Just like Vegas, Mahone Bay has a resident hypnotist

Story by Tina Hennigar 
Contributed photo 
Brandon Dean was working in broadcasting and print media telling other peoples’ stories in Ottawa and Toronto when he decided he wanted to create 
a side hustle as a hypnotist.  “I wanted 
a hobby that was outside the box; that I didn’t just enjoy doing but that also made me some money,” Brandon said.  He looked to hypnotists in the industry still working into their 80’s.
 “Laughter is great medicine.” he said. And don’t we all need more laughter?
Brandon also wanted to help people. After receiving his Certified Consulting Hypnotist (CCH) accreditation from the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), 
he began working with people to quit smoking. Nova Scotia has among the highest smoking rates in Canada. “If you want to quit smoking, I have a tried and true technique.” Brandon is so confident in what he does that if patients require another session, they’ll receive it at no additional charge. 
“COVID has certainly affected people economically, as well as mentally,” Brandon said people have contacted him to help them begin living a healthier life, to quit smoking, to deal with anxiety and to help them resolve past traumas. That is the most rewarding part of his work – helping people. 
Brandon and his partner, Dan Falkenham, both originally from Nova Scotia, 
feel lucky to be here.  They love the architecture in Lunenburg and Mahone Bay, the beauty of the ocean and the trails. Dan enjoys biking on the trails while Brandon is content to just drive around different communities looking at the natural beauty. 
There have been a few surprises since arriving in Lunenburg County.  “We are both foodies and love eating out. We have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the restaurants we have here, as well as the locally made rum.” Brandon and Dan are big fans of the Bluenose Rum made at Iron Works Distillery in Lunenburg. And they’ve been made to feel welcome in this community, adding that they have met lots of other same-sex couples, and even other hypnotists. One thing they haven’t found yet, however, is a doctor. “There are certainly others who need a doctor more than we do,” Brandon said about some of the seniors they’ve met. “But as we age, it is a concern.” 
They feel confident that smaller venues and responsible event gatherings will happen sooner here than elsewhere.  “We have friends in other parts of Canada and the States who do nothing but perform, and their businesses have been wiped out. They still have to find a way to pay their bills. We were lucky to end up on the South Shore when we did and how we did because it has made the financial impact of COVID much smaller on us. I know not everybody is lucky.”
To learn more go to: redchairhypnosis.com or if you want to learn about quitting smoking go to: quitsmoking4lifenovascotia.com