I'm guessing life is a struggle for you right now? Or for your loved one? I know that feeling from my 11 year struggle with chronic illness - it's terrifying and awful! Especially if you have tried so many things that didn't work, or been told that terrible message that you are incurable.
But well done for being here so that you can find hope and answers to your recovery!
Drawing on my personal journey, professional training, the latest research, and my experience helping thousands of people recover, I created The Switch® — the programme I wish had been available when I was unwell all those years ago.
Why Choose The Switch?
There are many good brain retraining courses available. The common thread between all of them is the concept that for physical healing to happen in the body, you need to calm your dysregulated nervous system, get out of the physiological stress response and allow your body to reactivate its natural physical healing pathways. But each programme has a different way of achieving this.
How do you choose which is right for you?
Here is a summary of the attributes of The Switch with Mel Abbott, so that you can see if this resonates with you.
The Concepts
The Quick Switch – calm nervous system dysregulation and address illness thoughts to rewire neural pathways.
The Deep Switch & Inner Child Work – access body memory to trace illness back to its original cause and release trauma physically and emotionally for long lasting results.
Emotional Wellbeing - understand your emotions, how they affect health, and how you can process them with The Quick or the Deep Switch.
Lifestyle and wellbeing integration – address a wide range of lifestyle factors that are often overlooked but can have a profound affect on your health and wellbeing.
Subconsious limiting beliefs – uncover subconscious blocks to recovery using muscle testing (optional) and use The Switch® to resolve them.
Future planning - Access your Core State and plan your future in alignment with who you really are.
Professional
Train directly with the founder: Mel Abbott has 16 years’ experience with over 3000 clients. She created The Switch and will personally guide you through your programme and provide all your follow-up support.
Research-informed and continuously updated: While there is not yet a formal research trial on The Switch®, client health surveys before and after the course show clear positive trends, and the programme is continually updated to reflect the latest research in chronic illness recovery.
Story-driven professional slideshow – The Switch® teaches through story. Three beautifully illustrated characters journey through the programme with you, bringing the science and the healing process vividly to life in a way that’s engaging and relatable. No boring bullet points!
Client Focussed
Flexible Attendance - The Switch® can be attended fully live (in-person or online) or as the pre-recorded Switch Webinar Series (see below).
Multiple Learning Styles - A mix of teaching, interactive exercises, paired work, discussion, and personalised coaching keeps the programme engaging and accessible for a range of learning styles.
Small group setting - Participation in a group of up to eight participants, provides inspiration, shared learning, and accountability.
Ongoing support: Follow-up sessions with your own Switch® group help you stay on track after the course finishes. Email support continues for a full year, and you can join a private Facebook community for connection with other Switch® participants.
Be inspired by people's recoveries!
74 years old and dancing again after CFS!
Charlene is 74 and suffered from CFS. Read her wonderful story of recovery - big changes just from the Next Steps Webinar, and then completing her recovery with The Switch. She now does three dance classes per week!
"My entire life opened up!"
Kevin has spent 23 years barely able to leave his house, taking 50 tablets a day, needing a cane to walk and unable to work. Suddenly, he has his life back just 6 weeks after attending The Switch programme at Empower Therapies
Rheumatoid Arthritis Recovery
From rheumatoid arthritis so bad that Terry thought he would die, was on huge medication and still could not brush his own teeth... to recovery! Terry shares his remarkablerecovery from this supposedly incurable condition
Research & Success Rates
My clients have been ill for an average of 9.66 years.
Around 75% were told by doctors that they were incurable.
Around 80% reported great results at The Switch!*
Physical Health
Clients ranked their physical health out of 10 before The Switch® (grey) and after The Switch (blue)
Emotional Health
Clients ranked their emotional health out of 10 before The Switch® (grey) and after The Switch (blue)
Rate The Switch®
Clients rated the course out of 10
Long COVID
Analysis of the first 27 long COVID clients:
16 – full recovery!
3 – at least 90% improvement
3 – 70-80% improvement
3 – 40% improvement
1 – no improvement
0 – got worse
1 – unknown, though reported improvements at the course
Chronic Fatigue
Analysis of all 95 CFS clients who attended The Switch between 2020 and 2022:
82.1% resolved “all" or "most” of their symptoms
83.2% ranked their health as “excellent, very good or good”.
3% reported no change
0% got worse
Client Issues
Clients share what their primary issue for attending The Switch is.
Note, many clients had multiple issues to deal with, but this data is based on their primary issue only.
Anxiety is most common issue that people deal with, even if not their first choice
There is a growing body of research demonstrating why courses such as The Switch are able to help people resolve chronic health problems.
I have written a number of articles for Brainz Magazine and for my own blog page exploring this research. Here are some that might interest you:
Chronic Illness - Address 5 Root Causes
This Brainz Magazine article explains each of the five root causes of illness, and shares the latest scientific research, plus client experiences, to give credence to these causes. The Switch is based on these causes.
Evidence that Emotions Cause Illness
I presented a talk at the GP Medical Conference titled “Emotions Cause Illness”— and I was thrilled to receive all 5-star reviews from doctors. Here are the key scientific insights that I shared.
The Science of Trapped Emotions and Release
Learn about the research that shows how trapped emotions affect your body and cause chronic pain and other disorders. Discover proven mind-body methods to release stored trauma for lasting healing.
And for some short statements that support the mind-body approach to chronic illness recovery:
✅ Polyvagal theory research shows that chronic threat states maintain symptoms in long-term conditions.
“The autonomic nervous system is foundational to physiological state regulation, and dysregulation is strongly associated with chronic illness.”
Stephen Porges: Frontiers in Neuroscience
✅ Somatic emotional processing can resolve unresolved trauma in ways talk-only therapy does not.
“The body holds on to experiences that the conscious mind has not fully processed.”
Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score.
✅ Integrated mind-body interventions show better outcomes than standard care for many chronic illnesses.
"Mind-body therapies can help reduce stress, pain, and improve quality of life in a range of conditions".
NIH / National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does The Switch cost and what's included?
e Switch - 4-day live training in small group, plus one year support package - $2197 NZD
Your course fee includes:
- Approx 20 hours of personalised live training (in-person or online) with Mel Abbott in a small group setting over 4 consecutive days
- Additional course materials (e-book, movies and audio tracks)
- Pre-course phone call with Mel Abbott
- Course manual (printed or digital) plus other course materials
- Tea, snacks and a keepsake (in-person groups only)
- Unlimited questions during course time
- Three group follow-up calls
- One individual half-hour follow-up
- One year access to the Switch Webinar Series
- Automated email support chain for one year
- Access to the private Switch Facebook group
- Ongoing phone and email support for quick questions
- For in-depth support, 1-1 sessions may be purchased for $160/hour
What topics does The Switch cover?
Day 1 - Physiology and current habits
Approx 6 hours of live small group training including presentation, course manual, interactive group activities
and personalised coaching for each participant in front of the group.
Content:
Nervous system dysregulation and impact of physiological stress response on body systems
Brain neurology – the amygdala and neuroplasticity
Language patterns for empowerment
Recognising and changing illness thinking patterns
Recognising emotion states that influence illness
The Quick Switch – combining all elements into one technique for practice, involving steps, movement, visualisation and self-coaching
Homework:
Practice Quick Switch (approx. 20-30 times)
Interrupt illness thoughts (approx. 100 times)
Use calming techniques (approx. 15 times)
Work through homework sheets in manual
Optional extras movie
Day 2 - Past trauma resolution
As per day one, plus 30-minute movie before arrival
The science of how past trauma is held in the physical body
How to interpret trauma messages from the body
The Deep Switch – extended version combined with inner
child work to address unresolved trauma
Homework:
Continued practice of Quick Switch, thought stops and calming techniques.
Practice Deep Switch to resolve underlying trauma
Work through homework sheets in manual
Day 3 - Lifestyle issues
Self-directed learning using manual, a one-hour movie, opportunity
for a one hour 1:1 coaching session
Content:
Te Whare Tapa Whā –Māori model of health is explored to identify factors contributing to health issues
The science of well-being – exploring western research lifestyle choices and health
Identifying purpose and goals
Guided visualisation based on NLP Core States process
Using Quick and Deep Switches to resolve lifestyle issues
Day 4 - Beliefs and Moving Forward
Approx 6 hours of live small group training as per Day 1, plus 30 minute movie before arrival
Content:
Research into the impact of beliefs on outcomes
Identify illness and core beliefs impacting health and well-being
Using Quick and Deep Switches to resolve belief issues
Vision boards and future goals
How to adjust to home, people, work and a new healthy life
Homework
Continue use of Quick and Deep Switches, thought stops and body
language changes
Make lifestyle changes to enhance recovery
Work through last pages of manual
Utilise ongoing support
Should I attend live or online?
Whether you attend in person or online, the success rates are just the same. You will still see all the same slides, do all the same group activities, and have all the same live training, personalised support from Mel, group discussions and group bonding.
The benefits of attending in person are a bit more banter and laughter, chatting to course mates in the breaks, and not being distracted by home chores/people/wifi issues.
The benefit of attending online is saving time and money in travel costs, not being away from family for four days in a row, having more privacy and less distraction when doing paired work in breakout rooms instead of a live room, being able to ask me questions privately in the chat instead of in front of the group and feeling more comfortable and relaxed in your own environment.
What is the location & is there accomodation?
The Switch is held in Kohimarama, Auckland, or online via Zoom. There are many local accommodation options for out-of-towners who don't have family or friends to stay with. These accommodation options are walking distance from the course, cafes, beaches and a supermarket. My local hosts look after clients very well. If clients require wheelchair access at the venue, this can be arranged. View local accommodation options here.
What time does the course finish?
There are three live training days in The Switch, each about 4.5-7 hours long, plus an integration day on Day 3 for practice and webinar-based learning.
We do not give set end times because every group is different and the day lengths vary significantly, even within one group.
It is best to not plan activities or flights for straight after the course in case it runs late.
Course start times vary for each group - refer to the course dates page.
How do I cope with long days?
I wondered the same thing when I did my course to recover from CFS!
While 5-6 hours may seem daunting to you, my experience is that chronic illness sufferers not only manage this, but significantly improve their energy and health throughout each day of the course.
If you can only manage less than 2 hours of activity per day, I would recommend starting with The Next Steps 2-hour webinar or The Switch Webinar Series, because these can be viewed in smaller chunks.
If you are bedbound and can only do things for 10-15 minutes, you can watch the Next Steps webinar in very short chunks until you have completed it. You can still practice the webinar techniques because they are all short and can be done from your bed.
Can children attend?
Children aged 8+ have participated in The Switch and absolutely loved it! It has a lot of games and fully-illustrated slides with cartoon characters, which really appeal to the younger audience. Young people usually get well faster than adults, and inspire adults about how rapid change really is possible when you don’t over-think it.
It is vital that the child really wants to do The Switch and is committed to it, not just being pushed to be there by the parents. The answers to application form questions must be the child's own, rather than a parent answering for them.
As with all clients, children are welcome to have a support person with them for the duration of the course.
Is there a maximum age?
People in their 70s have done The Switch and achieved great results. I have found that as long as clients have the cognitive skills and memory to learn the course material, they can make great changes. Accepting people in their 80s is a case-by-case situation based on assessing cognitive skills and adaptability.
There is a certain amount of computer skills required, as people will need to access emails, watch movies online and attend follow-ups on Zoom.
Can I bring a support person?
You are welcome to bring a support person with you if you choose to. We allow two support people per group, so you may need to wait for the next course if we are already full.
Support people do not participate in the course, ask or answer questions - they sit at the back of the room so they understand what their loved one has learnt and they can help them to use the techniques outside of group time.
If you would like to have a support person, they will need to complete a form and receive approval from Mel prior to the course.
Do I need to share personal info?
There is no requirement to share private stories from your life with your group, or even with Mel, your trainer. Many people choose to share, but that will be entirely up to you.
What is the difference with The Switch Webinar Series?
The Switch® is a 4-day live training course (either in person in Auckland, or online via zoom), or you can do The Switch Webinar Series, a pre-recorded webinar series that takes place over six weeks in small increments.
While The Switch Webinar Series offers flexible viewing, privacy and lower costs, The Switch provides full support from Mel Abbott and includes additional topics that process past trauma that might be impacting you. Being part of a supportive group environment can also provide inspiration and a sense of community. If you have the financial means, and the ability to attend, The Switch is the optimal choice. If you cannot attend the 6-hour days or dislike group settings, or finances are tight, The Switch Webinar Series is a great choice.
You can see a full comparison between the two options HERE.
Is it all in the mind?
No, your illness is not all in your mind. It’s real. It’s physical. But mind and body cannot be separated, and when you influence one, you influence the other. Just because you can resolve chronic illness by using mind-based techniques does not invalidate that it was a real physical illness.
I don’t see any illness as being just physical or just emotional. For instance, anxiety may be seen as a mental health issue but it also has lots of physical traits such as elevated cortisol levels, racing heart etc. Chronic pain may be seen as physical, but it is very influenced by emotions and stress. Overall, your body is powerful at healing physically and emotionally when it is calm, so your job is to create calm and allow your body to do the rest.
Is this course religious? Is there hypnosis?
‘The Switch’ is purposefully neither for nor against any religion, so that it is accessible to all people. It has been attended by people from many different religions or spiritual practices, as well as by atheists. All have reported comfort that the programme was in alignment with their beliefs.
There is no hypnosis. There is a small amount of visualisation and Christians have reported really enjoying this process and feeling that it was not in any way against their beliefs around avoiding hypnosis.
Is The Switch the same as The Lightning Process?
No, The Switch is a separately developed programme. There is no more than 25% overlap in content and techniques. The Switch is also about 30% longer than the LP.
Both courses cover the stress response (Hans Selye, 1936), illness thinking patterns and beliefs. The Switch also covers the role of emotions in chronic illness, accessing the underlying emotional cause of an illness, clearing past trauma, lifestyle factors, the science of well-being, core beliefs and using muscle testing to elicit them.
The LP slides have bullet points for information. The Switch slides are fully illustrated with three characters that have their own storylines to demonstrate key points. The Switch has many interactive activities where clients work in pairs, fours or as a whole group, which fosters group camaraderie and keeps learning styles fresh.
While both courses have techniques that require repetition to enable recovery, the techniques are different. The Switch has The Quick Switch for dealing with current thoughts and emotions, The Deep Switch for clearing past trauma and the 3-brain Switch for decision making, plus four additional calming techniques.
