Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) in Derby
NLP has a mixed reputation, largely because of how it's been used in sales training. Inside therapy it's something quieter: a set of practical tools for changing how you represent a problem to yourself.
BACP-registered · In-person Derby · Online UK · Confidential
How NLP is used here
NLP looks at the structure of experience — the images, internal dialogue and sequences that sit underneath a reaction. Change the structure and the feeling often changes with it. I use it as one element of integrative practice alongside clinical hypnotherapy and EMDR, never as a standalone quick fix, and never as a substitute for medical care. If it isn't the right tool for what you've brought, I'll say so.
What this can help with
- ✓Confidence before interviews, presentations or performance
- ✓Specific phobias with a clear trigger
- ✓Harsh internal dialogue and self-criticism
- ✓Anticipatory dread about a known event
- ✓Habits maintained by an automatic sequence
- ✓Getting unstuck when insight hasn't changed behaviour
- ✓Goal work that keeps stalling at the same point
How sessions are structured
- Step 1
Unpick the structure
We map how you currently do the problem — what you picture, hear and feel, and in what order.
- Step 2
Test a change
We alter one element of that structure and check what actually shifts, rather than assuming.
- Step 3
Rehearse it in real life
We run the new pattern through the situations you'll actually face, then build in something you can use on your own.
What clients say
★★★★★"I decided to seek structured support and expertise — highly recommend James."
★★★★★"Working with James has been incredibly helpful for my anxiety. He creates a calm, supportive environment."
★★★★★"Therapy with James helped me understand myself and overcome patterns I'd struggled with for years."
Frequently asked questions
Isn't NLP pseudoscience?+
Some claims made for NLP go well beyond the evidence, and I don't make them. I use specific techniques where clients find them useful, within an integrative approach that includes better-evidenced methods such as EMDR.
Is NLP the same as hypnotherapy?+
No. They overlap and are often combined, but hypnotherapy works with a focused, relaxed state while NLP works with the structure of thought — usually with your eyes open.
Can NLP be done online?+
Yes. It works well over secure video, since most of the work is conversational.
Will it work for me?+
I can't promise that, and you should be cautious of anyone who does. We'd use the free intro call to work out whether it's a sensible fit.
Related services
Clinical Hypnotherapy
Integrative one-to-one hypnotherapy for anxiety, trauma, stress, habits and sleep.
Anxiety Therapy
Practical help for chronic worry, panic and overthinking — most clients shift in 3–6 sessions.
Content-Free Regression
Work through the root of a feeling without having to describe what happened.
Psychotherapy in Derby
Integrative psychotherapy blending EMDR, hypnosis and person-centred work.
Ready to take the first step?
Two minutes. No forms. No pressure. Just a conversation.