I first contacted Paul in May 2012, as I was due to go on holiday and have a fear of birds, so I wanted to try hypnotherapy to help with my fear. At the same time I was suffering anxiety about my health. Before my appointment with Paul I had seen my doctor about health worries and he had suggested counselling as he thought it was anxiety that was giving me the health issues. On my first meeting with Paul, I found him to be very easy to talk to and cry to (as i did often in the first few weeks). I explained that although I had originally booked for hypnotherapy regarding birds, I told him everything else I was feeling and worried over and what my doctor had said. We chatted and Paul recommended the Thrive programme. I decided to give it a go. I read two chapters per week of the book and we discussed these at the next appointments and my answers to any of the questions. I must say after the first three weeks and still feeling anxious I was a bit down hearted but I explained all this to Paul. I then went on holiday and was totally relaxed, no health worries and even managed to sit eating outdoors when a bird landed by me. I saw Paul on my return and explained that Id been totally relaxed on holiday but anxious when got home, Paul explained that I should take the positives from it and that I should be able to see that when I’m relaxed I am fine and therefore it is all about my style of thinking. I completed the course and went on my way. I was much more relaxed and had lots more self confidence. It has now been about a month since my course finished. I am most definitely more confident, not worried about what I think others think of me. I still get anxious at times, but am doing my best to remember all i have learnt and to go back to reading the thrive book to help myself and not let things get me down like before. Paul is very easy to talk to, witty, and doesn’t judge, I would recommend this thrive course. Thank you Paul Mrs C

Mrs C

I first came across the Thrive programme in October 2013 in a last desperate search for help and support for my fear of sick. At the time I was a new mom and had just experienced my first round of the Noro virus with my Son and Husband. The fear of sick was consuming me because unlike before I couldn’t escape from responsibilities of being a mum. For as long as I can remember I had a fear of being sick, always thinking I was the only person in the world with this fear and constantly being told by others that it was a ridiculous thing to be frightened of which as you can imagine did nothing for my self confidence either. Coming across the Thrive Emetophobia by Rob Kelly book on-line is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. After reading the book at home I just knew It was the start of a new life, however something wasn’t quite clicking and I felt I needed extra support. After emailing and then attending a free consultation meeting the Paul I just knew working with him would be the final step in understanding why I had this fear. Over 10 sessions I have completely changed how I look at life. Above everything else I have learnt to treat myself with respect and have confidence in the fact that I am capable of taking control and that it is me (and only me) who is in fact the catalyst for my unhelpful thinking styles which create my fear. It has been an emotional roller coaster for me and also very interesting to explore my learned behaviours and how i’ve created a bubble that I have been living in for all these years including avoiding social social situations, taking risks, vomit avoidance tactics, and a complete reliance on others when it comes to my own child and vomit but the biggest challenge was learning for the first time how to cope with this overwhelming and unusual happiness I was experiencing. The mind is an extremely powerful tool. Thrive will help you to retrain how you think and look at life. Its hard work and takes dedication. Its something you must apply yourself to every day but I know that its impossible for me to go back to how I was when I first walked in to Paul’s office. If you have any phobia which is consuming your life like Emetophobia was for me then I would 100% recommend Thrive to you. Having been through different types of therapy through most of my adult life its nice to know I can finally stop searching. I am eternally grateful to Paul for his support and guidance and so proud of myself for how far I have come today.

Rachel Proudman