About The Self Talk Academy
The Self Talk Academy was founded by Tonya French to help people understand the impact of their internal dialogue — and learn practical ways to take greater control of it.
Why I created The Self Talk Academy
For years, I’ve been fascinated by the way the words we say to ourselves can influence how we feel, behave and perform.
Through my work in education, coaching and therapeutic practice, I kept seeing the same thing: people could have all the intention and desire to move forward, but the conversation going on inside their head could still hold them back.
That became the starting point for The Self Talk Method — a practical way of helping people recognise that internal conversation and learn how to use self talk more deliberately.
I created The Self Talk Academy to take that work further, bringing practical self-talk training into workplaces and education.
Meet Tonya
Tonya French is the founder of The Self Talk Academy and creator of The Self Talk Method.
With a background spanning education, coaching, therapeutic practice and performance, Tonya has spent years exploring the connection between the way we talk to ourselves and the way we think, feel and behave.
Her experience working with both adults and young people led her to develop a practical approach to self talk that can be understood and used in everyday situations — from managing pressure and self-doubt to communicating more confidently and performing at your best.
Today, Tonya delivers training through The Self Talk Academy, helping people understand their internal dialogue and giving them practical tools to take greater control of it.
BA (Hons) Drama | PG Cert Acting | PG Cert Therapeutic Counselling | Hynotherapist
The work behind
The Self Talk Method
The Self Talk Method has been developed through years of practical work with both adults and young people.
Tonya founded Hero Self CIC, a not-for-profit organisation delivering confidence and self-talk programmes in schools. Through that work, she has developed and delivered programmes helping children build confidence, resilience and greater belief in themselves.
Working directly with young people has provided valuable real-world insight into how self talk can be taught in a way that is simple, practical and easy to apply.
The Self Talk Academy builds on that experience, bringing The Self Talk Method to workplaces, teachers and other professionals.
Experience that shapes the training
EDUCATION
Years of working with children and young people, developing practical ways to build confidence, resilience and self-belief.
COACHING & THERAPEUTIC PRACTICE
A background in coaching, therapeutic counselling training and hypnotherapy, providing insight into the thoughts, patterns and internal dialogue that can influence how people feel, behave and respond.
PERFORMANCE & COMMUNICATION
A background in acting, drama and public speaking, bringing first-hand understanding of confidence, communication and performing under pressure.
Professional training, built for real life
The Self Talk Academy delivers practical, science-informed training designed to be understood, remembered and used beyond the training room.
Training is available for workplaces and education, with courses designed around the real pressures and challenges people face at work.
Our workplace training is CPD accredited, providing structured professional development alongside practical tools people can apply in everyday situations. CPD accreditation for our teacher training is currently in progress.
Ready to change the conversation?
Discover practical self-talk training for your workplace or education setting.