What is NLP?

What does NLP stand for?

NLP stands for Neurolinguistic Programming

Where did NLP come from?

NLP began its’ life in the early 1970’s, formulated by John Grinder of the University of California and Richard Bandler.  Both men had a fascination with human excellence, which charted a path for them to model behavioural patterns of certain geniuses. Their findings were published in the volumes ‘Structure of Magic I & II’.

Do many Hypnotherapy Practitioners use NLP?

The modern science of NLP is used extensively today in therapy as well as in the business world.  NLP is a very good fit with hypnotherapy.  It is the practice of understanding how people organise their thinking, feeling, language and behaviour to produce the results they do. 

Why is NLP different to Hypnosis?

NLP differs from traditional hypnosis in that a formal trance is not required. The client is led through a sequence of empowering NLP methods and techniques to adapt the structure of their mind to achieve positive change which fits very well alongside the hypnotherapy.

How does it work?

A key element of NLP is that we form our unique internal mental maps of the world around us by the way we filter and perceive information absorbed through our five senses. NLP is based on the proposition that all behaviour has a structure and that the structure can be modelled, learned and changed.  NLP is, therefore, the study of patterns in behaviour and what can be calculated from them or as someone once said "It's about how you do, what you do!"  Once we understand “What you do” we can change elements of behaviours to produce more beneficial behaviours, thought patterns, feelings etc.

NLP includes visualisation techniques, adapting the way in which your mind perceives the world to create positive change in a short period of time. It can install new skills, behaviours and habits. It can also help to detach from painful and unwanted memories if applicable.  The result is ultimately empowering

NLP – the 3 elements:

  • Neuro: Each individual has established their own unique mental filtering system for processing the millions of bits of data being absorbed through the senses. Our first mental map of the world is constituted of internal images, sounds, tactile awareness, internal sensations, tastes and smells that form as result of the neurological filtering process.
  • Linguistic: We then assign personal meaning to the information being received from the world outside. We form our second mental map by assigning language to the internal images, sounds and feelings, tastes and smells, thus forming everyday conscious awareness.
  • Programming: The behavioural response that occurs as a result of neurological filtering processes and the subsequent linguistic map.