Provocative Change Works Association

Calling Forth Change

What Is Provocative Change Works?

Provocative Change Works (PCW) was developed by Nick Kemp in 2005 after meeting Frank Farrelly (creator of Provocative Therapy), and has evolved into a dynamic, multifaceted approach to creating change.At its core, PCW is conversational and provocative. Rather than beginning with "What do you want?" like most helping approaches, we start with "What's the problem?" This simple shift creates an entirely different dynamic, where the practitioner can present the benefits of keeping the problem, which naturally provokes clients to defend why they want change.PCW practitioners work "as if talking to an old friend" – maintaining authenticity, using humour, and challenging stuck patterns of thinking. We don't rely on scripted techniques or formal protocols. Instead, we use a range of conversational "stances" to provoke new thinking and responses from clients.The approach incorporates several key elements:

What makes PCW particularly effective is its ability to bypass resistance by provoking clients to advocate for themselves. When a practitioner takes the position of defending the problem, clients naturally argue for the change that is right for them – a much more powerful position than having change suggested to them.PCW sessions tend to be engaging, sometimes surprising, and often enjoyable. Most importantly, clients frequently report significant shifts in their first session, with lasting changes after just 2-3 meetings.

Why We Flip The Script

The PCW Approach

PCW operates from a fundamentally different set of principles than most helping approaches. Where traditional methods might analyse problems at length, PCW focuses on changing the processes that maintain problems in the present.
These are the key distinctions
between PCW and traditional communication models:Provocative Questioning: Most approaches start by asking "What do you want?" – creating a future-focused, goal-oriented conversation. PCW flips this completely by asking "What's the problem?" which grounds everything in present reality. This simple shift changes the entire dynamic from the first moment.
When a client describes their problem, rather than sympathising or analysing, the PCW practitioner might highlight all the benefits of keeping it! This unexpected response provokes clients to defend why they actually want change – a much more powerful position than having change suggested to them.Conversational Change: You won't find PCW practitioners hiding behind facades or using jargon. We don't believe change happens through formal, stilted interactions. Instead, we engage naturally, using humour, storytelling, and authentic expression – as if talking to an old friend.PCW embraces genuine human connection. We might laugh with clients, express surprise, or show authentic reactions rather than maintaining a neutral mask. This creates a space where real change can occur without artifice.Stance-Taking: PCW practitioners adopt various conversational positions (or "stances") to provoke clients to examine their thinking from new angles. We might exaggerate, minimise, absolve, or use story telling – all designed to elicit different responses.
PCW deliberately shifts between contradictory stances. This keeps clients engaged and thinking rather than settling into predictable or familiar patterns of interaction.Hypnotic Elements: PCW may incorporate brief, focused trance work and conversational hypnotic patterns. These help clients access different mental states naturally.Time Framing: Traditional sessions exist solely in the moment they occur. PCW creates ongoing value by recording sessions and framing comments for future listening. This creates a feedback loop that continues the change process between and beyond formal sessions. Clients often report noticing new insights each time they listen back to their recordings.The beauty of the Provocative Change Works approach lies in its flexibility. PCW practitioners adapt continuously to client responses, flowing between stances and techniques as needed, rather than following rigid protocols.This creates an experience where clients feel heard and understood, yet simultaneously challenged to move beyond their current limitations.The result is often a sense of liberation – from both the presenting problem and from limiting beliefs about how quickly change can happen.

Skill Up

Master The Art Of Provocation

Whether you're a therapist, coach, educator, business leader, or someone interested in more effective communication, PCW offers valuable skills that can transform your interactions with others.

Foundation

First Steps

This foundation course explores the history of provocative change and introduces key PCW concepts and provides initial practice with:

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Transformation

Master PCW

Our comprehensive training develops mastery across all aspects of PCW:

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Deep Dives

Speciality Training

Focused, specialised training on specific Provocative Change Works applications, including business communication, sports performance, addictive behaviours and other issues

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Go All In

Intensive Training

Intensive group trainings and unique one to one training with the creator of Provoative Change Works, Nick Kemp, are available. Please contact us for further information.

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From Chance Encounter To Global Movement

Nick Kemp

Nick Kemp's creation of Provocative Change Works began with a meeting with Frank Farrelly in 2004. Struck by the extraordinary effectiveness of Frank's Provocative Therapy approach, Nick was equally surprised by how little-known this work remained after decades of development.Recognising both the power of the approach and the need to make it more accessible, Nick began hosting Frank in the UK and systematically recording his trainings. This collaboration continued until Frank's passing, after which Frank's son transferred Frank's entire archive to Nick in accordance with Frank's wishes – a recognition of Nick's commitment to preserving and extending this valuable work.Nick's development of PCW expanded Frank's original approach in several crucial ways:

With a background in business, hypnotherapy, and NLP, Nick brought a unique perspective to the development of PCW. His practical experience working with thousands of clients informed his refinements to the model, always focusing on what created the most effective, lasting changes.Nick has trained practitioners worldwide, with particularly strong followings in Japan, Europe, and the United States. His ability to demonstrate complex concepts with clarity and humour has made PCW accessible to professionals from diverse backgrounds.

Where other techniques failed, PCW provided

Real Results

PCW has helped people resolve a wide range of issues. Here are some real examples of how PCW has created lasting change:"[Nick] had a life changing impact on my performance and outlook. I saw Nick after a loss where I was defeated by my mind before i even entered the ring. In the next fight I won the Southern Area Title in a fight I was written off in. Nick has a way of working his magic using simple conversation to open your mind and unlock potential... after talking to Nick I felt like i could take on the world... Nick is somebody every athlete needs. I have seen vast improvements in confidence, awareness and attitude."
- Mikey Sakyi, Professional Boxer"Thank you for all your help – I couldn’t have done it without your help – You can now stand up in a room and say that your methods and techniques got this fat wheezing bloke across the channel, and I’d back you up 100%."
- Pete Windridge, Cross Channel Swimmer"An amazingly powerful technique. By working on a single phrase that affected me, I was able to turn my feelings of anxiety into total calm in a few minutes. And best of all, the calm lasted."
- Hannah, who struggled with anxiety" My honeymoon was definitely enhanced by the fact I could cope with the flying experience and I think there was part of me that actually enjoyed the flying! So thank you very much for helping me with this, and it definitely worked. My partner was quite amazed at the difference in me."
- Jane, who was afraid to fly"I had struggled with social shyness for as long as I can remember, I tried many, many things to become more confident in new social situations. Here are some of the things I tried: Tony Robbins seminars, acting courses, two different hypnotherapists, two different NLP therapists, one of which I flew to Los Angeles to see and listening to many audio products and reading countless books. Then……..I finally managed to organise a session with Nick Kemp. The day I spent with Nick was, in two words “Life Changing”. In a very fun, unassuming way, he was able to see past all the things I was doing and hone in on exactly what I needed to do to change the way I think and feel."
- Darren, who had social anxietyWhat these stories share is the rapid, often surprising nature of the changes clients experience. PCW tends to work because it engages people differently – provoking responses that bypass established patterns of resistance and creating new possibilities in the moment.

Contact & Resources

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Whether you're interested in experiencing PCW as a client, learning these approaches as a practitioner, or simply curious about this innovative model of change, we welcome your interest and look forward to connecting with you.To contact us, please fill in the form below:

Other Resources:The Provocative Archive
Explore selected materials from Frank Farrelly's original work alongside contemporary PCW developments.Social Media
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