Paul McKenna
Paul William McKenna ,born on 8 November 1963, is a British hypnotist, behavioural scientist, television and radio broadcaster and author of self-help books. McKenna has written and produced books and multimedia products, hosted self-improvement television shows and presents seminars in hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming, weight loss, motivation and the Zen meditation Big Mind and Amygdala Depotentiation Therapy (ADT), otherwise known as Havening Techniques. Career. Show business. McKenna started off in radio aged 16 at Radio Topshop, and went on to present for stations including Radio Jackie, Radio Caroline, Chiltern Radio, Capital London, BBC Radio 1 and  TV channel Music Box. He became interested in hypnotism as a result of a guest who appeared on his show. His interest stemmed initially for reasons of self-development, although he discovered that there was an entertainment aspect that he could develop which would expose more of the public to the power of hypnosis. He was taught hypnosis by American practitioner Richard Bandler, with whom he continued to work closely for many years. While working at Capital Radio, McKenna began experimenting with small hypnotic shows, first for the amusement of friends, then for audiences in locations like pubs and clubs , UK military bases, and university events. From there he starred in a regular Sunday night show at the Duke of York's Theatre, which was owned at the time by Capital Radio. The success of those shows led to his playing other theatres across the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, the US, Australia, and Hong Kong. After several years presenting at Radio 1 in the early 1990s, McKenna decided to branch out from radio. In the 1990s, McKenna presented a number of TV programmes including "The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna" (1993–97), "The Paranormal World of Paul McKenna" (1996–97) and "Hyp  the Streets" (1999). He won the prestigious TRIC (Television & Radio Industry Club) Award for Best TV Newcomer in 1994 During this time, he continued his studies of hypnosis and neuro-linguistic programming with the US psychologist Richard Bandler, the co-creator of the advanced behavioural science technique abbreviated to NLP. McKenna hypnotised the "Top Gear" presenter Richard Hammond on series 4, episode 2 of the motor show in 2004. In October 2009 he was a guest on "Private Passions", the biographical music discussion programme on BBC Radio 3. From February 2014 to September 2015, McKenna hosted a talk show called  McKenna broadcast on Hulu featuring "non-journalistic" interviews with Simon Cowell, Ryan Seacrest, Roger Moore, Rachael Ray, Tony Robbins and Richard Dawkins. Research. McKenna specialises in working with PTSD, severe trauma, pain control and emotional overwhelm. McKenna was also involved in a research study conducted by Professor Neil Greenberg of The Royal College of Psychiatrists Lead for Military and Veterans’ Health. He is also President of the UK Psychological Trauma Society at Kings College in London. Self help career. McKenna’s interest in hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming and other self-improvement techniques has resulted in him becoming an author of  self-help and personal development books. Many of McKenna's one-to-one hypnotherapy clients are celebrities. He helped Daryl Hannah cope with stage fright when she starred in The Seven Year Itch. According to a book by McKenna, Rob Brydon claims that McKenna helped alleviate his fear of flying, Stephen Fry advocated McKenna's weight loss strategies and David Walliams used McKenna to help with his swim across the English Channel. Recently, McKenna has focused on teaching people how to "deprogramme" their sugar cravings, claiming "sugar is the most dangerous drug in the world". Education. McKenna attended St Ignatius  College in London, and East Hertfordshire College, now part of Hertford Regional College. PhD from LaSalle University. In 1996, McKenna was granted a PhD from LaSalle University. It was legally licensed by the state, but it falsely claimed to be an accredited institution. In 2006, McKenna successfully sued the "Daily Mirror" for libel over claims made by former "Mirror" TV critic Victor Lewis-Smith that McKenna's degree from LaSalle was merely a purchased "bogus degree" bought with the intention of deliberately defrauding the public. McKenna won the case, and the newspaper was ordered to pay £75,000 in costs . Mr. Justice Eady (the judge), stated that while the scholarly characterisation of the degree was "another matter", McKenna did not believe the degree was "bogus or that he [had] misled anyone in allowing himself to be referred to as a PhD." DPhil from IMCA. In 2003, McKenna gained a "Doctor of Philosophy by Explication" from the accredited "International Management Centres Association" (IMCA). His work was reviewed by Dr Robert Parkinson (London Guildhall University) and Dr Brian Edwards CBE (Sheffield University). The title of his thesis was "The Effects of Fixed Action Patterns and Neuro-Linguistic Programming in Determining Outcomes in  Human Behaviour". The material in both McKenna's doctorates has been published. While the IMCA were accredited by the US Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) and Oxford Brookes University in the UK at the time of McKenna's study, the DETC removed this accreditation in 2005. Neither the IMCA nor Revans University, its US-based degree-awarding unit, was recognised as a UK degree-awarding body or course provider during McKenna's time, according to "The Times Educational Supplement". Personal life. Paul McKenna’s parents are William Joseph McKenna, a building contractor, and Joan Brenda McKenna, a former Middlesex  University lecturer who was a chief examiner for the London Regional Educational Board. He also has a younger brother John who took over the family business. Paul McKenna is married to Katherine Jane Davey. They married in 2016 and live in London.