When the Past Invades the Decision-Making Table, the Present Pays the Price
Stress, fear of failure, apprehension of uncertainty… These are just a few of the barriers that can cloud judgment, even among the most seasoned decision-makers.
On October 17 and 18, 2026, New Zealander Richard Bolstad, psychotherapist and international trainer in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), will return to Tunisia to lead a certified training session in Time Line Therapy at the Institut Psynapse. His objective is to explore how to create distance from certain emotional experiences, ensuring that yesterday’s reflexes no longer dictate tomorrow’s choices.
A negative professional experience can leave traces long after the situation that caused it has vanished. A poorly executed decision, a failed project, or a period of intense pressure can continue to weigh on subsequent choices. By constantly anticipating the same scenario, an individual risks reacting less to the situation at hand and more to the memory of what they have already experienced. In an uncertain economic environment, where leaders must make rapid arbitrations without always having all the guarantees, this mechanism deserves close examination.
This is one of the key areas of focus for Richard Bolstad. “One of the main things I focus on is stress,” he explains. Trained in New Zealand, this psychotherapist and international trainer works with professionals but also in contexts marked by crises. He notably cites experiences teaching support techniques in Ukraine and Japan, in environments affected by difficult situations. Author of more than twenty books, he is also an honorary member of the Association for Neuro-Linguistic Programming (ANLP), which awarded him its International NLP Prize in 2017. His career has led him to teach in several countries, adapting his interventions to diverse audiences and situations.
Beyond the techniques he transmits, his approach stems from a simple observation: a stressful situation does not only produce effects at the moment it occurs. The memory can continue to trigger emotional reactions, sometimes disproportionate to what is actually happening in the present. An old worry can thus intrude into a new decision, while the fear of repeating a mistake ends up limiting the ability to consider other possibilities. According to Richard Bolstad, the goal is to reduce the weight of these experiences on current reactions. “The idea is to free the brain from past negative experiences so that the person can approach each new decision with a fresh perspective,” he explains.
Indeed, this approach finds particular resonance in the professional world. A leader must be able to learn from failure without letting it determine all future decisions. Similarly, a manager may need to acknowledge their apprehensions to prevent them from becoming a brake on action. It is not about erasing the past or ignoring mistakes, but about not allowing them to occupy an excessive place in the evaluation of present situations.
This is the perspective in which Time Line Therapy is situated, an approach developed within the NLP universe. It relies on how individuals represent their past and future, particularly through visualization exercises designed to work on specific emotions and the goals they wish to achieve.
Techniques Beyond Hypnosis
Bolstad emphasizes that the techniques taught do not necessarily rely on hypnosis. They can be practiced using structured instructions and imaginative work. The principle involves modifying how a person represents a past experience and then helping them envision future situations differently.
The approach also includes a forward-looking component. Setting a goal is not always enough to move forward. Doubt, fear of failure, or anticipation of difficulties can compromise an initiative before it even begins. Visualization seeks to make goals more concrete and allow the person to project themselves into the situation they wish to achieve.
“Techniques also help make the future more inspiring,” the trainer notes. In a professional context, this projection can contribute to clarifying an ambition and reflecting on the necessary steps to realize it. However, it does not replace the need to build a strategy, assess risks, or account for economic and operational constraints. Imagining a desired result is not enough to make it achievable.
The Question of Efficacy
A central question remains: efficacy. To support his approach, Richard Bolstad refers to research dedicated to reducing negative emotions associated with stressful memories. One such study, published in 2011 in the Journal of Organizational Knowledge Management, focused on IT professionals and compared several techniques, including hypnosis, NLP, and Time Line Therapy.
The authors reported a significant reduction in negative emotions in the group that underwent the interventions, unlike the control group. These results provide a point of reflection on the use of such techniques but must be interpreted with caution. The sample studied was limited, and several approaches were evaluated. Therefore, these studies do not allow attributing the results solely to Time Line Therapy, nor do they affirm that it is superior to other methods. They also do not demonstrate that it directly improves leader performance or company results.
This caveat is all the more important because professional stress does not always stem solely from individual perception. Unrealistic goals, excessive workload, lack of resources, or dysfunctional organization can contribute to the pressure felt. In such cases, working on emotions cannot replace the necessary changes in the professional environment.
Who Is This Training For?
The training proposed by Richard Bolstad is not exclusively for leaders. It specifically targets coaches, NLP practitioners, therapists, and support professionals who wish to expand their toolkit. The program includes discovering protocols, experimenting with exercises, and working on representations of the past and future.
According to the trainer, some techniques can be used autonomously, particularly to prepare for a decision or clarify a goal. However, professionals integrating them into their practice must consider their scope of competence and the needs of the people they support. These tools do not replace medical or psychological follow-up when necessary.
Richard Bolstad also clarifies that participants do not need to share their personal stories in front of the group to experience the exercises. This option allows for engaging in the proposed work without imposing the public exposure of intimate experiences.
A Return to Tunisia
His visit to Tunisia is part of an already established relationship with the country. The trainer indicates that he has come to Tunisia on several occasions and has previously taught with the local organization with which he collaborates. On October 17 and 18, 2026, he will reunite with the Tunisian audience at the Institut Psynapse, in Lac, for two days of in-person training.
Conclusion: Finding the Margin of Maneuver
Through this intervention, Richard Bolstad places at the center of the debate how past experiences can influence present reactions and future choices. This approach will particularly interest those seeking to better understand their emotional mechanisms and enrich their support practices. However, its interest should not lead to treating it as a universal solution. Between the weight of lived experience, the constraints of daily life, and the decisions to be made, the ability to step back can be an asset. Still, it is essential to evaluate the proposed methods in light of available evidence and place them in their proper context.
The past can illuminate a decision without necessarily dictating it… It is precisely on this margin of maneuver that Time Line Therapy aims to work.
