What Is NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming)?
In simple terms, NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) delivers you a dictionary for your mind. That is to say, it’s the life map you needed at birth and you didn’t get!
So, what is NLP really? In summary, NLP is a collection of practical techniques, skills and strategies that are easily learned and can lead to a profound level of insight and understanding of self and others. Additionally, NLP offers a template for success, identifying how we can modify our behaviour to create a life that’s enjoyable because it aligns with our values.
On the surface, we might say it’s the study of excellence and how to replicate it. It supports you in identifying what you want in life, how to let go of physical and conceptual barriers, and gives you a step by step process for creating the life you really want.
Take The Time To Go A Little Deeper
However, if you investigate it at depth, and expand your knowledge to explore the schools of thought that NLP was founded upon, you’ll realise that NLP is a process that can be applied to stimulate human enlightenment, and a movement towards feelings of wholeness and completeness.
In my personal experience and opinion, if you engage with NLP tools and techniques at the surface level, as merely a process, then you will miss the profound and powerful potential it holds as a tool to unleash the human mind from restriction, delivering expansion at every level.
‘Neuro-Linguistic Programming’ is a term used to identify a specific set of tools and techniques derived from cognitive and behavioural psychology, and enhanced in specific ways. It’s not a way of life, a belief system or a philosophy. It’s about the practitioner, using a range of tools and techniques to support the client in realising greater self-awareness, retraining their thought direction, and taking the journey towards positive change.
When was NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Created?
Developed during the early seventies by Richard Bandler and John Grinder, NLP was conceived as a set of tools and techniques derived from the detailed study of the following therapists and psychological techniques:
- Fritz Perls – Gestalt therapy (See my article on Gestalt Therapy)
- Virginia Satir – Family therapy
- Milton Erickson – Hypnotherapy
It also integrated techniques and theories from other renowned mental health professionals and researchers such as Noam Chomsky, Gregory Bateson, Carlos Castaneda, and Alfred Korzybski.
In 1976 they gave a name to their new discipline: Neuro-Linguistic Programming. It’s a complex name, let’s face it. In fact, when I first discussed it with my husband he thought I was talking about information technology! Moreover, today, it often gets confused with the term ‘Natural Language Processing’ from the realms of Artificial Intelligence.
Grinder and Bandler’s first book on NLP, “Structure of Magic: A Book about Language of Therapy”, was released in 1975. In this publication, they attempted to highlight certain patterns of communication that set communicators considered to be excellent apart from others.
What Does Neuro-Linguistic Programming mean?
Neuro – relates to neurology. Specifically, the physical components as well as the mental and emotional components of our neurology. Actually, it is the physical means by which we process sensory experience, whether visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, olfactory or gustatory.
Linguistic – relates to language and non-verbal communication systems. Specifically, how you communicate with others and more importantly, how you communicate with yourself. Our linguistic systems govern the way we encode, order and give meaning to our experiences. The language might include pictures, sounds, feelings, tastes, smells and words.
Programming – refers to the way in which your mind functions. Perceiving your mind as your internal operating system, programming is the way our past experiences, thoughts and emotions affect all areas of our lives. Moreover, the pattern of ways in which the other two components (neuro-linguistic) interact. Our patterns of communication with self and others can be seen in terms of predictable neuro-linguistic programmes. These can be identified, used and altered in order to change the outcome.
Change Happens At The Unconscious Level
Additionally, NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) identifies that the conscious mind and the unconscious mind work together, as one. Specifically, the goals or desire are set by the conscious mind and the actualisation of those goals is delivered by the unconsciousness. Effectively, real change happens only at the unconscious level, and we must access that level of the mind in order to effect that change.
NLP suggests there are natural hierarchies of learning, communication, and change, organised in six levels. These six logical levels of change are:
- Purpose and Faith or Spirituality: This can be involvement in something larger than oneself, such as faith, community, ethics, or another system. This is the highest level of change.
- Identity: Identity is the person you perceive yourself to be and includes your responsibilities and the social, familial or individual roles you play in life.
- Beliefs and values: These comprise your personal belief system and ideas and behaviours that are fundamentally important to you.
- Capabilities and skills: These are your abilities, talents and gifts, and how you choose to apply them.
- Behaviours: Behaviors are the specific actions you take and behavioural patterns you operate.
- Environment: Your environment is your context or setting, including any other people around you. This is the lowest level of change.
How Are The Techniques of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming Used In Therapy?
Since its creation, neuro-linguistic programming has been used to treat a wide range of issues. These include:
- Anxiety
- Phobias
- Panic Disorders
- Communication issues
- PTSD
- Depression
- Confidence Issues
- Self-harm & Unhealthy Behaviours
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity
- Addiction
- OCD
- The creation of healthy habits
How Is NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming) Applied To Create Success in Your Business & Personal Worlds?
Therapy – NLP is successful in therapy, both used in isolation and in conjunction with hypnosis and Time Line Therapy® enhancing the speed of results and impact.
Education – Everyone learns differently. NLP increases the flexibility of teachers, enabling them to deliver information in a plethora of different ways. Specifically, NLP focuses on an individual’s personal strategies. Learners may have a preference for the visual, auditory or kinaesthetic senses, and teaching can be designed to appeal to these different styles.
Business Management – using NLP strategies to improve rapport and communication skills. NLP skills offer excellent ways to enhance Leadership Skills, Communication and Critical Thinking.
Sales Training – using the specifics of meta-model language to understand the situation and hypnotic language patterns to create more comfort in meeting environments.
Law & Politics – using NLP to develop more persuasive verbal and non-verbal language patterns. Highly attuned sensory acuity is also useful as a tool to read the room.
Find Out More About Working With Me
To find out more about coaching with me, or if you’d like to arrange a call to see if we’re a good fit for one another, please send me an email to sarah@sarahmerron.com.
You can book NLP coaching online here.
Find out about NLP Training here.
If you’re interested in group training and coaching, you can check out my Farcical Life Programmes here.
