Paul McKenna
Encyclopedia
Paul McKenna is an English
hypnotist
and self-improvement author.
McKenna has written and produced books and multimedia products, hosted self-improvement television shows and presents seminars in hypnosis
, neuro-linguistic programming
, weight loss and motivation.
, Chiltern Radio
, Capital Radio
and BBC Radio One.
A hypnotist who guested on his show led to a developing interest in the subject, initially for reasons of self-development, although entertainment was later to play a big part. Whilst still working at Capital, he began experimenting with small hypnotic shows, first for the amusement of friends, then for audiences in pubs and clubs. McKenna then started doing regular Sunday night shows at the Duke of York's Theatre
, which was owned at the time by Capital. The success of those shows led to his playing other theatres across the UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, the US, Australia and Hong Kong.
After a brief spell at Radio 1 in the early 1990s, McKenna decided to quit radio, which was not his speciality. In 1993, ITV
broadcast The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna, which featured audience members volunteering to be hypnotised to act in comedic ways, the show subsequently being aired in 42 countries. During this time, McKenna continued to study hypnosis, and neuro-linguistic programming
with Richard Bandler
, the co-creator of NLP.
Many of McKenna's one-to-one hypnotherapy
clients are celebrities including Ellen DeGeneres
and David Walliams
, who used McKenna to help with his swim across the English Channel.
In the 1990s, McKenna presented a number of TV programmes including The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna (1993–1995), Paul McKenna's Paranormal World (1997) and Hyp the Streets (1999). In January 2008, the Discovery Channel
signed a £23 million deal with McKenna to make a series of self-help programmes. To date, the deal is the largest ever for a British TV personality. The first of his I Can Make You Thin programmes aired on TLC, The Learning Channel
on 16 March 2008.
In October 2009 he was a guest on Private Passions
, the biographical music discussion programme on BBC Radio 3
.
McKenna holds two doctorate
s; the first from LaSalle University (Louisiana) and the second from the business school International Management Centres Association
(IMCA). In 1996, after two years of study on a 70,000-word thesis, McKenna was granted a PhD
from LaSalle University. This university was properly licenced by the state of Louisiana, but falsely claimed to be an accredited university. After the principal of LaSalle pleaded guilty to fraud, along with thousands of other students, McKenna was awarded compensation from the U.S. government.
In 2004, McKenna completed an APEL and subsequently gained a doctoral degree DPhil
from the business school International Management Centres Association
(IMCA), which is accredited by the British Accreditation Council
(BAC). The title of his thesis was "The Effects of Fixed Action Patterns and Neuro-Linguistic Programming
in Determining Outcomes in Human Behaviour".
In 2006 McKenna successfully sued the Daily Mirror for libel, over claims made by journalist Victor Lewis-Smith
that McKenna obtained a "bogus degree" merely for money to deliberately defraud the public (the degree was from LaSalle University (Louisiana)). McKenna won the case and substantial damages. The court stated, "Mr McKenna was not, in my judgment, dishonest and, for that matter, whatever one may think of the academic quality of his work, or of the La Salle degree, it would not be accurate to describe it as 'bogus'." "Desmond Browne, QC, for McKenna, said that 'any perceived lack of academic rigour at La Salle' did not prove that his client was dishonest."
He has also published:
McKenna has also released a number of audio recordings including Sleep Like a Log, Eliminate Stress, and Stop Smoking for Good. He also wrote the foreword to Nikolic, Seka and Sarah Tay, You Can Heal Yourself: Bio-energy and the Power of Self-healing.
, co-creator of Neuro-Linguistic Programming
.
McKenna uses Thought Field Therapy
in many of his television demonstrations and studied under Roger Callahan, the creator of TFT. Dr Callahan is a clinical psychologist. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Callahan received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Syracuse University.
McKenna also teaches the Zen meditation 'Big Mind'. He presents the process with its creator, American Zen Master Dennis Genpo Merzel Roshi, abbot and founder of Kanzeon Zen Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. He received transmission in both Soto Zen and Rinzai Zen. Merzel was the second Dharma Successor of Taizan Maezumi roshi, with whom he began his Zen practice in the 1970s.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
hypnotist
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
and self-improvement author.
McKenna has written and produced books and multimedia products, hosted self-improvement television shows and presents seminars in hypnosis
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
, neuro-linguistic programming
Neuro-linguistic programming
Neuro-linguistic programming is an approach to psychotherapy, self-help and organizational change. Founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder say that NLP is a model of interpersonal communication and a system of alternative therapy which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective...
, weight loss and motivation.
Career
Paul McKenna started in radio aged 16 at in-store Radio Topshop, and went on to present for stations including Radio Jackie, Radio CarolineRadio Caroline
Radio Caroline is an English radio station founded in 1964 by Ronan O'Rahilly to circumvent the record companies' control of popular music broadcasting in the United Kingdom and the BBC's radio broadcasting monopoly...
, Chiltern Radio
Chiltern Radio
Heart Dunstable was an Independent Local Radio station based in Chiltern Road in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.-History:...
, Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
and BBC Radio One.
A hypnotist who guested on his show led to a developing interest in the subject, initially for reasons of self-development, although entertainment was later to play a big part. Whilst still working at Capital, he began experimenting with small hypnotic shows, first for the amusement of friends, then for audiences in pubs and clubs. McKenna then started doing regular Sunday night shows at the Duke of York's Theatre
Duke of York's Theatre
The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End Theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster. It was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the theatre, until her death in 1935. It opened on 10 September 1892 as the Trafalgar Square Theatre, with Wedding...
, which was owned at the time by Capital. The success of those shows led to his playing other theatres across the UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, the US, Australia and Hong Kong.
After a brief spell at Radio 1 in the early 1990s, McKenna decided to quit radio, which was not his speciality. In 1993, ITV
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
broadcast The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna, which featured audience members volunteering to be hypnotised to act in comedic ways, the show subsequently being aired in 42 countries. During this time, McKenna continued to study hypnosis, and neuro-linguistic programming
Neuro-linguistic programming
Neuro-linguistic programming is an approach to psychotherapy, self-help and organizational change. Founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder say that NLP is a model of interpersonal communication and a system of alternative therapy which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective...
with Richard Bandler
Richard Bandler
Richard Wayne Bandler is an American author and trainer in the field of self-help. He is best known as the co-inventor of Neuro-linguistic programming , a collection of concepts and techniques intended to understand and change human behavior-patterns...
, the co-creator of NLP.
Many of McKenna's one-to-one hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a therapy that is undertaken with a subject in hypnosis.The word "hypnosis" is an abbreviation of James Braid's term "neuro-hypnotism", meaning "sleep of the nervous system"....
clients are celebrities including Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
and David Walliams
David Walliams
David Edward Walliams is an English comedian, writer and actor, known for his partnership with Matt Lucas on the TV sketch show Little Britain and its predecessor Rock Profile...
, who used McKenna to help with his swim across the English Channel.
In the 1990s, McKenna presented a number of TV programmes including The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna (1993–1995), Paul McKenna's Paranormal World (1997) and Hyp the Streets (1999). In January 2008, the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
signed a £23 million deal with McKenna to make a series of self-help programmes. To date, the deal is the largest ever for a British TV personality. The first of his I Can Make You Thin programmes aired on TLC, The Learning Channel
TLC (TV channel)
TLC is an American cable TV specialty channel which initially focused on educational content. Since 1991 TLC has been owned by Discovery Communications, the same company that operates the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and The Science Channel, as well as other learning-themed networks...
on 16 March 2008.
In October 2009 he was a guest on Private Passions
Private Passions
Private Passions is a weekly music discussion programme which has been running for over 10 years on BBC Radio 3, presented by the composer Michael Berkeley...
, the biographical music discussion programme on BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
.
Education
McKenna attended St Ignatius Secondary School in London.McKenna holds two doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
s; the first from LaSalle University (Louisiana) and the second from the business school International Management Centres Association
International Management Centres Association
International Management Centres Association is an international business school for career and continuing professional development through lifelong action learning working with individuals and enterprises....
(IMCA). In 1996, after two years of study on a 70,000-word thesis, McKenna was granted a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from LaSalle University. This university was properly licenced by the state of Louisiana, but falsely claimed to be an accredited university. After the principal of LaSalle pleaded guilty to fraud, along with thousands of other students, McKenna was awarded compensation from the U.S. government.
In 2004, McKenna completed an APEL and subsequently gained a doctoral degree DPhil
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the business school International Management Centres Association
International Management Centres Association
International Management Centres Association is an international business school for career and continuing professional development through lifelong action learning working with individuals and enterprises....
(IMCA), which is accredited by the British Accreditation Council
British Accreditation Council
The British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education is an educational accreditation agency recognised by the British Government for international students entering the United Kingdom for educational purposes....
(BAC). The title of his thesis was "The Effects of Fixed Action Patterns and Neuro-Linguistic Programming
Neuro-linguistic programming
Neuro-linguistic programming is an approach to psychotherapy, self-help and organizational change. Founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder say that NLP is a model of interpersonal communication and a system of alternative therapy which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective...
in Determining Outcomes in Human Behaviour".
In 2006 McKenna successfully sued the Daily Mirror for libel, over claims made by journalist Victor Lewis-Smith
Victor Lewis-Smith
Victor Lewis-Smith is a British satirist, producer, critic and prankster. He is known for his sarcasm and biting criticism.-Radio and recordings:...
that McKenna obtained a "bogus degree" merely for money to deliberately defraud the public (the degree was from LaSalle University (Louisiana)). McKenna won the case and substantial damages. The court stated, "Mr McKenna was not, in my judgment, dishonest and, for that matter, whatever one may think of the academic quality of his work, or of the La Salle degree, it would not be accurate to describe it as 'bogus'." "Desmond Browne, QC, for McKenna, said that 'any perceived lack of academic rigour at La Salle' did not prove that his client was dishonest."
Publishing career
McKenna has produced a range of self-help books, CDs and DVDs. In 2006 his book sales alone reached £3.5m. His guides and manuals have been worth just shy of £17m to UK book retailers in the 21st Century, according to Nielsen BookScan data.He has also published:
- I Can Make You Confident , Sterling PublishingSterling PublishingSterling Publishing Company, Inc. is a publisher of nonfiction titles, with more than 5,000 books in print. Founded in 1949, it publishes a wide range of nonfiction and illustrated titles in categories which include art, biography/autobiography, body/mind/spirit, crafts, culinary, do-it-yourself,...
: 2010. ISBN 1-4027-6922-9 - I Can Make You Sleep , Sterling Publishing: 2009. ISBN 1-4027-6574-6
- I Can Make You Rich , Bantam PressBantam PressBantam Press is an imprint of Transworld Publishers which is a British publishing division of Random House.It is based on Uxbridge Road in Ealing near Ealing Broadway station, the same address as Transworld....
: 2007. ISBN 0-593-05537-3 - Quit Smoking Today Without Gaining Weight , Bantam Press: 2007. ISBN 0-593-05536-5
- Instant Confidence, Bantam Press: 2006. ISBN 0-593-05535-7
- I Can Make You Thin, Bantam Press: 2005. ISBN 0-593-05054-1
- Change Your Life in Seven Days, 2005 (with Hugh Willbourn) ISBN 0-593-05053-3
- How to Mend Your Broken Heart, Bantam Press: 2003. ISBN 0-593-05055-X
- The Power to Influence, Nightingale-Conant: 1998. ISBN 1-905453-56-6 (audiobook with Michael BreenMichael BreenMichael Breen may refer to:* Michael Breen wrote The Koreans* Mike Breen * Michael Breen from Montreal, Canada who was nominated at the Juno Awards of 1989* Mike Breen founder of ....
) - The Paranormal World of Paul McKenna, Faber and FaberFaber and FaberFaber and Faber Limited, often abbreviated to Faber, is an independent publishing house in the UK, notable in particular for publishing a great deal of poetry and for its former editor T. S. Eliot. Faber has a rich tradition of publishing a wide range of fiction, non fiction, drama, film and music...
: 1997. ISBN 0-571-19245-9 - Paul McKenna's Hypnotic Secrets , BoxtreeMacmillan PublishersMacmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
: 1995. ISBN 0-7522-0192-1 (with Peter Willis and Clare Staples) - The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna, Faber and Faber: 1994. ISBN 0-571-16802-7
McKenna has also released a number of audio recordings including Sleep Like a Log, Eliminate Stress, and Stop Smoking for Good. He also wrote the foreword to Nikolic, Seka and Sarah Tay, You Can Heal Yourself: Bio-energy and the Power of Self-healing.
Professional influences
McKenna learned hypnosis and NLP from Richard BandlerRichard Bandler
Richard Wayne Bandler is an American author and trainer in the field of self-help. He is best known as the co-inventor of Neuro-linguistic programming , a collection of concepts and techniques intended to understand and change human behavior-patterns...
, co-creator of Neuro-Linguistic Programming
Neuro-linguistic programming
Neuro-linguistic programming is an approach to psychotherapy, self-help and organizational change. Founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder say that NLP is a model of interpersonal communication and a system of alternative therapy which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective...
.
McKenna uses Thought Field Therapy
Thought Field Therapy
Thought Field Therapy, or TFT, is a fringe psychological treatment developed by an American psychologist, Roger Callahan. Its proponents say that it can heal a variety of mental and physical ailments through specialized "tapping" with the fingers at meridian points on the upper body and hands...
in many of his television demonstrations and studied under Roger Callahan, the creator of TFT. Dr Callahan is a clinical psychologist. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Callahan received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Syracuse University.
McKenna also teaches the Zen meditation 'Big Mind'. He presents the process with its creator, American Zen Master Dennis Genpo Merzel Roshi, abbot and founder of Kanzeon Zen Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. He received transmission in both Soto Zen and Rinzai Zen. Merzel was the second Dharma Successor of Taizan Maezumi roshi, with whom he began his Zen practice in the 1970s.
See also
- Richard BandlerRichard BandlerRichard Wayne Bandler is an American author and trainer in the field of self-help. He is best known as the co-inventor of Neuro-linguistic programming , a collection of concepts and techniques intended to understand and change human behavior-patterns...
- HypnosisHypnosisHypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
- Neuro-linguistic programmingNeuro-linguistic programmingNeuro-linguistic programming is an approach to psychotherapy, self-help and organizational change. Founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder say that NLP is a model of interpersonal communication and a system of alternative therapy which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective...
- Neuro-linguistic programming bibliography
External links
- The Official Paul McKenna website
- Guardian interview with McKenna