Gary Gunn – Founder of Social Attraction
Confidence came naturally to me
It was a normal sunny afternoon in November 2003. I spoke to women without ever thinking about what to say. Confidence simply was. It felt natural, effortless, inevitable and I assumed it would always be that way.
A car accident destroyed everything I knew
I was driving along the seaside, windows slightly open, thinking about nothing in particular, when I suddenly heard an extremely loud bang. A wall of white dust filled my vision. My whole body went numb.
For a moment I genuinely thought I was dead and in heaven. As the dust started to settle, I realised I was still in the driver’s seat and that I had just been involved in a head-on car accident.
Later I found out I had a tyre blowout which sent me straight into an oncoming car. Thankfully the other people were not hurt, although I was.
PTSD took over my life
From that moment everything shifted. PTSD set in and I could no longer sleep. I started drinking heavily because it numbed the noise in my head. I began binge eating because it gave me comfort. I gained weight and lost all sense of who I was. Confidence disappeared because every day felt like survival rather than living.
I hit rock bottom at the seafront
Things eventually became so bad that I walked down to the seafront near where I lived and sat alone on a bench. I remember staring out at the water and genuinely contemplating suicide. I had nothing left in me. For the first time in my life I prayed for help.
A surreal moment of light gave me hope
As I finished that prayer, the clouds above me suddenly parted and a beam of sunlight broke through and shone directly onto me. It was one of the most surreal moments of my life and in that instant I felt something shift deep inside me.
A book showed me I could rebuild myself
Doctors prescribed beta blockers and I kept taking them because I did not know what else to do. One day, sitting in the doctor’s waiting room, I picked up a self-improvement book out of boredom. The first page said “You can change your life by changing your thoughts.”
For some reason that line hit me like a punch. I looked up and realised I did not want to numb myself anymore. I left the appointment and walked straight to the bookshop around the corner and bought a copy for myself.
I chose to stop numbing myself
That moment became the turning point. I stopped taking beta blockers because I knew no pill could rebuild the man I used to be. I trained my body because I needed strength.
I studied psychology, behaviour change and human connection because I needed a blueprint to rebuild myself. I took up martial arts because I wanted to confront fear head on. I forced myself into conversations with strangers because hiding had destroyed my confidence.
Discipline turned pain into strength
Progress was slow and some days it hurt. But every small win created momentum. Each setback became fuel. Over time, discipline replaced doubt and strength replaced helplessness.
My mission became clear
Eventually I stood up and realised I was not the man I used to be. I was someone stronger, sharper and unshakable. That is when I made a decision. I would not keep this to myself.
Today I live what I teach. I guide men out of fear. I rebuild their confidence from the inside out. I help them stop hiding and start leading and attract the kind of women they once believed were out of their league because redemption begins the moment you decide to take control.
My Professional Qualifications
- BA (Hons) Degree in Criminology and Sociology
I studied human behaviour from the inside out. I wanted to understand why people do what they do – especially in relationships, power dynamics, and social settings. This degree gave me the foundation to decode confidence, attraction, and communication through both psychology and culture. It taught me to read what’s never said – the unspoken rules that decide who connects and who gets ignored. - In-person Meisner Technique Training – Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)
Starting August 2025, I’ll be training at RADA – one of the top acting schools in the world. I chose the Meisner Technique because I’ve seen how many men hide behind a mask. This training will sharpen my ability to coach authentic presence under pressure, emotional responsiveness, and connection that feels real, not rehearsed. In dating, presence is everything – and this is my next level. - NLP Master Practitioner – Six-month, In-Person Training
I wanted to help men create lasting change – not just feel better for a day. This training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming taught me how to influence thought patterns, shift emotional states, and embed confidence through language and behaviour. I studied it to master the psychology of influence – so my clients could lead, connect, and thrive in any situation. - Jeet Kune Do Martial Arts – Grade 1 with Distinction
This wasn’t about fitness. It was about facing fear. I spent 18 months training one-to-one in Jeet Kune Do because I wanted to embody courage, precision, and self-protection. Created by Bruce Lee, this system is direct and effective – no fluff. It taught me how to move under pressure, stay calm in confrontation, and protect myself and others. These lessons now shape how I coach grounded masculine presence. - Accredited in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
I turned to CBT after working with clients who kept looping the same destructive thoughts – “I’m not good enough”, “She’ll never like someone like me”. I wanted a way to break that cycle. This training gave me the tools to help men challenge limiting beliefs and rewire their thinking patterns so they could act with confidence, not self-doubt. - Accredited in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)
Some clients carried deep emotional wounds – past rejections, shame, even trauma – that no mindset shift alone could reach. EMDR gave me a way to help them process and release what was stuck. I studied it because I needed something powerful enough to clear emotional blocks at their core. - Accredited in EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)
I noticed how many men carried anxiety in their bodies – tight chest, racing heart, frozen on the spot. EFT helped me offer fast, practical techniques they could use in real time to calm their nerves. I learnt it to give my clients relief when the pressure hits during dates, conversations, or even before leaving the house. - Accredited in TFT (Thought Field Therapy)
When I began coaching men with severe approach anxiety or fear of rejection, I needed a breakthrough method that could go deeper than just talking. TFT provided that edge. It helped me guide clients through fear in minutes, not weeks. I trained in it because I wanted to give men a way out of sabotage that felt instant and real. - Accredited in Art Therapy
Some emotions are too big for words. I took this training because I saw how stuck some clients became trying to explain their feelings. Art therapy showed me how to use creative expression to help men make sense of what they’re feeling – grief, anger, confusion – and move through it. It’s not about being an artist. It’s about finding emotional clarity in a different way. - Lifelong Study and Literary Training
I have read over 1,500 books in the past two decades. On average, I read or listen for two to three hours a day. It started with self-help and psychology books. Then I moved on to autobiographies to understand real human experience in more depth. Eventually, I realised that the greatest writers in history were novelists. We learn through stories, not information. That is when I began studying classic literature across English, French, and Spanish traditions. Writers like Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Alexandre Dumas, and Stefan Zweig taught me more about human nature than any textbook ever could. Their work shaped how I communicate and how I teach. I began to see that the most powerful way to change someone’s thinking is to give them a story they feel. That is why I continue to study storytelling every day. It allows me to coach with more impact, explain complex ideas simply, and create lasting change through language that resonates.
My Experience and Impact
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Coaching and studying behavioural change for over 17 years
This all began with my own transformation. I became obsessed with understanding what drives lasting change in men – not quick fixes, but real identity shifts. For nearly two decades, I’ve studied psychology, communication, and behaviour through every lens, testing what actually works in the real world. That deep commitment now forms the backbone of everything I teach. -
Founded Social Attraction over a decade ago
I started Social Attraction to take what I’d learnt and give other men a clear, structured path to change their lives too. It began with in-person coaching and weekend workshops, and has since expanded across the UK, Europe, and beyond. My goal has always been to help men stop hiding and start showing up with confidence. -
Hosted over 1,200 live workshops
Nothing replaces live coaching. These workshops taught me how to help men face their fears, take action, and rewire their behaviour fast. Over the years, I’ve helped thousands of men overcome approach anxiety, ditch dating apps, and meet women naturally in their day-to-day lives. -
Delivered coaching in major cities worldwide
From Berlin to Madrid, London to New York, I’ve coached men in a wide range of cultures and social dynamics. Every city teaches you something different about attraction and communication. That international experience allows me to adapt my coaching system to any environment – making it work wherever you are. -
Delivered thousands of private video coaching sessions and WhatsApp support
Change happens in the details. Through daily mentoring, I’ve helped men stay consistent, get direct feedback, and move forward faster. Whether through structured video sessions or step-by-step WhatsApp support, I make sure no client is left guessing what to do next. -
Coached CEOs, founders, lawyers, doctors, and high-level professionals
I specialise in helping men who are already high performers – men who’ve mastered business but want to bring that same confidence into their personal lives. My coaching is tailored, strategic, and designed to meet them where they are – with zero fluff or guesswork. -
Creator of the Social Attraction Method
This is the framework I built from the ground up. A complete system that transforms confidence, improves communication, and helps men connect with women authentically – no pickup lines, no gimmicks. Just a clear, ethical structure for success. -
Created a successful suite of digital products
Not everyone can attend in-person training. That’s why I built a full library of online courses, video programmes, and daily challenges – giving men access to real coaching tools they can use anytime, anywhere. -
Best-selling author of the Education in Dating book series
I wrote these books because I wanted men to have something practical, structured, and real. No filler. Just clear tools and mindset shifts they could apply immediately. With eight books published, this series continues to guide men from confusion to clarity in their dating lives. -
Hired by major global brands including Pepsi and eHarmony
When top brands needed behavioural training and confidence coaching, they came to me. I’ve delivered communication strategies and mindset tools for high-performance individuals working under pressure – helping them sharpen how they think, speak, and lead. -
Delivered keynote talks and private training on confidence and communication
From boardrooms to private retreats, I’ve trained individuals and teams on how to show up with presence, speak with influence, and build meaningful relationships – professionally and personally. -
Featured in podcasts and expert interviews
I’ve been invited to share my insights on confidence, masculinity, dating, and psychological change with audiences across the globe. These conversations open the door for men to reflect, take action, and begin their own transformation. -
Recognised as one of the world’s leading dating coaches for men
What sets my work apart is real-world application. I coach from experience – not theory. I’m known for delivering results through psychological depth, ethical practices, and a relentless focus on behavioural change that lasts.
My Charitable Commitments
I’ve always had dogs in my life. They’ve brought me companionship, loyalty, and grounding during difficult times. I’ve seen how poorly some people treat dogs, and I feel a strong responsibility to give back.
That’s why I make ongoing personal donations to The Dogs Trust — a charity that works tirelessly to protect, rehome, and care for dogs who have been abandoned or mistreated. They provide shelter, medical care, and the chance for every dog to find a loving home.
I also support Prostate Cancer UK, helping to fund research and raise awareness for a cause that affects so many men. It matters to me that I support the wellbeing of both the men I coach and wider men’s health initiatives.
If you would like to support the charities I donate to, you can make a contribution directly.
You can donate to The Dogs Trust here, and to Prostate Cancer UK here.
Even a small contribution can make a meaningful difference.