Driving Instructor Mental Health & Wellbeing – CPD Training Package
Driving Instructor Mental Health & Wellbeing – CPD Training Package
A practical, ready-to-use CPD resource created specifically for ADIs and PDIs — ideal for individual professional development, driving schools, instructor trainers and local driving instructor associations.
Driving instruction can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be mentally and emotionally demanding. Long working days, difficult lessons, safety responsibility, anxious pupils, test pressure, cancellations, financial worries and the expectation to remain calm and professional can all take their toll.
The Driving Instructor Mental Health & Wellbeing CPD Package, created by Simon J. Harrison, Approved Driving Instructor and qualified in Counselling Skills, explores these pressures from the perspective of someone who understands the realities of the job.
Rather than simply telling instructors to “look after themselves”, this package provides practical strategies, relatable examples and opportunities for professional reflection that can be applied to everyday instructor life.
Ideal for individual or group CPD
The package can be worked through independently by an ADI or PDI, but it is also particularly suited to local driving instructor associations, ADI/PDI groups, driving schools, instructor trainers and professional development meetings looking for a ready-made wellbeing CPD session.
The presentation can be used to lead a group session, encourage discussion between instructors, share experiences and explore practical ways of managing the pressures of the profession.
The accompanying eBook provides more in-depth reading and can be used for further reflection and continued professional development following the presentation.
What's included in your download?
1. Driving Instructor Mental Health & Wellbeing eBook
A substantial practical guide exploring the emotional and psychological side of being a driving instructor, including:
the hidden emotional load of the ADI role
stress, overload and recognising warning signs
difficult lessons, incidents and near misses
managing the emotional hangover after a challenging lesson
supporting pupils without absorbing their problems
test pressure and separating results from professional worth
healthy professional boundaries
cancellations, finances and self-employment pressures
working alone and the importance of professional support
burnout and sustainable working
mindfulness and grounding techniques
CBT-informed reflection and challenging unhelpful thoughts
Thought Field Therapy (TFT) as a complementary self-help approach
rebuilding confidence following difficult experiences
creating your own personal wellbeing plan
The book combines practical guidance with relatable driving-instructor situations, reflection activities and illustrated examples.
2. Ready-to-use CPD presentation
The Driving Instructor Mental Health & Wellbeing presentation brings the key themes from the book together into a structured CPD session.
It includes discussion points, practical strategies and opportunities for reflection, making it suitable for presenting at a local driving instructor association meeting, ADI/PDI group, driving school meeting, instructor-training session or other professional development event.
It can also be worked through independently as personal CPD.
3. Printable CPD certificate
A professional CPD certificate is included, allowing completion of the activity to be recorded as part of an instructor's professional development records.
For group sessions, the certificate can also be used to recognise attendance and participation in the CPD session, subject to the terms of the product licence.
Created by an ADI, for ADIs
Simon J. Harrison is an Approved Driving Instructor, former teacher and Director of 4front Driving School.
He also holds a Qualification in Counselling Skills and established Mind & Therapy, bringing together his experience of teaching, supporting people and exploring practical approaches to mental wellbeing.
The package approaches instructor wellbeing from a practical perspective. It isn't about turning driving instructors into counsellors or therapists. It is about helping us understand our own responses, recognise when the pressures of the job are beginning to affect us and develop healthier ways of managing them.
CPD that's about the instructor
We spend a great deal of our professional development thinking about our pupils — how they learn, how we coach them, how we manage risk and how we improve our teaching.
This CPD asks a different question:
Who is looking after the instructor?
Looking after your own wellbeing isn't separate from being a professional driving instructor. It can help you remain calm, reflective and patient while creating a working life that is sustainable in the long term.
Your digital download includes
✓ Driving Instructor Mental Health & Wellbeing eBook ✓ Ready-to-use CPD PowerPoint presentation ✓ Printable CPD certificate
Suitable for individual ADIs and PDIs, instructor trainers, driving schools, local driving instructor associations and professional development groups.
Download the complete package and use it to start an important conversation about the mental health and wellbeing of the people sitting in the instructor's seat.
This is an independent professional-development resource and is not an official DVSA publication, qualification or accreditation. Mental-health content is provided for education, reflection and self-help and is not a substitute for appropriate professional medical or psychological support.
