could be the person I wanted to be.
Although I would never admit it at the time, I was an alcoholic. I needed it. There were so many things I was dealing with at the time (and so many things I hadn't dealt with) and taking the edge off by getting drunk was a very convenient and popular form of self-medication. Three or four nights a week I would go out with my friends and drink until I was, as Pink Floyd would say, "comfortably numb". The good news was this made me much more plesant to be around than I was normally, yet the end result was a crippled and fractured personality; I was gregarious and outgoing when I was filled up on booze, but whenever I was sober I was hungover and depressed. I swung between these two extremes as if I was possessed. And I was possessed... by my emotions, my ignorance and by the past experiences that made me think I wasn't good enough without the drink.
One day in psychology class, after a long night and an early morning, I was looking through my textbook and there was a section that went over the most common psychological disorders. As I was looking through it I saw things like depression, insomnia, social anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, seasonal affective disorder...and on and on it went; a label for everything...and of course, an expensive prescription drug for every label.
As I was looking over the symptoms of these disorders, I thought, 'Wow... I've got all this stuff!
Now, we were well educated about the hazards of self-diagnosis (Note: these hazards are multiplied when you're nursing a hangover), but this was a HUGE wake up call for me. Something in my life was terribly wrong and I had no idea what that something was.
I was more confused than Luke Skywalker when he crash landed on the swamp planet Degobah, but in spite of my confounded mental state, I started an epic journey to find the answers that I needed. I found the first of those answers at the Mind, Body, Spirit Expo on a Sunday afternoon in February. I made my mom think that she was dragging me along, but deep down inside, I wanted to know what these folks had to say.
Enter Padman Pillai... (AKA, Master Yoda)
I walked into the wide open hall and at the first booth was an older, well-dressed Indian man who had an ancient air of peace and wisdom about him. Behind him, the banner read 'Wellness Hypnotherapy Institute: Free Hypnosis Sessions!' in bold black lettering.
I had been in a entertainment hypnosis show before so I definitely had an interest in hypnosis, but hadn't experienced it in any kind of therapeutic context. I started talking to him, asking him about all kinds of things - how the mind worked, meditation, yogic breath... and of course, wanting to know more about the magic of hypnosis.
'Would you like to be hypnotized?' he asked.
I excitedly agreed, 'Could you make it so I could have more fun without drinking?' This wasn't everything that I wanted, but it was sure a great place to start. He nodded his head and began the process. Soon, all the people around the booth faded away and their voices became distant... My awareness became focused solely upon the sound of his voice as he gave me suggestions of healthy living, enhanced self-esteem and pursuing my goals with passion.
When I emerged from this short hypnosis session, I felt fantastic! ...more clear than I'd felt in a long time. I quit drinking immediately following that short session and I didn't have another drink for 2 years. It just seemed like the right thing to do. Somewhere between all the suggestions he was giving me while I was in hypnosis, I realized how completely asinine the whole behavior was. In that moment I knew I deserved better and the decision to lay off the booze came naturally.
We talked a bit more and he told me that, along with doing private sessions with clients, he was also a teacher of hypnotherapy. I was already very interested in taking a new path for my life, so I asked him about the cost and the length of the program. Without really knowing how I was going to afford it but knowing it was something I would really enjoy, I decided to make the first payment. (In hindsight, if I would have known all the personal growth I would be directed to do in the coming years to help myself and my clients, I may not have been so quick to make the commitment. My willingness to step out of my comfort zone and into the unknown has helped me out more times than I can count.)
A few months before I was to begin training with Padman, as I was talking to him on the phone, he told me I had to take a course on meditation and yogic breath taught by the Art of Living Foundation. I wasn't given a choice; it was simply a condition of becoming one of his students. Being the studious apprentice that I was, I made no argument.
I took the Art of Living Courses; the 6-day Part 1 course that taught a powerful system of yogic breath called 'Sudarshan Kriya', roughly translated means 'cleanse by inner light', the Part 2 course where I learned advanced yogic breath and meditation at a nature retreat in Nordegg, and another 3-day leadership course called 'DSN' which, when translated from Sanskrit means 'creation of a divine society.' The first course that I took with the Art of Living Foundation, the 6-day Part 1 course, was the very first time in my life I experienced something that no words can accurately describe; it was a feeling of expansive, all encompassing bliss. Through the yogic breathing and meditation, I learned to access this state of connection anytime I want. (It's also had a huge impact on my approach to personal change.)
I did the yogic breathing every single day for one year and along with the training in hypnotherapy I received from the wise Padman Pillai, my life changed in profoundly positive ways. I no longer needed alcohol to be the fun, spontaneous, outgoing guy that I wanted to be. I became much more comfortable with myself when meeting new people or hanging out with my friends. The dark clouds that were above me were replaced by bright light shining from every cell of my body. I felt alive, happy and most of all, I felt free.
Like anyone else, there were still times when I would slip back into old patterns, but the difference was that, no matter what happened in my life, I knew exactly what to do to reverse the downward spiral and get myself back on track. Now, I've conditioned myself so well that the bounce back is automatic and natural; so natural that most the time I don't even notice it.
As my life was changing and I was becoming more and more skilled with hypnosis, it wasn't long before people started coming to me and asking if I could help them quit smoking, lose weight, get over a phobia or anything else along those lines. I'd never really considered that I could actually pay the bills with hypnotherapy, but the people kept on coming. I eventually quit my day job and started doing hypnotherapy and personal coaching full time.
As I helped my clients make changes in their lives with hypnosis and hypnotherapy, I learned that most of the problems a person might have are created and maintained for certain, very specific reasons - these specific reasons could also be thought of as the cause of the person's problems. Because it worked so well, regression hypnosis was what I used to uncover the root causes of problem behaviors and emotions. There were, however, some limits to using this approach. The greatest drawdack is that I'd do the work to resolve the issues my clients came in for, yet they had no idea why or how the change had taken place. As a result, they were still not fully in control of their lives; they still didn't fully understand. I knew I could give my clients more and I decided that something had to change...
Now, most of the work I do is about helping my clients become aware of the unconscious parts of themselves: the motivations, values, decisions and beliefs that determine all their behaviors, for better and for worse. In my experience using regression hypnosis to uncover the elusive causes of dysfunctional behaviors, I've learned a great deal about what drives human behavior and most importantly, how to change those behaviors when things aren't working. I've taken what I've learned through working with my clients and boiled it down to a simple, common-sense appoach that is easy to learn and works for everyone. This is what I now teach in "The 3 Pillars of Personal Transformation."
Since my initial training in hypnotherapy, I've continued to expand my depth of knowledge and experience in the area of personal development. I've taken specialized training in regression therapy, Ericksonian therapy, Emotional Freedom Techniques, strategic family therapy, Human Needs Psychology, relational dynamics, organizational psychology, neurolinguistics, Percussive Suggestion Technique, psychology of influence, strategic studies, traditions of diplomacy and negotiation. I'm also currently training with self-development expert, Anthony Robbins and strategic family therapist, Cloe Madanes.
Over the past few years in my private coaching practice, I've had the pleasure of working one on one with people from every walk of life and age group. Most of these people have come to me feeling completely hopeless because nothing else has worked for them. I get the tough cases. I've been "in the trenches," working with real people with real problems, day in and day out. I've developed a real appreciation and understanding of what motivates people to do what they do, and I've learned how to help clients shift even the most stubborn problems more rapidly than they ever imagined.
Although I used hypnosis to figure these things out, "The 3 Pillars of Personal Transformation" has nothing to do with hypnosis, hypnotic regression or "mind control" of any kind. (So you don't have to worry about quacking like a duck or singing show tunes :) I don't even like to think of it as therapy or counselling. My approach to personal change is really just about learning what you should have learned when you were very young, before you learned to limit yourself. It's about letting go of what holds you back. It's about understanding your life in profoundly new ways that lead to greater freedom and choice to express your true, unlimited potential.
What follows is an explanation of the 3 Pillars of Personal Transformation. And yes, you only need to understand and apply these three things to your life to overcome any challenge in your mental/emotional well-being, your understanding of self or your relationships.
Emotions have the power to rapidly change your perception of the past, present and future. Emotions can bring people together, or they can tear people apart. Positive and negative emotions are the origin of the thousands of decisions you make everyday.
The quality of your emotions is the quality of your life. Someone who experiences regret, guilt, anger and sadness consistently throughout their lives will have a dramatically different life than someone who primarily experiences love, gratitude and joy.
By mastering your emotions, you master your life. Many people run from anger, sadness, guilt or anxiety like they'd run from a rapid dog. Obviously, this only makes their challenges worse. When you you have the tools and knowledge you need, you can stand firm and strong; ready and willing to resolve the real causes of dysfunction, whatever they might be. When you deal with emotional issues directly, you prevent the habitual patterns of self-medication and comfort seeking that arise from dealing with them indirectly.
Transformation is not just about making a change in your life and continuing on like you did before. True transformation is when you let go of the trauma and limiting decisions of your past and in doing so, reclaim the lost parts of yourself you've been denying or repressing. True transformation is about reclaiming the real you.
The real you is both dark and full of light, peaceful and chaotic, angry and joyful, strong and weak, sensitive and powerful, thoughtful yet full of action, critical and accepting, peaceful and chaotic, all at the same time. The real you is everything all at once, endlessly brilliant and full of potential; capable of expressing whatever needs to be expressed in the moment with flexibility and authenticity.
It's only when you thoroughly let go of the past that you're free to really live life, instead of letting life live you.
It has been a few months since I last saw you. I just wanted to send a huge thank you your way. Life has been wonderful to say the very least. I never knew I could live without the doubts, worries or negativity before my sessions with you. After my 2nd session....I had learned that I had given up on and stopped taking care of myself, a hard lesson to learn because I came home that night and cried and cried periodically through the days that followed. It was 3 days later, I dug my heels in and firmly told myself that that will never happen again. Now that I have made the changes for myself, I see changes all around me, my kids are happier, friendships have rebuilt themselves, I attract positive and uplifting people and the negative influences have drifted away. And all of this was occurring without me noticing at first. I have found that if I don't feel good about something or can't laugh about it, I have no space in my mind for it and like that it's gone......a truly freeing experience. I always knew the barriers I had were within but had no clue how to break them down or if some of them could be broken at all. But with your teachings and tools I have reshaped my mind....and for that I owe you a tremendous thank you! You are truly gifted at what you do and an inspirational person. So thank you from the bottom of my heart....because with your help.... my life, mood and mind set has been transformed.
- Jennifer Spielman, Edmonton AB
Thanks for the big hand you have given me in self actualization and realization! I have been using the amazing EFT almost daily with smashing success. I've done more research on the Law of Attraction, and realizing how powerful this tool is, employ it daily. My morning routine keeps getting easier and crazier with awesome results. I've also started nightly breathing meditation with chakra work and Reiki self-therapy. I feel like I'm on a cloud! Both my job and my business are taking off, too. For the smile more recommendation? My cheeks are sore! Ah, life ^-^ Rock on!
- Victoria Domshy, Edmonton AB
I already feel a shift and an underlying confidence that is ready to come out of hiding. You have compassionate, non-judgmental energy. With our intake session, I feel validated and heard! You touched on some key points that have been mentioned to me by various energy healers, which is interesting.
- K.B., St. Albert AB
When I left that Monday afternoon, I felt lighter...like a weight had been lifted from me. I wasn't lighter physically but I was alot lighter spiritually and emotionally. Getting to the root of my instable emotions (thus also my emotional eating) was like someone rescuing me from a jail with no windows and a welded shut door! I was trapped in a dark and sad place with no light and no hope for many years and, with your help, we smashed through those jail walls and I knew there was hope and life for me once again. I thank you, from the deepest part of my heart, for walking with me through this journey, Travis. Don`t stop helping people, there`s alot of us out there!
- Tannis Stuckless, Edmonton AB
Well I'm sure there has been a shift for the best. I feel so alive inside and it shows in my work, I got a raise, making friends people want me to come with them to do stuff, call me all the time my life has changed so positively - it is amazing I am so happy that I got the help from you to seriously kick start my life in the direction that I wanted it to go for years. Still things I am working on yet these signals come to me daily. I could be here so long telling you all the wonderful things that happened to me. I am not sure what I thought hypnosis was going to be - some watch dangled in front of my face telling me what to do, yet this was so easy to do so free flowing and effortless I am so blessed to have met you. The biggest Thank You!! I want to tell you the biggest thanks ever. You are so amazing at what you do and there is a special purpose for what you do and to open my eyes to my life I know you are what I need at that time now I sleep every night so sound to [your self-hypnosis recording]. My daughter loves it to she does the exercises with me they sleep so deep and sound as we listen. There is two different people the one who came to see you; the first time lost and distressed and now this happy loving caring special wonderful person I am today. I know and feel every day that I am back to myself again that kind happy person I was and now am again so happy to be back in full swing and flow of. Thank You.
- Cleo P., Edmonton AB
Now, if you were to work with me in person, you'd be paying $150 for sixty minutes of my time. I regularly sell packages of 8 sixty minute sessions for $1200. Because this course will be a group course and it's the first one of it's kind, I've decided to discount my rate substantially so everybody can have access to it. You can register for the course right now for the very affordable price of $97!
PLEASE NOTE: Because this is the first course of it's kind and it's important to me that every participant gets the attention they need, there is a limit of only 10 people for the January 29th course.
Come to the course and enjoy it, if you aren't 100% satisfied, I'll give you a full refund. Seriously. All you have to do is send an email to travispederson@rethinkhypnotherapy.com with your name and email that you provided when you made your payment and I'll refund 100% of the course cost. No hassles, no run-around, no questions asked... You can even keep the materials! The truth is, I created this course to help you create more freedom and choice in your life and I really think you'll enjoy it. If however, you don't get what you need out of this course, I don't want your money. You work hard, so you should get great value in return for your hard work.
Clarity of thought, enhanced creativity, increased energy, better interpersonal skills and improved digestion are only some of the lasting benefits you'll receive as you make relaxation a part of your life. Enjoy a vacation for your mind and body as you are guided to a state of calm and peace.
Note: The sessions in this program can be listened to any time you are in a quiet environment where you can fully relax. All of these sessions are hypnotic - never listen to these sessions while operating any type of machinery or while doing anything else that requires your full attention.
Just click the button that says "Add to Cart". You'll be taken to PayPal's secure, encrypted order page. You can tell that it's secure when you see a small picture of a lock in the bottom right-hand corner of your browser window.
When you get to the page, you can choose if you want to pay by credit card or use your PayPal account. After you've filled in your information and made payment for the course, you're done!
...The entire process takes about 5 minutes.
(All Order Processed over PayPal's Safe, Secure Servers)
To Your Success,
Travis Pederson, CHt
Clinical Hypnotherapist and Wellness Coach
Member of the International Hypnosis Federation
The information presented on this website is for educational purposes only and is is not intended to replace the advice or recommendation of any
qualified doctor or mental health professional. If you would like any clarification on any of the subjects covered, please feel free to contact me personally.
© 2010 Rethink Hypnotherapy Inc., #126 6104 172 Street, Edmonton AB, T6M 1G9