8th April 2010, Dublin Ireland – With the country's focus on what we can all do to improve our economic prospects and personal wellbeing the ABC's of Success™ Academy is relaunching on Sunday 18th April 2010 with a brand new format.

The ABC's of Success™ is a psychological method that improves the Achievement, Balance and Communication skills of those who apply it.

Consulting Psychologist John Francis Leader, Director of the training group, described the focus of this year's events. “The feedback we've been getting is that people can use all the help they can get. It's all well and good talking about expanding your business, finding employment, or keeping the job you have but how exactly do you do that in a motivated way and how can you have fun in the process? That's what the ABC's are all about.”

The ABC's of Success™ approach is in many ways nothing new as the abilities to set and achieve goals, feel confident and communicate well go back to the beginning of human history. “It's like the example of electricity” Leader explains. “Electricity has been around forever, yet we've only harnessed it effectively in the last century. In the same way right now seems to be a golden age for recognising our personal abilities. We really can't afford not to at this point”.

The ABC Academy offers one-day adult training events aimed at all levels every month in Dublin City that can be attended either as a once-off or as part of an ongoing program.

To find out more and avail of a free online consultation and for advice on how you can improve your Achievement, Balance and Communication skills visit http://www.abcsofsuccess.org.

Click here to contact the Press Office right now >

 

Dublin, Ireland 4th January 2010 - "The first thing we do when you come into our Dublin City Centre clinic is take you *out* of hypnosis" says psychologist and hypnotherapist John Francis Leader. "

The thing people need to appreciate about hypnosis is that it's something we all do automatically every day." "Think about it - if you find yourself walking around, as if on autopilot, eating the foods that you'd rather avoid, feeling anxious when you'd prefer to be confident or feeling stressed when you'd rather be relaxed doesn't it feel as if some 'force' is making you act that way? That's hypnosis."

Mr Leader specialises in helping people to break out of the 'trance' of everyday habits that might not be the most helpful to your health and having carried out over 5,000 consultations in Dublin since he started practising in 2001 it seems that Irish people can't get enough of therapeutic hypnosis.

On Monday 4th January 2010 hypnotherapists all across Ireland, and the world, will be taking a break from their consultancy rooms and making television, radio and press appearances as well as conducting public seminars on the subject of hypnosis and how it can be used to really make a difference with those New Year's Resolutions.

"Hypnotherapy is now accepted as a mainstream psychological therapy by many" says John, "however it's one of the few therapies that is surrounded by such mystery and is also used as a form of entertainment".

It's for this reason that hypnotherapists will be uniting on the 4th of January to share the message that hypnosis is a great way to make serious changes in your life.

When asked when hypnosis is most appropriate, Mr Leader explains that it is designed for stubborn problems. "If you know you want to make the change, and at least in principle you know you have what it takes to make the change, but it still is not happening - that's when you use hypnotherapy."

Mr Leader courted controversy in the world of entertainment hypnosis recently by revealing the exact details of how stage hypnosis works. "I respect stage performers" John said, "however I respect the audience even more and I think hypnosis is magical enough without the need for masking how it really works."

"I got an angry message from one particularly well-known performer. I offered him a free session of anger management hypnotherapy which he didn't take me up on but we're still friends so hey, it's all good!"

Hypnotherapy is used in Ireland today to treat a wide range of difficulties including popular favourites such as weight loss and giving up cigarettes as well as anxiety disorders, panic attacks, depression and a wide range of phobias including public speaking, flying and driving.

John Francis Leader will be available for public appearances and media interviews, sharing in a brief and exciting way how hypnosis can help you as well as revealing the secret of how it really works, up until the middle of January including Monday 4th January 2010.

Click here to contact the Press Office right now >

 

Dublin, Ireland 2nd January 2009 - "Mention the word hypnosis and you're likely to get a mix of reactions ranging from wonder to skepticism" says Clinical Hypnotherapist John Francis Leader.

"The truth is that despite being a highly regarded psychological therapy used in the treatment of everything from addiction to anxiety, many people are still unsure of what exactly hypnosis is."

And that, according to Mr Leader, is what World Hypnotism Day is all about. Celebrated around the world officially on the 4th January 2009 - but with events taking place throughout the entire month of January - World Hypnotism Day sees professional hypnotherapists leave their clinics and reach out to the general public to offer an experience of what hypnosis is really all about.

"Hypnosis can be used for lots of different reasons - and that's what often causes so much confusion" explained John Francis Leader at a public meeting held at Dublin City Hypnotherapy Clinic.

"Hypnosis is often used for entertainment purposes as well as by athletes to aid their performance and then of course by qualified therapists to help their clients overcome all kinds of difficulties. People like it because it's different and it works very well."

So why the skepticism if hypnosis is so effective? Mr Leader believes it's because most of us know very little about how hypnosis really works. "It's one of those things that has caught the imagination of Hollywood and when you hear about hypnosis being used it can often conjure up images of an extravagantly dressed mysterious figure using it to carry out something along the lines of a diamond robbery."

"The reality is that all of this - although very entertaining - is pure fiction." The reality of what hypnosis can do is however even more intriguing according to Mr Leader who has conducted over 10,000 hypnotic inductions over the course of his career.

"I've seen people with very severe problems such as anxiety and panic attacks learn how to take control of their feelings and bring happiness to their lives on many occasions. Hypnosis is effective on a wide variety of difficulties such as smoking, weight loss, fears and phobias, depression, anxiety, motivational problems and relationship difficulties."

Mr Leader joins hypnotherapists all around in world in countries such as the United States, South Africa and Australia in celebrating World Hypnosis Day. "In every locality there will be different events taking place that will be open to anyone interested in hypnosis or who is just curious about how it works.The reality is that hypnosis is a powerful tool for good - it's a natural ability to focus our mind that each and every one of us has - and you may as well know how to use it. It's a great way to make those new year's resolutions become a reality."

Interviews will be available with John Francis Leader on the topics of hypnosis, new year's resolutions and personal development during the month of January by contacting the Press Office.

Click here to contact the Press Office right now >

 

Dublin, Ireland 1st January 2009 - DUBLIN HYPNOTHERAPIST and education consultant John Francis Leader has lashed out at the Irish education system calling it "inadequate at meeting the basic educational needs of Irish people." Mr Leader made these comments at the launch of a new educational programme entitled 'The ABC's of Success'.

"While traditional academic education focuses on the three R's; reading writing and arithmetic", Mr Leader explained, "the experience of those who come to us seeking training is that these skills do not practically prepare them for living a successful life."

These comments follow the recent government cutbacks set to impact on the education system. More than 1,000 teaching posts in primary schools will be lost next year, according to new data compiled by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO).

In Mr Leader's opinion the cutbacks are just not good enough, but he believes that money alone is not the answer. "The whole focus needs to be re-shifted; basic first and secondary level education takes at least 13 years of a person's life and academic subjects are primarily focused on during that whole period at the detriment of the core skills that every person needs to be capable at work or in their personal life."

Mr Leader identifies these fundamental skills as Achievement, Balance and Communication - or 'The ABC's of Success'. "What use is the ability to read and write, count or understand erosion if we don't know how to - and haven't practiced - defining our purpose and setting goals? We need to train people to develop their ability to focus, take control of their life and enhance their motivation" Mr Leader commented.

With an increase in suicide rates and relationship break-ups Mr Leader further emphasised the need for training in inter-personal skills. "If we're not very good at something then it makes sense to get training in it. If you were to suggest that somebody would automatically be good at reading or writing despite having never been taught these skills at school I don't think I'd agree with you. Why would it be any different for how to interact with other humans, how to listen, how to communicate, build and maintain relationships?"

Changes are already being proposed to the UK's education system. A recent major review of the curriculum for England's primary schools suggests that six broad "areas of learning" could replace individual subjects. It calls for children to "learn more about well-being, happiness and healthy living" according to the report's author British government adviser Sir Jim Rose.

Despite a growing appreciation that change and improvement are needed, Mr Leader doesn't take the challenge lightly. "There's a lot to be done - there's no doubt about it", Mr Leader admitted, "but I think the challenge for us in the year 2009 is to not just accept that we have to keep doing things the way we have been doing them for decades. In many ways our mistake has been leaving the regulation of educational standards to the government - we need to take it back into our own hands and provide both adults and children with the training that they actually need. The needs of 2009 are not necessarily the same as the needs of the last century yet the curriculum has changed very little in that time."

What is needed, according to Mr Leader, is intensive education in Achievement, Balance and Communication. In recognition of the fact that most of the population - and not just children - have never formally had this type of training, Mr Leader's educational organisation JFL Training & Consultancy is launching the ABC Academy, a flexible training programme that offers adult participants the chance to learn and enhance their everyday personal skills.

In response to a question about the timing of this change in light of recent worldwide economic difficulties Mr Leader explained the priority of these changes to the focus of education. "It's not a question of money, it's a question of prioritising. These changes don't need to cost more or less than what is already on offer. We can't afford not to make these changes as they are costing us too much. Having a labour force that lacks training in the ability to take initiative, stay motivated and communicate effectively will result in far more economic turmoil so we must prioritise this essential education right now."

"Our hope is that by training adults", Mr Leader added, "we can build an appreciation for how important and how much fun this type of training is. If adults of all ages commit to developing their achievement, balance and communication skills then this will naturally make them better parents, teachers, employees, employers and politicians and will impact very positively on the next generation."

John Francis Leader is available for interview and speaking engagements on the topics of Achievement, Balance and Communication.

Click here to contact the Press Office right now >