What is NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming?
NLP is an acronym for Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Neuro is defined as “relating to the nervous system” of which the brain is a major part. Linguistic is defined as “relating to language”, the means by which we communicate both verbally and non-verbally. Programming for our purposes is defined as “a set of rules we unconsciously follow to allow tasks to be more automated”. For example, drinking water from a glass is an automatic action for most people but, we had to learn the programming to do it initially as children.
NLP uses techniques based on hypnotherapy and other psychotherapies that were developed in the 70’s by John Grinder Ph.D and Richard Bandler (MA Psychology) . They studied some renown psychotherapists like Milton Erickson, Virginia Satir and Fritz Perls and modelled their best work methods to develop useful therapy tools. It’s many well documented techniques are useful tools for hypnotherapists. It gives us a useful logic to many areas (like body language) that once discovered, are now taken as common knowledge in some circles.
How Can NLP Help Me In My Life?
NLP is used to aid you making positive changes to the way you think and live your life. It can make some of those changes quite quickly, making your life experience better for you and those around you. Techniques can help change the balance of your life to be more positive.
Let’s face it, wouldn’t it be great to reframe a task you don’t like doing at work? You could change the way you think about it. Make it into a challenge you are very capable of doing well instead. Also consider, once you have learned to do this once, you can apply technique to many different aspects of your life.
NLP is also very useful in positive personal development. It can help gain a more positive approach to life much like positive psychology can.
4 Tenets of NLP Explained in Plain English
These are the 4 pillars that are used in NLP to help you understand and change your world for the better.
- Rapport: Good, effective communication is an essential part of NLP. If you are overworked and stressed out, good rapport allows you to say no, calmly and effectively, with good reasons. This method allows people know you really mean it. This will mean you still retain good. courteous, professional relationships and friendships.
- Sensory awareness: Understanding how people use their senses (e.g. sight, hearing, touch) to interpret their personal world is important. We all exist in a personal world that is different from everyone else’s. For example there will be differences in the colour we paint or paper our walls, the music we enjoy most, the feel of the keyboard we really like to use. Understanding how you see things, how you hear what I am saying, how you feel about things, is an imperative part of understanding your personal world. This inderstanding is also a good basis for a good empathy based helping relationship between a client and therapist.
- Outcome thinking: Set a clear goal that is realistic and achievable. Think positively about what you want and how you will get it. Chunking down this plan into smaller pieces or steps can make the overall goal less intimidating and easier to achieve. This style of thinking enables you to make the best decisions possible with the information you have available to tou at work, home or play.
- Flexibility: Be prepared to change positivly. If what you are doing now is not working, change how you do it so it does work for you. Its that simple.
Hi, this is a really good post you have made her. I have read much about this NLP stuff and most of what I have read is quite confusing. However, you seem to have explained it really well here. I have come away with a much better understanding of what it is all about and some of the moethods used to help people change. Thanks!
Hello Claudia, Thank you for your positive comments. I am very happy you have read and understood my posts. I am attempting to make everything about therapy as clear as I can for everybody that comes here. All the best.