The MVMNT Therapist

06/03/2026

When pain or injury hangs around for a while, something subtle happens.

People don’t just lose strength, mobility, or fitness.

They lose trust in their body.

Every flare-up teaches the system something.
“Maybe that movement isn’t safe.”
“Maybe that effort will backfire.”

So the instinct becomes either pushing harder to prove the body wrong…
or avoiding things altogether.

Neither usually rebuilds trust.

What tends to help more is something much less dramatic.

Predictability.

When movements are repeatable, recoverable, and chosen rather than forced, the nervous system starts to update its expectations.

Small wins accumulate.
Recovery happens.
Confidence slowly returns.

Not because the body was “fixed” overnight, but because it experienced enough evidence that movement could happen without punishment.

This is why patience in rehab isn’t passive.

It’s an active skill.

The skill of choosing loads you can recover from.
Repeating them consistently.
Letting the system adapt instead of trying to overpower it.

Over time, trust doesn’t come back through intensity.

It comes back through reliability.

📚 Reference

Leeuw M, Goossens MEJB, Linton SJ, et al. The Fear-Avoidance Model of Musculoskeletal Pain: Current State of Scientific Evidence. Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 2007. PMID: 17180640.

11/11/2025

I’m excited to announce I’ll be speaking at Therapy Expo 2025 — the UK’s biggest event for therapists and health professionals.

I’ll be delivering two sessions this year:

🗣️ Day 1 – Business Advice Theatre (9.55–10.25am)
Motivational Interviewing & Behaviour Change: Better Communication for Better Patient Outcomes
→ How communication shapes outcomes, improves adherence, and strengthens therapeutic alliance.

✋ Day 2 – Practical Skills Space (14.35–15.05)
Dermoneuromodulation (DNM): Modern Manual Therapy in Action
→ A practical look at DNM, the nervous system, and how gentle, person-centred touch can create meaningful change.

It’s always great to connect with clinicians who care about what really matters: communication, outcomes, and bridging the gap between science and real-world practice.

If you’re serious about becoming more effective, evidence-based, and person-centred in your work, this is one to be at.

Would love to see some familiar faces there.

🎟️ Use code SPEAKER15 for 15% off tickets:
👉 https://invt.io/1ixbrjvhjq8

04/09/2025

Big news for past DNM students

For a limited time, I’m offering a huge 70% discount on future DNM courses in the UK — but only for those who’ve already attended before.

Why?
Because DNM is one of those approaches that sinks in deeper each time you revisit it. The principles are simple, but the application gets richer with practice.

Johno Tweedie put it best after using DNM stage-side with performers — he said the calm, gentle approach helped a cast member finish a show they thought they couldn’t.
And Nathalie Fell, coming from a sports massage background, said repeating the material gave her the confidence to finally let go of “beating people up” and start trusting the nervous system framework.

Coming back a second (or third) time lets you:

Earn 16 STA-recognised CPD hours

Revisit the reasoning and techniques in a safe, practice-heavy environment

Deepen your confidence in applying DNM with real clients

How it works:
Message me directly and I’ll send you an individual invoice for your chosen venue.

Upcoming courses:

London (West End focus on performing arts) – with NeuroTour Physiotherapy – 20/21 Sept 2025

Nottingham – at Pressure Point Sports Massage – 1/2 Oct 2025

Birmingham – 7/8 March 2026

Come back, refine your touch, and see DNM through a fresh lens.

www.themvmnttherapist.co.uk/dermoneuromodulation-dnm

03/09/2025

There is no single tissue or system in the body that acts as the “missing link” for recovering from pain, rehabbing an injury, or optimising performance.

It’s tempting to believe that fascia, or the lymphatic system, or any one structure holds the magical solution to the problems people face.

Fascia, for example, is fascinating. The research is evolving and offers us new ways of thinking about how the body moves, transfers force, and organizes itself. But focusing on fascia - or any one tissue doesn’t replace the reality that we’re always working with a whole person.

That person has beliefs, thoughts, emotions, a lifestyle, patterns within that lifestyle, expectations, goals, and a medical history. All of this is much greater than a single tissue focus.

As movement practitioners, it’s important we don’t slip into reductionist thinking about how one exercise or one treatment will benefit someone.

Muscles, fascia, bones, joints, nerves - yes, they all matter. But they don’t stand alone.

The true focus is always on the person.

Movement is medicine

Tom

19/08/2025

Thank you .method for the signed copy of your new book.

I have only just got around to opening the parcel and doing a little unpacking video.

Maybe one day I'll be fortunate enough to be able to publish my own book, for now I'll stick to the manual therapy courses but maybe one day 👊🏼🤞🏼

Hope you are well John. See you at

Dan

09/07/2025

🎭 DNM: Advanced Manual Therapy for Performing Arts
📍 London | 20–21 September 2025

This is my full 2-day DNM workshop—same powerful content I teach across the UK. Nervous system reasoning. Gentle, effective touch. Pain science that actually makes sense.
And yes—you’ll learn the real science behind why manual therapy works, so you can be more effective in your treatments.

✅ In this version, we’re adding a special focus for therapists who work with dancers, actors, musicians, aerialists and performers.
But don’t worry if you don’t—this is still the complete DNM course. If you treat bendy clients, anxious clients, gymnasts, yogis, or anyone who lives in the extremes… this absolutely applies to you.

We’ll cover:
🧠 Biopsychosocial & neurological foundations of touch
🤲 How to calm the system without force or outdated narratives
🎭 Case studies from West End and performance clients
⚡ Real-time nervous system effects you’ll feel in your hands

🎓 Plus, this isn’t a “show up and get a certificate” weekend. You’ll be asked to think, apply, and submit a post-course clinical reflection to earn your CPD.

📍 London | 20–21 September
🔗 Link in bio to book
📩 DM me with any questions

03/07/2025

Deep tissue massage is quite popular on many spa’s service menus and websites. However, what does current evidence say about its therapeutic claims?

02/07/2025

✅ Last Chance to Grab Your Spot — Starts TOMORROW! Thursday 3rd July - 5.30pm UK Time.

Why do clients nod along in your sessions… but never actually do the work?

It’s not because they’re lazy or uncommitted.
It’s because no one ever taught you how to uncover the real reasons people don’t change.

That’s exactly what this course is for.

👉 Behaviour Change & Motivational Interviewing for MSK Therapists, Physios, PTs, and Coaches

3 live weekly sessions (online) where you’ll learn: ✔️ How to stop telling and start evoking real motivation
✔️ How to build buy-in without sounding salesy
✔️ How to have difficult conversations about adherence without confrontation
✔️ How to help clients actually do the exercises, follow plans, and see results

If you’re tired of clients ghosting you between sessions…
If you’re frustrated watching them sabotage their own progress…
If you want to become the go-to practitioner who gets real outcomes…

This is your chance.

⏳ First session starts TOMORROW. Thursday 3rd July. No recordings available. You must be there live.

Doors close in hours. Don’t wait.

🔗 Save Your Place Now

Master Motivational Interviewing to Drive Lasting Behaviour ChangeLearn evidence-based techniques in a live online workshop designed to help you improve client outcomes, retention, and motivation. Why Learn Motivational Interviewing? Why Learn Motivational Interviewing?Motivational Interviewing (MI)...