I started studying Provocative Therapy with the creator of the approach Frank Farrelly in 2004. Frank became a major influence on the creation of my own Provocative Change Works approach which I now teach across the globe.
Frank Farrelly passed in 2013 and left his archive of Provocative Therapy work to me in person and for safekeeping. Frank was keen that his work was taught in the spirit he intended, free from formal certifications and with proper duty of care to clients.
Meeting Frank Farrelly and initial impressions
When I first met Frank in 2004, I couldn’t not make any sense of his approach, but was fascinated by what I saw. I started hosting him in the UK in subsequent years and we became firm friends.
Frank’s work was radically different to anything I had seen before, and I was fascinated by the approach. Firstly, all the work was done conversationally and without the usual formalisation that I had experienced in NLP and standard coaching. The challenge was that the work was conducted entirely in a conversational manner, with a fluidity and skill that were quite amazing. He is greatly missed and I am lucky enough to look after his official archive that dates back to the 1960s. I look after Frank’s archive and his origibal site
Since Frank’s passing, unfortunately some individuals have attempted to misrepresent Frank’s original work and an official blacklist can be found here to warn the public against such characters.
Looking back, I had no idea how much of an impact Frank would have on my own work and it’s true to say that he totally changed my world. In Provocative Therapy the therapist starts the session with the question “What’s the problem?” as opposed to “What do you want?” Then the therapist encourages the client to do more of the exact same behaviour. This provokes the client into a new way of thinking and feelingthat would never have seemed possible before.
Approved as a trainer in Provocative Therapy
In 2011, Frank approved me as a trainer in his work, and I am forever grateful for his guidance, which has been invaluable in creating the PCW model. Frank was very clear about how he wanted his work presented and as well as running this site, I look after his archive and the official Provocative Therapy site.
