Testimonials
From Burden to Peace -
Sue 78, Silvana WA
When I started with NordVaka, I was nervous. I didn’t know if hypnosis was real or if it would even work for me. I’ve carried a lot my whole life — growing up with an alcoholic mom, never really getting to know my dad, raising kids on my own, making mistakes, and feeling judged for them. I thought maybe at my age it was too late to change anything.
But it’s not too late. These sessions gave me something I’d never had before — a way to calm myself down, to find quiet inside. I can sit, breathe, and feel peace without needing a drink or running away from myself. That’s a big deal for me.
I didn’t expect the work to reach as deep as it did. At first it just helped me slow down, get out of my own head. Then it started untangling old memories and feelings I didn’t know were still running the show. All those years of thinking I wasn’t enough — they started to loosen their grip.
The part about the tree and the seedling really got to me. I could see that little girl in me, the one who had been through too much too young. For the first time, I didn’t see her as weak. I saw her as part of me — still growing, still standing. I realized I could love her, because she was me all along. That’s when it clicked: I’m not broken. I’m whole.
I’ve learned to forgive people who hurt me and, even harder, to forgive myself. I’ve stopped carrying guilt that was never mine to carry. I can care for my ex-husband without losing myself. I can talk to my daughter without drowning in guilt. I can look toward seeing my brother again without feeling like a scared kid. I’m living from peace, not from fear.
The change came faster than I ever thought it could. Within a few weeks, I felt lighter. I caught myself smiling more. Even my friends at AA noticed. I’m still the same person — I just don’t feel trapped by my past anymore.
At 78 years old, I feel strong and hopeful. If NordVaka could help me — after everything I’ve lived through — it can help anybody. You’re never too old, too stuck, or too broken to find peace. I’m proof of that.
Finding my Voice Again - Karen 61, Stanwood WA
I didn’t know what to expect. I had been carrying this itching for more than twenty years, and I figured maybe this was just how life was going to be for me. But what I’ve learned here is that it wasn’t only about my skin,it was about all the stress, anger, and old hurts I’d been holding inside. In the sessions, I’ve gone back to times I never thought I could face. I saw myself as a child, always being rescued. Back then it felt like protection, but I realize now it took away my chance to learn how to stand strong. Later in my adult life, I found myself in relationships where my voice didn’t matter, and I felt small and powerless. Carrying all of that made me vulnerable, and I can see now how it even showed up in my body. What makes this different is I don’t feel pushed. The lantern imagery has been a lifesaver. When I picture that light, I feel safe enough to go deeper. It’s like I finally have something to hold onto when the old memories and feelings come up.
I’ve also been keeping up with the aftercare every day, and that’s where I’ve noticed some of the biggest changes. Just taking that time to listen and practice has made me calmer, more grounded. I’ve actually caught myself in the middle of stressful moments with my daughter, or when the itching starts in the afternoon, and instead of spiraling, I pause. I take a breath. I can honestly say I feel stronger now. I feel like I’m finally learning to trust my own voice and choices. For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel stuck. I feel like I’m moving forward, and I’m starting to see who I really am.
Unshakeable - Kelsie 53, Arlington WA
When I began this process, I wasn’t sure if anything could really help me. I had tried so many times to stand up for myself, and it felt like every time I did, I got swatted down — by the courts, by people with more money, by family who judged me unfairly. I carried guilt and shame from my past, old wounds from childhood, and I had turned to smoking and vaping as a kind of crutch. It was like a security blanket, even though I knew it was hurting me. I also carried grief. The loss of my pony when I was young, the pain of feeling rejected by my mother, the weight of broken relationships, and the ongoing ache of fighting for my daughter Lisa. It was all inside me, and I didn’t know how to let it go. Through these hypnosis sessions, I found something I wasn’t expecting — a safe place inside myself. The imagery spoke to me in ways nothing else had. When I walk into the cedar grove in my mind, I feel strength I didn’t know I had. When I place my pain in the cedar basket and set it on the river, I can finally let go. When I see the mountain of voice, I hear my truth echo back to me, undeniable. And when I draw the circle of protection, I know that Lisa, my grandchildren, and I are safe inside, no matter what anyone says or does outside of it.
I’ve also learned to see my past differently. The cigarettes I picked up as a child were just the tools of a scared little girl trying to cope. The relationships where I gave too much were survival strategies, not proof of weakness. I can forgive myself for those choices, because I have new tools now. The most important thing is that I have my voice back. In court, I no longer freeze or sabotage myself. I can breathe, place my hand over my heart, and feel the calm strength rise inside me. I can speak my truth without fear. And outside of court, I can choose air instead of smoke. I can choose freedom instead of silence. This work gave me back something I thought I had lost — my sovereignty. I am no longer for sale, no longer silenced, no longer swatted down. I am Lisa’s protector, and I protect myself too. And every day that I practice, I grow stronger in that truth.I came here to quit smoking. What I found was a path back to myself.
Finally a Non-Smoker, Lisa 55 - Marysville WA
I didn’t need more willpower—I needed tools that fit my life. At NordVaka, Greg taught me a simple hand-over-heart safety anchor and a CLEAR cue I can use anytime to calm my body and refocus. We paired that with tiny daily actions—two-minute tasks and a listening ritual—that build momentum without overwhelm. In session, I felt deeply grounded and connected, like the calm lived in me. We practiced compassionate self-talk—‘I choose easy, honest effort’—and strengthened a calm, clear, free non-smoker identity. That language matters; it’s changed how I show up for myself.
The biggest shift? Boundaries. I’m learning to respond with kind clarity, protect my time, and stop people-pleasing without losing compassion. I leave sessions feeling whole, worthy, and steady—and I can carry that state with me. Even when I hadn’t listened to everything yet, the process met me where I was and kept me moving forward. This hasn’t been about being perfect; it’s about choosing the next simple step and letting that add up.If you want practical tools, not hype, this is it. I’m calmer, clearer, and more consistent—at home, with friends, and with my goals—and I finally feel like I’m living as the person I knew I could be.