About Rob Hadley

Rob Hadley - Vancouver Hypnotherapy on Facebook

I set up Vancouver Hypnotherapy in 2007, and have developed it into Vancouver's leading clinical hypnotherapy practice. I now enjoy working with a staff of therapists who share my views of how hypnotherapy can be used a therapy tool. Our corporate philosophy is one of customer service and support, assisting our clients at many levels.

An example of how we work with clients can be seen on our addictions side. When working with a client, we look not only at their physical and psychological wellbeing, but also the wider situation they experience with their family and work. We have been involved in client support to the point of advocacy and legal co-ordination with some clients, and have no hesitation taking on the orthodox medical establishment when they cease to work in our client's interest. Our experience working across a variety of issues, most notably addictions, anxiety issues and eating disorders, allows the team at Vancouver hypnotherapy to play an important role in the client's road back to good health.

In the course of running Vancouver Hypnotherapy many clients share details of their lives with us. From time to time I am asked about my own background and history.

I went to school in the UK, in a traditional English boarding school from the age of 7. It was a wonderful education, and I remain in contact with one of my teachers to this very day.  After leaving school at 16 I left home and worked in the City of London at Lloyds of London.

I later left to work in Africa. I worked in Africa in various capacities for the UN, Associated Press and The Sunday Times. This work was generally in areas of acute hardship, and included wars in Sudan, Rwanda, Liberia, Somalia and Mozambique among others. My work has often required me to get into challenging situations and demonstrate an ability to produce a positive result from sometimes incredibly difficult circumstances. I bring many of the skills learned in those situations to the practice today.

Many of the challenges faced by clients of Vancouver Hypnotherapy are equally as disturbing as those I faced in Africa. The truth is, we all have our own versions of hell. In her book 'Committed to Me', Author Charlene Smith wrote of me - "his experience of Africa simply prepared him for what his clients would later bring him in Canada..." Further literary references to Rob Hadley can be found in The Bang Bang Club, and several books about South Africa for those who are interested. Pic: Kevin Carter

The images below come from my time in the war in Sudan in 1993. Specifically these were taken in Ayod, where I was cut off for an extended period during the fighting. Later, my good friend Kevin Carter would come up to Ayod and photograph me and other aid workers. His work led to a World Press Award and helped us keep attention focused on the area.

After spending many years in South Africa I moved to Canada, overdue for a major career change. Once in Canada, I worked for Bryant Fulton and Shee, which later became part of the TBWA advertising agency. From there I went on to work at Intrawest, leading their email marketing team. Eventually I made the switch to where my passion truly lies and set up Vancouver Hypnotherapy. I probably could not have done it a day before I did. Much of my life leading up to Vancouver Hypnotherapy was spent gaining experience that would later prove of great value to my clients and myself.

My hypnotherapy training was at Coastal Academy of Hypnotherapy with Leslie MacIntosh. I hold the MH. and  Cht. designations from there, having passed the various required exams with the IMDHA and NGH.  From time to time I return to teach at the Academy, particularly in the area of addiction. I later augmented this training with additional training from Gerry Kein and Grant Boddington, both leaders in their fields.

My approach to my work is one that recognizes and addresses the real issues our clients face. I am not afraid to deal with the challenges this work has to offer, as is amply demonstrated by the extraordinary client testimonials and referrals we regularly receive.

I bring a technical approach to the hypnotherapy I practice. Using biofeedback tools and a 'nuts and bolts' approach I have achieved consistently successful results in some of the most challenging areas of hypnosis, most notably addictions. I am not a spiritual healer or life coach - that is not the business of Vancouver Hypnotherapy. I teach hypnosis skills for addictions professionals and also provide training for eating disorders specialists. Additionally I run BulimiaGirls.com - a global resource for people struggling with bulimia, which is fast becoming a central data repository for research into bulimia.

I regularly write articles for hypnotherapy journals and websites, including Hypnoticworld.com and others.   Some of my material has been incorporated into training school manuals, and I have trained people in hypnosis in both Vancouver BC., and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

After graduating from Coastal Academy of Hypnotherapy in White Rock I set up Separated But Thriving - a system to assist people going through difficult separations and divorces. Coastal Academy offers the highest standards of training in Canada and is approved by the IMDHA. Leslie Macintosh provides extensive training and is widely considered a leader in her field. I currently teach part of the advanced module of hypnotherapy relating to addictions, at the Coastal Academy of Hypnotherapy

I recently worked with Gala Films on a forthcoming TV project about hypnosis as a therapy modality and am featured in the forthcoming TV series, Going Under. I enjoy all aspects of hypnotherapy and - yes - I do the occasional show... I love the performing aspect, though it is purely a side interest.

I currently work primarily on addictions and eating disorders. I have other therapists in the practice who specialise in other areas. My clients include members of the casts of many Vancouver based film productions, senior management of well established companies in Vancouver, and professionals from all walks of life. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have a question.

I now run Vancouver Hypnotherapy and Vancouver Addiction Centre using hypnosis based therapies to assist clients with anxiety, addiction, eating disorders and phobias. I head a small team of committed individuals who share my vision. Additionally, I am involved in several media projects associated with hypnosis and enjoy giving talks and demonstrations of hypnosis.

I can usually be reached via email at: admin@vancouverhypnotherapy.org

Rob's Blog:

This is a blog for clients and hypnotherapists and includes some unusual case studies, general stories about hypnosis and hypnotherapy, and other health related issues.