Dr. Mike Mandel is an internationally acclaimed hypnotist, NLP Master Trainer, and co-founder of the Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy. With over 50 years of experience performing and teaching worldwide, he is an 18-time award winner in hypnosis and entertainment, celebrated for his mastery of Ericksonian hypnosis and conversational influence.

Mike discovered hypnosis at 12 years old — and immediately stuck a pin through his neighbor’s finger to test it. No pain. It worked. He’s been obsessed ever since.

For 43 years, he performed as a mentalist and stage hypnotist across Canada — touring with rock bands, headlining theaters, and building a reputation as one of the country’s top performers. He retired from the stage in 2018.

But performance was only half the story. Mike became a forensic hypnotist, working with law enforcement on armed robberies, sexual assaults, and murder cases. He performed over 100 times at the Ontario Police College and trained investigators for the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice and New York State Troopers.

He also ran a private therapy practice in Toronto — no advertising, just referrals. More clients than he could handle. That’s when he realized: he loved teaching hypnosis even more than doing it.