Mark's NLP, Coaching, and more

  Human Engineering: What If We Thought About People as Adaptive Systems? I began my working life as an engineer. At the time, I could not have imagined that the way of thinking I was learning — understanding systems, looking for relationships, identifying where energy was being wasted, anticipating failure and asking why something was not working effectively — would eventually shape the way I thought about people. Engineering teaches you to look beyond the obvious fault. If a component fails, replacing it may solve the immediate problem. But a good engineer also wants to know why it failed. Was it overloaded? Poorly aligned? Was there unnecessary friction? Had the system gradually moved outside its useful operating range? Years later, working with movement, rehabilitation, coaching and human behaviour, I realised that I was asking remarkably similar questions. Not because human beings are machines. They clearly are not. But because human beings are systems . And systems have relat...

  Falls are not an inevitable consequence of ageing. Yet they remain one of the most significant threats to independence, confidence and quality of life in later years. The good news is that falls are often preventable, and exercise is one of the most consistently supported interventions. The World Guidelines for Falls Prevention and Management for Older Adults recommend exercise programmes that challenge balance and functional ability, are individualised and progressively increased, and are performed at least three times per week. Importantly, the guidelines specifically recommend the inclusion of Tai Chi , when feasible. Current NICE guidance (NG249) similarly recommends falls-prevention exercise that is progressive, tailored to the individual's needs, preferences, goals and abilities, and addresses functional components including balance, coordination, strength and power. Tai Chi therefore has an established place within contemporary falls-prevention practice. But an important...

  "Resilience is not about avoiding disruption. It is about retaining the flexibility to reorganise, learn and move forward." Life rarely unfolds exactly according to plan. Projects fail. Relationships change. Careers take unexpected turns. We make mistakes, receive criticism, experience rejection, and sometimes discover that something we have invested considerable time and energy in simply hasn't worked. The important question is not whether setbacks will happen. They will. The more useful question is: what happens next? Why can one person experience a setback, learn from it and move forward, while another remains caught in the experience long afterwards? In Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), resilience can be understood not simply as an ability to "stay strong", but as flexibility : the capacity to change our thinking, emotional state and behaviour when our existing response is no longer useful. Resilience is therefore less about resisting change and more abo...

"The most influential voice in your life is often the one that nobody else can hear." Most of us spend a considerable amount of time talking to ourselves. We rehearse conversations before they happen. We analyse events after they have occurred. We evaluate our decisions, question our choices, and imagine possible futures. This ongoing stream of internal dialogue is so familiar that we often fail to notice it. Yet the words we use inside our minds can have a profound influence on our emotions, behaviours, performance, and overall wellbeing. In Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), language is more than a means of communication. It is one of the primary ways we create meaning and shape our experience of the world. The conversations we have with ourselves matter. The Voice Inside Your Head Internal dialogue is the running commentary that accompanies much of our daily life. Sometimes it is supportive: "I've handled situations like this before." "I can work this o...

  Supervision is often spoken about in compliance terms—something we “must” do to satisfy professional bodies such as the CHNC, GHR, and other regulatory organisations. And while those requirements exist for good reason, reducing supervision to a tick-box exercise misses its deeper value. In reality, good supervision is one of the most powerful developmental, ethical, and protective tools available to a hypnotherapist. At its best, supervision is not about oversight—it is about perspective. Moving Beyond the “Therapeutic Blinkers” When working closely with clients, it is easy to develop what might be called “therapeutic blinkers.” We become immersed in a client’s narrative, invested in their progress, and sometimes subtly attached to particular outcomes. This is not a flaw—it is part of being a compassionate practitioner. However, it can narrow perception. Supervision offers a structured space to step outside that immediacy. A skilled supervisor brings what we might call “clean obs...

When we talk about wellbeing, mental health and emotional health are often used interchangeably—but they are distinct, and understanding the difference can transform your personal growth. Hypnotherapy works across these layers, helping you feel balanced, resilient, and empowered. Mental Health: How We Think Mental health is about your thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions. Negative thought patterns—like overthinking or self-criticism—can affect your mood and behaviour. Hypnotherapy focus: Reframing unhelpful beliefs Resolving inner conflict Guiding the subconscious to create healthier thinking Self-help exercise – “Thought Observation”: Take a quiet moment and notice your thoughts for 2–3 minutes. Write down any recurring negative or stressful thoughts. Ask yourself: “Is this thought 100% true? Could there be another perspective?” Replace one unhelpful thought with a neutral or positive alternative. This simple practice helps you gain perspective and train your mind to be less reactive...