ISFHC Examiners

Richard Aanrich

Richard Aanrich has over 20+ years of experience in helping others utilizing many different technologies for change. His studies and degrees are in Human Studies and Human Behavior, which is also what he has been observing and exploring almost all of his life.

Rich is a Masters Level Instructor in Hypnotherapy, NLP and other change methodologies which help people in both the personal and business areas of their unique lives. A profound spiritual connection and intellectual curiosity fuel Rich’s unique style and ability to assist others in reaching the goals and outcomes they want.

Like the other great individuals listed in these bio’s Rich has learned from many of the best, including, Dale Carnegie, Warner Erhard, Tony Robbins, John Grinder, Richard Bandler, Michael Grinder, Robert Dilts, Tadd James, David Quigley, Tim Hallbom and Stephen H. Wolinsky, …to name only a few. As he likes to say I’m always learning, it’s my commitment to know more, to better myself and to be able to help others.

Rich founded A Positive Change Training and Counseling Center in Oregon in 1987. In 2005 he helped to co-found Apositiva Institute ™ with his partner Cat Wilson. He lives in the beautiful Pacific NW, located in Portland Oregon, where he is a partner at Apositiva™ a full time Certification Training Institute and Private Counseling Practice. With his clients or his students, he is well known for his ability to facilitate and coach people to higher levels of themselves, assisting them toward learning and growth.

In a past life (before 1987) Rich enjoyed a solid background in business and sales. He owned and was the financial principal, broker, sales manager, or a high level salesman in several businesses including, IBM, Dale Carnegie Courses, Real Estate and Investment Securities. In 1987, he chose to leave the business world behind, to follow his heart and help others, and moved to Oregon to follow his dream. Rich considers himself fortunate to have been joined in 2002 by another very talented counselor and trainer, Cat Wilson, who is also his partner in life’s explorations.

Rainya M Dann

Rainya M. Dann has been teaching hypnotherapy since 1981. Founder of the Institute for Transpersonal Studies, Rainya has led hundreds of groups in the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia. She maintains a private practice in Santa Cruz, California. The Institute offers training and certification in Hypnotherapy and Breathwork, and Workshops on Tantra, Healing the Inner Child, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Women's Circles, Voice Dialogue, Meditation and Spiritual Awakening.

For eight years, Rainya conducted three month residential hypnotherapy trainings and taught hypnosis at Esalen Institute in Big Sur. Out of this extensive experience arises the unique synthesis of the Transpersonal Hypnotherapy Certification Course. Rainya's unique and renowned approach to experiential learning provides a nuturing atmosphere for awakening consciousness, personal growth and spiritual community.

Larry Dillenbeck

Clinical Hypnotherapist, NLP Master Practitioner and Trainer, Personal and Professional Coach, Trainer, Presenter & Consultant

Larry has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of Utah.  He is a Certified Clinical Hynotherapist, Hypnotherapy Instructor and Hypnotherapy Examiner with the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners. He is a Master Practitioner, Health Practitioner and Trainer of Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP). Larry is a Coach University graduate and practicing Life Coach since 2004.

Tim Hallbom

Tim Hallbom is widely considered to be one of the most talented and accomplished NLP trainers in the world. He is an internationally known expert in how to change limiting beliefs through the medium of NLP, as well as co-author of the best selling books, Beliefs: Pathways to Health and Well-being and NLP: The New Technology of Achievement.

Throughout his expansive NLP career, Tim has worked with individuals and organizations, authored several articles and books, founded training centers and professional organizations, keynoted international conferences and lectured all over the world. His vast experience and innate flexibility helps him to be successful with virtually everyone that he works with. Tim is dedicated to helping individuals have life changing breakthroughs and organizations experience fundamental improvements.

Tim has contributed a huge body of knowledge to the field of NLP. He has refined and championed such processes as re-imprinting, integrating conflicting beliefs and using eye-accessing cues. He has developed a number of popular NLP techniques, including ones for changing limiting beliefs, working with double binds and working with health related issues. Because of his extraordinary contributions in the fields of NLP and Coaching, he was recently made an International Diplomate in NLP by the International Academy of Behavioral Medicine.

Tim has been involved in the field of NLP since 1979, and has been delivering NLP trainings throughout the world since then. Tim has always been more than a trainer. Throughout his NLP career he has consistently done therapy, coaching and consulting with individuals and organizations around the globe. This work “in the field” has enabled him to make many discoveries about human behavior and change that he would not have made if he restricted his activities to training.

In 1992, Tim created the “Graduate School” of NLP with Robert Dilts and Suzi Smith - the Health Certification Training Program, which is considered to be one of the most advanced NLP training programs in the world. He and his wife Kris are also the co-developers of the WealthyMind™ program, which has been taught in over 20 countries around the world to date. Moreover, Tim has made many contributions in the field of Professional Coaching. His NLP Coach Certification program was the first based on NLP in North America to be approved by the International Coach Federation. His most recent book, Coaching in the Workplace, is a comprehensive guide to coaching for managers.

Tim is also well known at some of the best and most recognized NLP institutes around the globe, including International Teaching Seminars (ITS) in London, The Institute for Eclectic Psychology (IEP) in the Netherlands; and taught for years at NLP University with Robert Dilts and NLP Comprehensive with Steve and Connirae Andreas. Throughout his career, Tim has trained thousands of highly effective NLPers, who are making their mark in the world.

Tim’s own institute, which he runs with his wife and partner Kris, is the NLP Institute of California. An internationally recognized institute, NLPCA is known for its quality of training and high integrity. Tim has also organized and taught over 60 NLP Practitioner Trainings at his own institutes, and has thousands of satisfied graduates. He and Kris are currently working on a program for an amazing new process called Dynamic Spin Release, which they have been developing since March of 2008. They are also working on a new book that describes clear and consistent ways to identify and change limiting beliefs. In November of 2009, Tim and Kris keynoted the International NLP Conference in London on Dynamic Spin Release.

Tim has authored and co-authored scores of articles and books and created a number of audio and video publications.

Tim’s NLP history includes:

• Learning NLP in the early 80’s from both Richard Bandler and John Grinder.
• Tim was the President of the National Association of NLP in 1990, which later became the International Association for NLP.
• He co-founded and was the President of the International Institute for the Advanced Studies in Health (IASH) with Robert Dilts and Suzi Smith, where today he an advisor.
• He co-founded Anchorpoint Institute with Suzi Smith, where in addition to doing training programs, he published Anchor Point NLP Journal– which was the most widely read NLP publication in the world at that time; it was delivered to more than 30 countries!
• Tim was also a licensed Psychotherapist from 1978-1999, when he began an active coach practice that he still maintains.

Nick LeForce

Tim Hallbom is widely considered to be one of the most talented and accomplished NLP trainers in the world. He is an internationally known expert in how to change limiting beliefs through the medium of NLP, as well as co-author of the best selling books, Beliefs: Pathways to Health and Well-being and NLP: The New Technology of Achievement.

Nick LeForce has over 20 years experience of training in NLP programs, and teaching others how to be highly effective in every area of their life. His genuine expertise plus engaging training style have made him highly sought after by business organizations and NLP institutes throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. He is the author of several articles and books including, Introduction to Ericksonian Hypnotherapy (1988) and Healing the Hurts of the Heart: Breaking the Shackles of Emotional Debt (1998). He has also maintained a busy coaching practice for the last decade.

Nick holds a Masters degree in Rehabilitation Administration from the University of San Francisco McLaren School of Business and undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Social Welfare. Nick provides executive coaching services and management consultation to businesses as well as personal development services to individuals. He specializes in Value–Based Life Management Skills, helping individuals and businesses to identify governing values and use those values to create compelling goals, make effective decisions, manage time, overcome barriers to success, communicate persuasively, and achieve desired outcomes.

He has provided on-site consultation and training in Communication Skills, Customer Service Skills, Change Management, Conflict Resolution, Supervisory Skills, Time Management, and other topics. Nick has worked with both private and public sector clients, including AT&T, Blue Diamond Almond Growers, California Farm Bureau Federation, Citizens Utilities, Department of General Services, Department of Fish and Game, Holiday Inn, Sheraton Hotels, Sacramento County Public Works Agency, Standard Office Systems, State Teachers Retirement System, Water Resources Control Board, United Corporate Furnishings, Varsity Contractors, and others. He is listed as a Quality Consultant with the California Department of Personnel Administration, Office of Statewide Continuous Improvement.

Since 1983, he has studied extensively with leaders in the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Hypnotherapy. He is a nationally recognized trainer with Healing Arts Institute in Roseville, CA; NLP California in San Francisco, CA; and other institutes. He has served as faculty for the University of Phoenix teaching courses in business. He is known for his lively and humorous presentation style.

Lindsay Ostrofski

Lindsay Ostrofski completed his training in Hypnotherapy in December 1984 then further studied Neuro Linguistic Programming (N.L.P) completing his Master Practitioner Training in 1986. Lindsay is a member of the Queensland Hypnosis Society and has been practicing the Ericksonian principles of hypnotherapy and Neuro Linguistic Programming ever since.

His continuing studies and experience of the latest technologies has given him a unique understanding of human nature.
He understands human nature superbly. He will help you to understand yourself and attain your full potential.

Lindsay has practiced from various medical centres in Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold Coast during the 20 years he has been practicing hypnotherapy. While practicing from these medical centres, Lindsay was praised for his honest and professional approach to his patients and other staff members in these centres.

Lindsay now practices hypnotherapy at Everton Park, Southbank, Gold Coast and Canberra.

William Song

William Song is a certified hypnotherapist with a private practice in San Francisco, California. Specialties include helping people with habits and those with chronic health issues. He's the author of the book, Healing and Hypnosis.

Along with being a hypnotherapist, he is a Certified Master Practitioner of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and Certified Health Practitioner of NLP. As he helps clients with an issue, William also teaches them how to help themselves via self-hypnosis techniques. clients resolve their issue more quickly and have tools to resolve other problems on their own.

William's vision is to have hypnosis taught to students at a young age so that they can grow up to be happier and healthier. And he's working to help hypnotherapy gain strong acceptance by the medical community so that it will be commonly prescribed by doctors.

Steve Watson

Steve Watson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 34 years of experience in the Mental Health therapy field, 25 years as a Certified Hypnotherapist.  He has also taught NLP basics and Introductory Hypnotherapy at Weber State University, University of Utah and with private organizations.  He has had 39 articles published in the Anchor Point magazine and has presented and trained in many venues including Helsinki, Finland. Steve would consider himself a hypbrid of old school, Ericksonian and do whatever works! hypnotherapy.

Cat Wilson

Meet Cat Wilson.  Independent, curious, and flexible… “Cat” is a fitting nickname for this Coach, Hypnotherapist, and Certification Trainer in Portland, Oregon. Imagine being in a Victorian House where the rain is coming down outside, a waterfall trickles outside the door, and lush green trees peek behind the windows, while inside you’re surrounded by fun, interesting paintings of animals hanging on brightly painted walls of burnt orange and lemony yellow.  This is where you find Cat and her partner Richard Aanrich, meeting with clients or training inquisitive minds and practitioners at Apositiva™ Institute.

Family, community, environment and spirituality are strong values to Cat. She is one of only four recipients chosen to receive the NLP World Community Award  (2005) excellence in education. Cat delivered experiential programs with her pro-bono training in elementary schools, helping learning-challenged children experience confidence in speaking (and doing it on TV).

Hypnosis was imbedded in Cat at an early age. In a quiet suburb of Chicago, Cat grew up with a family who encouraged independent, creative thinking. Her father was fascinated with hypnosis in the 1970’s. He and his neighboring sister studied “hypnotism” for relaxation and past life regression, bringing the processes home, and practicing on friends and family. Cat quickly became one of their favorite subjects and learned. Take this experience in the presence of a religious household … and add it up with European, old country grandparents…. you may imagine the mind-nurturing affect on a young woman. Years of reading, attending classes, and personal experience taught her the value of hypnosis.

Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) introduced itself to Cat in the early 1990’s where she met Robert Dilts through her firm TransPrint Design in Santa Cruz, California. “Imagine your highest and best possibilities,” Cat would say, greeting new clients. She worked with an artistic team creating Corporate Identities, logos, brochures, and transcribing tapes from doctors and writers. Picture Cat with her team of home-based word processors transcribing audiotapes from NLP workshops that Dilts and other core NLP developers were working on from courses they taught there and even far away places like Fiat in Italy. Organizing the electronic copy at her desk, she became intrigued, electrified, and frequently expounded, “Wow! Cool! Amazing!”  Cat read enough to convince her that she wanted to explore and deeply understand this fascinating and developing Art of Human Excellence. Having a curious nature the NLP philosophies felt right at home to her.

Cat received her BA in Communications, Training and Development from the prestigious Marylhurst University. Previously she had studied at University of California (Santa Cruz) and Portland State University in business, law, art, culture, and explored therapies working with experts in trauma and energy work.  Cat learned from NLP Masters Robert Dilts, Tim Hallbom, Judith DeLozier, Suzi Smith, David Gordon, Shelle Rose Charvet, Michael Hall, and others. Cat is a Master Trainer and leads programs and certifies Master Practitioners in Neuro-linguistic Programming, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Mindmapping and Coaching through Experiential learning. Cat and Rich spice their training with a delicious variety of their own creative processes.

Flexibility is a word that captures how Cat creates a special life. Her life revolves around Rich Aanrich, her beloved life and business partner, her three grown children, and storytelling to her seven grandchildren. (Ask her about Blue Butterfly.) Cat Wilson brings a beautiful array of gifts, talents, and her strong desire to help people and companies become the highest and best possible versions of you. Like the Cheshire cat this “Cat” brings many surprises and a rainbow of possibilities…