Q&A with NLP practitioner James Wilson on changing behaviours
Clinical NLP Practitioner James Wilson is among 1000 therapists to support Duty to Care’s work in providing NHS staff with mental health and wellbeing support. Also a qualified hypnotherapist, life coach and wellness coach, James helps those experiencing challenging times to maximise their mental health, happiness and performance. He started his business following a bout of chronic illness helped him to develop the skills needed to support others going through struggles in their lives.
How have you been coping during lockdown? Has it had a big impact on your lifestyle and the therapy you offer?
J: Like everyone, my lifestyle has had to adapt during lockdown. As someone who loves being around people, socialising and interacting - the lack of contact with others was a challenge. However, it also provided an opportunity to diversify my business online, innovate and also explore new hobbies and self development areas - I've taken up Qigong for example! I've also been lucky to have access to my sister's puppy for periods of it, which provided welcome distraction and amusement.
In terms of the therapy I offer, of course everything has moved onto Zoom for 1-2-1 sessions. Whilst unfamiliar at first, it works really well and gives the client total flexibility (as well as me). It also enables them to have conversations in the comfort of their own home, perhaps where they feel most themselves and most relaxed. I think in many cases this is actually a real positive of moving online and I think I will continue to work online into the future. I have also been running group online guided meditations every week which have been really popular and giving people something to look forward to one evening a week.
Can you explain NLP therapy and Hypnotherapy – plus the other therapies you offer?
NLP
NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) in its simplest terms is a way of changing someone's thoughts and behaviours to achieve rapid and lasting change.
We can become stuck in our lives because the more we use certain pathways in our brain, whether they’re positive or negative, the stronger and more dominant they become. A bit like if you were to work out one arm in the gym and not the other. In reality this means the more we access certain thoughts, behaviour, feelings and emotions, the more likely they are to show up in our world, whether they're useful to us, or not.
NLP uses a variety of fun and interactive tools to interrupt unhelpful patterns and establish more useful ones that over time become your new 'default' or 'autopilot'. We can do this because of something called Neuro-Plasticity – which is our brain’s ability to adapt, change and be remoulded. This means change is always possible, which is pretty cool!
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is widely misunderstood, and isn't like the stage hypnosis you see on the television. It is quite simply an altered state of mind or awareness that enables you to have a deeper and clearer conversation with yourself and your subconscious mind, therefore learning and accessing change quickly.
During hypnotherapy you'll feel just like you do when you're completely absorbed in a task, book, tv programme, music or sports activity. What's important to remember is that you remain completely in control of everything you say and do!
Could you also explain the differences between NLP and CBT therapy?
J: CBT has some similarities with NLP in that it’s philosophy is that the content of our thoughts have a major influence on our emotions and behaviour. However CBT and NLP differ in the way they help people – CBT looks to help you make sense of the problems you may be experiencing in the moment by using the framework to consciously think of changes you can make, whereas NLP looks to change the underlying patterns/strategies so that the problems don’t reappear.
CBT focuses purely on the conscious mind, whereas NLP also focuses on the unconscious mind, where patterns and habits can be changed in a matter of minutes, not days or weeks.
As a general rule, NLP offers a therapy that does not require individuals to discuss their problems at length in order to provide the solution. NLP is more focused on the client looking forward to what they want to change - how they want to think, feel, behave - and using tools to get there.
Who would your therapy benefit? Would it be helpful for those struggling with anxiety, depression or stress?
J: Much of the work I do blends Life Coaching, NLP & Hypnotherapy and can be really applicable to and incredibly successful with a diverse range of challenges and issues, including everything you've mentioned. I have a particular interest and passion for working with those suffering from anxiety/stress/burnout, having seen the impact they had on my life - and also how powerful the tools I now use can be to resolve them.
NLP is also absolutely brilliant for shifting perspective and creating quick and lasting change with relationships, which is always a joy to see - as great relationships are so often the foundation for happy and healthy lives.
Can you explain how your own experiences with chronic illness inspired you to start your business?
J: My background is actually in the corporate world, working in sustainability and social impact – in house at businesses such as PwC & Sodexo as well as working for a number of years on the consultancy side at a brand agency.
But I started suffering from ME/CFS – for the second time in my life actually, largely as a result of overworking, excessive stress, anxiety, emotional trauma and probably some over exercising too. This really took me on a journey to understand my body and mind better and explore different solutions to what I was experiencing and tools to be healthier and get back towards the life I want to live.
I’ve done lots of great things and many I build into my daily life now, but the area that was most impactful for me and that I found most interesting was all about the mind-body connection and how you can influence what is happening in your body, with your mind alone, such is its power.
How interesting I found the science, combined with a realisation that having been through what I have, that I wanted to move into a career that directly helps others get the best from their minds - to maximise their health, happiness & performance – led me to where I am now and starting this business.
How could it help support NHS staff during/after Coronavirus?
J: I've been doing a lot of work with NHS workers through Duty to Care over the last few months. I think what's really consistent about all their experiences is that they've been running on high adrenaline for so long, have had less time to maintain their mental health and are stuck in negative thought patterns - around what they've seen, but also what the future looks like at this uncertain time.
The therapy I offer is a really great fit because it brings clients back to focusing on what they need, gives them tools to settle down their nervous system and restore calm, as well as working directly to break their negative thought patterns and generate new more positive ones. It also enables them to look to the future in a clear way and clarify exactly what they want to achieve in the coming months and most importantly, how they want to feel.
What could clients expect from a first session with you?
J: The first sessions look slightly different to a regular session as we'll spend the first half really getting to grips with why they're here, what's been going on for them and what they'd like to change. Then we'll head straight into getting clear on what they'd like from it and how we're going to get there. At a broad level, a series of sessions with me would follow the following structure:
Understanding
Getting to grips with why you are where you are, and what specifically you'd like to shift. This is the foundation for change.
Creating
Allowing you to explore and create exactly what you do want - how you’d love to feel, think, behave, interact. We’ll keep this as the focus throughout.
Transforming
Working together to get you there - getting into the practical elements of how you transform your experience of life. This is the majority of our time and focus.
Many media have reported on concerns of PTSD fallout for NHS staff after Coronavirus – what do you think about this? Is this something your therapies could help with?
J: I think this is a realistic outlook - there is no doubt that these workers have seen and experienced things they never expected to, and in many cases didn't sign up for as such - with so many being shifted to ICU to help out.
As I talked a little about earlier the work I do will really help to firstly enable clients to get back to a place of calm and a balanced nervous system - where their minds and bodies can begin to heal from their experience. Secondly, due to the tools accessible to influence the subconscious mind and change patterns of thoughts and emotions - we can begin to change the association with past experiences.
There is something I like to talk about called "Post Traumatic Growth" - which is where people go through huge amounts of growth, development and learning as a result of their trauma - meaning they come out the others side in many cases very grateful of their experience as it took them in a new direction and forced them to reassess their life. This is something I can relate to and enjoy taking clients through.
Are there any symptoms NHS staff should watch out for as a sign they may need extra support?
J: Of course everyone's situation is going to be different, but my view is that at a societal level we are great at responding to our physical bodies when they're affecting the enjoyment of our life. We have a niggle in our back - we go to the physio. Yet we don't always take the same approach with our minds. I would encourage people to do so however if they're noticing that their mental health - whether that's their thoughts, their emotions, their mood or their vision of the future is impairing their ability to enjoy life - that's the time to reach out for support.
Can you offer any advice for anyone struggling during lockdown/Coronavirus?
J: I think whenever times feel tough and the environment feels uncertain, it's also about bringing your focus back to what you can control, and letting go of what you can't. This shift can make all the difference, moving from feeling anxious, powerless, overwhelmed to empowered, calm, action focused, in control of you and only you.
I also feel it's about going back to basics - drawing focus to what is good about life right now, finding gratitude and opportunity in the situation, doing any small things you enjoy, getting out into nature, exercising where you can and keeping social contact - virtually or at a distance. But also be kind to yourself throughout and recognise it's a challenging time for most people.
And of course - if you feel like you need support to get through the period, don't hesitate to reach out to get support - it might just give you the helping hand that makes all the difference.
If you’re interested in learning more about James’ work please visit: MIND-SWITCH.CO.UK or email: JAMES@MIND-SWITCH.CO.UK to book a session