About Us

Let me start with this: I’ve lived with anxiety for as long as I can remember.

For years, it became just part of the scenery — a background hum I thought

was normal. Sometimes it showed up as over-the-top energy, the life and

soul of the room. Other times, it left me frozen with dread at the thought

of a simple conversation. I’ve felt the highs and the palpitations, the loud

laughter and the silent spirals.

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Years ago, I tried managing it with medication, but in 2013 I took a different

path and began studying clinical hypnotherapy. I’ve always found comfort in

understanding why my brain reacts the way it does. That curiosity quickly

grew into something more — I wanted to help others like me. That led me

to study clinical NLP, and eventually I opened my own practice, supporting

people through their own emotional landscapes.

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And yet… something still felt misaligned. Sitting in an office all day didn’t

fit who I was.

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So I trained to become a driving instructor — and I struck gold. I trained

with someone independent and ahead of her time in coaching and

client-centred learning. It lit a spark.

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Now, I’ll be honest. I passed my Part 3 on my third attempt. I scraped

through with what was then a 4/4. Everyone told me, “A pass is a pass.”

And they were right. But inside, I felt like a fraud. I carried that imposter

syndrome for a long time — and it shaped what came next.In the latter half of the 2010s, my mental health hit rock bottom.

 

My anxiety became so intense I ended up with severe night-time bruxism that actually displaced my jaw. On the outside? I kept the mask on. The funny Steve. The strong one. But inside, it was a different story.

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That feeling of not being enough drove me to throw myself into CPD — everything from instructor training to the BTEC Level 4 in Coaching for Driver Development with Tri-Coaching. And then came 2020.

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Covid changed everything. Like every ADI, I watched my business grind to a halt overnight. I was already struggling — and the uncertainty sent me spiralling. But strangely, once the dust settled, lockdown gave me something precious: time to breathe, reflect, and focus on my own mental health.

 

Since then, I’ve worked with hundreds of learners, returners, and anxious drivers to help shift behaviours and reduce risk on the road. I’ve studied even more, built new techniques, and continued that journey of understanding how our minds impact performance — behind the wheel and in life.

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Looking back now, it’s clear: everything I’ve done over the past 15 years has been leading here.

The Calm Instructor Group isn’t just about creating confident drivers. It’s about us — the instructors, the trainers, the coaches — becoming confident too. Because here's what I believe:

 

We cannot create calm, confident learners if we’re not also creating calm, confident instructors.

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When I failed my first two Part 3 attempts, it wasn’t because I didn’t know what I was doing. My trainer was brilliant — I was ready on paper. But anxiety clouded my mind and blocked my ability to perform. I knew what to do. I knew how to do it. But I couldn’t show it. Sound familiar?

 

That experience lives in so many of us — whether you’re a learner, a returner, a PDI, or a ADI. Knowing what to do isn’t enough. We need the calm mind that allows that knowledge to come through.

 

That’s why I created The Calm Instructor Group.

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It’s built on three clear paths — the first of which is called Calm Instructor | Confident Instructor. This is CPD with a difference. Not just skills-focused — but emotionally intelligent. Here’s a glimpse of what’s already here or in the pipeline:

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• The Calm & Confident Part 3 – helping you perform under pressure, not just pass a test

• Your Powerful Mind – harnessing NLP, mindset, and self-awareness tools

• The Calm Approach to Challenging Clients – keeping your composure when others lose theirs

• Empowered by Feedback – how to reflect, not recoil

• The Subconscious Standards Check Workbook – ditching the tick-box mindset and finding flow

• The Complete Calm Instructor | Confident Instructor Training Pathway – qualifying with purpose, not panic

 

We’ve also got CPD workshops for techniques to regulate your own emotions, build learner trust, and help your students feel safe, seen, and supported — even when things get tough.

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The Calm Instructor Group is for anyone who’s ever thought:

“Why does my mind go blank when it matters most?”
“Why do I feel like I’m faking it?”
“Why does feedback feel so personal?”
“Why can’t I stop overthinking?”

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​I’ve created The Subconscious Standards Check – a calm, coaching-led way to prepare with confidence. I’ve also designed a FREE 12-Week Calm Coaching Planner to help you stay focused, balanced, and stress-free on your journey.

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I don’t pretend to have all the answers. But I’m here to help you discover your answers. To give you tools I wish I’d had when I was just starting out. And to remind you that confidence doesn’t mean perfection — it means calm, clarity, and connection.

Whether you’re an instructor, a trainee, a returner, or a nervous driver: you belong here.

Let’s stop chasing calm.

Let’s start creating it.

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Steve