Up to 1998
I have been involved in the driver training industry since 1983. I trained to become a DSA Approved Driving Instructor with an old school friend who had become a police instructor. The earlier part of my working life was spent in engineering after serving an apprenticeship in a nearby town.
After completing my driving instructor training, I became a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists in 1983 and have remained a member since that time. In addition, I am a member of the Driving Instructors Association who advise instructors on the most effective training techniques and legal matters etc.
Unfortunately, I spent an extended period unable to work as an instructor following a non-fault motoring accident in 1995. After my physical injuries had healed, I found I was unable to return to work due to the psychological effects of the accident. However, after using self-hypnosis during my recovery, I returned to the driver training industry in 1998.
My interest in hypnotherapy was then established and I started reading up on the subject as a hobby. Upon returning to the driver training industry I was required to have my driving tuition skills examined by a supervising examiner (a statutory requirement for all UK driving instructors). I was awarded a top grade for my efforts, which applies to around 7% of instructors nationally and recently achieved another top grade on my last check test.
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1998 to 2006
During this period, I studied at the long established Wakefield School of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy. The National Council of Hypnotherapy (NCH) approved this training school along with thirteen other establishments nationwide as an accredited training organisation.
After using self-hypnosis to help me recover from my accident, I feel I have particular empathy for anyone who's driving ability has diminished due to physical or psychological difficulties. I completed my hypnotherapy training in 2006 attaining the Hypnotherapy Practitioners Diploma.
I believe the HPD to be the first open to all, nationally accredited Diploma in Hypnotherapy. Both the NCFE and the NCH bring forth this jointly accredited credential in the interests of consolidating hypnotherapy training into an externally verified qualification.
The Learning Outcomes for the HPD are in line with the National Occupational Standards for Hypnotherapy. In 2006, I established the Nervous Driver business treating driving phobia's throughout the UK along-side a successful part-time hypnotherapy practice in the North East of England.
I am actively involved with a Continued Professional Development (CPD) programme. Valerie Hird is now my mentor in pursuit of this goal and is an Accredited member, a qualified supervisor and educator with the NCH.
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2006 to Present Day
Since 2006, I have spent most of my spare time developing my Nervous Driver business. Having 25 years experience in the driving training industry and professional qualifications as a hypnotherapist, it seemed a logical next step.
After learning by experience that drivers can lose their ability to drive after accidents, illness or neglect and I decided it was the right move for me to try to help.
Nervous Driver has been structured as a national business and I make frequent visits to most parts of the country delivering the service. We specialise in using hypnotherapy and driver training to help drivers overcome fears and phobia's related to driving.
Some of the more specific problems we deal with include fear of Motorway driving, fear of Overtaking and fear of Speed. There is an estimated 10,000 people in the UK who fear motorway driving due to faster speeds and the overtaking manoeuvres that are required.
Ironically, motorways are amongst the safest roads in the UK and I have discovered that these issues can be resolved for many people in a single day. The delivery specific hypnotherapy suggestions and a few hours of high quality driver training is often all that is required. The suggestions used are unique to Nervous Driver and were developed over many years.
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Kind permission of
Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service
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