How Dealing with Mental Images and ‘re-wiring’ the Brain Can Create Breakthroughs for Dyslexia with Lou Barnes
Release Date: 04/10/2025
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info_outlineIn our latest episode, we dive into the challenges faced by children struggling with reading and writing. It's crucial for us as educators to recognise the signs that indicate a child's brain may not be processing text in a way that allows for easy reading and spelling.
Dale is joined in our new studio by Lou Barnes, a trainer and founder of Unlock Learning. Lou discusses the role of mental images and how ‘re-wiring’ the brain can lead to breakthroughs for individuals with dyslexia. She introduces Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), which focuses on understanding and changing subconscious patterns that affect behaviour and learning.
Lou shares her experience working with dyslexic children and emphasises that many struggles stem from fear and frustration when traditional teaching methods fail. Her fascinating theory on how NLP can help create clearer mental images offers a new perspective on improving reading and comprehension.
I really enjoyed the analogies they used in this conversation to describe how our brains work – definitely worth a listen!
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About Lou Barnes
I was a primary school teacher for 20 years. I loved teaching and but was aware of bright, creative children struggling with literacy every year.
Eventually I found it too painful and frustrating to see them struggle. The way we were ‘helping them’ was not working. Despite school intervention, extra phonics groups etc, they were not improving. I hated seeing many of them lose confidence or get labelled as naughty or lazy.
I decided that there had to be a better way. Then I came across Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). I was instantly fascinated. I felt it could hold real answers so I left full-time teaching to study NLP in depth.
I learned was that our subconscious brains are incredibly powerful, and that by working with it, I could rapidly make reading (and spelling) easier to understand for people who previously just couldn’t make sense of letters and words. I found out WHY my students struggled and HOW to change that. I believe it’s the missing piece for helping dyslexic students.
Over the next years, I developed a process and started working with children and adults one-to-one. The results of blending NLP with my teaching knowledge and experience were extraordinary. In the end, I took the plunge to be totally self-employed and set up Unlock Learning.
For the past 15 years I’ve been working, as Unlock Learning, with dyslexic children, and some adults using my 2-part process. First the NLP ‘magic’ to get the brain ready to see, store and be comfortable with letters and words. Then I pop on my teacher hat and teach reading and spelling because what was once so hard is now easy for that child.
It’s my passion and purpose. I love doing what I do and the way I do it. I'
Now I’m on a mission to share what I know so more children can be spared the agony of struggling to read and write, and the mental health issues that can accompany it.
I live in a beautiful part of Sussex, with my husband in a very quiet spot where I really enjoy my garden, especially growing as much as possible in my veg patch and sitting with friends around a fire in the evenings.
I love walking with Tilly, my dog; sunrise at the beach is a favourite way to start the day.
Although I’m mostly content to be at home, I also love adventures, travel and the chance to try new things which in the past has included living in Thailand, riding motorbikes and being in a band.
Contact Lou
https://www.unlock-learning.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/unlocklearning
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lou-barnesunlocklearning/
Useful Links
SEN Magazine Article detailing my ‘imaginary creature’ process
- B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk
- Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast
- Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk
- Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe
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