new course for 2012: professional hypnotherapy diploma

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Do you want a new and rewarding career helping people make positive changes in their lives?

New For 2012: For the first time I am offering a Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma in association with The West Midlands Hypnotherapy Centre and Balanced Approach.

More and more people are looking for professional Hypnotherapists to help them make positive changes in there lives and there is more and more evidence for its success. NOW is your chance to re-train in a rewarding and lucrative career.

The course is only £899 (+ VAT) or £649 (+ VAT) if you have already completed a Practitioner training with me.

The training is split over two modules:

module 1: 03 – 05 feb

Intro to Hypnosis: Underpinning theory, principles and methods of induction. The first weekend of the course is an introduction to hypnosis, techniques and treatments which will be invaluable for stress management and self improvement techniques. You will have the opportunity to learn and practice methods of induction.

module 2: 24 – 26 feb

Hypnosis: Personality types, language patterns and models of communication. During the second module, you will be introduced to a range of personality types, the measurement of hypnotisability and its connection to personality and the importance of personalities for rapport and implications for treatment. Next we will provide you with the opportunities to develop your understanding of a range of language patterns, models of communication with specific reference to hypnosis including a range of techniques and exercises for personal excellence.

On successful completion of this training course you will be awarded a Diploma in Professional Hypnotherapy and Clinic Hypnosis by Balanced Approach. This certification is fully recognised and accredited by the General Hypnotherapy Register, one of the UK’s leading Accreditation bodies and allows you to apply for membership of this organisation.

For more details and to book, please click here.

michael breen’s language guru

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Meta Model

I am indebted to Michael Breen for helping me to “crack” the Meta Model and I make no qualms about the fact the way I understand, use and teach the Meta Model is based largely on his thinking.

Several years ago he produced an excellent DVD set laying out his take on the Meta Model, I used to recommend and indeed sell it here on my site. Sadly, he stopped producing it awhile ago.

But the good news is that he has released and expanded the programme in association with Tom O’Connor of NLP Times. It now includes much more information on Michael’s “Framing Tool” and additional exercise to help you really get to grips with this essential part of NLP.

I highly recommend this to anyone who is serious about learning and mastering the Meta Model. You can learn more by clicking here or on the banner.

Meta Model

2012 training dates

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Below are my currently planned 2012 NLP training dates. More courses may be added through the year depending on demand.

If you would like to discuss anything in more detail, including one to one or in house trainings, please contact me here.

nlp practitioner training

An NLP Practitioner is someone who has learned to use the attitudes, principles and techniques of NLP as they are intended to be used, by its creator, for themselves and with others.

birmingham

spring module 1: 18 – 20 may
spring module 2: 25 – 27 may

autumn module 1: 05 – 07 oct
autumn module 2: 12 – 14 oct

cardiff

spring module 1: 20 – 22 apr
spring module 2: 25 – 27 apr

For more information on this course and to book, click here.

This course carries certification from the Society of NLP.

nlp master practitioner training

A MASTER Practitioner of NLP is someone who has mastered the creative and innovative applications of the principles and methodology of NLP. They are highly skilled communicators, able to easily change their own behaviours and those of others.

birmingham

spring module 1: 15 – 17 jun
spring module 2: 22 – 24 jun

autumn module 1: 02 – 04 nov
autumn module 2: 09 – 11 nov

For more information on this course, click here.

This course carries certification from the Society of NLP.

language and reality part 2: aristotle’s shadow

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Aristotle casts a long shadow over Western thought.

Much of our thought processes, logic and language structure are directly influenced by Aristotle’s “Law’s of Thought”. These involved three basic premises:

1. A is A

This is known as the “Premise of Identity”. For example an apple is an apple, it is not a pear or a banana.

2. anything is either A or not A

This is the “Premise of the Excluded Middle”. An apple is either an apple or not an apple.

3. something cannot be both A and not A

The “Premise of None Contradiction”. An apple cannot be an apple and not an apple.

This seems to make sense, doesn’t it? It may work OK when we are talking about  simple objects, such as apples, but once we get to something more complex, like value judgements, ideas and concepts it can start to limit our thinking and flexibility.

Using Aristotle’s “Laws of Thought”, things are either good or bad, right or wrong, your fault or not your fault. There is no “maybe” or more complex possibilities.

To demonstrate the limitations of Aristotle’s Laws of Thought, do these two thought experiments:

1. five alternative explanations

Next time you hear a “fact” quickly think of five counter theories about how it could work (it doesn’t matter if they seem silly, it is getting into the habit of challenging your habitual thinking!).

2. empty your pockets

Take everything you have in your pockets right now, five or so things would be useful and split them into the following categories:

  • Shiny and not shiny
  • Blue and not blue
  • Hard and soft

Notice how you make the decision to place an item in one group or the other. Notice how the process of deciding what object fits into each group is largely arbitrary and the decision is based on some prejudice or or process that has very little evidence to support it. How much of something needs to be shiny for it to go in the shiny pile? 51% of it? How do you know it is more shiny than not shiny?

websites for coaches

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I have been helping coaches, therapists and trainers start up their own professional practices almost since I began running NLP trainings in 2003. In 2008 I poured all my knowledge into my top selling “Professional Practice Builder Handbook” (now in it’s 4th edition), which helped coaches and therapists start businesses from scratch as, with honest down to earth advice without the hype.

Now I am proud to announce the launch of www.websites-for-coaches.com. The next step in my journey to help coaches, trainers and therapists succeed in their business.

websites-for-coaches.com came about through frustration. Since I commissioned my first website in 2001 I was constantly disappointed with the level of service I received from so called web designers and the astronomical fees they were charging NOT to do what I asked them to do!

I worked my way through several web designers, each time feeling let down by their service and struggling to pay the spiral costs.

Many web designers out there are brilliant designers, brilliant coders, but they know nothing about your needs as a coach, therapist or teacher. They may build you a brilliant looking site, but if it doesn’t attract and convert paying clients it is not what you need.

So in 2008 I took matters into my own hands and taught myself how to build websites (although, I had been doing my own Search Engine Optimisation since 2005), firstly using Dreamweaver MX, which was clunky and unwieldy and then I discovered WordPress…

Because I use WordPress as a platform to build your website, not only do you have the security and assurance of the most popular CMS (content management system) in use on the Internet, but you can also easily upgrade the site at very little or no costs as and when you need to. Once the site is built you are in charge.

benefits of wordpress:

  • The most popular CMS (content management system) in use on the Internet.
  • Free updates for life.
  • Robust and secure.
  • Excellent support.
  • Many plugins, mostly free.
  • Infinitely customisable.
  • Built for simple SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).
  • No complicated and time consuming coding, so I can offer lower cost, professionally performing solutions.

Now I am using what I learned to offer low cost, high quality professionally designed websites specifically for coaches, trainers and therapists. With prices starting at just £199 and a 20% discount available for all members of, or graduates from, the following organisations:

  • Central England College of Clinical Hypnosis
  • Isis Centre
  • The Society of NLP
  • The Association of NLP
  • Phraya Pichai Muay Thai Camps International

I have been where you are and understand your needs.

For more information go to www.websites-for-coaches.com

Matt

language and reality part 1

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As far as we know, we are the only creatures that use words to understand and explain the world around us.

That means how we use and structure our language and communication (to ourselves and other people) effects the way we create our own reality.

Because we think in words, we often don’t explore the words we use and how that effects us. We become so absorbed in the content we pay little attention to the structure of our thoughts.

One of the most powerful ways to change the way we feel, act and interact with the world  is to improve our knowledge and grasp of linguistics.

Happiness (at least partly) is dependant on grammar!

We think in words.

If don’t use those words correctly we will struggle to think “usefully”.

We do not think “usefully” (or “rightly” as the Buddhists put it) we will find it difficult to make useful observations and decisions.

We cannot make useful decisions we shall, basically, make a mess of things.

If we make a mess of things we will be unhappy.

The Professional Practice Builder Handbook, 4th Edition Now Available

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I have just released the 4th edition of my top selling “Professional Practice Builders Handbook” where I show you how to set up your own coaching, therapy or training business from scratch.

The world has changed a lot since I released the first edition of this ebook back in 2008, to reflect the changes there are  over 40 pages of additional material, including:

  • The four keys to success (you don’t need to do them all, but you should do a couple at least)
  • My thoughts on Social Networking and beginners strategy.
  • Back to the old school, why the old methods may actually be the best.
  • The simple success strategy (or how to use Social Networking properly).
  • A much more in-depth process on how to create online products.
  • An updated section on how to design and build a website, which is completely different to how I used to say to do it!

Available now as instant pdf download for the introduction of price of £29.99 (+VAT) for a limited time.

You can get it here.

Matt

the meta model demystified

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For a long time I have been concerned that there is a problem in NLP…

The Meta Model, the most powerful pattern that NLP has developed is poorly taught, poorly understood and poorly used.

Which is such a shame, as the Meta Model is the most powerful pattern in NLP. With it you can become a master communicator and your ability and understanding the rest of the model of NLP will grow exponentially.

Richard Bandler says that NLP is like a photocopy, the further you get from the original source the worse the quality becomes. This is no truer than in the Meta Model, where misunderstanding and misinterpretations have been handed down time after time.

There have been very few attempts to clarify the Meta Model or frame it in a more useful and comprehensible manner, and many NLP books and trainings regurgitate the same old stuff from outdated and outmoded source material.

This 29-page eBooklet is my attempt to undo this confusion and present the Meta Model in a way that is clear to understand and, most importantly, use correctly.

It is not intended to be a complete discussion on all the patterns, but an easy to understand primer to help you either learn it for the first time, revise what you know or undo any un-useful associations so that you can relearn the Meta Model in a more useful way.

It contains:

  • An understanding of the origins and theory of the Milton Model.
  • A history of the Meta Model – putting it in context.
  • How language creates reality.
  • An understanding of basic grammar.
  • Identifying generalisations, distortions and deletions
  • A list of the Classic Patterns in an accessible way.
  • Hints and tips to improve your skill at using the Meta Model.
  • Much more…

The usual price  is£15.99 (+ VAT). But if you buy BEFORE 31st August for the very special introductory price of £9.99

You can get it here.

the expectation is often worse than the event: banish the nerves!

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“Disappointment takes adequate planning” – Richard Bandler

I was running a training last week, it was supposed to be a simple communication training, like the type I have run hundreds of times before, but the client kept changing their minds, changing the remit and asking for different things. It came to the point where I had no idea what I was meant to be doing, or what the client wanted (they probably didn’t know either).

I started running nightmare scenarios in my mind that I would deliver the wrong training to a hostile crowd and hardly slept the night before due to nerves (something that hasn’t happened to me for years).

I sorted out the nerves, but still didn’t know what to expect from the training. It ended up being fine, in fact it was good fun, with plenty of interaction and positive feedback.

The event went well, but my expectation of the event turned me into a bundle of nerves.

I can think of dozens of examples where this is the case in my life, from holidays to exams to work.

I have spent days beforehand with that churning in my stomach, running through all the worst possible scenarios and telling myself over and over again “I am really not looking forward to this, I really don’t want to do this” (which of course is the best possible way to get myself in a positive and useful state!), just for the actual event to be good fun or at worst no where near as bad as I was expecting!

Can you think, now, of some examples where this has happened to you?

do this thought experiment:

  1. Think of a time when you were not looking forward to an event, yet it actually went fine (or better than expected), notice the feelings of relief that it went OK.
  2. As you think about it, squeeze your thumb and forefinger together for a few seconds.
  3. Relax for a moment and squeeze your fingers together. Does it bring back the sense of relief? If not repeat steps 1 and 2 until it does.
  4. Think of something you aren’t looking forward to, that you are worrying about. Do you make a picture? Talk to yourself?
  5. If you make pictures of the all the catastrophic things that may go wrong, “push” it off into the distance while squeezing your thumb and forefinger. Does it change the feeling?
  6. If you talk to yourself, change the voice to someone you think is silly (Homer Simpson for example) while squeezing your thumb and forefinger. Does it change the feeling?
  7. Experiment with different combinations of the above to see what works for you.

autumn 2011 training schedule

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Below is a list of my remaining NLP trainings for 2011. I will be announcing my 2012 training schedule very soon.

nlp practitioner – birmingham

Intensive 5-day training: 07-11 October

Click here for more details and to book

nlp practitioner – cardiff

Module 1: 28-30 October

Module 2: 04-06 October

Go to nlp-cardiff.co.uk for more details.

NEW: nlp master practitioner – birmingham

Due to demand I have added an extra Master Practitioner training for the autumn on:

Module 1: 11-14 November

Module 2: 25-28 November

Click here for more details and to book

Matt