What is NLP
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is the study of the structure of subjective experience. The name comes from:-
N
Neurology
The study of the mind and nervous system; how we think
L
Linguistics
The study of language and how we use it
P
Programming
The sequences of our actions; how we motivate ourselves to achieve our goals.
Neuro
The nervous system (the mind) through which our experience is processed, how we re present the world to ourselves via our 5 senses: Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic, Olfactory, and Gustatory. In other words what we see, hear, feel, smell, taste.
Linguistic
Language and other non-verbal communication systems through which our neural representations are coded ordered and given meaning, including: pictures, sounds, feelings, tastes, smells, words (self talk)
Programming
The sequence of coded instructions, patterns we run, to create the behaviours that achieve our outcomes.
In other words, NLP is how to use the language of the mind to consistently achieve our specific and desired outcomes.
NLP is known as ‘an attitude and methodology that leaves behind a trail of techniques.’ It is an attitude of curiosity and of wanting to know what is going on behind what is going on. It is a willingness to experiment and experience new things.
The methodology used is modelling. Modelling is a way of replicating excellence (The Psychology of Excellence), modelling is discovering and taking on the beliefs and values, behaviours and mental sequencing of people who are outstanding in their field and utilising these in yourself and others.
NLP was developed in the early 1970’s by John Grinder, a world renowned linguist and Richard Bandler, a mathematician, therapist and computer expert, met and began working together in the field of modelling. They began working together in the field of modelling studying human change.
They studied some of the experts in this field and discovered some interesting patterns. Virginia Satir a very successful family therapist affected and changed behaviour in her clients by being very specific. Milton H Erickson, a renowned psychiatrist and hypnotherapist successfully achieved behaviour change by being extremely ambiguous with his use of language.
These successes led to The Meta Model and The Milton Model. This was the start of NLP and through the application of their discoveries, using techniques that they modelled; they created a process of learning ‘how to’.
John & Richard studied the techniques of people who were the very best in their field and once they had organised these techniques they taught their students to replicate them and to use them with their own clients. Their students were able to duplicate the behavioural changes using these techniques without the years of study and experience of professional psychologists and both students and clients enjoyed tremendous success.
NLP is still expanding and is used successfully in sales, business, education, the arts, sport and many other vocations.
Practitioners who offer this therapy