What is GI psychotherapy (gut-directed psychotherapy)?

GI psychotherapy is specialized psychological care that targets the brain-gut axis — the constant communication between your gut and your nervous system. Using evidence-based methods like gut-directed hypnotherapy, CBT and ACT, it helps reduce visceral hypersensitivity and the gut symptoms driven by that brain-gut connection.

What conditions does the Brain-Gut Health Centre treat?

We treat disorders of brain-gut interaction (DGBI), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, GERD and functional heartburn, chronic bloating, functional constipation, and centrally mediated abdominal pain (CAPS).

Do I need a doctor's referral?

No referral is required. We accept both physician referrals and self-referrals. Our care coordinator will be in touch within two business days.

Are appointments virtual?

Yes. All care is delivered by secure telehealth (video or phone) to patients across Manitoba, so you can be seen from home.

Does gut-directed hypnotherapy actually work for IBS?

Gut-directed hypnotherapy is a guideline-recommended therapy for IBS, with more than 70% of patients responding in clinical trials. It is one of several evidence-based gut-directed therapies we use.

Is treatment covered by insurance?

Psychotherapy may be reimbursable under many extended health benefit plans. Care is also covered at no cost for eligible First Nations and Inuit clients through NIHB and for Veterans through VAC. Contact us and we'll help you confirm your coverage.

How do I book an appointment?

Submit a request through our website or call (431) 877-5492. Our care coordinator will reach out within two business days to schedule your assessment.

Home / IBS Treatment in Manitoba

IBS Treatment in Manitoba

Irritable bowel syndrome affects roughly 1 in 6 Canadians — one of the highest rates in the world. If you've cycled through diets, fibre, antispasmodics and reassurance without lasting relief, gut-directed psychotherapy is the evidence-based next step most patients have never been offered.

What is IBS — really?

IBS is a disorder of brain-gut interaction (DGBI). It is not "in your head," and it is not caused by visible damage to your bowel — which is exactly why scopes, scans and bloodwork come back normal while symptoms continue. In IBS, the communication between the brain and the gut becomes dysregulated: the gut's nervous system becomes hypersensitive (visceral hypersensitivity), and normal digestion starts producing real pain, urgency, bloating, diarrhea or constipation.

Why your tests keep coming back normal

Standard investigations look for structural disease — inflammation, ulcers, tumours, celiac disease. IBS is a disorder of function and signalling, not structure. A normal colonoscopy rules out other conditions; it doesn't mean nothing is wrong. It means the problem lives in the brain-gut axis, and that's where effective treatment has to be aimed.

How gut-directed psychotherapy treats IBS

Gut-directed hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) are the most evidence-supported non-drug treatments for IBS. They work by retraining the brain's processing of gut signals — reducing visceral hypersensitivity, calming the autonomic arousal that drives flares, and breaking the symptom–anxiety–symptom cycle. In clinical trials, gut-directed hypnotherapy produces significant, durable improvement in over 70% of IBS patients, with benefits lasting years after treatment ends. These therapies are recommended in major gastroenterology guidelines.

What treatment looks like at our centre

Your care starts with a Rome IV–based assessment to confirm your diagnosis and classify your IBS subtype (IBS-D, IBS-C or mixed). You then begin a structured course of gut-directed psychotherapy with a specialized GI psychotherapist — typically weekly virtual sessions — with validated symptom tracking so your plan adjusts based on measured progress, not guesswork. With your consent, we report back to your family physician at every stage.

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Virtual care across Manitoba · Self-referrals welcome · Response within 2 business days

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a referral for IBS treatment?

No. We accept self-referrals from anywhere in Manitoba, as well as physician referrals. Our care team responds within two business days.

Is gut-directed hypnotherapy legitimate medicine?

Yes. It is one of the best-studied psychological treatments in gastroenterology, with randomized controlled trials showing response rates above 70% and durable benefit, and it is recommended in major clinical guidelines for IBS.

I've already tried the low-FODMAP diet. Will this still help?

Yes — diet and gut-directed psychotherapy target different mechanisms. Many patients who plateau on dietary therapy respond well to brain-gut treatment, and the two can be combined.