Richard was a London taxi driver with a problem. He was diagnosed with ADHD, his mind was “always 100mph,” and road rage was making his job unbearable.
Every time he got behind the wheel, anger would build. Other drivers cutting him off, traffic frustrations, the constant stress – it was all too much. And it wasn’t just affecting his work, ADHD effects all aspects of life. His partner Angie could see the toll it was taking on him.
THE CHALLENGE
When Richard came to therapy, he was clear about what he needed: “I want to understand my ADHD. I need to be given the tools to self-regulate my emotions. And not get road rage.”
He’d tried other therapies before – several of them – and nothing had worked. He was sceptical but intrigued enough to give Solution Focused Hypnotherapy a try.
His goal was simple: “To get to the point where I can go to work and be a calmer driver. I want to be able to use the tools to regulate my thoughts.”
Starting point: Feeling 6 out of 10
THE JOURNEY
Visualising Success (Week 1)
We started with something powerful: visualisation. Richard closed his eyes and we walked through the entire process – getting in the cab, using the therapists knowledge of London really helped create the handling of traffic in Central London and staying calm.
It sounds simple, but for someone whose brain runs at 100mph, creating a mental picture of calm was revolutionary. He was going to work the next day, and now he had a blueprint for how it could feel different.
The Wing Mirror Test (Week 4)
Then came the real-world test. Richard was driving when another driver clipped his wing mirror. The old Richard would have “gone into one” – shouting, raging, letting it ruin his entire day. But this is what happened instead:
“A guy clipped my wing mirror and usually I would go into one, but it wasn’t broken so I smiled and gave him the thumbs up!”
A smile and a thumbs up! The complete opposite of road rage. And he’d done it automatically, without thinking. The change was real.
“Like Brushing Off a Fly” (Week 5)
Richard came up with his own metaphor that perfectly captured his transformation:
“When I was driving nothing got to me. It’s like I brush off a fly on my arm and not having an angry tiger in the cab.”
His attitude had shifted. Things that used to send him into a rage were now minor irritations he could flick away without a second thought.
Changing His Thinking (Week 7)
By week 7, Richard had reached 9.5 out of 10. His thinking had completely transformed:
“No more going through my days driving thinking stuff like: ‘He’s going to cut me up.’ Now I think ‘I’ll drop back a bit’.”
From threat perception to solution focus. From reactive rage to proactive calm. And it was happening automatically – he didn’t have to force it. He described these as “perfect days.”
“The Old Me Is Gone” (Final Session)
In our final session, Richard said something profound:
“I’m feeling like the old me is gone. I find myself saying ‘I cannot believe I would have reacted in such a way!’”
He wasn’t just managing his road rage; he’d become a different person. Looking back at how he used to react felt almost unbelievable to him now.
THE TRANSFORMATION
Before therapy:
- Road rage was making taxi driving unbearable
- ADHD symptoms (“mind always 100mph”)
- Reactive anger to traffic situations
- Previous therapies unsuccessful
- Feeling 6/10
After 8 Sessions
- Zero road rage incidents
- “Perfect days” at work
- Automatic calm responses (now smiles at the wing mirror incident)
- Proactive decisions (“I’ll drop back how often I see you for a bit”)
- Feeling 9.5/10
Richard’s Reflections
Richard’s metaphor says it all:
“It’s like I brush off a fly on my arm and not having an angry tiger in the cab.”
He didn’t just reduce his anger – he completely reframed how he experienced driving. What used to be a tiger roaring in his cab was now a fly he could brush away without thinking.
Where Richard Is Now
Richard is loving his job again. He’s driving without getting wound up, making proactive decisions to avoid stress, and having “perfect days” behind the wheel. When that driver clipped his wing mirror, he smiled and gave a thumbs up. That moment says everything.
He’s also more present with Angie. The anger that used to follow him home from work is gone. He’s calm, confident, and enjoying life.
From road rage to perfect days. From an angry tiger to brushing off a fly. From sceptical therapy recipient (after multiple failures) to someone who genuinely believes in the process. Richard didn’t just learn to manage his ADHD and road rage – he discovered he could be a completely different version of himself. And that version is thriving.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy helped Richard overcome road rage and ADHD emotional regulation challenges in just 8 sessions over 11 weeks. If you’re struggling with anger, ADHD symptoms, or previous therapy hasn’t worked, this approach can provide the tools and understanding you need to transform your daily life.
Darrens’ Insight
Richard’s success proves that even when previous therapies have failed, a brain-based, solution-focused approach can work. By focusing on the “Preferred Future” and using hypnosis to reduce the “anxiety bucket,” we allowed Richard’s intellectual brain to take back control from the tiger.
Are you struggling with ADHD symptoms, anger, or feeling stuck despite trying therapy before? Let’s find your “Perfect Day.”
Click Here to Book or call Darren at Solution Focused Talking Therapies
