Why Willpower Fails (and What Works Instead)
John Black
- Organisation:
- Beechwood Therapy
- Region:
- Anywhere
- Notice Period:
- Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
- Type:
- Professional
- Fee:
- Expensed
- Category:
- Health
- Updated:
- 11th February 2026
- Tagged:
- Mental Health | Health And Well-Being | Psychology | Self-Development
Most of us have experienced the frustration of setting goals — only to find ourselves falling back into old habits despite our best intentions. In his eye-opening talk, John Black delves into the psychology behind human behaviour to explain why willpower often fails us and what far more effective alternatives exist. With clarity and compassion, John challenges the common myth that sheer self-discipline is the key to lasting change.
Drawing on insights from therapy, neuroscience, and behavioural science, he reveals how willpower is a limited resource that depletes quickly under stress, fatigue, and emotional strain. Rather than relying on temporary bursts of effort, John shows how understanding the subconscious mind, habitual triggers, and internal motivations can create lasting transformation. Participants will learn why cycles of motivation and burnout are normal — and how to break them by reshaping internal cues, reinforcing positive patterns, and aligning actions with deeper values.
Through practical strategies and real-world examples, John teaches techniques to build sustainable habits, enhance self-awareness, and create supportive environments that don’t rely on willpower alone. This talk offers a refreshing alternative to the “just try harder” mindset, empowering attendees to make meaningful, lasting changes with less struggle and more ease.
Views: 9 | Enquiries: 0About John Black
John from Beechwood Therapy is a qualified psychotherapist and hypnotherapist. His background is in secondary education where he worked for many years training teachers, as an Assistant Headteacher and in Children's Safeguarding. It was his background in children's welfare that led him to explore therapy as he saw an explosion in Anxiety amongst young people. He now works with people of all ages to tackle a range of issues from anxiety to weight management, from PTSD to pain management and phobias.
See his website at www.beechwoodtherapy.co.uk
Other Talks on SpeakerNet by John Black
- Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
- The Anxiety Epidemic
- Stress and how to deal with it
- Brain Science as the key to our Mental Health
- Therapeutic Approaches to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - OCD
- Phobias. What are they and how to overcome them...
- How to deal with Anxiety.
- Hypnosis Myths. What actually is hypnosis?
- Trauma! Dealing with and moving on from trauma.
- Successful Weight Management. Body and Mind.
- Chronic Stress and Burnout!
- Mental Health and Teenagers.
- Neuroscience and Mental Health
- Thought Patterns and Mental Health
- Insomnia and how to overcome it.
- Toxic Positivity? Is thinking more positively really the way forward?
- Sleep and your mental health.
- Milton H. Erickson and Psychotherapy. Maverick? Trailblazer? Genius?
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Your Mind
- How to get Rid of Tinnitus (or Dramatically Reduce It).
- How to Overcome Panic Attacks.
- Overcoming Gambling Addiction
- Transforming Relationships. Better family, professional and romantic relationships.
- The Neuroscience Revolution and Improving Sports Performance
- The Power of Relaxation
- Overcoming Bullying. Improving Mental Health with Solutions.
- Dealing Effectively with Grief.
- Key Ways to Increase Conception / Pregnancy.
- A Fascinating History of Hypnosis.
- Breaking the Cycle of Overthinking
- Breaking the Cycle of Overthinking
- Training Your Mind for Calm
- Rewiring Bad Habits at the Subconscious Level
- Stopping Smoking: Why Hypnosis Works
- Emotional Eating and the Subconscious Mind
- Alcohol Moderation and Mindset Change
- Imposter Syndrome: What it is. How to deal with it.
- Pain Management Through Hypnosis
Send a message to the speaker
If you are interested in this talk and wish to contact the speaker, please complete the following form: